twilight trot

 This evenings' stroll upriver was a pleasure... the violets are out and the recent great winds have left much firewood lying about. You just have to fish it out and dry it first:)

pope ratzo goes...

zoey

 Bit late to introduce Zoey - she leaves today. Here she is managing her fear of Lily, extremely well.
Ryan and Alicia made dinner last night; beet and carmelised walnut salad, (with beetroot and walnuts from the garden); Tuscan bean soup with Parmesan slices; baked apples and ice cream; cheese, of course -

Had a lovely couple of days despite the rain - please come back when the weathers better and see  Esperaza in its full glory

another regret

Regret forgetting to take photos last night.... Esperaza being cold dark and wet Pete got volunteered to take us (Alicia, Zoey me) to the Casino. That's not the corner shop Casino, its the gambling den of vice at Alet-les-Bains. Lots of bright lights and laughing faces, could have made lovely pix...
I had rung them to reserve a table for dinner and they had said, its was the buffet and you couldn't reserve, just turn up. So we did.
Been to these things before (with Claudine) - regular users get a card and they can swipe in themselves and their guests. Its good-
Alas; they they said we couldn't eat because we weren't clients, despite the fact we each gambled and lost 5 euros.  Then we were left wondering which of us had enough of a crust in the back of a cupboard to feed us all. Monday ain't good for restaurants even in the season.

Fortunately the Moules Frites of Normandy was open though empty and we had a heap of moules and a mound of frites and we enjoyed it all. Then apple pie and wine at mine. Thoroughly good evening. The visuals remain in my head.

Kate 'n'cake

Kate and Oscar shared their birthday parties on Sunday with the customary Blanquette and cake party. The tribe dropped in and were still arriving as I left; Kate has the stamina of a very fit gal:)

My dreadful camera is developing some interesting foibles. This attempt to snap Kate has turned into and orange and toaster crown for a passing child, hmmm....

Its still raining, but mild. Zoey arrived yesterday from London and has only seen our paradise as a dark and muddy puddle. Hope it clears up for her.

Quiet and cold-

- but the blue tits are engaging. There were 9 distracting me earlier. Miserable weather but good painting light.

Bravo le marche

Despite hideous cold, fierce winds and the occasional snow flake - or little hail stone - the market soldiered on. Lots of our friends available to take coffee with. Mr. Huit a Huit reminded me that this time last year the gendarmes were turning people away from the market because of the snow; things could be worse. And according to Mr Huit a Huit, they soon will be. It is the season.

Many thanks to the sweetheart who left a bag of little oranges on my door handle:) Spotted a Vitamin C deficiency, no doubt. And many thanks to Andy and Louise for a superb soiree this week which I forgot to photograph, stupidly - fault of the gin.

Took a look at last years blog to check it out and found Karim featured at the opening of his gallery. May both rest in peace...miss Karim and his work, his enthusiasm for mad projects, his zest and his intelligence.


   tilling-sur-aude.blogspot.fr/2012/02/inagural-event.html