25 October 2009

Nothing much

It's terrible to write a blog post just to say that you have nothing much to say. The last pictures I took go back to Thursday morning. So no help here, really — you've seen them if they were worth posting.

Okay, okay, I know I say I don't have anything much to say and then I write paragraph after paragraph.

We took the day off yesterday and just stayed home. Walt did some cooking. I didn't do much of anything, except go for a nice walk with the dog in the afternoon. It was very gray and misty, but surprisingly warm, all day. No matter — we built a fire in the wood stove anyway, just to chase away the feeling of damp.

I talked to S. on the phone in the afternoon. She was busy with her visitors from the U.K. and was going to dinner with them and a good English friend of hers who lives up in Valaire, near Blois. We've invited S. and her house guests over for an apéritif this evening.

That means I need to go out and do some shopping this morning. I'll go over to the outdoor market in Noyers-sur-Cher, across the river. I'm in a phase now where I enjoy that market more than the one in Saint-Aignan on Saturdays. The Noyers market is smaller, but there are some very good vendors there. The Saint-Aignan market is too crowded.

One good feature in Noyers is the stand where they sell poultry products, including ground chicken and turkey as well as terrinespâtés — of rabbit, duck, turkey, or pheasant. And of course fresh chickens, guinea fowl, and ducks. There's a vegetable stand that sells the variety of potatoes called bintje, which make very good frites and mashed potatoes. I can't find them anywhere else around here. All the other vegetables there are nice too.

And oh, I almost forgot that there is a very nice charcuterie shop in Noyers too, as well as a good bread bakery. It's convenient to pop into those shops before or after buying things at the market stalls, while I'm over there.

There's also a very good cheese vendor at the Noyers farmers market. The man who sells cheese in Noyers works for the same company that sells cheese in Saint-Aignan, where the stand is staffed by two women. I like them and I like the man in Noyers too, and the cheese is always fresh and appetizing. But in Noyers there is seldom a line, whereas in Saint-Aignan you sometimes have to wait 10 or 15 minutes on line before you get served. The cheese seller has the time to advise you and choose your cheeses carefully.

He also likes to chat. Last week he told me all about his dog. The poor dog died recently at the age of 17. A new dog is on the way in. We had quite a long and friendly discussion.

So small markets can be just as attractive and enjoyable as big markets. Size isn't everything.

10 comments:

  1. I can "picture" you in that smaller market in Noyers because you write so well. Makes me wish to have an open air market like they do in Europe here. Except for the one in Santa Monica, the others are just so-so.

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  2. ' ... nothing to say?' "Mon oeil!" as they say in French ;^). Thanks for brightening up my day every morning with your blog. Martine

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  3. The markets are Sue's passion on our trips to France. I purchased a book for Sue called Tarragon and Truffles by Anne Gregg. Sub-titled "a guide to the best French markets" it was helpful on our last trip when we met you and Walt.
    I think we have many more trips before we can experience the many markets in the book.

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  4. I didn't need pictures to enjoy a Sunday morning at the market with you, Ken. You are so good with words. I hope you are able to see the guy who just lost his dog today and the others that you connect with sometimes.

    These connections that we make in our lives are somehow holy. Your blog is like that for me and others here I bet.

    I love how you were able to help Star write her eulogy with the help of CHM who lives far away, but is here on your blog everyday.

    I hope you found what you needed at the market today. I am jealous about those special potatoes that you get over there;-)

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  5. i made your auvergne pounti cake yesterday and it came out great....i was skeptical about the seemingly small amount of flour compared to say the cheese but it held together fine.....i used a combo of swiss, mozzarella & parm. i think (it was a package of pre-grated stuff) and spinach leaves....tasty

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  6. Have you or Walt ever posted a photo of the Noyers market?
    I loved your descriptions of going to the market, and I'm glad that you and Walt and Callie had some quiet time at home.

    It's good of you to keep your friend, S., in mind and have her over. After everything quiets down and visitors leave, she'll probably be hit even harder with the reality of the emptiness of the house.

    Judy

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  7. Is the Noyers market very far? If you had to spend fifteen minutes on line for everything you bought, you could be there all day.

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  8. "Nothing" sure is interesting, and I enjoy reading about it daily!

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  9. I just can't let this pass, once again.

    Verification word is mulaters. Does it mean somebody who is half black and half white, or vice versa; or is it some kind of wingnut who hates mules, among other things!

    Your "nothing' was quite refreshing.

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  10. Starman, the Noyers market is maybe 4 miles from our house. So it's an easy drive over to there.

    Judy, no, no pictures of the Noyers market that I can think of. That's a future project. As for the aftermath of a death and funeral, it is all the harder to deal with the reality that the person will not suddenly reappear after having focused on him or her for several days building up to the funeral and burial. I find myself thinking that I'll see Jean-Luc again in a few days.

    Everybody, thanks. I'm not in deep mourning over J-L's passing but I do feel for S. I intend to spend time with her, if she can and wants, through the coming week or two, while Walt is in NY. We'll keep each other company, maybe.

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