03 August 2022

Saint-Aignan in summer (24)

Yesterday morning Walt noticed three tourterelles (doves) perched on a tree branch just off our front deck.
He said one was larger than the two others, so he figured one was an adult and the two smaller ones
were fledglings. I had my camera handy.


    
I started the summer thinking I have far too many succulents planted in pots. My intention was
to throw a lot of them in the compost. But with this summer's three torrid heat waves,
these turn out to be the right plants to be growing here now.

Today is supposed to be the hottest day of our current heat wave, with temperatures topping out at about 95F
here in Saint-Aignan and 100F south of here. It's good weather for refreshing salads. Above is one I made
recently with raw mushrooms, steamed green beans, chopped shallot and herbs, crumbled
feta cheese, and chopped pecans — all dressed with a mustardy vinaigrette.

7 comments:

  1. I think the succulent on the left used to be called Burrows Tail, the other Hens and Chicks. It has been extremely hot here in ENC. I'm hoping it's not precursor to hurricane season. It's been in the 90's and with the humidity it's a challenge for me to get out and about. I used to love summer and couldn't wait to get on the beach. Now, I am looking forward to fall and some cool even cold weather! Galestorm

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    1. The Burrow's or Donkey's tail is one that I got in Morehead. I was at Lowe's in the garden center when I noticed a small branch of it had fallen on the floor. I picked it up and put it in my shirt pocket, and then brought it back to France. That was about 15 years ago. Now I have about a dozen pots of it growing all around. The Hens and Chicks were given to me back then by a woman who lived on the other side of our village. She passed away last October at 91 years of age.

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  2. A nice salad! I make something similar with a homemade raspberry vinaigrette and a few dried carnberries. Simple and not heavy in this hot weather. If I have some left over chicken I picked off a carcass I toss it in, too. Salads are my favorite grab and go meal most week days. In the summer in Kentucky as a child I remember eating meals of all vegetables, some hot some chilled, maybe 5 days out of a week and roasted meat on the weekends only. Lots of sun brewed iced tea. It was a different time and living was easier. Doves! I haven't seen or heard a dove in forever around here.

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  3. Great looking salad!
    BettyAnn

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  4. Love the doves! They are so peaceful.

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  5. Ooh, I love a good salad, and that one definitely looks good!

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  6. What a salad! Looks refreshing, My main course is mostly large green salads with vegies with a scrambled omelette with vegies once or twice a week as well. Today is reduced temperatures (mid 90's not 100's).and it feels heavenly at 11:00 in the morning and all my windows and sliders are fully open with a slight breeze! Stay cool!

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