Friday, January 10, 2020

A task and a half.


The Old Farmer is up  and about early to cut his lawn. The small lawn tractor that he uses is barely up to the task . It wheezes and gulps.

On the road here The Old Farmer saw a lorry with Lithuania number plates. He waved the driver down. The unsuspecting Lithuanian is told a lengthy tale about the war, a German prisoner of war camp for French officers,his fathers tomb on the Belarus frontier and the kindness of locals. He and the Old Farmer exchange phone numbers. What language they have communicated in is left unsaid. This may be a case of international bemusement. More importantly this is the sort of devil may care thing you can do when you're in your late eighties.

Our neighbour also tells me that earlier in the day he saw two cranes flying Eastwards . ' We'll have a bitter spell in two weeks. Better be prepared '  I'm told with countryman certainty.


Sophie continues to look like a dog that is suffering from neglect.


Cardoons in the greengrocers. We had them once in Scotland but 'The Font' vowed never to do them again. The amount of work was immense and the end result forgettable.


Something unlabeled on the spice counter. Small peppers ?


11 comments:

Lisa in France said...

I believe those are fresh peppercorns - we've traveled somewhere they were grown, although I can't remember where. I think Sophie looks very fetching on her grooming table. Cherry visited her "salon" yesterday, so we can now enjoy a day or two of tangle-free loveliness.

Anonymous said...

Yes! Fresh green peppercorns, on the vine. Usually found in Thai markets, and rare to find elsewhere.

Poppy Q said...

The weather looks nice there at the moment. Have a lovely weekend.

EAS said...

My only experience with PONs is this blog so when I suggested a while back that Sophie may enjoy a day of beauty it was for the pampering aspects and not a judgement on her appearance. As you've said, PONs ownership is clearly not for the faint of heart - I would be broken straight away after spending time grooming only for it all to be undone in seconds. It's such a good thing she enjoys grooming and clearly sees it as an act of love.

Taste of France said...

With temperatures around 13-15 Celsius, something colder might be a good thing. I see forsythia in bloom, about a month early if not more.
As for cardons, I bought some with the idea of learning about this ancient plant that is supposed to taste like artichoke, but it went bad before I got up courage. If it's too much for the Font, then it's definitely out of my league.
The Old Farmer's lawn could be a football pitch.

Angus said...

Come the warmer weather she is going to have a buzz cut to get the tangles out. Having said that with PONs even short hair gets knotted quickly. Thankfully having her hair cut is also seen as an act of adulation !

Angus said...

Spring has come early

Angus said...

We see cardoons growing wild here as they did in Scotland. Stick with artichoke it will save you about 18 hours and taste better.

Angus said...

French greengrocers always surprise with their choice of the unexpected.

Angus said...

Thank you. I shall buy some ( a stem ?) on my pre-breakfast shopping trip with Sophie tomorrow.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Didn't know what you'd done to poor Sophie...then realised her head was turned!