Meet Elmo!

Yes, meet, Elmo. He arrived at Amy's about a month ago----our new granddog. He is such fun. Of course, his first toy had to be an Elmo, which he was very happy to receive. Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy, but everything is in constant motion.

He is a Hovawort, just like Daisy. He comes from northern France and was a guard dog. Becoming a part of this family was very easy for Elmo.

I think the other Elmo was a little shocked, however, with his introduction to his friend, Elmo.







À bientôt,

Cindy

Moules Frites, Anyone?

The warm breezes of the Mediterranean greeted me as I got off the plane in Montpellier, the largest airport closest to where we live. My red bags all arrived this time and Amy greeted me with "Let's go have moules frites. Bouziques is only twenty minutes away!"

I guess the adventure has begun. Walking down the small village street, one side lined with outdoor cafes, the other side the shore, we were disappointed to find her favorite place closed for the day. Alas, that did not stop us. We found a cafe that served the moules (mussels) we could see growing in the bay. Ordering a bottle of white wine, we impatiently awaited the black pot that would contain our lunch.

The frites (French fries) arrived first and then the steaming hot moules floating in cream were placed before us. Taking a small shell in one hand we used it as "pinchers"to remove the sweet mussel from the other shells. Ah, were they delicious. With the gentle winds cooling us, it did not take long to empty the pot and leave only the shells.

Off in the distance we could see the posts that the mussels are farmed on. They are attached to ropes that spiral around the piling. There is a mesh that covers the growing babies, waiting to be harvested. The bay at Bouziques is a haven for mussel farming.

After a leisurely lunch, we were off to Amy's for what I thought would be a quiet evening. Ha!

á bientôt,
Cindy

I know it all will fit!

I now know what it is like living in England. We have had so much rain that our designation of a cool desert is in jeopardy. Yesterday, Pikes Peak had a dusting of snow. According to legend, we will have snow down here within six weeks. Our field is green, the sunflowers are peaking out , the trumpet vine has reached new heights, and the pumpkin vine will be stretching across the yard within the next week.

Pikes Peak is on the horizon. Oh, you don't see it, well imagine what it looks like as the sky is turning dark. Listen carefully and you can hear it rumble. The raindrops are again tumbling to earth and sharp light dashes across the angry sky. What great weather for more weeds.

Joe left last week for a hot air balloon festival in Lorraine, the northeast section of France . He is flying with our good friend, Dave Johnson, from England. Can you imagine flying with two pilots in one balloon????? http://www.pilatre-de-rozier.com/
I leave tomorrow to travel to Amy's. Our house is rented until August 6th, so I will have to work for my keep. I imagine that she has my list made.

Will everything fit? That is my carry on. It is stuffed. I still have eight more pounds I can place in one bag. The other bag has not been weighed.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer. Now, I know these white daisies will be yellow sunflowers when I arrive in the south of France.

Enjoy!
Cindy

Oh, YUM!

Too Small!







Oh, dear, way too small.




Ah, that is just about right.....to fill with all the sweets one needs to purchase. Where are we
you ask? Why, visiting the Haribo Museum and shop in the neighboring town of Uzes.. You know, the delicious Goldbears, Happy Cola, Rotella, Berries. All are a child's dream! That's why we visit! And yes, visitor's to the museum actually fill the roll around baskets with sweet treats to take home.


The museum is a treasure of the history of candy making especially of the Gold Bears. And as one travels thru the exhibits, you are able to taste some of Haribo's creations.

At the end of your adventure, there is a wonderful store where you can taste and purchase some of their sweets. Yes, Joe was like the kid in the candy store trying to decide on the perfect treat. Alas, there was no chocolate, but I got my favorite licorice Rotellas. Yum! It is one of my first stops when visiting our area.

Watching people exit the store is another adventure as they have made so many wonderful choices that the bags and boxes become very heavy. Be prepared for lots of fun, treasures and....



Smiles!
Cindy

Yellow to Orange to Purple to White

In the neighboring village of Uzes during the Truffle Festival, tables were set outside in the Place aux Herbes for the once a year truffle dinner. Each menu had truffles used in unique ways (ours was the hamburger with slices of truffles. See my previous post.). Each table was adorned with the winter yellow mimosa blossoms and fresh oranges. We had the burst of yellow blossoms on our table at home, a wonderful inspiration for writing on a chilly winter's day. Trees had the beginnings of the tiny vibrant blossoms.

The market was filled with the orange of the citrus winter fruit. Oranges appeared decorating tables, in candle holders, and carried with the green of the tree in market bags.


Now, the wisteria hangs gently over the ancient stone walls of the villages. The purple a greeting to spring. My daffodils are in bloom in the courtyard, another sign that warmth is arriving again.

Ah, but here in Colorado, our color remains white. Maybe in another month, we shall see some of the colors of the South of France.

Happy Spring-----almost,


Cindy

Is It Just A.....

Ah, yes, another pastry. And I thought I would not see any more this winter.

I am sitting in the sunshine in the village square. All around me are the voices of the morning market. Winter vegetables are in abundance: cabbage, leeks, chard, carrots, all the colors of winter. Some apples appear, along with the squashes but most of the colors are the whites and greens that have survived the chill of the season.

People rush back and forth filling their baskets and talking with friends of the village. The market not only provides dinner but a chance to catch up on all of the news. The mime dresses as the children anticipate his silent movements.

Of course, on market day, we have to have our cafe creme along with one of those marvelous pastries. It is so difficult to make a decision. The sun warms us in the chill weather.

Ah, yes, it is only a dream. Here I sit on my patio with its view of Pikes Peak enjoying a cup of green tea and a cookie in the silence of winter! Soon, soon, pastries will again be on my plate!





Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Spring? Not Yet!

As the winds howl, we know that Spring is not trying to come to Colorado yet, however, when we left France , Spring was on its way.

Some of you will remember last year when I planted the daffodils in the Fall for Molly's April wedding in France. Yes, they bloomed wonderfully... in March. And before we left in January this year, they were peeking out of the soil ready for an early rising.

Driving through the countryside, we noticed that the fields were changing. Long rows of plastic covered the Spring crop of asparagus which by now should be seeing the world. Amy's first comment was that Spring is on the way when the striped fields appear.

Behind Matt, you can see the bones of the pruned grape vines marching down the fields ready for their spring finery. However, each morning when we arrived in the fields to prune, the green vegetation was all dressed in a lacy covering of frost, a wonderful way to enjoy the chilly French mornings.













Orion is high in the Colorado night sky, a sure sign that the seasons will be changing. I just know that Spring can't be too far away! Yes, I know, we still have two months before we will see the daffodils---if we are lucky!