Life list

I was looking forward to our coffee break at ‘the garden room’.

The view across to the church is delightful. But the wonky arch was a bit of a distraction, so Brian had straightened it up last week. We were happy with where we had placed it, so he went ahead and concreted it in. My friend, Lan, had bought me two Jasmines to grow over it, unfortunately one did not survive the harsh winter, but with a little tlc the second one is starting to flourish. I think next year it will look beautiful.

I let Brian know I had brought some coffee up.

As we sat, a little weary from our morning’s gardening, the birds in the garden were giving us a delightful medley of chirping and singing. So with our coffees I decided to put my ‘Merlin’ app on. Within a minute it had identified 7 birds in the area.

Within 10 minutes it had identified 19 birds, 3 of which were new to our life list. We spent some moments trying to spot them. It’s such a fun and informative little app, and a great way to learn about new birds.

We are not bird watchers, but there is something to be said for watching the wildlife, especially in your garden. It’s a precious moment of calm.

Gardening

We woke to a beautiful, bright day—however a little cool, around 19°c. Ideal for a day in the garden.

The slope and walled garden both needed mowing and strimming, so we had quite a bit to do. We put on our work clothes, and got started nice and early.

Brian began in the walled garden, strimming first, before mowing and edging the beds. I started up the hill dead-heading some of the irises and the roses.

After that, I went to get the electric mower from my new garden room.

It’s just so easy now to take the big mower out and begin straight away. It’s also so lovely having somewhere I can sit and look at the garden, especially the little containers I’ve collected whilst visiting vide greniers, which I have now planted to go around it.

Once he’d finished the walled garden, Brian came up to help me on the hill, bringing his trusty big strimmer with him.

It makes short work of the areas the mower can’t easily reach.

Just a bit of weeding and pruning left, and our work for the day was done. It was a very long day, but the gardens now look amazing. Ready for a houseful of guests this weekend.

Singing

We had to nip out this afternoon, and on the way back we just took a moment to soak in the beautiful view across the fields, and admire the expansive skyline.

As we switched off the engine we could hear the skylarks singing up high. You have to look really hard to see them, just little pin pricks in the blue sky.

These delightful little moments make my heart sing.

Preparing to fly

Looking out of our bathroom window, Brian spotted a little family of sparrows.

The two chicks are waiting patiently on the edge for the day mum & dad say they can fly.

For now, though, they sit back and just wait to be fed.

Simply adorable.

Drappier

Earlier this week we visited Drappier, a local producer to us. It’s probably one of the biggest names from our region, as it was the preferred champagne of president Charles de Gaulle. Their production is situated in the small village of Urville.

I had seen that they were having an afternoon of music, performed by a local cellist, and that they would serve pastries from a well known patisserie in Troyes. There would also be a visit to the cellars, and the opportunity to taste some of their champagnes. Delightful, I thought, so I booked us a couple of places.

We were welcomed into a large stone barn area, filled with wooden tables and chairs. In the centre they had set out the patisserie, and prepared the glasses to serve us the champagne.

We relaxed for an hour, listening to the delights of the cellist, sipping champagne, and eating cake. I had imagined that, as they were serving cake, we would have a sweeter champagne, but the cake was actually not too sweet, and the champagne matched it perfectly.

We were then split into two groups, French speaking and English speaking, for the cellar visit. We have been before, but it was still extremely informative, and we always learn something new. Samuel was our guide, and he was quite excellent.

After the visit we then got to try more champagne, a total of 9 cuvées. I was driving, so limited my tasting, but Brian knows what I like, so got me to try the ones he was interested in buying.

It was a fabulous event.

Cherry on the top

There was an abundance of fresh seasonal fruit at the market this week: strawberries, raspberries, lemons, melons, and a favourite of mine, cherries.

The cherry stall had two types, which he let me try, to help me decide which ones I wanted to buy. I went for the sweeter ones.

I bought a kilogram, they were simply too delicious.

Parsley

I can never resist a plant stall, and there was one on market day in Bar-sur-Seine. I say ‘stall’, but it was actually just a scattering of plants in the road.

I wanted a couple of new lavender plants, to plant in the front of our drive way. They were a little small, but I’m sure they will fill out in no time. I also got a parsley plant, I use so much through the summer in salads, I think I may put this in a pot on the windowsill.

A pleasant day

We woke to gorgeous sunshine and blue skies, perfect for enjoying a day lazing around the pool with friends. The water temperature was perfect, a delightful 25°c.

I’d made us a simple lunch of ham salad, new potatoes, and a french apple cake with ice cream for dessert. A very pleasant day, that turned into early evening.

Levelling up the medicine

Last year we’d bought a couple of old medicine bottles from a vide grenier. We loved the old labels on them, and thought they’d look nice in one of the bathrooms. What I needed though was a shelf to put them on.

Then, on Monday in Sens, we found the perfect little shelf.

Out with the laser again, as we needed to decide where my new little acquisition was going to go?

We found the perfect spot in the magnum bathroom.

What a fun little collection.

Porcelain shelf

I’d bought the little porcelain shelf from the market in Sens to go in the kitchen, next to my cold water sink. It has a couple of chips on it, but I really didn’t mind that. The sink is stone, and over 80 years old, so it has a few chips of its own. A bit of a clean and it would fit in nicely.

Brian started by finding the right height, and fixing one side in, then he was able to use his laser to level it up, and fix the 2nd screw in. He used a couple of plastic washers to protect the porcelain and cover over the screws.

Excellent, just what I’ve been looking for.

Bee bright

Laden with nectar. Watching the little bee go about his business is such a beautiful sight.

I’m finding so much joy and happiness pottering around our beautiful garden, choosing tucked away areas to develop into a new planting scheme, or a little place to sit and relax for a while.

Brian helped me plant up one of the borders. It will be mainly blues and yellows, a favourite colour scheme of mine, but I’ve also included some potted pink geraniums along the front to give it a pop of colour.

In the far corner of the walled garden, which had recently been chauxed, I’ve planted a mix of hostas. This area gets the sun early on in the day, but provides a light relief of shade later on. I will put my two white cane chairs there for a quiet little reading spot, somewhere to enjoy a cup of tea in the afternoon.

I don’t think I realised how healthy it would be for my mind and body in having a garden, a quiet space to reflect on the day, and to plan what’s next. It’s also a great way to get fit.

We’ve got some fabulous little adventures ahead of us. I’m so looking forward to seeing more of France, more of our wider local area, welcoming family and friends, and celebrating some delightful and delicious moments. Lots to think of and plan in those tucked away areas.

Sens, marché des puces

I love a visit to the marché des puces in Sens. It happens every year, on the last May public holiday, and attracts 100’s of stall holders, as well as 100’s of buyers.

We arrived early this year, as it was forecast to be a scorcher of a day, well into the 30’s. The nice thing, though, is it’s situated under the trees, so plenty of shade.

There is always such an eclectic collection of items on sale, it’s just fascinating looking at what is available to buy.

After a long morning of searching, we were very excited about our little haul.

A perfect treat

Brian has now officially started his Birthday celebrations. This week we went to Le Garde Champetre in Gye sur Seine for a rather delicious and fabulous meal.

They offer a tasting menu in the evening, which is full of lots of little dishes, often with many of their ingredients grown in their organic potager, which is situated next to the restaurant.

I particularly liked the fermented rice dish to start. It was called ‘amazake mousse’ and was served with a sweet and sour dried damson plum. It really got the taste buds working.

Everything looks like a picture on a plate, and It is so seasonal, and so fresh. An absolute delight to eat.

A beautiful memory.

Essoyes Wine festival

It was another scorcher of a day, with temperatures touching on 30°c. We were heading into Essoyes for their annual wine festival. It’s always a great little event, normally the third weekend in May, but this year it slipped to the public holiday weekend.

The local marching band was playing a mix of popular songs, including film tracks and musical pieces. Some of the titles on the tip of my tongue, but not quite able to name them. I love a marching band, they are always so joyful, and this one, from Bar-sur-Seine, had players of all ages.

We were focused on tasting white wines, as our cellar was looking a little depleted; or so I was told. We did try a few Chablis to start, but as it’s a region so close to us that we enjoy visiting the cellars of, we were instead tempted by some rather nice Burgundies from a little further south. We also purchased some rather nice Provence wines, which we hadn’t really tried before.

Wine festivals are great places to try something different, and not feel obliged to buy. All you do is purchase a glass for €4, and then taste your way around all the producers. That said, we always seem to find something we want to purchase.

Needing help from one of the porters, we headed back to the car with our purchases.

Top and tile

The cement ridge that Brian had created to hold the tiles had dried, so he was keen to see the first layer of tiles going up.

We both think they look great. From the front they really help to frame and finish off the wall. Now we just need to find enough tiles for the second row, to complete it off from the top as well.

Ironwork

The next little job I wanted to do was clean up and paint some iron panels I’d bought from a vide grenier. I have two different pieces of ironwork, and have asked Brian if he can fix them to the wall for me once they are painted. I would like to try and train my rose to grow up around them.

He’s currently thinking about how he is going to fix them.

I think they will definitely need a couple of coats.

Little rusty

Brian is keen to finish off the garden wall. I think it’s a job he’s been avoiding, probably as he wasn’t quite sure how to approach it.

He has a plan now though. He is building up a straight line of cement on top of the wall, which he will then lay the tiles on to, using it to hold them in place.

He was on a roll then, and decided to mix up some chaux to finish off grouting the wall.

Whilst he did this my friend Sharon & I painted the railings and iron gate.

They’d got a little chipped, so it’s good to keep them touched up before any rust sets in.

Voila!

Plantes troc

Last year I learnt about the ‘plantes troc’, and this year I’m back.

It’s a sort of ‘bring and buy’ sale, where you bring plants you’ve taken out of your garden—maybe they’ve spread and you don’t need them all—and you take some of the plants that other people have brought with them.

I hadn’t organised myself enough to bring any plants this year, because I haven’t been as active in the garden splitting them off, but they didnt mind at all, they had more than enough. The morning is all very convivial, with everyone trying to share a bit of knowledge about their gardens, and share their plants, it’s all quite lovely.

It’s such a great little event, I really need to organise myself more for next year.

Along with the plants I bought in Bergère, I now have a lot of work to do planting them all. I know Brian will be helping, I just need to tell him where they are all going.

Family time

We had some family visiting this weekend. It was so good for us to all be together, catching up on what’s been happening, reminiscing on family get togethers, playing games, sharing stories, and just enjoying some quality time.

On Saturday morning we headed off to the lake for a walk through the forest. I am loving that area at the moment, so peaceful, and the walking is good for me as it’s mainly flat.

The forest has lots of history to it, as it was once home to the knights templar, who lived there and created areas which they flooded with water to store fish as a food source. A lot of these ponds remain, although are now just wonderful habitats for frogs and tadpoles, which you can hear chirping away as you pass them by.

We then drove around to the little pebble beach where we skimmed stones and enjoyed ice creams, before heading home.

Waiting room

We woke early this morning, as Brian had a doctors appointment. Just a regular checkup, but a bit of a drive away.

It was a beautiful misty start over the village, and we could just make out the outline of the church from our bathroom window.

A 50 minute drive later the mist had lifted, and we were sat in a grey waiting room.

I strangely find comfort in these old, creaky spaces, they remind me of the village life of my childhood.

Checkup over, time for a cheery cup of coffee.