February 2017

Février 2017

Tim, our winter cat

Ah yes, it is the end of February. February the month of two faces, chilly and warm.

I have to admit I have spring fever.Warmer and longer days have taken their toll and I am looking for buds on everything. Forsythia has buds as do the roses and the primrose is flowering all over the yard.  Nature is slowly waking up.

Today it is Sunday and it should be 13°C ( or 55°F). It is partly cloudy and I am going for a walk with MT this afternoon.

And miracles, the crédence( back splash) has been installed. It has been a long journey to get this far in the kitchen, but it was our choice. We started a year ago, and found some nightmares on the electric connections behind the cupboards. So acting as our own general contractors, we took it step by step.

But I have a kitchen that I enjoy. I really love it. However, as far as cleaning, I probably picked some of the hardest things to keep clean. Dark counter tops clean easily, but leave streaks, so wash and buff. Same with a black glass back splash. And who knew that stainless steel streaks too. But still, I made the choices and I am happy.

New counter top, back splash and hood.

For those that have been here, the was a table here
and I had it taken out and replaced as a
peninsula. Love it..Keith has to replace the
top drawer, about an inch taller.
 Wall sage green.

Sink is new too, stainless

Bored you enough on my kitchen!

Politics is gearing up here in France. Round one of the elections will be 23rd of April. The second round, if needed will be 7th of May.  The top runner was Fillon (conservative), but a scandal has marred him in the last few weeks. It is alleged that he paid his wife for a job she did not do. The on the far far right, Marine LePen. She has been in the news lately too. She has two campaign workers who are being paid by the EU, with fake EU jobs? LePen is very conservative, wants to stop certain immigration, return to the Franc and get out of the EU. Then there is Hamon, who is on the socialist ticket. But Holland has damaged the party enough, not sure he has a chance. So what will happen? Stay tuned!

Had a few walks this month. However, it is between seasons, and not as much to photograph.
Here are a few of my photos.

Dols waiting for us to join him

Photo of Curtil 

The forest is managed and each year allotments for wood are
sold to the villagers. They can cut down marked trees. The wood
must be transported out by a certain date, and site cleaned. Here
is someones wood ready to haul out.

Winter vines. These are in the Haute Cote and are taller than
the vines in Gevrey. Someone told me that this way the ground
gets more sun to reflect back and keep the vines warmer in the spring.
In Gevrey the stalk is very short.

Spring! Euphorbia blooming

Willows blooming

Even the mistletoe is flowering

Walk on the 26th above Chambolle, waiting again.
We talk and I guess we are slow sometimes

Then we saw a carpet of flowers. SPRING

Nivéole de printemps (L. Leucojum vernum)

Nivéole de printemps 

Nivéole de printemps 

Not to be confused with :

Pierce Neige ( snowdrop)

Fragon faux houx (Ruscus aculeatus)
The flower is very small, about 1/4 inch wide. It blooms on the
underside of the leaf.

Sunday's walk, straight ahead,just beyond the trees, is a huge drop!!

That is all from Gevrey for this month.

Recipe of the Month

Salad Dressing

I make most of my own salad dressing. It is so easy and so much better than industrial salad dressings. I love the taste of fresh dressings, they are more lively.

One dressing that I use the most is a Dijon vinaigrette. really not hard. One version, slowly mixing in the oil makes a thick dressing. Other times I put all in bowl and whip it together, just enough to mix before I pour it on the salad.

Dijon Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 c - 1/2 Good oil (some use vegetable oil such as sunflower, others olive oil. Depends on your taste)
• 1 Tablespoon vinegar
• pinch of salt

PREPARATION
(for thick dressing)

1. Put mustard in a small bowl
2. Whip the oil into the mustard (with a fork), a little at a time. The mustard will plump up 
3. Add vinegar and salt and continue to whip until blended well
4. TASTE! 

As stated, I put all in a bowl and whip. It is a little more fluid.
Always always taste. If bitter to taste, it could be the oil or the vinegar, small amount of honey will work. When I have a salad with fruit, I add enough honey for a slight sweet taste.