Everything is Better in The Sun!

24th March 2012 – It’s market day again… You probably think that’s all we do is “eat, drink and be merry” but truly, life in France is so relaxed. I don’t know how to describe it, maybe it’s my European roots.

Saturdays in France are days to support the local farmers, producers and get fresh and sometimes unique products.

Today, we stayed in our town of Gourdon and it’s was humming at the Market this morning, more vendors, more shoppers, more politicians handing out pamphlets (elections are happening here soon), and local winemakers advertising the “2e Salon de Vins”; a wine fair of sorts which is happening next weekend in our town.

And of course, today the sun is shining brightly.

We did our shopping for fresh vegetables, potatoes, courgettes, aubergine, spinach, carrots, mushrooms, red peppers. 

I’m going to try my hand at making ratatouille this week…I’m using a recipe shared by my French friend.

Our Pasta man- “Les Pastas Marco” was back…so today, we purchased some smoked salmon & ricotta stuffed ravioli and honey will make some homemade Alfredo sauce to serve with it one night for our dinner.

We also bought more plants – ranunculus, I bought a white one a couple of weeks ago and it is doing so well that we couldn’t resist these today…absolutely intense colors; bright tangerine orange or is it  persimmon,  a deep lemon yellow and a mixed one of bright white and a deep rose or maybe it’s called vermillion.

We then headed to our favorite boulangerie for some fresh bread and stopped by a café “Le P’tite Bouchon” for a Grand Crème and some people watching…then home for lunch.

Is there something in the water or is it in the wine?

Thursday, 15th March 2012

It’s only just over two weeks that we’ve been living in the Southwest of France, during the last of the winter and early spring.  Everyday this week the Monsieur of the house, that would be Graeme, has said “I need a haircut!”

That is not a problem in France. There is no shortage of Coiffures in any city, town or village of France and Gourdon is no exception.

Last count on our walks throughout the town, we found  8+ coiffures. s

Today, he couldn’t stand it anymore, so down to the Boulevard we walked to select which salon would meet the Monsieur’s requirements.

Finally, he selected the shop “Viva La Vie” that suited him and I requested the required services in my best French and left him there to fend for himself.

He speaks very little French, but he does his best to communicate and get what he needs or wants. But when it comes to having a haircut, I would be very careful.

I went back to find him still in the chair with a huge smile on his face, he was pleased with the young girls’ aptitude in cutting his hair , and I had a Happy Monsieur to spend the rest of the day with.

………………………………………………………………………………………………
Now today, Friday, 23^rd March 2012  a week later, the Madame of the household could no longer tolerate her hair…so she asked in a local shop this morning for a recommendation for a good hairdresser…and much to her surprise she was able to get an appointment for this afternoon at “Jocelyne  Coiffure” and now also has a new hairstyle.

Not Just Another Monday!

This morning Graeme requested French Crepes for breakfast; that’s not normally a problem, but even after doing a shop Sunday morning in the larger supermarket in Prayssac before our friends brought us home…we were short on milk today.

It’s Monday and everything is closed; that’s what we’ve been told.

We headed out to the shop that’s comparable to a convenience store back home…the Petit Casino, and sure enough it was shuttered closed.

Then we tried a Tabac/Newspaper store, they have a cooler with juices, water, etc. but no milk.

I asked the shop keeper if there were any stores where we could buy milk today.

Oh, of course the larger supermarkets are open, Carrefour, Inter-Marche and Leader Price…these are all on the highway out of town, the long walk, but Leader Price is only half way as to what we normally walk.

Success, milk and a few other things, and the Boulangerie across the street was open, so we were also able to get some fresh bread for dinner.

After our trek home and a few minutes in the kitchen; Graeme was able to have his feast of crepes with Canadian Maple Syrup that he had imported in his suitcase.

 It was a cool and damp day, so we spent the afternoon watching DVDs of "Twin Peaks" ...what a crazy, campy, enjoyable show...how did we miss this years ago?  And many more epidsodes to view!!