Down the Road...

Yesterday I finally think I made some head-way in cleaning up the house.  I did the upstairs salle de bain....doesn't sound like much does it?  Well you must take into account that there a 5 people using the one and only (okay, we do have another toilet that is tucked under that stairs on the ground floor of the house, but about a month ago I deemed it 'the boys bathroom' and have decided that I will never go in there again...evah'...)... so yes, the upper bathroom on the middle floor, which has a ridiculously useless bath tub and another toilet that we installed instead of the bidet (I know--how un-French, right?!)--is used by the five of us, and takes about 3 hours to clean! I usually clean it in combo with our bedroom because they are in close proximity--hence the added labor time...and I am doing all this while Petite Fille naps--so I have to be stealth and careful so as not to wake her and end up with a half cleaned loo for another week....or more.

So after finishing the bathroom and bedroom and taking a tiny dent out of the laundry pile that was on the floor of the bathroom... I felt I had done enough to sustain my title as 'cleaning fairy' for the day ('Hey, who cleaned that up?!'.....'Must have been the cleaning-fairy!') So French Guy and I took a walk in Deauville to window shop and drool (I am sure I left a puddle in front of 'Hermes').... and then on the way home thought we might stop at a 'farm stand' next door in Villerville.  We had seen the sign... 'Ouvre Tous Les Jours 18.30h - 20h. ) which is 6:30 pm to 8 pm which is odd hours for a market--but worked for us!

The problem was is was only 6:15, but we drove up the long drive anyway, and just before parking at the 'chateau' French Guy rolled down his window and tried to convince Monsieur Gentleman Farmer to allow us to shop a bit early ... mais, non. Even with all due charm, French Guy failed....and we returned home, used those spare 15 minutes to put a chicken in the oven, hop in the car and go back.

By the time we returned, at 6:40 pm, there was 5 people in line out the door of the little produce-shop that is run from the cellar of the chateau; they sell carrots, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, chard...(which I learned is called 'bette' here).....fresh milk, eggs....just about everything.  I bought wax-beans, potatoes, and chard...for less than 6 euro.

And, of course.....took some pictures on the way out.  It could easily become a daily venture.  I am evening toying with the idea of attaching a basket to the front of my bike and trekking there from home....sounds kind of Frenchy-quaint, huh?

 But I just adored 'le chateau' and the Gentleman Farmer and his wife who was so kind to me after hearing my attempts to speak French and my negotiations in English when I was speaking to Middle Garcon about which potatoes to chose and 'Please don't touch!' every single vegetable he saw!

The sun was shining, the cows were 'mooooo-ing' and I was head over heels in love with the sunflowers.....

Happy to find another place to be, to fold into our daily French life..... necessary pieces of good and beauty...

Hope you are having a wonderful week--summer is here finally, or summer has returned at last!  

A bientot--mes chers amis!

Belle Famille

I have got to pick up my camera this weekend--I mean--pick it up to shoot some pics.  Grandma is craving more pictures of Petite Fille and I need to be 'practicing' my people shots to get ready for Belle-Niece's wedding in September.  I took a group of 'engagement shots' of Belle Niece and her handsome fiance a few weeks ago at the beach down the road from our house.

As you can see hey are both adorably-gorgeous so it's not hard to take good pictures of them.  They are also a bit shy and don't like being the center of attention, so getting them to relax and enjoy is one of the challenges, but a good skill to learn as a photographer.... and besides, I like to direct (hee, hee,) just ask French Guy.

Big weekend coming up.  Desperately need to find a good 'flea market' to pick up some things for Sunday Brocantes.....there is the seasonal 'soldes' in Deauville (which is the French version of the summer side-walk sale--Ooh la! la!) we have been invited to dinner, postponed from Tuesday night on account that I was in bed and knocking on death's door not feeling well, and on Sunday we have a BBQ to go to at Oldest Garcon's school mate's house and there will also be some Brits there--so there will be English spoken too! (Woo-hee.) Beyond that I MUST clean this house!  I am so behind just from losing 24 hours to the Black Plague....and I have seriously been drying the same load of laundry in the dryer for two days now--appliances here in France are seriously lacking in efficiency...... another story!

Oh---and I need to take some pictures.  Maybe of food--or the market.  I like taking pictures of food--it doesn't make sudden moves....or talk....or blink.

But....Aren't they  just gorgeous, those two? I have such a belle-famille!

Busy weekend---hope you all have a fabulous one too!

Oven Roasted Tomatoes

I woke up this morning finally feeling a bit better after two days of a strange flu-like stomach bug.  Middle Garcon also got a touch of it 'sans fièvre'... and I must say for a solid 24 hours it felt like d-e-a-t-h...imagine being feverish, in bed with all of the body pains and nausea, dressed in t-shirt, sweater, pants, socks and a scarf, under the covers and for the life of me, I couldn't get warm.....in July. The phrase, 'Just shoot me now' echoing in my head....

Well I think I am back in the land of the living today...maybe well enough to do some cooking.  My mind (in between the feverish delirium of the past two days...) has been on exploring the idea of doing some canning this summer.  Produce is just gorgeous at the markets right now; peaches, cherries, plums, berries and loads of veggies. Petite Fille is starting on 'solids' or mushy stuff--and I have been steaming some veggies for her to try. So far carrots--one thumb up, sweet potatoes--one thumb up, and peas--two thumbs up!

So I thought I would share an easy summer recipe, because if you are lucky enough to have an excess of tomatoes this is a geat way to make them last longer (or not!) and inspire 101 uses for them, and if you don't yet have tomatoes and are stuck with the slightly hard and colorless 'Roma' variety from the grocery store, this recipe will help punch-up the flavor until the vine-ripe yummy summer ones are ready or available.

Provencale Oven Roasted Tomatoes

8 (at least) ripe or semi-ripe tomatoes--any variety
Olive oil
Sea Salt
Herbes de Provence
1-2 cloves garlic as you like
Balsamic vinegar

Set your oven at 325--ish....You can go lower and leave them longer--but if you do around 300 then they will be in there around 2 hours.

Wash and slice tomatoes....the fun part is cutting out the top and jamming your thumbs in to remove all of the slimy-seedy part...beware of getting covered in tomato juice, though.  Lay them out in a dish and sprinkle with about 1 tbs. of oil, 1 tsp. of Balsamic and the herbs and garlic, toss in some salt....toss with your hands and then rearrange the slices in a single layer on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

 Note: I generously use the Herbes de Provence...it's the kind of herb mix that is perfect for slow roasting and only gets more intense the longer you keep the tomatoes.  Careful with the garlic--it can overwhelm the flavor of the tomatoes.

Once in the oven, the tomatoes can go to an almost dry stage...you can leave them for up to 4 hours--but put your oven down to the 200's after 2 hours.  Your house will smell heavenly and the slices reduce down about 50%....when they are done store them in a glass container. If you don't eat them straight off the baking sheet like I do!

Endless ways to eat them---in a fresh herb omelet, on homemade pizza, in a roasted tomato salsa, tossed with pasta, or on a tomato 'tarte' (recipe to follow for that one!)

Oh--it's so good to be back to 'normal'!  Stay tuned for my canning-adventures...I have made jams in the past and some relishes and chutney, but I am going to see what new French-inpsired specialties inspire me!  Suggestions?  ........................

Bonne Journee--mes amis!

Rainy Monday ...

I am coming off a 'rain-hangover' from the weekend.  I am not complaining in a big-way because we have had some postcard perfect summer days--lots of them.  It's just that big plans I had yesterday--normal-like Sunday plans, got washed down the drain and although I was not deterred from thoroughly loving the Tour de France even after getting drowned in the last ten minutes a week ago, for some reason the rain of yesterday just managed to wet my spirits entirely.

On Saturday, French Guy drove his parents to Paris for a wedding and took Middle Garcon with him for the day.  It was pouring down in sheets--our fire pit out front soon turned into a 'koi-pond' sans poissons, but I loved staying inside, being cozy with Petite Fille, while Oldest Garcon was my tween-slave for the day...(on account of being grounded for endangering his and Middle Garcon's life by making a bad choice of going on an adventure and taking him along as 'hostage'...but that is another story!) On Saturday the rain was comforting and the three of us hunkered down inside.....I even made a cake to fill the house with warm-steamy-cakey-goodness.

Today I am feeling blah, my toes are cold, and I am missing people....that's a bad combo to start the week. It is supposed to rain for about 4 more days--not that I care mind you.  I like rain (Do you hear me up there you big bad ugly storm clouds!?!  I LIKE you!  You are not going to bother me!!)  In general I love summer rain showers.....it's just today I think, when they come neatly packaged with the other stuff I mentioned.

Right after a storm the other day I took some pictures in our slowly coming along front 'garden'.... actually not sure yet what to call it--when we arrived the house was sitting neatly in an ugly pile of sand and gravel and we have been slowly planting things and making it less 'gravel parking lot-like' and more well.....maybe.....'front courtyard garden-like' .... still with lots of gravel, but a bit prettier.

The space in the back of our house ends abruptly in the adjacent farmer's field, so we have no 'back-yard'....just more gravel and a tiny shed.  There is rhubarb growing just beyond arms reach--and behind that raspberries.....don't think I haven't thought about a late-night fruit-theft mission, but then I remind myself that in my current state of being 'between countries' I shouldn't mess with the local 'gendemarie'.....

Alright--now I am babbling when I should be searching for wool-socks and the phone so I can call a loved-one in the US and whine, er...'chat'.....

Wishing you a great week everyone!  May we all have some sunny July days again soon!

Le Tour

It's been just over a week since we ventured to 'Le Tour'.... I would like to claim that I am still getting over the effort to get there and the buzz of the excitement--but I think although the buzz remains, and will for quite some time (in my head anyway!) I can no longer claim that I am recovering from the day it took to get ready to go to it (a mere 25 minutes from home) and the day of it (9 hours of race-zone bliss) and the day after recouping the lost day (8 hours of laundry, house cleaning and menu-planning).....Really, it was only one day--but it swallowed up about 3 or 4 days.......and it was worth it!

I probably became a 'race-fan' while in college during my own 'foray' into cycling as a mountain biker.  I was dating a guy that was a mt. biker...his family was into cycling...and soon enough we were traveling all around on the weekends to follow races and compete. I did really well in a few races...placing second or third....(okay--so the field of women racers was 4.....but still.)  My favorite race was in West Virginia--Canaan Valley; a mostly single track 22 mile loop described as 'mild to wild, mountain bike madness'.... it was. It had it all, massive climbs, stream crossings, mud, rock, dust, dirt....killer down hills---yeah.  Believe it or not, dainty, feminine me---loved it. (Didn't even break a nail!)  I spent most of that race with the 'sweeper'--the guy that is at the end of the pack to make sure that no-one is left behind....me and the sweeper,  my buddy.

So around that time -- I also became a fan of the Tour de France... and maybe somewhere in the very back of my mind, toyed with idea of someday traveling to France--to see it in person..... someday.....little did I know.....

I knew that the race would be passing through Lisieux which is just less than 30 minutes from our house.  A week before the start I demanded suggested, that we should go.  Lisieux was a finish destination for stage six... so we could go there and hang out and wait with a good chance of seeing racers as it was the end to a leg rather than just a pass-through.  So after I sweetly requested stomped my feet and pouted to go.....the plan was made; picnic, sunscreen, activities for the long wait, games charged, two diaper bags...and yes, umbrellas (remember that part--it will be important later).

Off we went--arriving  8 hours before the racers would show up.  We were in a blissful, excited, anticipatory mood.... for about 3 hours....It was a long day.  There was the parade of 'freebies' tossed at the crowd.  The garcons collected hats, giant foam hands, snacks, pom-poms.....As much as I wanted the garcons to instantly turn into cycling-FANATICs just simply from breathing in the air that surrounded the pending arrival of the pelaton---they were totally into grabbing up the freebies from the 'caravanne' that were tossed haphazardly (yes, I was pelted with a 'Bic' key chain that left a small painful dent in my chin!) into the eager crowd....it was chaos and happy mayhem.....it was all about the 'loot'.....really, who needed cyclists? ........ uh?.....moi! 

Finally after the 7 plus hour wait--we decided to pull up the stakes and move-camp to get a better vantage point...French Guy took Petite Fille back to the car--she had had enough--too much noise, wind and........dark, looming STORM clouds.  So he headed back to the car with Oldest Garcon...with all of our bags and stroller and picnic supplies....and UMBRELLAS...and Middle Garcon and I held fort along the railing at the 450 meter mark to the finish line--I was already hanging over the rail monkey-style with my camera---waiting for the blur of riders....poised in antipation of the moment I had waited for for TWENTY-FIVE years! (I was two when I became a race-fan......honestly). Then.......8 minutes from the pelaton and.......cue wind, cue darkness......cue..........DOWNPOUR!  Middle Garcon and I were caught---shelter-less and umbrella-less in an 8 minute deluge of cold wetness......did we run for the car?  Did we move from our prime race viewing spot at 450 meters and 8 minutes left to go until the racers appeared.....after TWENTY-FIVE years of waiting to see Le Tour in person.......No.  I ducked my head, put my camera under my shirt and sat down on the pavement, I sent Middle Garcon to crawl underneath a semi-truck that was parked next to us....(p-a-r-k-e-d....perfectly safe...really.) and we waited it out.....for this....

and this.....

 and this....

and finally....

Was it worth it?  Days of preparation? Packing enough to stay for a week?  Seven hours of waiting?........

What do you think? 

Vive le Tour!  Bon weekend mes amis!

French Peach Cobbler

When I found we had an abundance of French peaches (yes! grown right here in Cheeseland, Southern Cheeseland I would guess...) I asked French Guy what I should make with them, and he answered 'Cobbler!' Much to my surprise because I expected him to suggest some kind of tarte or even confiture....so I Googled a recipe, feeling that to do it right I had to pay homage to the 'classic' cobbler, and besides I don't really like baking or making deserts at all, and needed to get a jump start.  My last desert was a disaster!--From my Williams and Sonoma desert book-- Panacotta; a runny, non-gelled, sweet sticky mess.  Seriously it is like milk-jello gone bad.  Yuck.

So I found a recipe and then 'Frenched-it-up!'....to go with the French peaches--bien sur!  I used almond flour in place of some of the wheat flour, added cinnamon and almond flavoring and my 'secret' ingredient-- Pineau! Pineau is a regional French aperitif made from a blend of unfermented grape must and Cognac.  It is lite and fruity and not too sweet and really punches up the flavor of the peaches!

French Peach Cobbler:

4 cups peaches, peeled and cut into slices
3/4 cups brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp. almond extract
2 tbs. white flour
3 tbs. Pineau

Combine all of these ingredients. Butter a baking dish or ramekins. and fill with peach mixture.

Next, for the cobbler part:

1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 tbs. brown sugar
4 tbs. sweet butter
2/3 cup plain yogurt (the orginal recipe calls for 'buttermilk' which is not normally found here in France)
1 egg

Mix the dry ingredients and 'cut-in' the butter until you have a course mixture.  Add the yogurt and egg and mix well.  The mixture will be a little lumpy and gloppy--that's fine!  Place a large 'glop' on the peach mixture.  Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

The finished cobbler has an amazing texture thanks to the almond flour and the moisture of the yogurt and the peaches are bright, sweet-tart and really fragrant thanks to the Pineau.  Creating this recipe renewed my interest in attempting deserts again and I love the combo of warm comfort food and fresh summer flavor! Especially on a rainy cool summer day!

Enjoy!

Ode to the 'Middle Guy'....

Today was the end-of-school-year celebration at my 'middle guy's' school.  He has finished the school year; the vague equivalent to first-grade year at his cute and very small school in the next town about 5 minutes from our house. Today there was a 'theatre' performance of singing and modern contemporary dance performances .... (Yeah, I know! Cool!)

The program had an international theme....yes, even a few songs in Anglais!  There was also a carnival with games and a raffle...sausages smoking on the BBQ, chips and snacks for the kiddos and aperitifs and 'Kir' for the parents....

Middle guy has only recently become 'middle guy'... since the birth of his sister, 'Petite Fille' at the beginning of this year.  Before that he enjoyed 7 solid years as my youngest...the baby of the family....the last... and now he is the middle guy and I need to Google all the concepts of "The Power of Birth Order" as described by Dr. Leman, Scientific American Magazine, Time, and Parenting magazine to sort out what is now ahead of him in life in light of being ousted from 'baby' to 'middle'...... soon .... when I have time ..... put that on the list......

Tonight I just felt compelled to write a short 'shout-out' to my sweet middle-boy.  Because today in midst of the very adorable classmates, international flags, dedicated teachers...and all of that smoky BBQ inferno in the court yard of his adorable school---I got a little bit teary.  Because.....oh, here it comes again..... My boy is amazing.  

It's not just the end of the school year....as I have said before he will repeat the year due to the language challenge... so it's not that first grade graduation feeling....it's more than that.  My kid survived....in a BIG way.  Bigger than most people realize.  Middle Guy has had his 'issues' in life so far.  My sweet boy (and yes! challenging boy!) began his life with developmental challenges.  That's all I plan to say about it at this time....where my heart is as I write this is not all about that.  It is more about that he got through a year of school, in a new place, a new country, a new culture in a new language...and he did good.....really, really good.  He managed to keep up, enough to actively participate in class, he learned some French, and he made friends and even more than that---he finished.

So here is my little tribute to this boy--who continues to teach me to 'rise-above' every single day......some pictures of our morning in celebration, a proud mommy and a bright and glowing day.

  Je t'aime mon garcon---tu as bien fait.

A bientot, mes amis.

Independence Day

Oh dear.  I just realized I may just have to stay off Facebook until after the 4th of July... ever see a girl get all weepy over Independence Day? ... Not pretty.  Holidays are tough, especially the ones I have known all of my life and now live in a place that they are not celebrated, or celebrated the same as is true in some cases.  What does Facebook have to do with it?  Well, the majority of my family is assembling at my Aunt and Uncle's lake house in upstate NY for the annual family reunion....and are already heralding their excitement and their travel plans on FB.....other friends are planning their BBQ's and get-togethers too.  It of course, is only a matter of time before picnics, hot-dogs, potato salad and fireworks is the number one topic on my 'home' page.

 Now it may come as a surprise, that the Fourth of July is not big here in France. (And neither was 'Cinco de Mayo'--go figure.)  So although in exchange we do get Bastille Day on the 14th (which is similar, sort of) but it just isn't that hometown celebration with friends and family that I pine for.  Now to be fair, even if we were still in Washington we most likely would not have been able to make it to the East Coast for the reunion--but it's still hard to think of that kind of gathering and not feel a little nostalgic.  For years the 4th of July was also a celebration of my grandparents anniversary--fun day to get married don't you think?  There are dozens of pictures of them balancing the 'American Flag Cake' on their lap.  You know the one?  The Cool-Whip covered cake with the blueberries and strawberries making up the stars and stripes?  Yeah,  that one.  How lucky they were....they always had a big family gathering each year to celebrate their anniversary, and they always had fireworks (they really did!).
Last year on the 4th, we had only arrived a few weeks before...we literally stumbled upon a 4th of July parade in a tiny town called Bonnebosq, here in Normandy.  I kid you not.  It was a true 4th of July party and we drove into the town, were stopped by parade barracades and had no choice but to park the car and watch the parade. 

 The pictures are posted in this entry....and I felt incredibly lucky that day almost a year ago now--getting that small dose of 'home' that I already so desperately needed.

So where do you think we are going back to this July 4th?  You got it!  Back to Bonnebosq! ... Mais Oui! Bien Sur!  The sweet thing is that we are pretty sure that the little town has no idea what they are 'celebrating' or parade-ing for!  But we do!

All I know is that when you can't have family reunions, fireworks and hot dogs.... that there is nothing better than Fourth of July, American Independence Day--- French style!

Happy 4th of July mes amis Americains!