Anne S: gardens in Brive

Here are some nice pix of the gardens of  le Manoir d'Eyrignac between Brive and Sarlat, one of the suggestions for a group visit by Garden Club.

Katharine: Book Club choices for 2013-2014

November 8th- Mermaid and the Drunks by Ben Richards (Denise)

December 6th- Seasonal Readings - chez Anne

January 10th- White Lies by Lynn Michell (Maggie)

February 7th- Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (Peggy R)

March 7th- Middlemarch by George Eliot (Katharine J)

April 11th- Knowing Place by Martha Gale (Patricia R)

May 16th - Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng (Julie M)

June 13th- My Career Goes Bung by Miles Franklin (Robyn)

September 12th- The Greater Journey by David McCullough (Kathie B and Jan C)

October 10th - Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Katharine C)

 

Katharine C: Book Club planning lunch

Photo credits:  Katharine C

Our annual tradition of planning the books we will read in the coming year took place at Katharine J's charming home in Montferrier.  Robyn, our new Book Club chair, managed the meeting with precision, aided by timekeeper Mariannick, allowing us to have 18 books presented, from which we chose the 9 that we will read from November 2013 through October 2014.  Each presenter was limited to 6 minutes to make her pitch - thus allowing all business to be transacted by 12 noon, when we had time for a leisurely lunch, when Pierre joined us.    We're getting better at this, ladies! 

Robyn heads the table as chair, Mariannick assists in time-keeping

Maggie managed the voting in a timely and efficient manner

We had an eclectic selection of books from which to choose....

.... which kept us on our toes

Maggie will be in the United States next month, and will aim to find a few of our chosen books in secondhand copies - clever use of our booster funds. 

The selected books are a separate entry in Scriveners - see Index to the right.

Katharine: Garden Club plans our program for 2013-14

Photo credits:  Katharine C

Under the leadership of Peggy R, a large group assembled at Terri's for a vibrant discussion of our plans for the year.  We have divided our proposed events into both local activities, including the restitution of our monthly visit to the plant market in Mosson (tuesday, at 10.00, check the AWG calendar for each month's date) and visits further afield, including a generous offer from Jan C to stay at her home near the border with Spain (and go mushroom hunting, or wild strawberry hunting, depending on the time of year we are there). 

 Maggie brought everyone a copy of Le temps des jardins, 2013, a beautifully-produced brochure that documents gardens attractions throughout Languedoc-Roussillon.  Thank you Maggie - it was very thoughtful of you.

Lunch outside!  Probably the last one of the season

As I write this, the first major storm of the autumn season is bringing a welcome refreshment to the garden.  It's engaging to plan events for next year when Spring will blossom forth once again.  Thank you, Terri, for your warm and gracious hospitality.  As usual, this group brought a variety of tasty dishes for our lunch - gardeners eat! 

Katharine: Cook and Eat celebrates la rentrée, September 2013

 Photo credits:  Katharine C

We realised on this splendid September day (with barely a hint of Fall as midday came) that we are
uncommonly lucky with our weather for our monthly Cook&Eat events - it has never rained!

Anne, Viv, Robyn and Caroline in the kitchen .....

Lydia and Leslie doing prepwork

Deceptively simple:  a thin parma ham nests on a fig leafe, a fig tops it, and a limejuice dressing is..... sublime

Lasagne (fresh pasta, thin, didn't need to be pre-cooked, with a richly flavourful tomato sauce (meatless), pesto, olives, becomes ........

.... this.   Yum.

Caroline, Lydia, Leslie, Robyn, Viv, Anne

Dessert:  fresh peaches in a soup of pureed raspberries and red wine reduction

Katharine: Welcome back apero at Elysa's

Sunday, 8 September 2013

Katharine: welcome back apero at Elysa's

Elysa, Bruno and their lovely family welcomed AWG to their home on a saturday that was beset by a major storm in the area.  However, undaunted, a large group of us including children, made their way to Villeneuve-les-Maguelone and to a delightful evening.

Elysa's daughter was responsible for making sure that all guests voted for their favourite photos for the greeting card project and had devised an ingenious voting system (everyone had 5 beans to place in a cup with a number, whose number corresponded to a photo.  She was quite clear about the rules - only one bean per choice, so the results wouldn't be skewed!)

A delightful evening - thank you so much, Bruno and Elysa and family.  I think everyone's children had a great time too - their energy was infectious.  Hope the clearing-up wasn't too tedious, Elysa!  

Katharine: World Gratitude Day 2013

Thanks to Google, which has posted a note about World Gratitude Day 2013. 

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can ~ Dalai Lama

The following is from the NY Daily News:
World Gratitude Day falls on September 21, 2013, and was started in 1977 by the United Nations Meditation Group. It’s a time to celebrate your existence, passions, local hero’s, relatives, friends and all the little things that bring joy into your everyday existence. What do you value? Who do you appreciate? How do you express your gratitude to others?   Here are some ways you can incorporate gratitude into your life.

Donate Your Time
Putting the needs of other people ahead of your own can be very satisfying. You can donate your time to homeless shelters, food banks or the elderly. There are many people who have suffered traumatic experiences and your presence could help them find a new purpose in life. You can make the world a better place by bringing joy to others and helping people realize that they are not alone. There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude.  
It is accompanied with such an inward satisfaction that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance. ~ Joseph Addison

Gratitude Journal
Purchase a journal and begin writing down the things you are grateful for each day. Make a commitment to write and review your journal entries either first thing in the morning or at night before you go to bed. Your journal can come in handy if you are having a bad day by reminding you to view life’s obstacles as opportunities for growth. Consider writing down your struggles for the day and overcome them by listing positive angles for each one. Personalize your journal by including pictures of your loved ones or your pets, along with famous quotes that help motivate or inspire you.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude ~ Cynthia Ozick
 
Thoughtful Gesture
Show your appreciation by surprising someone with a thoughtful gift when they least expect it.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy
 
Shower your loved ones with love and thanks, take too many pictures and value the feeling of living life to your fullest potential! Indulge in amazing experiences and remember to incorporate gratitude into your existence.


HAPPY LOVING AND LIVING!

Editor:  a personal note.  Our son Thomas William was born on September 21 1983, and I give thanks every day for him.  Happy 30th birthday, Tom!

Elysa: AWG greeting card project

Thank you to all the AWG members who submitted photos for the Greeting Card project.  There were 42 beautiful photo entries which were reduced to 12 finalists by 4 judges. At the welcome back Apero the final selection was made. Here are the five photos that will be used on the greeting cards.    

Katharine C: the botanical gardens of Cap Roig, Spain

Photo credits:  Katharine C

I am sure that longstanding residents of the Languedoc know about these gardens on the coast of Spain near Girona, but for those who've never been - they are quite spectacular, with smashing views over the sea.

Glorious mature  Bougainvillea

This 17-hectare enclave was developed by a Russian, Nicolai Woevodsky, lover of drawing and architecture, and the English aristocrat Lady Dorothy Webster in 1927 (when they started);  in 1969 the couple ceded the entire property in exchange for a guarantee that the landscape and architectural patrimony would be conserved (and this has been fulfilled - the gardens are beautifully maintained, containing over 1000 botanical species, on terraces that descend the mountain). 

The palm garden

Cactus and succulents, with cypresses leaning over the sea

Woman in the Garden, by the sculptor Rosa Serra

Sculptures by modern contemporary masters dot the gardens - and include Plato, by Ana Mercedes Hoyos and my favourite, the one above. 

Viewpoint over the Mediterranean....

After years of effort and work, the Woevodskys succeeded in creating an amazing space where nature, serenity and calm reign.  The castle and the gardens are their legacy - and they rest in one of the most beautiful corners of the garden.    (Entry is 6euros). 

Katharine: Here comes the sun

 photo credits:  Katharine C

Spectacular September sunrises, overlooking the Mediterranean

 

Another day and the new moon hovers over the dawn

And yet another day and the sun looms up over the sea

The sun is awake before everyone else. 

When winter comes - and it will, just as it does every year - these photos will serve to remind me of glorious summer days.  And they'll come again.  It won't be soon enough for me.