The Color Purple

Rich and regal, strong and saturated; purple has always been my favorite color.

Icy wisteria hanging in clusters.
Deep purple figs plucked from the trees and unavoidably squashed underfoot. 
Shutters in a light shade of violet always capture my attention.
Ripening grapes thriving on the vines.
Amethyst tinted garlic, lush, juicy plums and heavy globes of eggplant.
Pale violet skies at sunset.
A glass at the end of the day.  Santé!

Its presence is appreciated all year, but these last days of summer are infused with all shades of purple, violet and lavender.  So gorgeous. Pin It

June

The month of June is pretty near perfect, if you ask me. 

Cherries and apricots and melons arrive at the markets, the mind-numbing summer swelter has yet to hit its stride and on the 21st all of France stops to listen at the Fête de la Musique. 

Lavender is starting to bloom and the aroma is divine!

Mastering Cheese by Max McCalman finally landed on my doorstep and I'm slowly savoring every word.

The first crop of figs are ripe for the picking.

Blue, blue skies above.

Poppies - they're fading fast, but still brightening up the fields.

Mild-mannered spring garlic is in season.

Al fresco dining has officially begun.

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Les Petits Détails

Everyday details that have captured my eye. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Figs, Ham, Cheese, Honey

A succulent, simple dish using the bounty of Languedoc figs - thin slices of Serrano ham, fresh mozzarella and ripe figs, drizzled all over with honey. Pin It

La Fête du Fromage - Fraîcheur Figue

This was another of my (rather embarrassing large number of) cheese purchases that I made while visiting Paris last month.

Fraîcheur Figue is a creamy little chèvre frais wrapped around a dollop of fig jam.
Simple. Sweet. Unpretentious.


My Parisian hosts and I tasted the Fraîcheur Figue one evening as part of a cheese platter and ate the remainder the next morning with breakfast.
We all agreed that its fresh, light flavor was best when smashed onto some toasted bread and enjoyed with coffee. Must have been the jam stuffed inside...
I would happily eat it for breakfast in place of my usual plain yogurt any day.

This is a delightful goat cheese! Its tangy sweetness would be superb with some walnut bread or other earthy, rustic breads and a glass of crisp white wine from the Loire. Probably not for breakfast though!


Fraîcheur Figue is available at Chez Virginie.


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Photo du Jour

A few of yesterday's figs. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Fig Trees

I often say that figs grow literally everywhere here.

Here's proof: two little volunteer fig trees coming out from under the stones of our next door neighbor's house. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Fig Tree

One of the fig trees in our garden is literally growing out of a stone wall. They will grow anywhere! Pin It

Photo du Jour - les Figues

The first crop of figs is growing fast. I think they'll be ripe in about 6-8 weeks.

Then I'll be making fig tart, fig crumble and baked figs with chèvre and honey. Mmm....can't wait! Pin It

Photo du Jour

New growth on the fig trees and a little fig-lette. Pin It

Photo du Jour - le Figuier

The fig trees are starting to get buds! Pin It

Photo du Jour

The fig trees are stark and bare now. Pin It

Photo du Jour

Aren't these figs beautiful? Pin It

Encore le Jardin

Yes, I took some more pictures of the garden. And of the dogs.
Voilà!



the herbs are doing really well



siesta spot




les figues



how he spends 85% of his day


handsome boy Pin It