That's how I'm feeling this morning. I drove Walt up to Blois yesterday so he could catch the noon train to Paris, where he spent the afternoon and evening. He'll be flying out to Montréal today, and then driving from there down to Albany on Thursday. Here I am with the dog and cat and garden and houseplants.
A wild purple « pentecôte » orchid growing out on the edge of the vineyard — I took the photo yesterday morning.
And I have a lot of housework — spring cleaning — to do. Having to take two walks a day with the dog is also kind of overwhelming, but it'll do me good. The garden work, at this point, means mainly watering the plants in the greenhouse tent regularly, and maybe planting some kale in the garden. The housework means getting out the vacuum cleaner and then washing some big windows.
Anyway, here I am. I bought myself a smoked chicken at the supermarket on the way back from Blois yesterday, and I have plenty of vegetables in the pantry and freezer. I won't be doing much cooking this week. Next week, we'll see. The image just above shows what I call the dog's-eye view of the vineyard. Out I go.
A poulet rôti sounds pretty good! And the weather is nice.
ReplyDeleteThis is a smoked chicken, not just a poulet rôti.
DeleteThe chickens like this one are fumés au bois de hêtre — beechwood.
DeletePauline et moi lurve smoked chicken....we found it first in Costco....
ReplyDeleteAnd had one or two more from there
Then, we discovered that Lidl did them....
But they were not only cheaper....they were also moister and much more tender.
We'd thought, until then, that the toughness of the Costco ones was because of the smoking process....
We now have around three a year in the summer...does 5 meeelz 4 2....and a soup.
The soup from the carcass and skin has a lovely hint of smoke....
It is usually more of a broth with just a couple of carrots, a bit of thyme and a small shallot...possibly some rice noodles to bulk it out.
Enjoy your quiet time....
LIDL is where I stopped yesterday to get the chicken, and some other things. I can't wait to have some for lunch in a couple of hours.
DeleteHearing about that smoked chicken is making us all want some!
ReplyDeleteLewis and I will be hard at work today. A large cherry tree has fallen from our shade garden. It is totally blocking our driveway. It fell taking into account our palm tree and fringe tree which was a nice thing. We slept through it all.
E., what do you mean by "taking into account"? Did three trees fall? Are you and Lew okay after doing all that work?
DeleteThe tree fell in such a way as to spare the lives of the palm and fringe trees is what I meant to say.
DeleteThat's good then, the loss of just one tree. That cherry tree was considerate.
DeleteLidl and Aldi are great, as proved in Europe, can't wait till they open up (next month) here downunder and destroy this "market-leadership" of only 2 (!) companies here: Coles & Woolworth.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile stay OK Ken, whilst Walt is overseas. Best wishes from Perth, Jan (& Dean)
More choice is better than less choice, I say. Walt is on the ground in Montréal.
DeleteYou have a cat? And I don't know it? I never saw it before? Hum hum, Ken, please let me see a picture of this cat, or.. or what? :-) Beware of Aldi and Lidl, my son worked for a potato firm, and they make selections, several selections for some firms, but only one for Lidl or Aldi... This means Aldi or Lidl have the worst quality...
ReplyDeleteCareful shopping is the key in any supermarket. Or open-air market, for that matter. Search my blog for Bertie and you'll see photos of the cat.
Delete