Other fun finds for the Clocktower Cottage

On my last couple of days in France, Linda and I poked around a few antiques and brocante shops in Eymet to see if there was anything that wanted to come home with me.

Well, there were these 1930s-era cross stitch on linen framed pieces that just had a certain magique about them. They ended up on the dining room wall. I liked that they were completely worked in black-- they remind me of cut-paper silhouettes.

Then, after realizing that a new shop called the Shabby Chic Boutique had recently opened in Duras, we headed in there and I was immediately smitten with a small buffet and hutch that had everything going for it: size, price and certainly the mustard-colored painted finish with a blue interior. As Goldilocks once said: it was "just right."

What came home

Besides me, that is. Yes, I have returned to Les Etats Unis and was unpacking my bags this morning. This is always a little like Christmas for me in that I usually forget what I've bought and delight in surprising myself.

So, in the food and wine department we have, from left to right: Lesieur mayonnaise, coarse sea salt, Turkish delight (a gift from the Istanbul airport from Linda), Amora Dijon mustard, wine from Saint Emilion, Epices Rabelais and chocolate covered prunes from Maison Guinguet in Duras.

The back story: I read about Amora mustard on David Liebowitz's blog a few months ago and, being a big fan of moutarde, I made a mental note to try it and return with some. It is very sharp and delicious with patés and charcuterie, but also a great addition to sauces.

The Epices Rabelais is a common spice blend used as a meat rub or in a stew in France. The exact ingredients are a big secret, but it's got rosemary, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices. It has a deep, almost exotic aroma and I look forward to trying it--maybe as a rub on slow cooked ribs.

Chocolate covered prunes are just a sinfully delicious treat. If you like dark chocolate and dried prunes, this combination is a winner. Maison Guinguet is a great little shop with all sorts of wonderful confections and gifts. They grow all their own plums and make their chocolate.

The mayonnaise is just because even supermarket mayo in France is worlds better and has a nice piquant dash of Dijon mustard in it to liven up even a dull ham sandwich. 

Now to the other stuff:

I cannot leave France without loading up on my favorite cosmetic brands. For moisturizers I like Caudalie first because it's based on grapeseed oil from the Bordeaux vineyards. Also Embryolisse lait-creme concentrate, because it is a good, cheap moisturizer and makeup remover and does not sting my eyes.

This thing

At the outdoor market in Saint Foy on Saturday, I bought one of these:

They came in several colors of blown glass and there were also some in terracotta with a creamy glaze. It's an item that, despite its obvious cuteness, has a specific function. You flip it upside down and add coarse sea salt. Turn it back up to sit on a shelf and then give it a few shakes when you're craving a little salt on your dinner.

It's called a "saliere medeival."

My neighbors in Duras

Are these guys cute, or what?? I was out walking earlier in the week and came upon this little farm on a street about 1/2 mile from me. As I approached, the donkeys all stood in line and made polite snorts and whines as if to say: what did you bring us?? I felt terrible that I showed up empty handed.

The next day I bought a bag of apples and when I took Linda over to meet the neighbors they were nowhere to be found. 

Finally, I went a third time and there they were again. All lined up for a treat. They got one and I got this cute pic to remember them.

An unexpected treasure

Okay, three guesses. What is it??

Hint: the Lot-et-Garonne is the prune capital of the world. 

Of course, it's a prune drying rack, which I found at Maison Guinguet the chocolatier and all-things-prune shop in Duras. It was standing at the cashier's counter with a 15€ price tag on it. 

The prune industry in this area is huge. There are thousands of acres filled with plum trees, which were covered with white blossoms when I arrived. Now they are mostly green with a hint of white petals fluttering around.

When we got the Clé de Pruneaux home, Linda did a little research on Google and found one on sale on the One King's Lane website for $195! I guess I got a good deal as well as a lovely artifact from Duras.

Day of mindfulness

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Linda and I enjoyed a moment with tea in between sessions during our Day of Mindfulness at the Plum Village Buddhist retreat center, just 10 minutes from Duras. Here, we are sitting on the temple steps near the giant gong. I would love to ring it, but I'm sure that would be frowned upon.

Along with the Buddhist monks and nuns of the village, we made a walking meditation through the plum orchards and to the top of the hill where we all sat in silence for a while gazing back at the undulating landscape in a peaceful state.

A very nice vegetarian lunch was served in the dining hall consisting of rice, tofu, various sauteed veggies, a salad, and a very weird dessert we later learned was "grass jelly" topped with yogurt.

Overall it was a very pleasant experience.

Le vieux moulin

Sitting well off the road between Duras and Pinheuil is this perfectly charming old wind mill. I have passed it, near the village of Villeneuve de Duras a few times, but today I had some extra time and I decided to see how close I could get to it.

I took an old dirt road past vineyards and plum orchards which dead-ended in a field and got about 200 yards from the mill before realizing that it sits in the middle of a vineyard on private property.  Oh well, at least I got a closer look.

Le demi-parasol

Today I went shopping for items I thought would make the house more pleasant. I headed to Bergerac and stopped in at Gifi, Casa and Maisons du Monde, which happily are all in the same shopping center.

At Gifi I found a wonderful thing: a demi-parasol. Yes! Half an umbrella for my petit terrace that sits in full sun from about 2-6 in the afternoon, or just about the time I am ready for that daily dose of rosé. 

I put together the iron base and the stem of the umbrella and muscled them outside to see how it all looks. The taupe fabric blends in with the historic structure and the size is perfect--as if it were made just for me.

Here's my view sitting under it.

The view from inside.

The view when standing under the clock tower.

At Casa, I bought a portmanteau, which is a free-standing clothes rack for the small bedroom that doesn't have its own closet. I have not attempted to put that together yet. It will be a project for tonight.

At Maisons du Monde I found some lovely taupe linen curtains for the small bedroom and some tchatchkes to decorate. I am sleeping in that room this week, which is giving me new perspective on what a guest would need or want in that space.

The flavors of spring

Sometimes simple is just better. Especially when the ingredients are so fresh and natural and go together like sun, air and water.

At the market in Duras I bought a handful of fresh asparagus, a bunch of baby leeks, some free-range eggs and a couple of portions of runny day-old goat cheese.

To the average eater this collection might not sound like the makings of an exceptional dinner, but I couldn't wait to get them together into the most perfect of culinary creations--the omelette.

With a few of my very sweet, local strawberries, this was a dinner par excellence!

My work is never done

I arrived in Duras yesterday and everything was great--except this array of pots full of weeds. Lucky me--today was market day in Duras so I was able to get everything I needed to fill the pots.

There were so many healthy and colorful plants at the market, I had trouble deciding on a color scheme. Finally, I chose pink cascading geraniums, white upright geraniums, purple petunias and yellow nemesia. I also tucked seeds of "capuchine" nasturtiums in some of the pots so there will be a nice surprise later on.

It was a perfect day for gardening. About 85 degrees and sunny. I put on my painting smock and proceeded to entertain the entire neighborhood. Several people stopped to say "tres jolie" and offer encouragement.

Just outside my door, a vendor was selling shrubs and fruit trees so I also picked up a spirea and a fig tree to make things interesting.

Oh, wait! We need herbs. We need a tomato!

I drove to the Gamm Vert garden center to pick up another clay pot and a bag of soil. There were some Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes there too. If all goes well, that tomato should feed the entire street. 

Fun and French

I bought my first pair of real French espadrilles today. They sell them at the supermarket for 7.99€!!

I am fashionable AND frugal!!

My new favorite food

I discovered coffee-flavored sheep's milk yogurt today. My life may never be the same.