This is our first Caprese salad of the season. Since we didn't plant tomatoes this year, these come from the supermarket. We tested two mozzarellas, one made with normal cow's milk and another made with Italian buffalo's milk. The difference in flavor was perceptible, but just barely. Both were good and we ended up mixing them on the salad.
I just looked at my keyboard and it's a mess. Time for a cleaning! I'll add it to the list.
A thunderstorm went through over night. It wasn't very violent and it didn't last very long, but there was a lot of rain for a little while. No more storms are expected today. There's nothing on the radar.
Here's a photo, taken this morning, looking out the den window at the south forty. You can see that Ken's been busy cleaning up and organizing the greenhouse. There's still a lot to do. You can also see two of our neighbors' houses across the road. One is lived in full-time and the other is a vacation house that belongs to a Parisian woman. She's comes down a few times each summer and her son comes down for weekends and such through the year.
While I was preparing this post, a bird (female blackbird, I think) flew into the greenhouse (the door is open), hit the glass ceiling (!) pretty hard, then bounced into that beige bucket you can see on the ground just inside the door. I ran downstairs to shoo it out, but not before closing the door into the house. The bird was sitting in the bucket, stunned and breathing pretty hard. I picked up the bucket, pointed it toward the door, and the bird took off like a shot. Free!
From deep in the archives: a group of guys playing football (soccer in the US) in Vouvray. It dates from before we moved to France. We were staying close by in a vacation rental home.
I saw the "Strawberry Moon" last night as it rose and again this morning as it set. I'm sure it's being packed up for storage as tonight's "Friday the 13th Moon" is being unpacked. You know, WIWAK (When I was a kid), we had only one moon, with the possible exception of the occasional blue moon (where things only happen once) and the harvest moon. Shine on. Still, I'm sure it was all the same moon.
...under the sun. We're enjoying a series of beautiful days and I'm almost done cutting the grass. I've also made another pass with the weed killer mix. The forecast for the next few days is "unsettled." Maybe some thunderstorms, warmer temps, then cooler. Who knows. Meanwhile, we're enjoying being out on the deck.
This morning I'm taking Tasha in for her teeth cleaning. The poor thing doesn't understand why she's not getting her breakfast today. Doctor's orders mean nothing to a dog. I will have to be careful while walking her this morning; she will try to eat "stuff" off the ground (I won't go into any more detail than that). Her appointment is for 08h45, so it will all be over soon enough.
...of the potato patch. It looks so neat and tidy. Now. But it won't last. The weeds will inevitably invade. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my zucchini and pumpkin plants look alright. I have a lot more weeds, but as the squash plants get stronger, they'll do batte with the weeds and should be able to hold their own.
Yesterday I was able to do another pass in the gravel paths and driveway with the weed killer. Remember: I'm using a home-made mix of household vinegar, salt, and dish soap. It's working pretty well, so far. Today I'm planning to cut the grass in the west and south forites, one mow time!
The signs roughly translate to "Automated vehicle in use." It's referring to the vitibot the grower uses to dig up weeds in her vine rows. I expect that it uses GPS to navigate the vineyard. Here's a photo I took last year.
I also noticed another activity out back in that newly replanted parcel. I couldn't see well enough to realize what they were doing, but this morning it became clear. They were watering the new vines. Watering is not permitted in AOP vineyards, but I'm guessing that it's ok when establishing a new parcel. The vines aren't producing fruit yet, so there's no impact on the wine. But those little vines need some help to become well established.
The replanted grape vine parcel out back is beginning to show green! Those baby vines are shedding their waxy protective coating and sending out fresh, green leaves. I suspect that a lot of their energy will be devoted to producing deep roots. Fruit will take a couple of years, at least.
Today is Pentecost Monday, also known as Whit Monday. It's a holiday here in France, the last of the "spring" holidays and this year's series of long weekends. I think people need a break. After all, the summer holidays are just around the corner!
