Sometimes you can land yourself in it following on from conversations with friends.
Random exchanges and chats with Anne (during her recent wet and cold trip wine tasting to the Languedoc) means that I have set myself a challenge for food and wine weekends here at Chateau Colombier.
My plan is to create 26 "amuses bouches" (little tasters - think tapas) to go with 26 different regional wines and drinks.
Why 26? Because that's the number of the department of the Drome.
I'm very happy for visitors to help - in ideas, in preparation, in sourcing products and wines, in wine and food tasting, and for the photos and tasting notes.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Happy in Provence
A blog Happy faces, Happy places by Matthew Taylor reminded me of a conversation with Josef Gehrmann from Muenster - he and his family were house guests here at Le Colombier this easter.
On the dining room wall I have a picture of Van Gogh's The Potato Eaters. It's a dark and sombre picture - and I just liked the contrast with my environment here in Provence.
It's a reminder that I'm here, not there.
It was Josef who pointed out how much the darkness - and depression - of this Van Gogh painting contrasts with the brighness of, for example, his famous sunflowers, painted, of course, in the light of Provence.
The light of Provence is almost a cliche - it is amazing, and undescribable. But the effect it has on your emotions - and your happiness - is very real.
On the dining room wall I have a picture of Van Gogh's The Potato Eaters. It's a dark and sombre picture - and I just liked the contrast with my environment here in Provence.
It's a reminder that I'm here, not there.
It was Josef who pointed out how much the darkness - and depression - of this Van Gogh painting contrasts with the brighness of, for example, his famous sunflowers, painted, of course, in the light of Provence.
The light of Provence is almost a cliche - it is amazing, and undescribable. But the effect it has on your emotions - and your happiness - is very real.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Parcours de Sante (fitness circuits)
They've been doing a make-over at the lakes at Cornillon. More trees, parking bays, and more picnic benches. And a great adult outdoor fitness circuit, complete with little signs showing you how to use the equipment.
Personally, I'll stick to the swimming and the picnics. But it adds to the multi-generational activities that the lakes offer.
Any volunteers to construct a fitness circuit on the terraces and in the wood at Le Colombier?
Personally, I'll stick to the swimming and the picnics. But it adds to the multi-generational activities that the lakes offer.
Any volunteers to construct a fitness circuit on the terraces and in the wood at Le Colombier?
Sunday, 15 March 2009
First swim of the season
Pool at 15 degrees. So with a wetsuit, and upbeat music, I officially opened the swimming season. Managed 15 minutes. Can't be bad.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Green Gym
I read an article a while ago about a new credit crunch way to get fit. It seems you dump your expensive gym membership, and head out to your local potato farm. There you get to spend the morning picking potatoes; you get a healthy workout in the open air; and the farmer gives you a healthy lunch of soup and home made bread.
Somehow I'm not sure that you'll be back everyweek. However, start a vegetable patch to grow your own potates - and the rest - and you'll soon discover muscles you didn't know you had.
So if you fancy a workout - of the muscles during the day, and the tastebuds in the evening - come and try your hand at gardening in my green and blue gym!
Somehow I'm not sure that you'll be back everyweek. However, start a vegetable patch to grow your own potates - and the rest - and you'll soon discover muscles you didn't know you had.
So if you fancy a workout - of the muscles during the day, and the tastebuds in the evening - come and try your hand at gardening in my green and blue gym!
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Classical and ancient heritage
Vaison is your first stop for things Roman: its ampitheatre and its museums. Further afield you have Orange, Nimes, the Pont du Gard and Arles.
Going further back, how about visiting Le Pegue, the archeological museum dedicated to the celts and the greeks in Valreas. See http://museearcheoloepegue.com.
The collection comes from an archeological dig at Saint-Marcel from 1956 - 1985. The dig found the traces from 6000 years ago, and an abundance of remains from the Iron Age (725 bc). The museum is open saturday and sunday 14.00 - 18.00 the first weekend of each month in the winter; and everyday 14.00 - 18.00 except Wednesday June - September.
Going further back, how about visiting Le Pegue, the archeological museum dedicated to the celts and the greeks in Valreas. See http://museearcheoloepegue.com.
The collection comes from an archeological dig at Saint-Marcel from 1956 - 1985. The dig found the traces from 6000 years ago, and an abundance of remains from the Iron Age (725 bc). The museum is open saturday and sunday 14.00 - 18.00 the first weekend of each month in the winter; and everyday 14.00 - 18.00 except Wednesday June - September.
Markets
The Saturday Times last year declared Nyons market to be the best in France. Every Thursday morning. And there are often specialist Sunday markets - crafts, brocantes, books etc.
Look out also for the evening markets in the summer time in the villages around. And you'll find an abundance of "Vide-Grenier" (literally, empty the attics - what we'd call a car boot sale) village sales over the summer. It's worth getting there early for the bargains.
If you can't make the Thursday market, here are some of the other ones around.
Monday
La Motte Chalancon (july and august)
Tuesday
Crest, Grignan, Vaison
Wednesday
Buis les Baronnies, Remuzat
Friday
Dieulefit, Taulignan, Visan
Saturday
Buis les Baronnies, Montbrun les Bains
Flea Markets and Brocantes:
Art market 1st Sunday of the month (Vaison)
Brocantes 3rd Sunday of the month (Vaison)
And Isle Sur la Sorgue is well known for its 160+ antique shops and regular markets; plus an extended easter antiques market
Look out also for the evening markets in the summer time in the villages around. And you'll find an abundance of "Vide-Grenier" (literally, empty the attics - what we'd call a car boot sale) village sales over the summer. It's worth getting there early for the bargains.
If you can't make the Thursday market, here are some of the other ones around.
Monday
La Motte Chalancon (july and august)
Tuesday
Crest, Grignan, Vaison
Wednesday
Buis les Baronnies, Remuzat
Friday
Dieulefit, Taulignan, Visan
Saturday
Buis les Baronnies, Montbrun les Bains
Flea Markets and Brocantes:
Art market 1st Sunday of the month (Vaison)
Brocantes 3rd Sunday of the month (Vaison)
And Isle Sur la Sorgue is well known for its 160+ antique shops and regular markets; plus an extended easter antiques market
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