If You Have Visited Us Before...

Ah, if you have visited us in Vers Pont du Gard you know that we have had a good baker.  To walk up the hill in the warm morning sun, the aromas from the freshly baked bread always greeted you.  Now, with our new baker, the aromas are much more complex.  Yes, the bread, croissants, pan au chocolat are all wonderful, however, the pastries are divine.  Joe arrived home with this-

What a wonderful, healthy lunch it was.
Hooray, Dominique!

Doesn't this make you want to visit us again?

Enjoy the sun,

Cindy
Le Fournil du Pont du Gard
1 Rue Grand du Bourg
30210 Vers Pont du Gard, France
04 66 37 36 79
Michèle and Dominique Quelo

Spring Has Arrived---And So Has Wednesday---

We can tell it is Spring here in Vers Pont du Gard, because John and Joe took the picnic table down from Jean and John's grenier (attic).....

Our picnic table winters at their home.  It is quite portable...two wooden saw horses and a refinished door!

The chandelier has been hung in the laurel rose and new candles added anticipating the evening sky.

The windows are dressed in their Spring finery.

....And Amy, our daughter, is sending over boxes of opened wine, with just one glass taken from them, signaling her tasting (and writing about the wines) for the Bettane and Desseauve Grand Guides des Vins de France 2012.  We know it is Spring!

And when Spring arrives, so does Wednesday Pizza Night on rue Bourg Riant.  The pizza truck arrives, pizzas are ordered, and we eagerly "test" those bottles of wine.

Friends gather at the table for delicious salads of the south, the wines,

and lots of giggles.

 Finally, finally, dessert has been eaten and Rony (in the gray sweater) and Martine (with her colorful scarf) pour their Caribbean vanilla rum for us all to savor. 

A toast to the first Wednesday pizza night of 2011!

In the silence of late evening, Linda returns home with her empty bowl to be filled once again next Wednesday.

Happy Spring!

Cindy

To Prepare for the Holiday We...

Easter in southern France is a time for family, friends, and eating.  Our visit today to our local boulangerie in Vers Pont du Gard was....

a vision in spring colors

awaiting to be savored.

And at the patisserie, Savarin, in the neighboring village of Uzès, the lines were as long

to acquire some wonderful treats.

Perching in the window is a chocolate delight.

However, the rooster watches over all.

Selections take a lot of time.

And everyone dreams

...of visions of sugarplums...

Happy Easter or Spring to all!

Joyeuses Pâques

Cindy...

and we have tucked lemon rolls by our fire to rise for morning breakfast.

....And The Lights Went Our In Vers Pont du Gard....

Yes, the lights went out in Vers.  Now, they were to be on at 3:00, well, maybe 4:00.  The boulangerie could not bake the bread, the grocery could not sell the cheese, the bar, however, was quite active.  Pierre and Albert arrived at our door to tell us the lights would be out until 8:00.

Neighbors began to gather....

The boys in our doorway.

The girls across the road.

More neighbors find their way to our door.

 And soon the wine began to be poured.

Potato chips, the most wonderful snack in France, arrived.

 Doors to houses were left open as more joined the group.

Occasionally, we had to depart the street to let the tractor pass or the bus or the many cars who said "Bon Appeit" as they passed..

And the mayor had to join the conversation about the outage (It is his birthday tomorrow, you know)

 Albert brought a delicious wine and more chips.

It was such a delightful evening that when the lights finally came on we were disappointed.

John and Jean began the departure of the group.  Each saying what fun it was to meet in the street.

Ah, warm weather, no computers, no TVs and friends.

We are smiling!

Bon Soir!

Cindy

Five Days 'Til Christmas

No, it is not France, however, just as interesting.  We are in London, actually Egham, with Molly and Billy.  

After a 9 AM hot chocolate and schnapps in the snowy airport parking lot in Colorado Springs with Kathy and Pete, we were on our way to another snowy, cold adventure in the UK.

Yes, the afternoon of our arrival turned white and by the beginning of the next day the airports were no longer sending or receiving passengers.

Even though the weather was bitter, Santa (Billy) delivered a new package to the house.  Yes, Santa was early, but Princess Zoe Betty was ready for a new home.  She is joining Zeb and Iggy who are still wondering what this little thing is.

Zoe takes a lot of lap naps.  She does like Molly's warm floors as do we.

Sunday lunch took us to a pub in the English countryside.  If you have watched  Nancy Meyer's The Holiday, you know that Cameron Diaz's character walks to The Pot Kiln to sing Christmas carols with the other locals.

As you can see the menu has many servings of local game collected from the hills outside the door.  The parsnip curry soup was wonderful.

Billy's dad, Bill, always has animated conversations even without his wine as he was a designated driver!

Joe's venison could not have been more delicious.

The frosty windows tell the story of summer, however, the light begins to fade about 3:30 in the afternoon.

Our desserts arrived to end our repast.  A panna cotta with quince and gingerbread and a local cheese selection with chutney and oat crackers. 

Listening carefully, we could hear Christmas carols coming from the bar.  Antlers bobbed  on heads along with Santa hats and stars as all gathered round a musician playing the familiar---and some not so familiar---tunes of Christmas. 

Cheer was had by all   inviting all to join in song.

Exiting from the cozy room, the chill winter moon greeted us.  All were filled with the warm feelings of the holidays.

Smiles warmed us in the winter night.  If you are ever in the Frillsham area of the UK, visit The Pot Kiln.  I imagine that it is gorgeous in the warmth of summer.  The Pot Kiln