Septembre

September 27th, 2007

Here it is the 27th of September already. I have nothing to write, and lots to write (if only I can remember what it is I want to write).

Automne (fall ) has come to Burgundy. Leaves are slowly turning, the vines have a gold cast and the Red Creeper is bright red on the walls, sides of houses, and our little fence out back. The vegetable garden is finished. September has been generous with its warm sun. The days have been glorious after a cool wet summer. The fall flowers have perked up and put out new flowers. The roses are simple gorgeous.

I had cut down my lavender (end of August) and have let it dry.! About 10 days ago I decided it was time to separate the flowers from the stems. I do this by rolling it between my hands. I had the lavender on a large blue tarp and worked on it for a couple of hours out the back of the house by the kitchen door. It was a lovely sunny day. The scent of lavender was everywhere. The house was filled with the lovely smell, you could catch a whiff in every room. The smell lasted a few days. Wish it was a scratch and sniff photo.

This month we took a couple of days and went to Brussels. It is just a few hours away by train (although one does have to change from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare de Nord in Paris). Brussels is known for its Art Nouveau. We went to the house designed by Horta, which is now a museum. It was wonderful ( I do not have any photos, photos were not allowed). The staircase, the windows, the mosaic floor, the stained glass windows...it is all carefully crafted in the utmost of Art Nouveau style.

We also visited the art museum. The old art on exhibit was marvelous. Paintings from art history, live in front of me. The old dutch paintings have been cleaned and are not as dark as the ones I had studied.The museum has an extensive collection of Flemish painting, among them paintings by Brueghel and Rogier van der Weyden, Robert Campin, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacob Jordaens We spent a morning there looking at all the paintings. The modern art section was interesting, but not as impressive as the old art, although I liked the sculpture by Moore.

The Grand Place is also one of the big sites to see when in Brussels. The buildings all have different architecture and once housed the guilds. One evening while we wandered through the streets just looking at sites, we heard some classical music. Some Russian musicians were playing, but unfortunately we came at the end. Keith bought two CD's from them (the group is called Concerto Gruppo Moscow). They really were very good. One never knows what surprise is around the next corner.

The couple of days in Brussels passed quickly and then we were home again.

 

The vendange (grape harvest) is finished. It did start early this year (about 3 weeks) and finished quickly. I did some of my own grape testing and did not find the grapes as sweet as in the past. So I would say that 2007 may not be a great year. It will take a lot of work to make a good wine and the volume of wine will be way down. We will see what the preliminary reports will say in about 1 month. The grapes behind our house were picked by hand this year (they have been done by machine in the previous years). Right now the grapes are fermenting in large vats. As always, the village (or actually Gevrey is a "ville" -city) takes on scent of fermenting grapes. I do like it

Our friend from London (Chris) came for some rest and recuperation. We tasted wine (one of her favorite pastimes), went shopping and out for a couple of walks. On Saturday we went to a favorite vigneron of ours in Rully (pronounced rue ee), Domaine Jean-Claude Breliere http://www.domainebreliere.net/ actually if you go to the website and click on the "Jetez un coup d'oiel..." (more or less "take a look at"), you will see my photo of his wine with cheese.

As always Jean-Claude was very gracious and his wines very good. He also showed us his fermenting wine. We climbed a ladder to an upper platform so we would be able to see into the giant vats (sorry I forgot my camera!). He had three whites fermenting (the reds were past this stage). One had lots of foam on top, huge bubbles and covered in about one foot of foam. He said that when he arrived in the morning, it had foamed over and was all over the room. He spent the morning cleaning. Then he siphoned off some of the wine into another vat so it had room to continue fermenting with going over the top. They do not know why one does this and not another. It just happens. In the other two vats, all was well. The wine swirls and churns around and bubbles (just the right amount) all on its own. It was very interesting to watch. And the smell, standing right over these huge vats. It was delightful.

On Sunday morning we went to a Gevrey Chambertin wine tasting. This time each year the office de tourisme offers a tour and tasting. Jackie Rigaux (local famous lecturer on the subject of wine) talked about the Grand Crus of Gevrey, starting with the Romans, then on to the Benedictines and then fast forward to today. After the lecture in the vineyards we walked back to the tourist office and we went inside to taste some wine (only Gevrey Chambertin wine). Pleasant start to the day.

After lunch, Chris and I had a nice walk in the countryside. This is a nation of food gatherers, and true to custom, we saw many people out gathering walnuts (noix) while we were walking. This is a great year for walnuts as it is for apples (hmm walnut apple salad).

The fall program that Gevrey sponsors is called the Music of Chambertin, and it includes several concerts during the month of September. We went one of the concerts in the village of Couchey (in the old church). The group that played is french and they call themselves "Or Notes Brass". The group has five members; 2 trumpets, 1 trombone,1 tuba, and 1 french horn. We really enjoyed the mix of music and thought that they were very talented. Would definitely go to hear them again if given the chance.

After several weeks of rest and some therapy for a sore knee, Keith was back on his bike and rode in the Randonne de Grand Cru this month (about 180km). He is very happy to be able to ride once again (let me tell you- so am I, the 3 weeks he could not ride did not pass quickly...if you get my drift).

My little potager (vegetable garden) has finished. The beans, tomatoes, zucchini have all turned brown and have drooped over onto the ground. We ate the one squash already. It had escaped the yard and was growing on the other side of the fence (vineyard side). So when the harvest started, it was knocked and the stem broken, so it was time to harvest.

Since we had courgettes (zucchini) a plenty, I will add a courgette recette this month.

Gratin Zucchini

2 courgettes (zucchini) sliced

3/4 (about) cup heavy cream or creme fraiche

1 egg

1 cup cheese (swiss) rapee (grated)

Nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste

Put the sliced zucchini in a dish, cover with paper towel and put in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. Drain any liquid off.

Mix cream, egg, nutmeg to taste and cheese. Pour over the zucchini[note: the cream and egg mixture should cover the bottom of dish and coat the zucchini, but not bury the zucchini] and bake about 45 minutes at 360.   BON APPETITE

Genealogy

My thoughts have gone to family this weekend. I have been an amateur genealogist for a few years now.

I find that where we come from is interesting. And it is the search that is part of the fun.

Today I want to honor my mother's family. Her name was Rita Trudeau. Her parents were David Trudeau and Leontine Commeree Trudeau.

David (b. 1885-Illinois) and Leontine (b. 1885-Illinois) had three children:

• Rita b 8/19/1914 (married L Veeser) d. 10/19/1971

• Carvil b. 8/25/1917               d. 4/3/1988

• Hubert (known as Bitz) b. 2/27/1924 d. 08/27/2007

I have included a photo of the three children: Carvil on the left, Rita and young Hubert on the right. Picture is probably around 1930-1932

LINK to TRUDEAU/COMMEREE (mother's family)

August Things

August 2007

Once again the time passes by so swiftly. It does seem to speed up the older I get. I remember when I was young; 3 months of summer seemed to go on forever. It was wonderful.

The grape harvest has been called (grape harvest is called Vendange). That means a grower can start any time now and harvest his/her grapes. It is very early this year, due to the unusually warm April we had this year. The vendagne in Gevrey will start around August 25th. Ads are in the paper for workers. The Vendange here in the Cote D’Or is usually around the 23rd of September. Hope we have nice weather. It is better for the grapes (not to mention the workers) if the weather is dry. If it rains, the grapes fill up on water, and of course that dilutes the flavor and the sugar value.

Speaking of the weather, our summer has been rather cool!! We have had about 2 days of summer. Many days have had a high of 20 degrees (68 degrees F) and nights have been around 12 degrees (54 degrees). And we have had lots of rain.

This past month I had a visitor in the kitchen! I turned and there was this large gray animal looking at me! It was a dormouse. I knew it was not a rat as I fled out of the kitchen, but was not sure what I had seen. I ran up the stairs and told Keith I thought we had a guinea pig in the kitchen! This is only the second dormouse I have every seen, and the first was a glimpse of one running away. They are rather cute, but they are rodents. I did not take a photo (too busy wondering what to do with a dormouse in the kitchen), and the photo I have included (on the blog site) is off the internet. My dormouse was gray, not tan. He did not want to leave, and when Keith finally got him out of the kitchen on to the patio, he closed the kitchen door. The little dormouse just sat there looking at us, and scratching at the door. How sad. We wondered if he was a pet on the loose. He did not seem to fear us at all. { side note; doors do not have screens here, so if the door is open any and all creatures can walk in, especially cats).

Speaking of cats, we have one visit time to time. However we do not know what cat has come for a visit. On our stairs there is a small window that I leave open most of the summer (again no screens). In the morning, we have fresh cat prints on the window sill and stairs. We have never seen this cat, but know it visits now and then. We have concluded that one of our neighbors cats may miss last call for bed, and now has found a place to go.

Changing the topic to photos, I needed a photo of a waterfall (cascade) for my photo club. So last weekend we went to the “End of the World” (Cirque de But de Monde). There was no doubt in my mind that there would be a waterfall, since we have had so much rain lately. It was certainly pretty. And now we have been to the END OF THE WORLD and back.

I planted zucchini (courgette) this year! Two greens and two yellows (summer squash); and did they grow. So I have searched and found lots of recipes for zucchini. Zucchini curry is very good. Also works well in spaghetti sauce…and …..I also found a Chocolate Orange bread that was very good. I do not know if I can print it here( or if it copy righted), but the online address is at All Recipes here : http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Chip-Orange-Zucchini-Bread/Detail.aspx If the link does not work, go to : http://allrecipes.com/ and search for Chocolate Chip Orange Zucchini Bread ( I used a chocolate bar and had chunks rather than chips).

Also last night I made a salad with zucchini.

ZUCCHINI SALAD

1. Slice Zucchini very thin with a mandolin (as thin as possible)

2. Pour over a flavored vinaigrette ( I used olive oil and raspberry vinegar) -let sit with the vinaigrette about 30 minutes at least.

3. Top with a cheese (maybe feta ) I used goat cheese

4. And top it all off with a grilled sweet red pepper

It is great salad, or at least we think so. Difficult to say what wine should go with it though. Wine and vinegar are difficult. Since it is summer, maybe just a rose.

Keith and I have been busy with our projects too. Keith will be making the counter in the bathroom for our new sink. He has also been working on new kitchen cupboard doors. I have included a photo of the first door (on the Blog site). He has done the glass work and the door frame. One day, I may have new doors through out the kitchen.

As for me, I finished the sink for the bathroom. I have also included a photo (on the Blog site), but it does not do it justice, sitting on my work table.

Last weekend we had the annual (well second annual) Bligny picnic (the tourist train association). Everyone was to bring something to drink and a dessert. There were LOTS of desserts! I took the chocolate orange bread, bottle of wine, bottle of water and mustard (no mustard last year, so Keith wanted to be sure). JF (nickname pronounced Jeff) prepared beef kabobs and sausage on the grill and had bought (and brought) cartons of various salads. We had nice weather and a very nice evening. One of the newer members is a retiree (engineer for Hewlett Packard in Switzerland) has a summer house close to Bligny and an apartment in Dijon. His wife is an artist and is fixing up a art gallery in the summer house. We will have to visit it when it is ready. But he (Jean Claude) also bottled some wine just for the occasion. It had a photo of the Steam Train on the label.

So that has been our summer so far. I think I have said enough for August! Hope you have enjoyed yours.

Bread

Bread (du pain)

I know that I have written about bread before. Never in the United States did bread take on such importance as it does here in our lives in France.

August is the month of vacations in Europe. Everyone goes on vacation, most of France heads to the coast. This includes the local baker (boulanger).

During most of the year, bread arrives practically at our front door. A delivery truck drives around and stops to sell bread, tarts, croissants… what a treat. This happens every day about 9:30am, except Wednesday.

Then comes August when the baker takes 3 weeks of vacation (remember that the minimum vacation here is France is 5 weeks per year). I do not begrudge the baker his vacation, not at all. If you think of the hours that a baker works, up at 3am to start the daily bread, with a second baking in the afternoon and he does this 6 days a week.

Now it is August 15th and our baker has been on vacation for 2 weeks already. I have had to buy bread most days at the grocer (not the best bread in the area). Marsonnay le Cote and Couchey have very good bakers, but then one must drive the 6km to get that bread, and we have done that. Bread is almost like wine, you taste it and evaluate it. Some is good and some is not. One does start to appreciate a good baker. Then there are bakers that make good bread, but the croissants, not the best. And of course the other way around, some bakers make wonderful croissants, but it is not good bread.

Back to today. I have invited friends over for dinner (hopefully we can sit outside on the terrace for diner). It is a Jour de Fete (feast day or festival day). It is the day of the Assumption, if you are wondering. Have to remember that France does have the separation of church and state, but somehow they just could not give up all those additional days off work! So baker is on vacation, most grocers are closed… so the search for bread for diner is on. I sent Keith out for bread and he found some. Whew, dinner is saved.

What is the menu for dinner?

• Aperitif is champagne (remember that our champagne house is just 2 hours from here)
• Starter (entré) is puffed pastry with fresh tomato slice and blue cheese, side salad of rocket (arugula)
• Main course (very American) grilled steak – with epoisse cheese * melted on top..mmmm and a baked potato [* a burgundian cheese from the village Epoisse]
• Cheese (fromage) course with Comté, Epoisse, Delice, and chevre
• Dessert will be some sorbet (cassis) with some almond cookies

That is all for this wonderful Jour de Fete, August 15, 2007. I will be dropping another note soon, because the vendage will be starting. It is very early this year.