Vide Grenier.

Vide Grenier means empty attic, the French equivalent of a garage sale, where people sell what they do not want any more, to the delight of others who are particularly looking for an item at a good price. This vide grenier was held at St Pompon this morning on a very cloudy and cold day. However, this did not deter people from attending.

Stalls were found along the main road and the side streets

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St Pompon is great to walk around, with very interesting architecture so after browsing the stalls we sauntered through some of the streets

This is one of our favourites, you walk through the arch way and turn left towards the church.

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A little angel placed into a stone niche of a building, just before you get to the church.

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Events

A Special Odyssée for Easter Monday.

During its journey on the Dordogne river, the barge “Elina” will stop at the Port of Domme on Monday April 10, 2023. On this occasion a full day of entertainment is planned on the banks of the Dordogne.

On the program:
– 11 am: 2 conferences on the theme “History of wines from the high country” and “Phyloxera and daily life” –
12:30 pm: Gourmet market for producers to eat
– 2 pm: Cavage demonstration
– 2: 30 pm: Enoising competition
– 3 pm: Ramp tournament
– 3:30 pm: Herding dog demonstration
– Other activities throughout the day: Domme wine tasting, production of strips and walnut oil, Easter treasure hunt, exhibition, local authors, etc. .
– Gourmet producers’ market for dinner
– 8:30 pm: Theatre play

On arrival of the gabariers, symbolic loading of a barrel of Domme wine. Songs and ball as well as a Gabarot aperitif.

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Pâtisserie Massoulier

If you are looking for a real treat this Easter, want something special for a birthday or anniversary or just want a coffee we can highly recommend Pâtisserie Massoulier Which is to be found at 33 Rue de la République in Sarlat.

Pâtisserie Massoulier has been closed for a few weeks due to renovation work being carried out but we are glad to say it is now open again.

Sit inside or outside and savour the treats on show.
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Pâtisserie, chocolatier, gâteaux large or small are a treat for the eyes,
while you sit and sip your coffee, tea or juice.
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New display cabinets, flooring and lighting, new tables and chairs,
enhance the shelves of Easter treats.
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Easter eggs in boxes, cups and egg cups.
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Also, Easter chocolate hens and rabbits. Biscuits and candid fruits
all add to the mouth watering window display.
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Pâtisserie Massoulier, Sarlat
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Events:-

St Cyprien, Brocante 16^th April.

Pâques à Sarlat on the 18^th April 10-12am.

Belves Easter Egg Hunt 17^th April.

Jardins de Marqueyssac, Easter Egg hunt 17^th and 18^th April.

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Châteaux en Fête

From the 16^th April to 1^st May, Castles, country estates and manor houses of the Perigord will provide the setting for a host of exclusive events as part of the second Châteaux en Fete Festival. More than seventy Châteauxs will be centre stage over the above dates and it is hoped that the festival will become a regular event in partnership with Lot-et Garonne department.

Historical animations, workshops, tasting, crafts, concerts, games, exhibitions and plays will all feature along with the Easter celebrations. Examples of individual events…

Castlenaud.

Châteaux en Fate Special April 16^th.

Herbalist Secrets in the preparation of food and medicine. Which will be explained by a guided tour explaining the daily life in a fortified castle and how food and medicine were used in the medieval period.

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Beynac

Starting from the 16^th April there will be a special comedy play for the Festival, performed by the theatre Le Virgil by Paul Scarran.

https://www.chateauxenfete.com/

My Return to Daglan

But first a Cats Update

Good news, both of the stray cats who where poisoned last Monday are doing very well. It was a worry especially for one of the cats who we did not think would make it, thankfully she did. She is just gorgeous and Association Pirate are hopeful that they will find a home for her. The agony they both had to suffer this week was heart braking. Our vet thinks that it was very old snake poison that you can not buy now. The Cat Association are looking into it, we do not want more cats to suffer.

Now follows the blog that I intended writing last week but as you can imagine events happened that took precident.

My Return to Daglan

As we drove into Daglan on a sunny Saturday afternoon we were greeted by a display of the most amazing vintage cars.

Paul had collected me at Bergerac airport from my return flight from England. I had been travelling for over seven hours so I was feeling a little travel weary and low in spirit, I needed something to galvanise me once more. Admiring the cars and talking to friends in the village certainly did the trick.

This is my favourite. I can just imagine driving this car with a picnic hamper on the back to a gorgeous place by the river.
 

Bonny and Clyde or Al Capone springs to mind.
 

Josephine Baker kind of car. More diva than the other vintage cars.
 

Unsure what era this particular car dates from but it does remind me Elliot Ness.
 

Absolutely gorgeous.
 

A few of the owners who were dressed in the fashion of time that their vintage cars came from.
 
 

The Cowslip Primrose is in Bloom.

“In A Cowslip Bell I Lie”.
William Shakespeare – Tempest.

I felt very nostalgic upon seeing these gorgeous little cowslip flowers a few days ago. It reminded me of my childhood in Yorkshire, England. When the pastures and meadows were full of cowslips in the spring time.

The Cowslip Primrose is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Primrose family and can be found throughout Europe and Asia. The name could be derived from Ancient English for cow dug due to the flower being found in cow pastures. Or it could just be a name for boggy ground.

It was mentioned by Pliny the Elder for its lovely early flowering, at that time it was used as a ritual plant.

The cowslip leaves can be used as a salad or the flower for flavouring wine and vinegars.

Very rarely seen in England now.
 

Here in the Perigord the flower can be found in the woodland area’s or wet meadows.
A gorgeous little wild flower.
 
 

Easter Events:-

Sarlat, Giant Easter Egg Hunt in the medieval quarter over the Easter weekend.

Jardine de Marqueyssac, Easter Egg Hunt Easter Sunday and Monday in the afternoons.