Thursday, January 18, 2018

Always choose the ' formule '.


Can Bob be slowly turning grey ? There is a decided 'lightening' at the temples.

There again maybe it's just the early morning sunshine.


By the far gate into the garden a sudden burst of colour.


Scores of these bright flowers have taken root and started to flower. A surprising sight in January and something that wasn't there last year. 


Have they lain dormant for a decade waiting for this mild wet winter ? Or have they been brought here by birds or little things that scurry along the bottom of the drainage ditch ? The photo doesn't show them clearly but they stretch for at least twenty yards along the road. The PONs are singularly uninterested.

The mayors wife drives by in her car. Despite having had a number of hip replacements ( the mayor says five but surely he must mean three ? ) and being in great pain she always smiles and stops to say hello. Today she informs me that the day for the annual village '' best garden and best kept house " awards will be in the Salle des Fetes in two weeks time. Winners ( everyone in the village is a winner whether they enter or not ) receives one of her dried root vegetable arrangements.


Into the little market town with Bob. Sophie remains at home  in the kitchen.

We look at the menu for the day. For $10 not bad. The secret to eating reasonably in France is to always choose the '' Formule " rather than go a la carte. Bob sniffs the air with authoritative interest as if to say '' The Magret de Canard is good today ''.


10 comments:

Lisa in Tokyo said...

Your message today reminded me of something I recalled reading about PONs a long time ago. There are many references to PONs having a genetic "factor factor" that causes their coats to lighten as they grow out of puppyhood. But I've also read their colors can continue changing over time, so that their coats may also darken again. (http://www.aplsa.org/breedinformation.html warns you shouldn't select your PON based on color alone - Ha!) This seems to the case with Cherry. As a puppy, she had Bob's black and white colors and then she faded to a more Sophie-like palette - but now, at eight, she's darkening again. So Bob's distinguished greying temples may have nothing at all to do with age - in any event, he's still a young boy!

As to lunch, the same is true in Tokyo -it's always best to order the "teishoku."

Angus said...

Thank you. Something I didn't know. Our previous PONs have all been white with a tiny hint of taupe on their backs and ears. There's hope for Bob ..... if not his owner !

WFT Nobby said...

Lightening at the temples is considered distinguished (in males) is it not?
Bertie's colouring has continued to evolve with age.

Coppa's girl said...

I'd rely on Bob's nose to sniff out the best dish of the day !

Poppy Q said...

Bob we don't mind you turning into a silver fox.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
As a grey, I say yay... and the vegetarian plate better be more than lettuce, cucumber and tomato (standard UK version of 'vego' meal - if it isn't ma'n'cheese...) It's why I rarely eat out. YAM xx

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Genetic or not, that graying or changing of coat is a reminder of time passing much too quickly. But thankfully one thing that doesn't change, even with age, is that sense of smell. I think it gets better.

Susan said...

Your mystery wild flower is Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Difficult to judge whether Bob is going grey.
Dried root vegetable arrangement? Am picturing withered potato and turnip....surely not a reason to have the garden looking good.

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Bailey Bob’s coat gets lighter and darker according to the seasons. He is getting gray around his muzzle, but his happy brown eyes still win the hearts of those who meet and know him.I think much of this can also be said about Bob.