HARVEST!Now this is crazy (but beautiful) …LES OUEFS! – these are the egg-shaped tanks used to age wine in the Maris winery. I keep thinking Mork from Ork is going to crack out of one…Jean-Pierre in the Chateau Maris winery yesterday (the walls are made of hemp!)harvest in La Livinieredriving from La Liviniereoncoming 2CV in RieuxDANGER!! Blonde behind the wheelHompsNow this was hard, parting with this bottle today to throw it into the recycling bin. It was SO delicious!! A sparkling white that almost tasted like a very dry cider. Lucky the bottle was big, it went down so quickly! (Merci Isabelle et Vincent)Last night’s tomatoes. Got to make the most of these babies before the season is out.Bleu, Blanc et Rouge in Saint Chinianpooch paradewine shop in Carcassonne‘une poignee’ (door handle)hanging out the laundryEuropean Carpenter bees in the garden‘thongs’ in my home (yes, not the ones on your butt), ‘flip-flops’ in the UK and the US, ‘Jandals’ in NZ, ‘slops’ in South Africa, ‘schlapfen’ in Austria… ‘tongs’ or ‘claquettes’ in France. I like this one – Lilas said the name comes from the sound they make as you walk? Anyone know if this is right?window with ‘fresh’ flowersRebecca’s Kerala Prawn Curry, mmmmmn. The onion bahjis were a knock-out too, but my photo didn’t work outa house in a house‘Grandma’s Pussy’ – from Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories, Series B, Volume 10 …Really!velo in Rieuxsunset in the garden
Do you ever find yourself smiling at some of the things you pass by during your day?
I love those moments and have started to record them with my camera. I can’t help it. Everything in France seems so exotic to me, being a ‘non-Frenchie’!
Here’s some pics to share with you, but be warned! There’s a few of them, so I hope you don’t get bored!!
Pierre the baker having a ‘tranquil’ pause at the morning marketA lovely orange 2CV, shining like a beacon in the morning light…those 2CVs are EVERYWHERE!‘Chic Dog’ (you know how they put their words backwards!) – every pooch needs a parlour
Hotel de Ville in Narbonne flying the Bleu Blanc RougeFrenchy frilly bits……and not so frilly bits…les messieurs like a bit of pink tooIt’s the real thing! – one of Mamy Jeanne’s much-loved recipe books
And while we’re on the topic of books, I just love this. It’s the bookshelf in our local village library… gives you a small taste of what the public are reading up on! Recipes, winemaking, a history of Europe, a history of France and, bien sur, a little bit of psychotherapy. Tres francais.Yes, it’s the GIANT COLON!! Be curious!! Roll up for a visit to the centre of the giant colon!… (thanks for the poster Mat, you know me too well!)Colon health, giant ‘chariots de fromage’ (cheese trolley). Ever heard of the French paradox?At the local ‘brocante’. This poor guy got caught, but we still hear his friends in our garden at nightthe doorhandle to one of my favourite brocantesa cinema in Limoux (where Blanquette is made)take-away baguetteReally love this one too. The scene, the clothing (so now!) and the little guy at the back just happens to be some Vigneron I know…a regular vision in these villagesles messieurs sur les bancs
The Vigneron's Wife 