The Colors Yellow and Purple define April: the surrounding fields, gardens and verges are filled with them

Forsythia, Cowslip and Colza (Canola)

 


At the end of April we went to a brocante/vide grenier (empty the attic) in Champagne-Mouton (mouton = sheep)  47kms east of here. I knew Linda and Rod of the gite we lived in for 4 months were going too... So a few minutes after we arrive I think to myself - Hmm, I wonder if we will see  L  i  n  d  a  (that is me scanning the scene) and Voila there they were in front of us!  Weird but not too unexpected.
I had my camera with me, as I always do, and I was looking around thinking -I don't want to take the same ole' vide grenier photos of stalls and people milling around.  When Linda and I had been talking I pointed to a radio which was a pair of plastic boobs, nipples for knobs and an antenna. We had a good laugh. After we had parted and Brian and I were wandering around I thought of that old American saying: 'The things you see when you don't have your gun' and this led to me think - 'The things you see when you do have your camera'.  
So I went back to photograph the boobs and then looked for unusual objects d'art and managed to get some good shots.
 Click on photos to enlarge. 

Not what you would expect at a french sale, what a HOOT! 

 I Love this stuff.

Naked Barbie in a jug, fluffy chairs, Toast O Matic, A baby alligator?? In France?

 BBQ fired up to cook sausages and other meaty favorites at lunchtime.

Soooo delightfully French

Each VG we scour the stalls for an old chest. We finally found one we liked, Brian bargained for it and now it is ours. 

Off we go to the car with it on Brian's shoulder and on our drive out of the small town we see another area of stalls. So, we park and go to see what is available. About 10 minutes into the foray we hear a Scottish accent. To cut to the chase: Brian starts a conversation with the man and his wife and finally (after weird squinting at him on my part because he just seemed too young) we recognized him as one of Scotland's very well known comic/actors - Gregor Fisher. If you have ever viewed the Railway Children you would have seen him in his role as the station master or in Love Actually where he played the rock star's manager. Although he has done many movies and TV shows, his most famous role is that of Rab C. Nesbitt a long running TV show of the same name. Brian's brother could possibly recite every line from every episode.  It turns out that Gregor and wife Vicki Burton, an actress, purchased a house in the area four months ago ... Very lovely and down to earth people.
 
Before we parted I asked if it would be too crass to take a photo for Brian's brother. He humorously replied - "It is always for the brother"!!  

So, my WISH "to take photos of the things you do see when you have a camera" was prescient. It really paid off with a photo of Brian with two movie stars; for his brother of course!

A few months ago I joined a woman's group (over 1200 members) on Facebook and recently attended a luncheon in my area. Brian makes flavorful curry so I have tasted it, but sad to say though it was my first time eating at an Indian Restaurant! I found it quite tasty especially accompanied by the different condiments and naan bread. I met a few ladies but one in particular, Linda, has become a friend. We were connected by the discovery that she knew someone in a village close to us who knows a friend of mine in Canada! Small world as they say. The group is informative and very supportive. So many English speaking women live in rural areas and deal with the same quandaries: where to buy this or that, what is the name for blank, business and legal questions,  names of local doctors, dentists, hairdressers, etc and just general friendship. There is a wealth of knowledge concerning the bureaucracy of France, which can be daunting, and is willing shared. The composition is mainly British women but a few other nationalities, including French are represented as well.
From that group I jumped into a Facebook non profit group, administrated by extremely dedicated women, which raises funds for animal charities. They do amazing work. Unfortunately, the rural French do not have the much regard for animal welfare and often abandon or keep them in abusive situations. But, also a phenomenom is occurring now- many Brits are returning to the UK 'penniless' and cannot afford to take their pets with them and so they are abandoning their animals - horses, goats, dogs and cats. Thank goodness for the admirable work done by these women.

Returning to Brian's cooking, we decided it was time, after 35 years, that maybe I should take over some of the cooking.  I planned a week's menu of specific meals, made a list and was about to set off to the supermarché when Brian 'volunteered' to go with me, more like supervision really.  As many of our friends know, the only reason I would have gone into the grocery store in Florida was to buy wine or cheese! There, I refused to look at the meat counter but here there are so many more, shall I say 'unusual' looking items for sale, but somehow I don't find them quite so off-putting.  

The first meal I attempted was Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Lemon Cream Sauce.  Yummmmm. However, when the shrimp which were packaged in a non-see through bag were defrosted and Brian tested one, it tasted so, so disgusting!
How disgusting were they??  They were so disgusting that the village feral cats would not eat them. Shrimp with black bits showing through the shell don't look very good nor well.
I substituted a can of crab meat but that only sucked up the sauce and made the pasta dry. I am not destined to be a cook but I think I can pick out a good recipe or two for Brian to make into a great meal. Life as is should be.


 

 My fascination with the sky continues - we were driving back from somewhere south and this sky was lit up just like this - no 'photoshopping' of this picture - it is the real thing. I was captivated by the flat bottomed cloud and the light emanating from behind it. I took many more photos as the sun set but this is at its best.




Also, in April we were presented with a sunset that was 360 degrees. I went into the kitchen, which faces east, and I saw the brilliant reflection of the sunset and knew it must be a super colorful sky in the west and it was.

      As we usually we have pink and blue sunsets - this was a true gift!

I gleefully pranced and danced on tiptoes in the back garden, breathless, quietly shouting - WOW! OMG! HOH What an amazing sky! I was literally beside myself with childlike joy!

Now, like most of Northern Europe, we are awaiting the warmth of spring/summer and the abundance it will bring along.
Will leave you with that thought. 
A bientot!

Jo et Brian