Enroute to Olonzac

#Degagnac#Carcasonne##Trebes#Olonzac

Today we said "Au revoir" to Dégagnac and the Lot Valley ... Merci beaucoup for the hospitality to Madame M. et Monsieur Guy.

We headed southeast to the Languedoc - Roullison for our last week in France ... 

The drive was very uneventful ... which is good!

We did make a stop on the highway at an "Aire" ... similar to a service area on the 401 in Ontario ... we chose this one because it had a "Viewpoint" overlooking the Medieval City of Carcassonne.

Remember this is where the movie "Robin Hood The Prince of Thieves" was filmed ... maybe I will rent this DVD when the grandkids visit.

We stayed here during our first French adventure in 2003 and it was a magical night. 

Oh la- la Monsieur Honey  ... "Where has the time gone?" 

Our next stop was along the Canal du Midi in Trebes ... time for lunch.

This restaurant was right next to one of the locks on the river ....

It was here in the summer of 2005 that my own "Mr. Hemingway", myself and our dear friends Shari and Doug cruised the Canal du Midi.

After our lunch complete with a most delectable dessert, we continued enroute to Olonzac where we will spend our near last week at Sainte Helene's apartment ... a wonderful retreat (I will share more about this little piece of heaven soon.)

This dessert I am going to recreate at home ... Tarte citron, strawberry Coulis and chocolate and the little bowl in the right hand corner is a palate cleanser ... Sorbet infused with Campari!

A Day in Paradise.

French philosopher and writer, Voltaire said.......
"Paradise is where I am".

"Monsieur Honey" and I both agree that where we are is "Paradise"!

Saturday morning we woke to some welcomed sunshine, warm to hot temperatures (90 degrees F plus in full sun), did some market shopping, purchased some potting soil to do some container gardening, puttered outside and then we enjoyed our alfresco lunch on the terrace, followed by a late afternoon stroll through the village.

"Monsieur" even donned his shorts this afternoon...here he is all smiles in the village square.

The tulips even turned their heads to the sun today.

The village church.

A view from above of the village cemetery.

Our neighbours in the pasture next door.

Beautiful blue pansies.

So do you think the locals would know we are not French...since we are drinking "vin blanc" instead of a "rosé" or "rouge" at lunch and "Monsieur Honey" is sporting his shorts with his colourful gay socks?

Saturday's weather continued into Sunday...stay tuned for more "Postcards from the Lot".

Without Borders in Degagnac

Today (Monday) our "French Connection" friends from Prayssac came for a visit.

After an hour of chit chat and catching up with each others' lives it was time to go and participate in the the most important two hours of the day to many French people... lunch (déjeuner).

Food and the art of dining is an important and intregal part of daily of life in France.
It is obvious that the French like/ love to enjoy their food, and great care is taken in the preparations of their meals and the main meals are never hurried or rushed.

It's a good thing that Monsieur Honey and I are also "Foodies".
We both love to cook, experiment with new recipes, taste new foods and of course love to eat.
I use recipes as a guideline when cooking/ creating something new ; unless I am baking then precise measurements are required.

Over the years, Monsieur Honey has been a great hunter and gatherer....making his own sausages, canning various items made from fresh picked tomatoes, various chutneys, relishes and sauces.

Sometimes, you will find us both in the kitchen together, if this happens it is better that one of us is designated "Top Chef" and the other "Sous-Chef", then all goes smoothly and there is no question which way the meal will be prepared, cooked and served...and also prevents an episode of " The Bickersons"....our family will appreciate this bit of humour!

We strolled through the village to the only restaurant, "L'Auberge Sans Frontiere" ....translated as The Inn Without Borders.

Travelling allows you to experience life without "borders", you meet people from all different nationalities and cultures.

The menu du jour was plentiful with many choices, four courses...soup, salad starter, main course, dessert and wine for 12€ per person.

I have only included a few postcards of the food served today.

The other photos were taken in the village as we strolled back to our cottage on Rue de La Gare.

So, if you find yourself in or around Degagnac, stop by and try the Inn!

L'Auberge sans Frontière
Le Bourg 46340 Degagnac
Tél.. 05 65 41 52 88

Keeping the "Home Fires" Burning!

As the title suggests so far the warm "Spring" temperatures have not arrived in our part of France in the Lot Valley. The forecast is looking promising for later this week.

Monsieur Honey has mastered the wood stove and the house is now toasty warm...it might have something to do with the skills he acquired as a Boy Scout in his formative years (so long ago).

Today (Sunday) the sun did shine so we were able to do a load of laundry and use the "French Thermal Dryer".

With the help of technology ... between email, the FaceTime App on the iPad and the downloading of Magic Jack we have been able to keep the "Home Fires Burning" with our family, children, grandchildren and friends.

Surprise, Surprise!!

After a long day and night of travel  by car from home to Toronto, then  by  a  Boeing 777 to  Paris, an Airbus 320 from Paris to Toulouse ... we finally disembarked at Toulouse Airport and as we exited the automatic doors at the arrival area, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by our landlady.
She was waiting for her return flight to her other home in San Diego and there she would meet her new grandchildren.

Our final leg of travel from the Toulouse Airport to Degagnac was via our  rented Volkswagen  "Polo".
When we arrived at our home away from home for the next three months " Beaucaillou " ( name of the cottage), we were again surprised when we discovered a bottle of local red wine, a bar of artisan chocolate made of milk chocolate, caramel and sea salt along with a warm welcome letter from our landlady.

Stay tuned!