Friday's Petite Aquarelle

Dordogne Fields

12" x 16" framed size

$120 including shipping 

available at www.tomviethsketches.com

Patio Setting

12" x 16" framed size

$120 including shipping 

available at www.tomviethsketches.com

Brantome Market Routine

My guess is that you have a routine when you go to the grocery store. Back in Vermont my system was to head left into the frozen stuff and detergents, then through the cookie aisle and all the boxed stuff that piled up in my cart, and last but not least, the fruit and veggie section. There I would run into friends that were just starting their shopping.  It seems that turning right was a more normal approach.

My need for a shopping routine has followed me here to France. Especially at the farmer’s markets.

Look closely. Tom is there on the left.

Each market has it’s specific layout and strategy. Today I will take you on a tour of Brantome. Tom has his painting gear set up near the bridge, providing him a good view of the action. Meanwhile I plunge into the lively scene that he is capturing.

rantome’s market is shaped like an H. The Dronne river runs down the middle and the cross bar is formed by a bridge. I start on a long leg of the right hand side. (Leaving my leftward tendency back in Vermont.) 

First stop is the lovely Nadege and her delicious pastries. Even though these fragile delights will be the last thing I put in my basket, I have to buy them first or else I will miss out on them. Nothing is sadder than anticipating a Nadege treat and having her pastry fridge be empty. After I hem and haw over what to choose today she very sweetly marks my box and puts it in a fridge for when I return on my way out of the market.

With my most important purchase done I can roam the stands and see what delights catch my eye. I seldom head to market with a prepared list. That would take the fun out of the hunt and the brain-twisitng food combinations that I have to scheme up as I spot what has newly arrived in season. What about those strawberries with fresh ginger over a duck breast? or new potatoes with chopped herbs and a little buttermilk from the Dutch vendor?

 

When friends come to visit they are dismayed at how I speed along. They want to look at each and every stand. I now know who is here with local or at least carefully selected fruits and vegetables and the other types of stands that are pretty much like heading into the grocery store.  I also know that the ticky-tacky stands will still have all their ticky-tacky, fun stuff towards the end of the market, but the best food vendors will sell out of that just-so-perfect melon, tomato, spinach, fresh trout, sorrel or raspberries. Unlike my planned attack on Nadege and her pastries I can’t always predict where the food treasure will be and my search for that hidden treasure is more open-ended. 

Today the menu will be simple. Fresh trout, sweet peas, some rice that I already have at home, a jewel like melon salad and of course the famous pastries that we have been waiting for since last Friday’s market. 

There is always the temptation to stay along the river side and grab lunch with friends while Tom finishes up his work. The report from the bridge is that Tom has also thrown together some ingredients of the market and cooked up a lovely painting. Ahhh the routine of a Friday morning market.

Roman Arch

After the Roman military conquest of Gaul, the Roman Arch endured as a reminder of the enduring influence of the Roman Empire.

A new arch became nearly as widespread in the 20th century commercial conquest of France.

Romanesque Churches

If you were to join me on my 15-mile bike loop that starts from our house and heads out into rolling farm fields you would be surprised when seemingly out of nowhere a church steeple appears. Come along and I will show you 5 churches to be discovered along this short loop.

  These churches all date from the 11th - 13th century with one jewel box exception. Some of their foundations are probably sitting on foundations of buildings built by the Romans who conquered and settled here among the Gauls in the 1st century.

The Perigord region (about the size of Delaware) has always been sparsely populated. And yet by the end of the 12th century there were as many as 400 Romanesque churches in the small region of the Perigord. “Romanesque” because they are based on the principals and style that had been brought to and became a part of the region’s architecture before the downfall of the Roman Empire.  

The beauty of these churches comes from their extreme simplicity of design and decoration. A simple, almost severe form, carved out of the golden, light sandstone that is one of the major assets of Perigordian architecture.  From the Michelin Green Guide: “The originality of the Perigord Romanesque style is in its vaulting - the dome. Some specialists believe that this shows eastern influence,  others that it is a French invention.” The orientation of each church is to face towards the orient, placing them on an east-west axis. The purpose is to have the faithful facing Jerusalem.  Or maybe, since the church interiors are as stark as their exteriors, it was to profit from the glorious rays of the morning sun.

During the 11th and 12th century there was a resurgence of population and construction during the brief interludes of peace. During times of turmoil these churches were used for the protection of the population of the hamlets nestled around them. Belfries doubled as watchtowers. Narrow windows allowed light, but not intruders. Some walls were up to 3 meters thick.

Two major periods of turmoil were the 100 Years War between France and England and then the terrible family-splitting Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants. Wars washed through and around these small villages and their strong churches.  One  marvels at the tenacity of the human spirit.

The last small church on the loop is actually a tiny chapel finished in 2012. A privately built and attended chapel. The arrival of this building of faith helps one understand the drive to create a place of spirituality and how such a church community can start out small nestled in it’s hamlet community of about 14 houses and 12 souls.

Serious French Gardeners

For the first step toward achieving a beautiful flower garden, serious French gardener’s meet in a pasture.

A Sunday Drive

We thought we were heading out for a leisurely Sunday drive. Yesterday around 2,300 public and private gardens were open across France. Our plan was to mosey along and visit 4 or 5 of them within an hour of home. The loop I chose took us into the neighboring Charente Department. We had not explored here yet so all was going to be new and exciting. And exciting it was! 

(Again this week I hope you are pleasantly exhausted at the end of the photos. I try so hard to keep my post tight, but...)

Not even on the list of visits we tumbled upon this monster abandoned chateau, La Mercerie.

Next stop was an amazing garden created by a lovely couple. Even Tom said he was exhausted by their attention to detail. Yet he has plans to return this week to paint. The compositions were wonderful. Jardin de Christaline

Then we tumbled down into a hidden valley with strong flowing springs. The family has owned this property since 1643. The current owners great-grandfather still ran the flour mill. The mill was turned into a summer home in the 1920's and I wish I could show you the unchanged art deco interior. Moulin de Nanteuillet

We took time to recharge with a warm crepe and rose jelly. The owner of the mill came over to make sure we found it delicious and refined.

Now we climbed up to a perch overlooking golden farm fields. It was becoming obvious that these old gardens had one thing in common, water. All of the properties had several springs and enough water for the farm, home and then extra for the luxury of a garden. This private family home has fallen into the "a gentle plea for chaos" category. Jardins du logis de Chenard

The next gardens were nestled around the ruins of a 12th - 18th century Cistercian Abbey. Springs and a underground water system are the strength of this long inhabited valley. The grounds and the monks living quarters have been lovingly restored. Jardin de l'abbaye de Fontaine Vive

Finally -here is our last stop. Aptly named Jardin du Pere et de la Mere Cucu. "The garden of dad and mom a little bit crazy." And so it charmingly was!

I leave you with the Queen of the Compost. Happy gardening!