Food and Flowers

Work on the buildings is taking second place to maintenance of the grounds... and to Kevin's latest expedition into the culinary world. While I mounted the tractor for an uber-mow, he created a vat of courgette soup. Yes. And it tasted divine! He then produced a glorious paella, which we shared with Erwin, our neighbouring apprentice farmer, who just happened to pass by to say hello at precisely the same time that a family of thirteen appeared on our drive, apparently just curious to see our animal and crop-less farm. After being subjected to a dose of my terrible French, they left, and Erwin came in for coffee. We've developed our coffee-making skills, and the French are increasingly happy to drink it. We took pity on Erwin after hearing his ailing calf story and invited him to dinner. He enjoyed the soup and paella. We made him play Skip-Bo.




Image result for chrysanthemums toussaints

During our expeditions into the hinterland, we have noticed that many shops are selling great big space hopper-sized bouffants of chrysanthemums, and prominently advertising their arrival. Turns out it's all to do with my birthday! True. Toussaints, or All Saints Day to some of you, is a national holiday here in France, and it is traditional to buy chrysanthemums and take them to the graves of loved ones. It is not advised to give these beautiful bursts of floral colour as a gift to anyone (unless they're dead), nor is it usual to display them in the home. Shame... because they're gorgeous, and also the 'birthday flower' for November.



 Good night.

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