Kale blossoms! So many surprises outside. Last night my ears were tickled by the call of les grenouilles, or frogs. And then there were those poppies I told you about….
Springtime is here! Forgive me for not posting a word or a sound file today–but there will be vocabulary sprinkled throughout this post–like seeds scattered in the back yard potager!
La Guetteuse. Our, spotter (or watcher or guetteur) Braise. She's as territorial as any female! Every gal needs boundaries, can I hear you say yea!
More wine paraphernalia my husband (Chief Grape) dragged home. The barrels are good for catching rainwater. In the background, part of a bed is overturned. "Upended" is a good way to describe the situation here at the moment (week two of the kitchen renovation…)
We are getting creative, washing dishes in the bathroom sink, drip drying them in the bidet, and stocking them in the tub.
You'd rather see a picture of an empty kitchen, than a full bidet, no?
When I can't stand the cramped quarters of home any longer, I head out back….
Euphorbia peplus! Radium weed, I've been looking for you–and here you were are along, next to the old well.
Like a worker ant, or fourmis, my husband stores up for winter. He's found an original solution for how to stock firestarter! (Re Domaine Rouge-Bleu, don't miss their USA Wine Tour. Click here to see if they'll be visiting your city (and please give my cousin Audrey a hug, she'll be representing her family vineyard Domaine Banneret)
The charming laundry baskets came with the house. The small panier holds clothespins; the other panier holds le linge. Now if only Mama Braise, my helper, would learn to use them! But who can blame her for stopping to smell the flowers?
Les mufliers, or snapdragons in the back yard. On the right, a metal ladder leads up to the former water tower. Now we have eau de ville, so no more need to store a tank up there. But my mom would like to store a bed up there, and could we put in a nice little balcony for her too, she wonders? Wonder is good and wandering even better–so lets continue on….
The fruit cart he dragged home. When you are married to a winemaker they can't help but dream of their own roadside stand. Chief Grape's dream may soon come true…. Meantime, his stand warms up our front yard.
Meantime I dream of seedlings! I've snagged a few of Chief Grape's wine crates and filled them with sticks, then leaves, then soil, then, compost. What seed would not thrive here?
(P.S. the purpose of Association Kokopelli is to provide access to open-pollinated seeds, as a way to alleviate hunger and promote sustainable food security. –Wikipedia)
"Pop Eye," or poppy! It surely looked like a tulip but it's a poppy (it's got all those lovely blue-black spikes inside). The lesson of this story is: méfiez-vous des apparences (nothing is quite as it seems).
I hope these photos brighten your weekend. Please send up a good thought for me, too, as these past few days have been a bit of an épreuve, or trial. But as the saying goes:
Qui ne tente rien n'a rien
Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Anemones for Erin. Please send out bouquets of positive energy to Erin, who has designed the beautiful interior of my book and who has received hundreds of emails from me with detailed changes each time. Erin, you and Tamara (cover designer, book orchestrator) truly are a gift from above. I cannot thank you enough. Here's to the team at TLC Graphics!
A shout-out to Chef Alain Braux, who was a tremendous help in editing my soon-to-be released book First French Essais! Please check out this Frenchman's popular and beloved cookbooks:
- Living Gluten and Dairy-Free with French Gourmet Food: A Practical Guide
- Paleo French Cuisine: A Paleo Practical Guide with Recipes
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
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I am loving the purple poppies in that last pic, Kristin. Spring blossoms seem so far off here on the East Coast. You are blessed to have such beautiful scenery to give you at least momentary pauses during these last efforts on your book. The simultaneous kitchen renovation can’t be helping, so I send you best wishes from across the big pond.
I am loving the purple poppies in that last pic, Kristin. Spring blossoms seem so far off here on the East Coast. You are blessed to have such beautiful scenery to give you at least momentary pauses during these last efforts on your book. The simultaneous kitchen renovation can’t be helping, so I send you best wishes from across the big pond.
Thank you very much for this springtime tour of your garden !
I love mufliers, or “gueules de loup” (wolf’s mouth).
Children usually love to gently squeeze their flowers in the middle : they open widely and… just look like the laaaarge mouth of a wolf !
and… this poppy is definitely a poppy !! 😉
Have a lovely weekend.
Thank you very much for this springtime tour of your garden !
I love mufliers, or “gueules de loup” (wolf’s mouth).
Children usually love to gently squeeze their flowers in the middle : they open widely and… just look like the laaaarge mouth of a wolf !
and… this poppy is definitely a poppy !! 😉
Have a lovely weekend.
Beautiful pics. Having a few bad days myself, I can understand frustrations.
Good luck and take care.
Beautiful pics. Having a few bad days myself, I can understand frustrations.
Good luck and take care.
Well, you were right to suggest I not be fooled by that “tulip”. It is indeed a shape-shifter!
Well, you were right to suggest I not be fooled by that “tulip”. It is indeed a shape-shifter!
Hi Kristin! Hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend! We finally have some sun and 45 degrees here in Charlottesville, VA. I’m hearing the birds chirping and I feel like I need to get out and plant. Your photos have gotten me into the gardening mood! The photo with Braise and the clothes line…looks like pink zinnias there? Lovely! Hope your renovations are going smoothly! I had to laugh at a bidet full of dishes!
Hi Kristin! Hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend! We finally have some sun and 45 degrees here in Charlottesville, VA. I’m hearing the birds chirping and I feel like I need to get out and plant. Your photos have gotten me into the gardening mood! The photo with Braise and the clothes line…looks like pink zinnias there? Lovely! Hope your renovations are going smoothly! I had to laugh at a bidet full of dishes!
Spring has come to your home! I look forward to ours but it is not yet here. Gray rainy day and very cool for us. Love the empty kitchen – now you get to enjoy to fun part! Making it your own. Enjoying your lovely purple bouquet. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day.
Spring has come to your home! I look forward to ours but it is not yet here. Gray rainy day and very cool for us. Love the empty kitchen – now you get to enjoy to fun part! Making it your own. Enjoying your lovely purple bouquet. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day.
Was there supposed to be a photo of the laundry baskets mentioned? I didn’t see one. The other photos are wonderful, especially the last one. Here, outside Washington, D.C., today is predicted to be sunny and up to 60 degrees, so I may do some outdoor work, as well.
Names of plants in different languages are interesting. In Russian, a snapdragon is “l’vinny zyev,” or “lion’s yawn.”
Was there supposed to be a photo of the laundry baskets mentioned? I didn’t see one. The other photos are wonderful, especially the last one. Here, outside Washington, D.C., today is predicted to be sunny and up to 60 degrees, so I may do some outdoor work, as well.
Names of plants in different languages are interesting. In Russian, a snapdragon is “l’vinny zyev,” or “lion’s yawn.”
Oh my…simply breath taking. Meanwhile back in canada I was thinking we were having a marvelous spring day…blue skys and only -10. Ah I can dream of France until my garden melts some time in April. Thank you for the break.
Oh my…simply breath taking. Meanwhile back in canada I was thinking we were having a marvelous spring day…blue skys and only -10. Ah I can dream of France until my garden melts some time in April. Thank you for the break.
A cold, gloomy, soon to be drippy day has been brightened by Braise and your colorfully rich repertoire of spring blooms, Kristin. (Even the laundry is gorgeous.) A sign of an eternal optimist, to find such beauty in the midst of upheaval. You seem to have creative ways to deal with it all. Thank you for such an uplifting glimpse of spring!
A cold, gloomy, soon to be drippy day has been brightened by Braise and your colorfully rich repertoire of spring blooms, Kristin. (Even the laundry is gorgeous.) A sign of an eternal optimist, to find such beauty in the midst of upheaval. You seem to have creative ways to deal with it all. Thank you for such an uplifting glimpse of spring!
A big hug to Chris and to everyone here. My kids have stolen me away and this drive is doing wonders for the soul. Now to quit checking comments and pay attention to my sons driving 🙂
A big hug to Chris and to everyone here. My kids have stolen me away and this drive is doing wonders for the soul. Now to quit checking comments and pay attention to my sons driving 🙂
Kristi Darling,
I love you Honey – this post was so refreshing, only if you could bottle the Provence air, which is the first thing I notice when I walk out of the airport terminal in Marseille. There is nothing that comes close to that first breath.
Great photos – how about a nice 10 minute video walk around during the magic hour of light.
XOXO
MOM
Kristi Darling,
I love you Honey – this post was so refreshing, only if you could bottle the Provence air, which is the first thing I notice when I walk out of the airport terminal in Marseille. There is nothing that comes close to that first breath.
Great photos – how about a nice 10 minute video walk around during the magic hour of light.
XOXO
MOM
PHOTO #2 shows the big almond tree moving into full bloom, this is the tree JM fell out of last summer and dislocated his shoulder.
PHOTO #2 shows the big almond tree moving into full bloom, this is the tree JM fell out of last summer and dislocated his shoulder.
such a charming home in a land of beauty. here on the east coast all is still cold, grey and deadly looking. i LOVE your husband’s idea of a roadside stand for his wine! i came from a recent trip to Hawai’i where you see people selling most anything on the road sides—and now, of course, i want to pack my kits (literally, my two cats) and go there to do the same.
you can’t imagine how much it means to someone just renting a room in a dreary New Jerssey “berg” to be inspired by others who made their dreams come through. your kitchen reno may seem a series of annoyances, but to me it sounds like heaven: a family and a kitchen of my own. not everyone has even one part of this.
such a charming home in a land of beauty. here on the east coast all is still cold, grey and deadly looking. i LOVE your husband’s idea of a roadside stand for his wine! i came from a recent trip to Hawai’i where you see people selling most anything on the road sides—and now, of course, i want to pack my kits (literally, my two cats) and go there to do the same.
you can’t imagine how much it means to someone just renting a room in a dreary New Jerssey “berg” to be inspired by others who made their dreams come through. your kitchen reno may seem a series of annoyances, but to me it sounds like heaven: a family and a kitchen of my own. not everyone has even one part of this.
I love all the beautiful photos of your yard, Kristin. Here in Orange County, CA, we are blessed to have spring/summer weather already. Today it will be in the 80sF. (We could actually use some rain though!)
I love all the beautiful photos of your yard, Kristin. Here in Orange County, CA, we are blessed to have spring/summer weather already. Today it will be in the 80sF. (We could actually use some rain though!)
Thanks for the beautiful photso of beautiful blooms.
Hope your kitchen turns out as you want it.
When you posted photos of it soon after you moved in, I thought that was one room that would need no work, it looked so good. But you are the ones cooking in it and know best.
Still waiting for the snow to melt here. By the equinox, I do hope.
Thanks for the beautiful photso of beautiful blooms.
Hope your kitchen turns out as you want it.
When you posted photos of it soon after you moved in, I thought that was one room that would need no work, it looked so good. But you are the ones cooking in it and know best.
Still waiting for the snow to melt here. By the equinox, I do hope.
I hope that you are having a wonderful Dimanche! Everything looks so beautiful there (thank you for NOT showing the bidet to pop the bubble) but please give some extra loving to Braise from me if you get a chance! How crazy I am for your two…even if my two are charming as well. 😉 Hooray for Goldens!
I hope that you are having a wonderful Dimanche! Everything looks so beautiful there (thank you for NOT showing the bidet to pop the bubble) but please give some extra loving to Braise from me if you get a chance! How crazy I am for your two…even if my two are charming as well. 😉 Hooray for Goldens!
Thank you for the link for “Living Gluten and Dairy-Free with French Gourmet Food”. Our oldest son is GFCF, so I’m sure he’ll find it interesting. Plus, his birthday is coming up, so just had to order. Don’t see many books on Amazon with 5 stars after dozens of reviews.
It’s frustrating trying to accommodate dietary restrictions, but if he ends up learning French cooking, I’d call that a win!
Thank you for the link for “Living Gluten and Dairy-Free with French Gourmet Food”. Our oldest son is GFCF, so I’m sure he’ll find it interesting. Plus, his birthday is coming up, so just had to order. Don’t see many books on Amazon with 5 stars after dozens of reviews.
It’s frustrating trying to accommodate dietary restrictions, but if he ends up learning French cooking, I’d call that a win!