Le petit cadeau

"The little gift" is the name of this little gift shop in central Sarlat. I'm not sure if it still exists. I found it on Google, but when I look at street view, I can't find it. I'm either wrong or it's gone. I hope Pinocchio found a home.

Le petit cadeau.

We had rain and a mild thunderstorm yesterday. We might possibly get the same today. I have no plans to go out; my wine run was successful, so we're stocked up. I'm thinking of making a pissaladière for lunch today. That's an onion pizza popular in Nice and the surrounding region. It's named for pissalat, a pungent sauce made with salty fish like anchovies. In place of the sauce, anchovies out of the can are often used. I won't be using anchovies today, but I will garnish the pizza with black olives, also a famous product of Nice and traditional on a pissaladière.

Set up and ready to go

These restaurants in central Sarlat (there are two in this photo) are ready for the lunch crowd. While we were there, we ate in the neighborhood somewhere, but I don't remember the exact place. A lot of Sarlat's restaurants look like life-sized works of art.

I could spend a couple of hours here lingering over a long lunch.

On today's agenda: a winery run. I plan to drive up to the co-op in Saint-Romain (I say "up" because it's north of us) for some of their red and rosé. I like the co-op because their wine is good and they operate a boutique for sales. There's no reason to call ahead to be sure that someone will be there to sell or to just take a chance and then be disappointed when no one's available. Many wineries around us have tasting and sales rooms that are staffed during business hours, but there are just as many (mom and pop operations) that don't.

Market day in Sarlat

It's a big market with a lot of vendors. There are also cafés and restaurants and shops along the streets of the town center. It's all very lively, as much a tourist attraction as a working market.

Sarlat's city hall makes a dramatic backdrop for colorful market stalls and outdoor cafés.

Yesterday was about as hot as predicted. Thankfully, the house stayed cool inside, almost as if it were air-conditioned. But more pleasant. Today will be a little cooler and there's rain in the forecast. It looks like the rain will not make it to us after all.

Sarlat

We spent the morning of our first full day in the Dordogne in the city of Sarlat. It was market day and the center of town was bustling with activity. Foie gras is the signature food of the region, and it was on offer everywhere.

A book about foie gras with recipes taken through a restaurant window.

Today should be the hottest of the week. Predictions are for a high of 33ºC (91ºF) where we live.

Cuisine au gîte

This is the kitchen in the house we rented near Sarlat back in 2006. Nothing fancy, but it was well-equipped and neatly organized. Just behind where I was standing to take this photo is dining table, then the small living room with a fireplace, a wood stove, and a television. I remember asking the guy who owned the place if I could have some firewood for the wood stove. Those April evenings in the Dordugne were chilly. He was happy to let us use it.

Interesting choice of colors.

Lines and angles

More geometrics (I'm sure that's a word; autocorrect doesn't seem to think so). Probably still in La Roque-Gageac.

Walls and steps.

Sorry to keep harping on the weather, but it's what's happening at the moment. I'm really not complaining; it's more observation and wonderment. Our mornings continue to be very fall-like, almost cold. Most days warm up to be pleasant afternoons. I arranged for a heating oil delivery this coming week. We're talking about ordering firewood for the season. As for the yard, we're starting, slowly, to prepare for fall and winter. The ground beneath the apple trees is littered with fallen apples. I'm not picking them up (although Tasha is; she thinks they're balls for playing). So far, the lawnmower is fine making applesauce. I'll see the next time I mow how it handles this quantity. I need to contact our landscape guy to see, a) if he's still working (he has gone quiet these last few months) and if so, 2) if he can schedule our hedge trimming this fall. If not, we'll have to find someone else to do them. Pain in the butt.

Two-fer

Here's a second shot of the château/hotel in La Roque-Gageac. I couldn't choose between the the two photos, so I'm posting them both.

They have a lot of rooftops in La Roque-Gageac.

Yesterday's cool front came roaring through as expected. The wind was fierce, but we got no rain or thunder. This morning the sky is clear; not a cloud to be seen. The wind, thankfully, is gone.