A Republican Baptism

My daughter and son in law decided to baptise their baby daughter but didn't feel like involving the church.   There is in France what is called a baptême républicain also called a civil baptism.    This happens before the Maire of the village or town and is symbolic really as has no real value although the godparents are morally advised to overlook education, and teach the child republicain values until the age of 18.  The child receives a beautiful certificate and gives everyone the chance to get together and have a jolly good day.

En route for the Mairie this Saturday.

The smallest Mairie in France.

Gathering in front before the ceremony.

Léli Louise and Isabel.

Just enough room for the baptised to be girl and parents.

The dearest little shoe.

The cousins.

One happy baptised Adèle.

Opening of the presents after a simply sumptious lunch.

Then the serious business begins.  Tarot.

A wonderful day to remember forever.

Truffle jar

Last night we had a wonderful dinner with friends.  They live in Paris most of the time but come to the "country" for a weekend break.    Food is their passion and although they had been in their weekend house for a couple of hours only - they had had time to grill a fish on the open fire and prepare these three vegetable dishes. 

Carrots, green beans and puree of courgette with garden sauge/sage.  The fish had a delicate flavour of smoke, the colours of the exquisite dinner service,  lovely wooden table and aromas of the wood fire made me immortalise this moment.

There was a present for Jean Marie.     Catherine who has been on truffle hunts with Jean Marie - had found this delightful truffle jar in a vide grenier.   Such a lovely shape - I have been looking on the web to find out the origin of the curved glass and why it would be called a truffle jar.    So far no luck - there are other truffle jars on ebay for instance but none quite like this one.    Can anyone enlighten me?   Would love to hear from you.

Prizegiving

It is the tradition on the 14th of July to play petanque or boules.   With the village of Viserny in the background the new school building has the most perfect flat sandy meeting place. 

Mimi waiting for others to arrive for the 7pm aperitif.

 This year we were invited by the municipality to decorate an useful object

in the patriotic colours.  There was an interesting selection of objects presented.   A ladder, basket, bicycle and

I made a little bag and decorated it in bleu blanc rouge of course.

Paris Match with the General de Gaulle and the Queen - this entry was brought by our newly arrived British couple in the village.   A prize was won

The children played games, while others chased the cochonet.

And we all enjoyed a great meal.  Vive la France et bon appetit.

A brand new workshop

What a week.   This time last Sunday Jean Marie and I were discussing what we could do with my "to be"

workroom downstairs.  A dirty old carpet - dampy smell and flaky paint would describe this room.       I wanted a wood floor as I think this is so warm and welcoming to any room - so went to the shop and bought what was needed.   Jean Marie worked non stop all week long taking up the carpet, putting down this floor and believe me it was hard work as none of the walls are straight.    So this is the result ...

Old shelves sanded down and put back to back with a large formica top make a superb working table.

The shelves are bare for the moment but won't be empty for long as I am eager to start organizing.   Bravo Jean Marie and thank you for doing this for me.    As soon as the shop has been sold and I have moved out this will be my new office/workshop.   

sardines at the café

The most incredibly busy day yesterday - Sunday usually my day off.   Had to get up at 5:30 am to start getting ready for the annual vide grenier in my village.    


Taking out all the rubbish from my garage took quite a while and to my amazement the village was already crawling with people - parking their cars, vans and trucks and unloading boxes and baskets and sofas, and chairs.    Interestingly enough baskets, lamps, fire guards, wood chest of drawers and tables are not à la mode anymore - but DVD's, '60s furniture and objets, toys and childrens clothes sell well.

 The organizers were putting up the tent for the buvette and overhearing their conversation one asked the other for a "sardine".   Well at 7am in the morning I thought it a bit odd and well a new one on me eating sardines with café   - anyway at he end of the day we had (yes another)  bottle of sparkling local wine and again the subject of these sardines came up.   

Turns out that this is a folklorique way of saying tent picks - there are three terms.  
"Piquets" which are metal stalks with a crochet loop at the end for firm ground.
"Sardines" - flat metal bars for hard soil or ground
"Marquereaux" -  large sardines or very large flat metal bars for very hard soil


Sardine obviously comes from the way these little fish are packed together so tightly but marquereaux ? well I'm open to discussion.   Have a good week everyone.

Walnut liqueur but don't be in a hurry to serve it.

Vincent's mother practically lives off the land.   Her larder is stacked high with jars and pots of liqueurs, terrines, truffles and confits all picked from her garden or in the surounding countryside.   I asked her what she was doing tomorrow.   Making walnut liqueur was her reply.   Green walnut picking time is very short as walnuts in June have special flavours and aromas which disappear in ripe hardened autumn walnuts.   Wow - intrigued she gave me her special recipe which I shall share with you.  First put on your rubber gloves as walnuts produce a stain which cannot be removed from fingers easily.
Take 25 thoroughly washed green walnuts picked directly off the tree or bought at the market and cut them in half.  Place in a jar with 500 grs of cristalized sugar. 





  Leave this in a dark cupboard for one year shaking or turning it upside down to let the sugar absorb the walnut juice.  Filter the juice and put back into the jar with 1 small glass of eau de vie or (alcohol fruit) let it mix thoroughly - leave for another couple of months and serve as an aperitif "fait maison" to your guests.  The real taste of walnuts is amazing and well worth the effort and wait.



 

Orgy in the garden

Now what on earth is this you might ask. 

My rhubarb in the early stages of growth.  Today beginning of June it has grown to full size and is more like this.  

 But the trouble with my rhubarb this year is that it has not turned red.  Usually  it grows prolifically in gorgeous greenish pink bouquets.  Although there is nothing technically wrong with the green variety, it just doesn’t look so appetizing.   No one relishes the thought of eating something green and slimy.  So I have solved the problem by cooking it with strawberries and redcurrants - compote - crumble - add a little cinammon and nutmeg  - delicious.

The trouble with living in the country is that at this time of the year there is so much work to do - having finished with the rhubarb - there are cherries to be eaten.

Then on our walk these tiny wild strawberries just waiting to be put in a bowl of fresh cream.

Now look what Jean Marie has brought - redcurrants.   Ummm - so excuse me while I rush to the supermarket to buy more sugar.  It will be gelée time tomorrow.