A Day of Cultivation

It was Madame's turn to do the "Croissant" pickup for our breakfast at the dépôt de pain.
We have limited ourselves to this delicacy to once a week.
It would be very easy to eat the fresh baked croissants and pain au raisins daily...they are so delicious.

Today (Thursday), we decided the weather was agreeable and it would be a good day to start "digging in" the gardens.

I weeded while "Monsieur Honey" climbed the front garden hill like a billy goat to cultivate the gravel bank. He prepared the holes by removing some of the gravel and added some topsoil prior to planting.

Today we planted six hollyhocks, a white Gaura which is a pretty and airy plant and another slow growing shrub with beautiful white flowers (we need to find out this plant's name, it is similar to one my sister has and I think it has bride in it's name) before our backs and knees gave out.

We only have twenty-four lavender plants, twenty Hostas, two ornamental grasses, a jasmine and the four herb plants to go!

It's a good thing we still have lots of time to finish this project.

Later in the afternoon, we strolled to the Post Office in order to mail some Birthday Cards only to discover in our village it is only open in the mornings.

Next to the Post Office is a wonderful spice shop..."Aromatiques Tropicales" that carries every spice in the world.

www.aromatiques.com.

Here I purchased some basil and parsley.

From here we strolled a bit further in search of some friends of our landlady and a pleasant afternoon of cultivating a friendship unfolded.

This evening, Monsieur Honey used his "Julia Child's" skills and created his version of a wonderful Beef Bourguignon for our dinner.

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?