There’s been stops and starts… and now it’s all GO to get the grapes in.
We’re harvesting three weeks later than previous years, but it’s shaping up to be a pretty good ‘recolte’ … there’s a charged atmosphere and smiles all round.
I’ll fill you in on this harvest over a few posts, but here’s a selection of pics from today, in and out of our village.
(you may note some ‘fx’ in the images – my dear old camera is on the blink so what you see are the results of lumping around with a clunky electronic rectangle)
woke to to the noise of the harvester outside the kitchen windowtent-pickingchecking out the noise… a tractor cruising down the driveway
here comes the sun
house on the prairie
Meanwhile, back in the village…
clearing out remains of the ‘pressoir’ (press)
the Vigneron having a spray…and the ladies are still out checking the ‘raisins’
You may be thinking I have a fondness for the older French folk? I do. And two fyi’s… the bathing beau with the Aussie flag is actually French and happens to be our ex-fishmonger… and there are some VPo VIPs in the midst…
Ah Frenchie men. Rummaging through my mum’s cookbooks back in Adelaide this Summer, I spied this gem with a wonderful text on – The Frenchman.
The Browns – Cora, Rose and Bob, “The Four-in-One Book of Continental Cookery: Italy, Spain, Portugal, France,” Arco Publishers Limited, 1956“…sanctified seriousness, …a rubbing of hands and tummy”
1956. To quote the Browns (Cora, Rose and Bob):
“The Frenchman is informal enough at his plain morning cafe au lait with a brioche or croissant, newspaper and cigaret, but
he approaches both lunch and dinner with sanctified seriousness, a rubbing of hands and tummy, crackling and tucking in of napkins,
anticipatory peeping under dish covers. At table nothing must interfere with his enjoyment,
the slightest interruption is resented and no visitor would presume to butt in on this devout ritual…” (p.277, The Four-in-One Book of Continental Cookery, 1956)
old Paris postcard found at a ‘vide-grenier’ – ‘Place de la Republique’
Up early this morning and dashed out to a village ‘vide-grenier’… it’s a type of garage sale, but instead of just one household selling their wares on the street, it’s a whole village full! If you’ve never been to one, they are just brilliant and full of potential treasure – and trash (as many would say!).
I’ve got to say I’m a little hooked and it’s one of those rare mornings where I’m ready to spring out of bed at 6am. There’s even get a slight adrenaline rush as I jostle for a car park close to the sectioned-off streets and head towards the first stand displaying its wares. I’m on a mission – my purse is heavy with coins and my chest is literally bursting with excitement. Sicko, you might say. But really! Vide-greniers (this translates as ’empty the attic’) offer all sorts of wonderful objects. And hey it’s in France, so for me that makes it totally exotic (mind you, being far from home, kangaroos and gums are also completely exotic for me now). It’s not everyday you can buy the old scribbled-in picture books from the elderly monsieur’s childhood collection, or the 60s flowery frock from Madame’s hand-me -downs. I’ve even picked up a whopping Le Creuset cast iron pot for 8 Euros (now this find was in the half-dark it was so early and I had a torch!). Mmmn, a post on vide grenier treasures will follow!
These ‘village garage sales’ are held on weekends (Sunday is the big day for our region)and start from around 8am, with people beginning to pack up around 4pm. But if you want to find the ‘better’ stuff and real bargains, it’s best to head out as early as 7am (ie 8 Euro cookpot) – the time where you’ll rub shoulders with the ‘professionals’ already out for the hunt.
Here’s a few pics of some local vide greniers to whet the appetite for some…
aaargh!!! this is a sight that sends me CRAZY
I just loved this lady’s pricing for her old linenLilas’ already an old hand at these things…that’s her with the Viewfinder
Today the weather has been pretty dire, so I headed out early and came home early (it has been raining much of this weekend – not something we’re needing when it is already difficult to access the vineyards by tractor, we’re hoping the forecast for heat for this week dries everything up).
I came home with a few postcards amongst my finds.
This first one, above, was actually written (from the 60s?) on today’s date!?! Woh!
Reading over the cards from this mornng over a coffee, I noticed the date marked was today’s
But have a look at these beauties…
‘Babyface’‘Rond Point’ (the guy on the far right side is to blame for this purchase)…not much to be saidYou go girl, stroke those strings…this guy’s a favecheck those fellas (mounds of muscle)
…and on the above theme,
…love an old recipe postcard
But I do love a pretty card too.
another old Paris postcard: ‘Marche aux Fleurs de la Cite’
Meanwhile, back in the village…
The Vigneron's Wife 