village – The Vigneron's Wife

picking

October 11, 2013The vigneron's wife

Ambroise emptying 'la hotte' — Ambroise emptying ‘la hotte’

Picking at last.

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 window

checking out the noise... a tractor cruising down the driveway — checking out the noise… a tractor cruising down the driveway

Meanwhile, back in the village…

chat arnaud — clearing out remains of the *‘pressoir’* (press)

...and the ladies are still out checking the 'raisins' — …and the ladies are still out checking the ‘raisins’

Here little piggy

April 22, 2013May 28, 2013The vigneron's wife

following in the footsteps — on the trail

When I’m on a roll and doing the right thing by my back (my G.P. freaked when I said I was discovering the merits of beer and wine over prescription pills to ease chronic pain), I get out and walk.

Up and down and around the numerous ‘chemins‘(paths) of our local village after dropping Lilas off at school – or if I’m at home, I lock the door behind me and head out for a wander around ye olde hamlet. There’s nothing better for head-clearing than getting out and enjoying the sights and smells and sounds from the viewpoint of your feet (I haven’t yet embraced the bike-thing, despite obvious inspiration from the many folk here in Frogsville).

And now more than ever – with the hunting season is officially over, I can walk panic-free.

It sounds crazy but believe me, there’s this dodgy period of the year, from September to the end of February, when delightful shots ring in the air and I freeze and cower behind some vines. The hunters are out. Crouching like a ninny, you wonder if your bulk in a huge brown puffa jacket ressembles more wild sanglier (boar) than human. Especially when you’re not much taller than a wild boar – and on all fours (ooh la la, I won’t start). Here little piggy.

shells — Lilas likes collecting up the rubbish they leave behind. On you girl!

I’m not joking, accidents happen all over France each year during hunting season. You can find any number of stats on the net, one of which claims 57 hunting-related deaths in the 2012/2013 season (up from 42 in the 2011/2012 year). But the stats, depending who is reporting them, vary: the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage cites for 2011/2012, 131 hunting-related accidents of which only 18 were mortal, for eg. And don’t forget the 9% concerning ‘non-hunters’…

It’s a topic charged with anger on both sides of the fence. I wonder which side this author is hanging on…

Oohla, Bernard has a petit hunting zizi surprise in his pocket — Ooh laa, Bernard’s petit hunting ~~zizi~~ surprise has popped out of its pocket – image courtesy of La Buvette des Alpages
…(AND NO, Bill! – that is not me that circled the goods)

Yes I’m confused, and wary of the propaganda – but when you’re out there enjoying the cacophany of shots whilst stepping over colourful empty shell cases, I wonder what my odds are. I should maybe don a red beanie and have a plastic red rose held high, a la the travel guides shepherding their groups around the grand squares of Europe.

a tranquil walking path, minus the hunting crowd

On the less extreme end, some groups simply argue for a ban on Sundays (most accidents occur on weekends)… This leads me to wonder why Wednesday (with Saturday and Sunday) is also nominated as an’open’ hunting day of the week – when it is, all-over France, the mid-week day-off for children from school? Can’t say I’m itching to take Lilas out for a walk when you can see the camouflage khakis and gun cocked on a guy strolling not that far from the kitchen door.

But hey, on the whole I have no problems with hunting if regulations are respected. It’s incredibly popular here in the Minervois and you see a big proportion of the villagers getting involved. It’s almost like a religion. And these guys are outside, enjoying the elements (and the odd bottle of red) and providing some of us meat-eaters with food on the table. Probably better than frozen nuggets, pot and a few hours of Playstation in a dark living room .

dawgs in the back… (I’d been wondering where I’d put this pic)

So onto those walks. Like I said, the season has offically ‘closed’ and the hunters are at rest for the next few months at least. The piggies et al can relax – and me too.

first blossom

February 7, 2013February 8, 2013The vigneron's wife

It’s girly wirly fleur time on the blog. We were out on our morning walk and in the distance I spied the first blossom for the year…

our morning walk - blossom in the distance — our morning walk – blossom in the distance

Quelle belle surprise. It’s cold and about to snow again, friends left right and centre are ‘aol’ with colds and flu, but the sight of that beautiful pink… I go crazy in my head with excitement when I see the first trees in flower – and this was my first for 2013.

lilas and blossom — …Took Lilas out later for a look.
Carefully pruned vines in background.

I know it’s only early Feb, but it gets me thinking of all the flowers to come – and Ding! goes my head with visions of colour and splendour from last year’s pickings.

So hell yeah, let’s have a cheesy insert to follow.

A ‘Collage de Fleurs’!…

a cheesy flower collage (from last year's pickings) — …a cheesy flower collage (from last year’s pickings)

this morning

December 7, 2012The vigneron's wife

Brrrr, a chilly morning, below freezing, but beautiful here in the Minervois. I went out to take some photos in my pyjamas and my hands were frozen in 5 minutes.