Of Gardening In 100 Degree Weather In The Auvergne

Summer 2015: Nothing but blue skies in the Auvergne 

Parched fields behind our house

The sunflowers that were in full bloom a week ago, are dropping their heads

Cows huddling together in the heat

Most days are spent under the linden tree, under the orange umbrella. Notice the dust under the table, where normally grass grows.

No matter the heat, the garden needs tending.

There are weeds to be pulled.

New vines to water.

The jasmine I planted last year seems to thrive in the heat.

The shade garden I planted last year has miraculously survived 

With constant watering, I am able to keep most flowers in bloom

Mr. Pardon installed a drip irrigation system to help me keep up with all the watering.

I am very thankful, and so are the plants.

In the warm breeze, the laundry dries in record time.

Today, it is a bit cooler, so Mr. Pardon Me has decided to start on one of the projects on this summer's list: tile the roof of the wood shed he built last year.

It seemed simple at first, until he realized that it was a bit more complicated to have all the clay tiles fit together perfectly.  But he is making progress.

Mercifully, in the evening, the temperature drops and a cool breeze helps us sleep.

If the summer of 2014 here in the Auvergne was one of the wettest in recent memory, this summer will be remembered for a lack of rain.  All the neighbors are talking about 'la canicule', the period of intense heat that has already lasted for a few weeks here.  Yesterday, the thermostat reached 100 degrees by mid afternoon. It was the warmest day yet.
The otherwise green fields in this region of France are totally dried out, the trees are starting to lose their leaves.  The sunflowers I photographed at their peak last week are dropping their heads, which normally happens at the end of August.
Relief from the heat should come over the week-end, when a series of strong storms is expected to roll in.
In the meantime, the windows of the house are wide open and I am spending hours keeping the flowers in the garden alive by watering.  Seeing how long it took every day, my husband was kind enough to install a drip irrigation system throughout the flowerbeds.  I think we may be the only ones near and wide here with such a system.  We may not need it again soon.  The Auvergne is more known for its periods of rain than for extended periods of heat.


What am I missing in Carroll Gardens?  How has the summer been so far?



Read more

Of Andorra And Driving Through The Pyrenees

What can be said of Andorra, a tiny independent  principality in the Pyrenees between Spain and France?  It has some of the most spectacular scenery. Even in summer, some of the higher peaks are still partially covered in snow, but the landscape must even be more splendid in the winter, which explains all the ski resorts.
Its capital, Andorra La Vella, on the other hand, is quite ugly and disappointing, unless you are into shopping.  Because of its tax-free merchandise, there are shops everywhere selling everything from cheap cigarettes, liquor, jewelry and perfumes.
It all makes Andorra seem like one giant airport duty free shopping mall. Yes, the prices are amazing ( a bottle of Bombay gin is $11) and we did buy our allowed allotment of liquor, but I don't feel the need to ever come back here.
It is kind of sad. One would expect a town, situated in such a magnificent setting, to be a bit prettier.
The photos above are of some of the nicer houses in the old part of town. The newer architecture is rather uninspiring and I did not feel the need to take more photos.

Next stop on this trip is Toulouse, France, a much more beautiful city.



Read more

Visit To Mercat de la Boqueria In Barcelona

I never feel as though I have explored a city totally unless I visit a local food market.  So, while in Barcelona, I explored and ate at the Mercat De La Boqueria.  And it was delightful.
The Jamón, the seafood, the produce…I did not know where to look first and what to taste next.
It was all so good and fresh. My favorite must have been the egg vendor. Just look at the variety.
Sure we have the Greenmarkets in New York City, but nothing can rival this bounty.

And the prices you ask? I bought a kilo of the most delicious cherries for 2.99 Euros.  One kilo is just over 2 pounds and the Euro is  currently around $1.10.
The last time I checked at the produce store on Court Street before I left, it was selling a pound of cherries for $4.99.  That makes the ones I bought in Barcelona seem like a real bargain.




Read more