Fast Food French Style

Wednesdays in France, the young children do not go to school and the children in what we would call "High School" only attend classes in the morning.

Wednesday morning this week, we met up with our friends, Miss J. and and her adorable three-year old daughter (who we befriended on our last stay in Gourdon.)

As we were entertaining a three year old, we offered a lunch date at McDonald's.
Who knew that "Happy Meals" were universal?
They are called exactly the same on the menu board and packaged the same and include the featured toy.

It was a sunny and hot (28 degrees C) day, so it was lunch outside near the play area which kept little Joddy entertained. This is the same little girl from the post "Martine Goes to Masclat".

McDonald's menu offered the standard fare with a few exceptions, you have a choice of potatoes between French fries or spice dusted wedges.
If you are not ordering at the drive thru you can order a beer.

There are free standing machines that look like an ATM, where you can place your order and pay in a minimum of six different languages.

Here is Joddy ready to tackle the assembly of her toy.

After an enjoyable visit and some playtime for Joddy, we returned with our guests to their home, where Joddy wanted to model her gifts, Here she is comparing her new socks with her "Canadian" Grand-père's funky socks.

It was a wonderful day spent with a lovely family!

"Digging in" Degagnac.

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden"... Ruth Stout

The sunshine and warmer temperatures created a real buzz at the markets and garden stores this past weekend.

Everyone was out Saturday buying plants, seeds, bags of potting soil and planters.

We have made several purchases on behalf of our landlady over the past week.

Our first buy was twenty-four lavender plants in six- inch pots for some foundation plantings and a flat of ten Garnet coloured ivy geraniums to use in some clay pots.

We found these plants quite by accident one day when went for drive in a different direction at a large Supermarket in Fumel.

Before our market shopping Saturday, we visited the farm store in Gourdon (similar to TSC stores - Tractor Supply Company in Canada) to purchase garden edging, however, we did not find any of the plastic variety.
We found six healthy Hollyhock plants (in French "Rose Trémière Simple / Ficifolia") that are drought resistant which make them the perfect easy care plant for the hot French summers.

At the Gourdon Market, we were searching for Hostas.
We visited a market stall we were familiar with from last year, and we spotted several varieties of Hostas.
As we needed a large number of plants, I asked the proprietor what the price would be if we bought twenty plants.
We agreed upon a price and "Cathy" said as she did not have enough plants with her, she would bring them to next Saturday's Market (Talk about service).

As we were leaving her stall we noticed that there was a "Fête le printemps"... literal translation "Spring Festival" at the Greenhouses the next day.
What could be better, we now had an outing planned for Sunday.

One more stop at another store for edging with success, and a wander through the colourful display of planters.

Sunday morning was a beautiful day for a country drive to ....

"Le Jardin de Cathy"
Boulegan. 46340 Salviac
Tel. 05.65.41.18.51 Port. 06.61.33.92.79

www.le-jardin-de-cathy.com

We wandered the greenhouses, received helpful information and found some additional plants suitable for "Beaucaillou's gardens".

Once we've done the "digging in" and the plants have had some nurturing and a chance to grow we hope they will look like our Hostas and lavender that are planted in our garden in Canada.

Garden gloves and shovels are you ready?

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".