Dear friends and family,
It is always the battle between books and blog. The reason for the slight delay in this latest update is the books were winning. I have lately been caught up in epic historical fiction. For the last couple of weeks it has been the first two parts in Ken Follet's trilogy on the 20th century. Each over 900 pages, but very gripping. The third part is due out September 20th. I am now reading Edward Rutherfurd's "Paris." It is a history of the city as you follow several generations of the same families. I have enjoyed two of his previous books, one on London and the other on New York. What I have come to enjoy about this genre is that you become more intimately connected to the somewhat abstract historical events through characters who are living through them. Enough for the book section of this blog.
As it always is, the last week to 10 days become busy as you try to cram all that you haven't done into the final block of time. Sunday we had a lovely lunch at a country chateau about 30 minutes away. The great thing about Ann is that she knows every restaurant, marché, fête in the valley. Sunday was sunny and the place was trés tranquil.
And the lunch was to die for. After a sies of divine "amuse bouche," We had starters of salmon paté with additional pieces of raw salmon along the top
In the upper right hand corner there was a shrimp in a delicate fennel sauce. The main course was duck in a kind of raspberry sauce with a colorful variety of cauliflower served aound the fowl.
Ann picked out a Cahors red and we finished off with a sort of chocolate brownie served with coffee ice cream. Fabulous!
As I mentioned last time, I also got out for a walk in the counteyside outside of Puy L'Eveque. I drove for about 15 minutes and began my walk through the village of Grezels
It is in the heart of wine country
And, while there is still a good month until harvest, the vines are loaded
I contined along the road for about 2 1/2 miles, going through a second village, Lagardelle, and passing a number of wonderful French homes
And even got a glimpse of the Chateau de la Coste, above me on the hill
Beautiful country and so quiet with the most spectacular green shades I have ever witnessed.
The only problem is that I was gone about 2 hours, by the time you drive out, walk the 5 miles and get back in the car for the drive back. Polley was getting ready to call out the Foreign Legion! However, it was a lovely morning jaunt.
This last week we have planned a couple of dinners out and Ann is hosting a dinner party for us and some of her friends that we have met in the past. I will tey for one more repost from France. Friday we head for Toulouse for the night and they fly a very circuitous route to Athens, going from Toulouse to Frankfurt and from Franfurt to Athens, where we will, again, spend the night before flying to Crete on Sunday. Oh, the joy of free tickets! More by the end of the week.
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