February 2020 - The one about Potage, Potager and Paris.

As I begin to write thoughts and reviews of February, I realise that because of my writing sabbatical, news from February 2019 is only a blog away! It is easy to check out what was happening then and what was at the top of my thoughts. Now that February has come around again, I see the daffodils feature once more and I can compare how many flowering bulbs we have this year, compared to last. The sunny days still count and are counted and the pictures of the plum trees in full blossom once again lift spirits and feel worthy of a mention. The circle of life seems to come around quickly……especially when it’s only a blog away!

Another kind of reflection! The sun streaming in through the cuisine door.

We have had some remarkably sunny days, lovely and warm in the midday sun but it quickly chills as the sun goes down, but not too shabby for February. We have progressed with all the hard surfaces around the herb garden and hope to begin planting at the beginning of March. We are still getting a few light early morning frosts but that’s the price we pay for the amazing starlit nights when the whole of the universe seems to present itself right above our heads.

This will be the first year for me to try a vegetable plot, “a potager”, I always have to think twice with that word so that I don’t call it “a soup” (potage). The “potager” will be down in the orchard and the space has been marked out and the grass has been cut extremely short. We are off to hire a rotavator so we can prep the herb garden and the “soup”!

Seed trays have been started by this enthusiastic gardener and for other crops, I wait hopefully for the markets to fill with the little plants that are ready to grow on. I rely on this as then I know it is a produce that should work in our area. Pumpkins and squashes work well I think and melons too, though they seem complicated for me and we will perhaps wait until year 2 or 3 to be a little more adventurous. I am keen for tomatoes and raspberries…all things red. I am dipping my toe in the water of the veg plot world this year and who knows where it will take me.

Here in SW France (and everywhere), February finds us in the middle of the six nations championship and our weekends at the moment are punctuated by the game. It’s often a social occasion crowded around the television with friends and the rugby suppers that follow have so far been absolutely splendid. We felt very lucky to get tickets for the England v France match at the beginning of the month, though not so lucky with the result of the game! However, the atmosphere at The Stade de France was fantastic and there was a good friendly rivalry during the match. At the end of the game, handshakes and pats on the back in condolence and congratulation and then time for a consolation beer!

We had a lovely weekend in Paris which has whet our appetite to go again. We can get a train from Agen or Cahors, it’s a three and a half hour journey, which doesn’t seem too bad at all. However, I will make sure I buy tickets online for the louvre the next time we go, I just couldn’t stand in that queue.

The Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero.

Le stade de france.

“A host of golden daffodils”.

The pool in winter.

The three olive trees. These small trees were in front of the barn during the hot summer. They have spent the winter on the bolet so that they have been protected from frost. I quite like them here, but I think they will perhaps benefit from the sunshine in the garden when the risk of a frosty morning has gone.