25 March 2015

Le retour

The departure from North Carolina and the arrival in France came off without a hitch. This morning, my thoughts are with the families and friends of the Spanish and German people, including a lot of young students, who died yesterday in a mysterious plane crash in the French Alps. The plane I was on, flying from Atlanta to Paris yesterday, passed through several zones of turbulence as we approached the European continent, but we landed safely and on time. I took the TGV from Roissy-CDG airport to Tours, and it was on time as well. All in all, it was an easy and speedy trip.

Here's a photo of some of the food products I brought back from N.C. I took the photo with my new camera, a Panasonic Lumix TZ40, which I ordered from amazon.fr. Texas Pete is a North Carolina hot sauce. I also brought back a lot of new clothes.

Callie was glad to see me, I think, and seemed surprised by my sudden reappearance. It's time for me to take her out for the morning walk. Yesterday afternoon we had to go out in a cold rain, but I screwed up my jet-lagged courage and got the job done. It's cold here — much colder than in N.C. — but this morning there's some hazy sunshine and no rain. Where is springtime?
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20 comments:

  1. Tim25 March, 2015 08:22

    You missed Spring...
    you were in the States!
    We've gorn straight into Summer...
    we saw TWO Swallows two days ago...
    so the summer is officially here...
    therefore the weather has gorn-off again!
    Even the flowers seem confused!!

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    Replies
    1. Ken Broadhurst25 March, 2015 13:51

      In California, the swallows come back to Capistrano in spring. And in French, they say: Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps. — One swallow does not the springtime make. Sounds like the swallows don't come back to England until summer. Strange.

      Delete
    2. Tim25 March, 2015 16:21

      One swallow does not the summer make.
      That is the UK version of the saying...
      it must be La Manche getting in the way...
      but with global warming, it could get earlier...

      Delete
  2. Seine Judeet (Judith)25 March, 2015 12:18

    I always enjoy your French kitchen photos-- even when they're packed with American goodies :)

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  3. chm25 March, 2015 13:28

    Is there a big difference in taste between hickory, mesquite and pecan?

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    1. Ken Broadhurst25 March, 2015 15:28

      Je te dirai ça plus tard, quand on aura goûte aux trois 'parfums'. I like the hickory, which is a North Carolina flavor, and also the mesquite, which is a California flavor. The pecan will be a new one for me.

      Delete
  4. ladybird25 March, 2015 14:31

    You'll need a lot of Loire Valley wine to wash all that hot stuff down :)

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  5. Notes From ABroad25 March, 2015 16:54

    Sometimes I think that is colder than anywhere , where I live . I knew I was right when I saw the chipmunks wearing little scarves and gloves .. I grew up in the Southern USA ... I hated lima beans as a child, just gagged when I tasted one. Now I might like to try one .. just one.
    All that hot sauce .. looks like my grandfathers having dinner with you :) ( He was a chef .. he was from the US Desert SW area and it seemed like the main ingredient of everything he cooked , was hot sauce.

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  6. Ken Broadhurst25 March, 2015 17:19

    Seems like our tastes are pretty different. Do you like beets? Okra? French flageolet beans? Asparagus?

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    1. Notes From ABroad27 March, 2015 14:01

      I love Asparagus ! and okra (I grew up in the US South) but not beets or beans that much. I guess I am one of those Picky Eaters , even for a vegetarian :)

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  7. Galestorm25 March, 2015 20:24

    Next time try the dried field peas. They taste almost like fresh cooked. Much better than the canned ones. I was surprised the first time I cooked the dried ones. I found the snaps in the canned ones were nothing more than green beans. I can't remember if I have ever tried that brand. Fresh field peas are mighty hard to find these days.

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    1. Ken Broadhurst25 March, 2015 20:45

      I usually bring back bags of dried field peas and cook them. They are very good. This time I happened to buy a can of field peas but didn't open it, so I put it in my suitcase. It's for lunch tomorrow.

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    2. Ken Broadhurst25 March, 2015 20:51

      Field peas

      Delete
  8. Gosia25 March, 2015 20:38

    a lot of products

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  9. Libbie26 March, 2015 02:37

    Please tell me where you found GHEE in Eastern NC!

    Libbie in New Bern

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    1. Ken Broadhurst26 March, 2015 19:42

      You' have to ask my mother. She probably found it at a yard sale.

      Delete
  10. Mary26 March, 2015 04:38

    Welcome back, Ken! Glad you had a safe and speedy return. I hadn't even thought of you (when I heard about the Alps accident) but after I saw that you were back, it all hit me. I am always fearful that I will know of someone of those flights. So glad it was't you.

    Mary in Oregon

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