Thursday market day in Dinan is probably my favorite time of the week. All of the amazing produce, meats, sausages, cheeses make for an eye watering barrage of edible goodies.
We wandered up about 10, grabbed some cash and split up to grab dinner essentials. Niters and I ended up with a half case of wine and a huge bouquet of flowers. More responsible shoppers ended up with salad makings, fresh green beans, cheeses, and mind blowingly good strawberries for dessert.
On the way back down THE HILL(tm), Nita and I swung by the butcher shop to grab a tasty animal hunk for dinner. Porc Savoyard was my panicked choice, since it looked like an innocent pork roast all rolled, tied and topped with herbs. Nope, not even close! Porc Savoyard turns out to be a wonderful layered pork roast, with bacon, air dried ham, a light layer of a minced pork pate and grated swiss cheese all tucked under a fat cap to keep it all moist while roasting.
Quite possibly the most interesting pork roast I have ever made. Dinner was late, as we are now in the habit of dining after 8pm, but the wine and food was great and the plates left the table clean enough to put right back into the cabinet.
Tomorrow we are heading to Fort La Latte.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
A Warm Welcome! (Wednesday 9.18.2013)
Well my family made it back home safe and sound, at least to Minneapolis. Mom and Dad still have a long drive back to KC and party prep to go.
Nita and I spent a quiet day cleaning house, laundry and a light lunch in the port prepping for the next wave of folks.
About 5, they started rolling in. Clayton, Deanna, Wayne and Deb drove down from Normandy with little issues and Matt and Kim made the drive from Rennes painlessly.
There was much wine and BS around the table, we opted for a ramble down the hill to the Italian place again. Pizza, pasta and wine flowed freely and the owners even brought over a shot of Pruneau(sweet prune liquor shot) for the table. There are unfounded rumors that Kim fell asleep at the table. I guess its allowed, they had a bitch of a flight and train ride.
Once again I had to double check the price. Odd that we can eat and drink so much for so little.
Market day tomorrow!!
Nita and I spent a quiet day cleaning house, laundry and a light lunch in the port prepping for the next wave of folks.
About 5, they started rolling in. Clayton, Deanna, Wayne and Deb drove down from Normandy with little issues and Matt and Kim made the drive from Rennes painlessly.
There was much wine and BS around the table, we opted for a ramble down the hill to the Italian place again. Pizza, pasta and wine flowed freely and the owners even brought over a shot of Pruneau(sweet prune liquor shot) for the table. There are unfounded rumors that Kim fell asleep at the table. I guess its allowed, they had a bitch of a flight and train ride.
Once again I had to double check the price. Odd that we can eat and drink so much for so little.
Market day tomorrow!!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
A Fond Farewell! (Tuesday 9.17.2013)
Today is a bittersweet day for us. We have had such a great time with Mom, Dad, Joanie and Gary and we are extremely sorry to see them go!
We spent hours up in Dinan proper shopping for last minute souvenirs and trinkets and then the crew settled in for a light afternoon of packing and laundry.
In the evening we walked down to the little Italian joint a few steps away and had a marvelous last meal.
Everyone has been tremendous the past 2 weeks. Patient, funny, generous to a fault and full of surprises. Mom got her walking in, Gary got to paint damn near 24/7 and I think Mom and Joanie actually got to relax from time to time between wind sprints up THE HILL(tm). A wonderful group to start the trip with.
Nita and I are getting up early to see folks off. They hope to be out of the house by 8:30, that should give them enough time to get to Rennes and through all the headaches of the airport.
The next wave should hit us this afternoon so we at least have time to get beds stripped, sheets laundered and a quick run to the grocery store to restock.
We will miss our first group of folks tremendously, but we are equally eager to see the next!
Bon Voyage to all.
We spent hours up in Dinan proper shopping for last minute souvenirs and trinkets and then the crew settled in for a light afternoon of packing and laundry.
In the evening we walked down to the little Italian joint a few steps away and had a marvelous last meal.
Everyone has been tremendous the past 2 weeks. Patient, funny, generous to a fault and full of surprises. Mom got her walking in, Gary got to paint damn near 24/7 and I think Mom and Joanie actually got to relax from time to time between wind sprints up THE HILL(tm). A wonderful group to start the trip with.
Nita and I are getting up early to see folks off. They hope to be out of the house by 8:30, that should give them enough time to get to Rennes and through all the headaches of the airport.
The next wave should hit us this afternoon so we at least have time to get beds stripped, sheets laundered and a quick run to the grocery store to restock.
We will miss our first group of folks tremendously, but we are equally eager to see the next!
Bon Voyage to all.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Market Day in Combourg (Monday 9.16.2013)
Monday we got up and on a whim, hitched the oxen to the old Peugeot and headed for the street market in Combourg.
Just a few minutes away, Combourg is a tiny little village of less than 5000 people just to the east of Dinan. A large Chateau overlooks a pretty little lake with most of the rough stone houses huddled near its feet.
In the center of town, just under the Cathedral spire we found the street market. Crappy clothing and swap meet vendors mingled with local farmers, sausage makers, artisans and several folks selling live farm critters. Lots of repeats from the Dinan market, but still enough difference to make the trip well worth while.
Nita and I finally found a French bedspread to take home, something we have been looking for since our first trip. Gary picked up roast chickens and potatoes for dinner and we picked up 6 gorgeous artichokes as well. On the way out, I bought wild boar, duck, smoked and a blue cheese stuffed cured sausages for snackies before dinner.
Packing everything back into the car, we headed back into the small downtown to grab lunch. A tiny bar with a decent menu in an ancient building seemed to fit the bill. Sitting steps away from a massive granite fireplace carved with an Old Breton name and the date 1617, pretty much anything served under that massively timbered ceiling was probably going to taste good. Simple food, omelets, salads, galettes, cidre and coffee all made for a near perfectly casual lunch.
Back in the car for the short drive back to Dinan, we fantasized about all the adorable farms we saw for sale. Visions of myself and Nita chasing sheep out of the apple orchard to the truck on market day is damn hard to get out of my head still...
Returning home we found this at the foot of our street.
This is why we tell people not to try to come directly to the house with a car, dammit! He actually tore some planters and suck off the second story windows.
A late dinner of huge artichokes, salad, chicken and taters with 5.5 bottles of wine and off to an early bed. Tomorrow is the first crew's last day in Dinan. Lots to do!
BTW, Gary caught a cute pic of Mom and Day walking down THE HILL(tm) in the rain yesterday afternoon. They are so stinking cute.
Just a few minutes away, Combourg is a tiny little village of less than 5000 people just to the east of Dinan. A large Chateau overlooks a pretty little lake with most of the rough stone houses huddled near its feet.
In the center of town, just under the Cathedral spire we found the street market. Crappy clothing and swap meet vendors mingled with local farmers, sausage makers, artisans and several folks selling live farm critters. Lots of repeats from the Dinan market, but still enough difference to make the trip well worth while.
 |
| Cute little Cathedral |
 |
| Rabbits, ducks, quail, chickens. To go! |
Nita and I finally found a French bedspread to take home, something we have been looking for since our first trip. Gary picked up roast chickens and potatoes for dinner and we picked up 6 gorgeous artichokes as well. On the way out, I bought wild boar, duck, smoked and a blue cheese stuffed cured sausages for snackies before dinner.
 |
| Please form an orderly line. Knock off watches on the right, live chickens and ducklings on the left. No shoving! |
Packing everything back into the car, we headed back into the small downtown to grab lunch. A tiny bar with a decent menu in an ancient building seemed to fit the bill. Sitting steps away from a massive granite fireplace carved with an Old Breton name and the date 1617, pretty much anything served under that massively timbered ceiling was probably going to taste good. Simple food, omelets, salads, galettes, cidre and coffee all made for a near perfectly casual lunch.
Back in the car for the short drive back to Dinan, we fantasized about all the adorable farms we saw for sale. Visions of myself and Nita chasing sheep out of the apple orchard to the truck on market day is damn hard to get out of my head still...
Returning home we found this at the foot of our street.
This is why we tell people not to try to come directly to the house with a car, dammit! He actually tore some planters and suck off the second story windows.
A late dinner of huge artichokes, salad, chicken and taters with 5.5 bottles of wine and off to an early bed. Tomorrow is the first crew's last day in Dinan. Lots to do!
BTW, Gary caught a cute pic of Mom and Day walking down THE HILL(tm) in the rain yesterday afternoon. They are so stinking cute.
Monday, September 16, 2013
A New Standard (Sunday 9.15.2013)
We set a new standard for vacation today. I'm not dead sure anyone did anything really stressful all day long.
Gary painted, Dad took pics, Nita read, I worked on a writing project while Mom and Joanie went up THE HILL(tm) to do some shopping.
Lots of wine and laughter around the table in the afternoon...
An early thrown together pasta dinner and most were off to bed by 9.
Gary painted, Dad took pics, Nita read, I worked on a writing project while Mom and Joanie went up THE HILL(tm) to do some shopping.
Lots of wine and laughter around the table in the afternoon...
An early thrown together pasta dinner and most were off to bed by 9.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Birthday! (Saturday 9.14.2013)
Today is Joanie's Birthday! (apparently it doesn't suck to have your B-Day in France) Much time was spent enjoying the day and mooching about the house. Not a whole heck of a lot happened. A crew took a car to grab wine and art supplies while some stayed about the house.
For dinner we walked down a few steps to a charming little place with an open hearth where the staff cooks fish and meats over a log fire in the seating area. It was a very interesting place!
Laden with food and wine we were off to bed early.
Days are getting slower and more relaxed. I suspect vacation is setting in.
For dinner we walked down a few steps to a charming little place with an open hearth where the staff cooks fish and meats over a log fire in the seating area. It was a very interesting place!
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| Birfday Gurl and some guy she met a while back. |
Laden with food and wine we were off to bed early.
Days are getting slower and more relaxed. I suspect vacation is setting in.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Down Time and Little Chickens (Friday 9.13.2013)
After 2 days in Normandy we all spent Friday goofing off. Nita and I slept till 10:30, a nearly unheard of occurrence. Gary and Joanie went off to see their new art pals Mom and Dad went shopping and Nita and I went up THE HILL(tm) to fetch back game hens and veggies for dinner.
Did I mention 8 bottles of wine? We bought that, and 2 big bottles cidre for Dad too. He was incredibly proud how much of a bottle he made it though all by his lonesome in one afternoon.
The afternoon was lazy as hell. Laundry, cleaning up the kitchen a bit and some light prep for dinner. At some point a brisk wine squall rolled in and the evening kicked off as usual, in the garden with wine glasses.
Nita pulled the left over roast pork from the freezer and we whacked it into a pot with a bottle of "American BBQ" sauce we jokingly bought. After a couple hours simmering away she shredded it down and we had pulled pork on fresh baguette as appetizers. Freaking great. God help me, but the sauce was incredibly good, rivaling most of the stuff we buy in KC.
Dinner was roast game hens with a 3 colour rice, herb, onion, and orange zest stuffing drowned in a quick rose' pan sauce. Nita's famous zucchini and cheese casserole and more bread to sop up the juices rounded it all out perfectly.
For dessert Mom had bought an evil assortment of small tarts, cakes, flan and sweets from the pastry shop. Nobody at the table suffered crippling fork wounds while raiding the platters, but not for lack of trying.
Total wine count for the evening, 5.5 bottle and 1 bottle of cidre depleted from out stock. I suspect that my liver will file for legal separation within the next 30 days.
Tomorrow is Joanie's Birthday! Dinner and drinkie-poo's are on the schedule. We shall see how that goes...
Did I mention 8 bottles of wine? We bought that, and 2 big bottles cidre for Dad too. He was incredibly proud how much of a bottle he made it though all by his lonesome in one afternoon.
 |
| Dad and his conquered bottle of Cidre |
Nita pulled the left over roast pork from the freezer and we whacked it into a pot with a bottle of "American BBQ" sauce we jokingly bought. After a couple hours simmering away she shredded it down and we had pulled pork on fresh baguette as appetizers. Freaking great. God help me, but the sauce was incredibly good, rivaling most of the stuff we buy in KC.
Dinner was roast game hens with a 3 colour rice, herb, onion, and orange zest stuffing drowned in a quick rose' pan sauce. Nita's famous zucchini and cheese casserole and more bread to sop up the juices rounded it all out perfectly.
For dessert Mom had bought an evil assortment of small tarts, cakes, flan and sweets from the pastry shop. Nobody at the table suffered crippling fork wounds while raiding the platters, but not for lack of trying.
Total wine count for the evening, 5.5 bottle and 1 bottle of cidre depleted from out stock. I suspect that my liver will file for legal separation within the next 30 days.
Tomorrow is Joanie's Birthday! Dinner and drinkie-poo's are on the schedule. We shall see how that goes...
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