We’re about to greet the new year and I want to shout out a G’day from stinking hot Adelaide.
Don’t be fooled by the home-made version of our tree for this year… we’re not in gay Calamiac, we’re down here in Oz. And on the eve of Christmas, our family’s old tree, after 40 years, decided to hang up its boots – so Lilas and I put together a ‘Xmas Tour’! It’s a wonder what you can find in a shed full of old boxes…
And I must say it’s thanks to you, Mum, that we have a ‘tree’ this year. Much to my objections, you put up this tower, festooned with ribbons as part of the decorations for our post-elopement-wedding party. Did I squirm! – wondering what the Frenchies would think… But it was a hit, and thanks to you, it’s come out in full glory again.
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’
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’
Hey, hey it’s time for some more sights from around our ‘hood!
I’m always passing this old ‘cave co-operative’, ‘Costos Roussos‘ – the date on the facade always reminds me of some special people back home(!), and now there’s always this lovely old Renault ‘4L’This was a first for me… the ladies in the market vans had old quilts and blankets protecting their produce on a recent market morning. It was below freezing and bloody cold… and on this morning it was -4 degreesIt’s starting to snow, approaching Chateau Violet – a beautiful old wine property near usSaturday morning at the supermarche… preparing delicious ‘Aligot‘ – yes, a delightfully light, refreshing dish, composed of cheese, cream, potatoes, cheese, garlic, butter and then some more cheese. Come on, it IS light – really!Wine of the Month in our house: the recently bottled ‘Boulevard Napoleon‘ with local smallgoods (where are you Dad?!)the local hospital for the old metalheadsSunday night and pooch is hangin’ at the pizza vanHot drinks at the cafe after playing in the park …but check out the tele! – the kids are getting clued-up on winemakingDowntown NarbonneCarcassonne marketMeat, anyone? Delicacies at the Carcassonne market… lungs, heart, tripe. Note: bottom right in the tripe corner, the butcher has his Rose ready and chilling…and another glass of Rose. One of the many perks of living around here is the access to delicious, cheap wines served from tap straight out of the wall of our cave co-ops – simply BYO your own bottle…I love this – it’s Pierre the baker’s price list at the Olonzac marketCheck out the airbrush work on the hot rod … a Renault 4L vanOur school celebrates ‘Carnaval‘ each year, where everybody accompanies the school kids on floats in a tour of the villageA few things from last weekend’s ‘vide-grenier’ (village garage sale): some keyrings and an old “Science et Vie’ magazine from 1944. Ashamed to say I get obssessed with many things, advertising keyrings from the 60s for eg! And hang on, I’ve even discovered there’s a name for it – ‘Copoclephliie‘ (!!)my favourite view coming out of Olonzac…and a favourite close to home, this wall in our hamletFavourites, favourites… now I promise this one wasn’t planned! I think I have a thing about apples? (you started it Mum!)on the road, yesterdayShort, back and sides in lovely Toulousethe old ‘manege’ (carousel), Toulouse
The Vigneron's Wife 