Tidbits

Twice I've thought I must be seeing a hummingbird, but it wasn't quite the right body shape. I did a little research and now I know that what I really saw is called a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, really. It's a large moth with a proboscis that looks like the beak of a hummingbird and an ability to hover. Like skunks, hummingbirds don't exist in France.

The word for stop in French is arret, to come to a stop is s'arreter, you stop would be arretez or s'arretez. So what do you think is on the stop signs in France?

Sunday evening I went with Elisabeth to hear 3 choral groups. They were singing more modern pieces where harmonies were often replaced with dissonance, and yet the blends weren't unpleasing. It would not be my usual choice in music, but I enjoyed the concert. 

 

Late Monday afternoon I decided to see if I could find the “touriste” route heading towards Charolles...success. I got a little past Bergesserin when the weather convinced me to turn back. Still, I got some nice pictures around Mazille.

The trees at the top of the hill remind me of a comb.

 

Tuesday morning I expected to go with Anne for the exercise class. When I arrived at her front door she was still in her bathrobe. Turned out that today's class was a walk...and she was skipping it. I joined her for coffee and conversation. Then the rain arrived and we were both doubly glad to not have gone on that walk!

A little after noon I headed for the supermarket to get the last of what I needed for dinner. Cashiers get to sit and customers bag their own groceries in their own bags. Once again at home, I figured I would check emails during lunch, but the internet connection still wasn't working. 

It was fun having Francis, Marie-Annick and Lauryne for dinner. Elisabeth loaned me an iron casserole for the oven. She had tucked a cork into the lid handle. I figured that was to make it easier to pick up so I didn't remove the cork. In the oven the cork slowly disintegrated. As I lifted the lid to stir the beef for the second time, I realized I had little pieces of cork running around the lid, just waiting to become part of the recipe!

What I'd thought was bacon turned out to be pieces of ham...skipped that flavoring. I needed to add more water to the beef bouguignon..the sauce had thickened too much...and I totally forgot the cheese course! Guess I'm not yet French. But it was all edible and Marie-Annick is proving to be quite fluent in English! It was a good evening. 

And yup, that's a French stop sign!