I know that Ken already posted photos of this recent meal. But here it is again in case you missed it. A delicious omelette aux épinards (spinach omelet) and air fryer frites (French fries).
Here's an added bonus! Can you see Tasha in the picture? Where there's food...
Yesterday's sunrise was quite dramatic. I took this photo just as the sun was rising over the horizon. Tasha and I were on our morning walk. If you look closely, you might recognize the Lone Poplar on the left.
There's not much going on here as we slide toward winter. The days are getting shorter, of course, and the weather, while not really bad, is wet and on the chilly side. On the positive side, we're enjoying and planning more fall/winter type menus for our daily lunch. Coming soon: choucroute garni (sauerkraut with meats and vegetables)!
I think that the vineyard leaves are at their peak right now. Bear with me while I post some more fall colors.
Way out back I saw this morning that many sections of woodland have been cut. The trees and other vegetation are lined up on the ground where pines and oak stood just the other day. I wonder what's going on. New vineyard space? Just a regular periodic cleaning up? I didn't take any photos, but I will. Stay tuned.
Tasha doesn't mind the chilly weather. And why not? Look at that fur coat!
Still no sign of after-effects of the flu and covid vaxes I had on Saturday. I hope it stays that way.
We've had raclette twice this fall. So far. To make it, you need a raclette machine and some raclette cheese. There's a heating element under the griddle. You put a slice of cheese in the little tray and slip it under the element to melt it. While it's melting, you grill some meat and vegetables that you've prepared in advance. When they're done, they go onto your plate, then you pour the melted cheese over all. Yum! There's no limit to what you can grill. Anything that goes with cheese goes with raclette.
It's windy, but warmer, this morning. No rain in the forecast. I think that I'm going to remove the riding mower's battery for the season today. I don't want a repeat of last year's bungle with the mower's battery. Less stress!
I didn't get the clocks done yesterday. I had my appointment for flu and covid shots at 14h30 and that messed me up. So I'll be doing the clocks this morning. My upper arms are a little sore from the injections, but it's not at all bad.
Meanwhile, the local leaves continue their color change both in the woods around us and in the vineyards. It's chilly this morning. I could build a fire in the stove, but I've got clocks to change! The central heating is helping us out.
Today is when I turn the clocks back one hour to Central European (Standard) Time. The time officially changes at midnight tonight, but I like to have all the clocks done when I go to bed so I don't have to mess with them in the morning. The tv news people are saying that this will be the last time, except for one final "spring ahead" next year. I'll believe that when I see it.
Here's a shot of the recently replanted vineyard parcel and its new stakes and guide wires. I think these vines are too young to get pruned this, their first, winter. I'll keep an eye out.
Well, maybe not "in" the hills. But definitely below them. After our summer heatwave, it got wetter. The ground softened and the moles moved back in. There are several "mole towns" like this in the west and north forties. I have to rake them down before cutting the grass.
The wind died down over night as the remnants of storm Benjamin move on through. This morning is clear and cold and still. Did I mention cold? It's 7ºC (about 45ºF) out there now.
In other news... Ken and I are both scheduled to get our flu and covid shots over the next few days. I haven't had a flu shot (other than covid) since I don't know when. But being over 65, I think I should err on the side of caution.
This "Far Side" comic by Gary Larson always makes me laugh. I don't think that humans and primordial soup co-existed (neither did humans and dinosaurs, another Larson staple), but who's counting? A little poetic license, as it were, for a good laugh is an even trade.
The wind kicked up last evening and gusted through the night. I slept through most of it, but I was up at 03h00 and did a quick tour of the house to be sure everything that needed to be was shut and/or secured. Then it was back to sleep until I got up around 06h30.
This tree was a lot smaller when we first moved here twenty-two years ago. Across the dirt road from the tree is the old cabane de vignes, a simple one-room shelter and storage building constructed among the vines. This one doesn't get used much these days. Modern vehicles and equipment can be quickly and easily moved from the winery to the fields, making the old cabanes more or less obsolete.
It's raining right now and we're expecting more throughout the day. We're turning our clocks back over the weekend. That'll be fun. Efforts to stop the bi-annual clock change have once again fizzled. The issue comes up every now and then. Like the weather, however, no one seems to be able to do anything about it.
Here's a view of part of that vineyard parcel that was replanted this past spring. It's now complete with new stakes and guide wires; all ready to receive next year's new growth.
We're in a rainy period now. I was coming back from the pharmacy yesterday afternoon and a rain shower came back with me. It moved on when I got home.
Back in the early '90s, I was fresh out of grad school and found a job as a transportation planner at what was called a Congestion Management Agency. I could not resist clipping this strip from the local paper.
I heard rain showers over night. Nothing serious.
We're about a month into autumn now. The grape vines look beautiful and there's still more color ahead. I'm glad I was able to get some photos in the bright sun yesterday. The weather forecast is for rain off and on today with the pattern continuing into next week.
The French held a "No Kings" protest back in 1789. It didn't end well for the royalty.
The colors in the vineyards out back are nearing their peak, I think. I haven't ventured very far into the vines in the last couple of weeks because there's been a crew out there putting stakes and guide wires in the newest replanted parcel. The crew arrives just before sunrise and leaves a little after sunset each day. Tasha gets excited around vehicles and people in the vineyard, so I have to keep her on leash to take photos (which doesn't work very well). And Sunday is hunt day, so we stay out of the vineyards on that day.
Once the work ends out there, I'll be sure to get some new photos.
Here's another of my favorite comics. This one is by Roz Chast of the New Yorker magazine. Anyone who likes to cook will at least giggle.
It's about 7ºC (45ºF) outside this morning. It's my morning to go out with Tasha. Brrr.
Today marks the twentieth anniversary of this blog; the first post went up on this day in 2005. I couldn't have imagined going this long back then. Thanks to all who stop by, whether it's daily or once in a while.
Here's yet another photo of the nearby vineyard parcels just west of us. I've watched the vineyards through the seasons and over the years. Much of what I've observed is chronicled here. And, while there have been changes, it's all generally the same, if you see what I mean.
I have a small folder of comic strips that I've saved over the years. Here's one that makes me smile:
Our thermostat is set at 18.5º Celsius this time of year. That's close to 65º Fahrenheit, 291.6º Kelvin.
This yard belongs to another of our neighbors. They were out of town over the weekend, so I walked through with Tasha. This tree and it's beautiful red color was my reward.
Notice how the land slopes, rather steeply, down into a stream bed below. We often see chevreuils (roe deer) grazing in these yards on the edge of the woods. We've also seen evidence of sangliers (wild boar) over there. They like to dig for critters to eat and leave annoying craters in the lawn. Not very nice.
Fall colors do not seem to be an attraction here in France as they are in the USA. That's not for lack of fall colors, though. Another thing that's not a big deal here is "pumpkin spice." Thank goodness.
That reminds me. I want to make a pumpkin pie soon. I have some pumpkin-like squash in the freezer from last year. And I have all the spices I need in the pantry for a good-ole American style pumpkin pie.
I think that this was the best pizza I've made in a while. Tomato sauce, bell peppers, and canned artichoke hearts. The cheese was a melty raclette, popular in the fall and winter months. The homemade crust was doughy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Just the way we like it.
I made a second pizza with saucisson sec (like a mild pepperoni) and mushrooms. Also very good, but I didn't take any pictures of that one.
This isn't our yard. It's the neighbors' across the road. The leaves are mostly from their catalpa trees. Their grass is nicer looking than ours. I don't know why. They don't fertilize, water, or otherwise treat it. Just like us. And, so far, they don't lose trees like we have in recent years. Could it be something to do with the way water moves underground? There's a real (not fake) well on their property. It belongs to the hamlet, but people don't use it these days. Still, the well might indicate a water source that our trees can't reach.
Our property taxes are due next week. I spent an hour or so yesterday morning arranging for a wire from our US bank to our French bank. It's all done on line and is relatively quick and painless. Soon after we moved here, we set up an automatic payment for taxes at the French bank, so I have to be sure our balance of euros is enough to cover the payment when it goes through. It always is, but I like to be certain. Moving money around between countries is nerve wracking. It's not high finance, but still, there are codes and numbers and such to keep track of. On line banking makes the whole process easier.
The grape leaves are turning more and more. Before too long, they'll start dropping to the ground. Our linden and maples are starting to turn and drop as well. The apple trees aren't far behind. There will be lots of cleanup to do, but we have a leaf blower to help out this year.
It was more impressive in reality than in this photo taken with my phone. The sky was cloudless, but there was some fog. The moon was minutes from setting when Tasha and I went outside on Tuesday morning. I realized what was going on and took a couple of quick snapshots with the phone.
We're enjoying a warm spell. The mornings are quite chilly, but the days are dry and pleasant. Having said that, I did put a fire in the wood stove yesterday morning and kept it burning until early evening. It felt nice.
I know I could use the internet to identify this shrub. But I'm lazy. I might get to it, I might not. As you can see, it's not forsythia because what has turned bright yellow are leaves, not flowers.
We're having pleasant days, weather wise. I can already see the grass growing since it was recently cut. I'm not ready to cut it again so soon, but I'll be keeping an eye on both the grass and the weather forecast through October.
I stood under one of the neighbors' catalpas for this view. I will look closely at that shrub the next time I'm out, maybe this morning, and take a photo of its leaves. Maybe it is forsythia, although I read that they don't normally do fall color all that well. Still, it could be.
I got my US Social Security statement in the mail yesterday. My full retirement age comes up a year from now. Oh my!
I guess there's nothing really mellow about the yellow in these two catalpas (and a shrub) in our neighbors' yard. Maybe I should have called this post "Screaming Yellow Zonkers."
It's below 10ºC (50ºF) outside this morning. That doesn't sound very cold, but it sure feels like it. The central heating came on this morning. I increased the temperature a little. I feel like I'm getting frileux as I slide into old age.
Remember the vineyard parcel that was planted this past spring? Here it is now. It's still green, but soon the leaves will drop. I don't think it will get pruned this winter. It seems to me that the growers leave new vines go a couple of winters before they start getting cut back. We shall see.
Today's a three-W day. Warm, windy, and wet. The remnants of two Atlantic hurricanes are passing over.
The last section of the yard to get cut in this go-round was the south forty. It's also the smallest section so it took no time at all. The weather will now control if and when it all gets cut again before winter. The section in this photo is about half of the west forty, the largest section.
The weather is going downhill again. Cold, with wind and some rain through the weekend. It's normal. October can be an iffy month.
Yesterday I posted a photo I took in the Luxembourg Garden (Paris) and wrote that I wish I could selectively remove certain parts of the image. Lo and behold! Blogger buddy Mike in Australia knew exactly what to do and he sent me his result. Thanks Mike!
I got the mower out again yesterday and cut the north forty and the strips outside the hedges. All that's left is the small south forty. I'm hopeful that today's weather will cooperate.
Paris in the fall. Or is it winter? The Luxembourg Garden is one of the more popular of Parisian parks, at least in my opinion. I lived and went to school nearby and had occasion to walk through and/or sit and relax often. I don't know who the people are in the photo nor do I remember when I snapped it. It's likely from one of our trips back in the late 1980s.
I got the mower out yesterday and cut the west forty (the largest section of our property). It feels good to have that done. Today I hope to get the north forty done. I can't cut before noon because of the heavy dew we're having. It's mostly dried up by lunch time.
