slate/ardoise

Our roof is covered with terracotta tiles as are those of our neighbours but 

if you drive north for less than an hour you will start to see slate roofs.

Thick shiny, chunky slates in a fish scale pattern. The one above is in Conques, a remarkable village

with it's huge abbey, amazing tympanum and dramatic setting. It is one of the 'plus beaux villages de France'. This is a good time of year to visit - in Summer it's absolutely heaving.

I'll dig out some more photos to show you another day.

spring

It's definitely Spring when you can buy fruit and vegetable plants on the market and the swallows return. I did buy some salad and parsley plants but I'm really not ready for the vegetable garden this year...

faded

Capdenac le haut

st antonin

St Antonin Noble Val is architectural heaven. The most extraordinary buildings, many of them richly carved and decorated. There's been a lot of sensitive restoration in the last 10 years but there's still a lot of dilapidation.  We go in Summer time to eat and have a mooch and go the cinema where they show VO films.

rats!

I so wish I'd bought this huge galvanised bucket when I saw it...

banners and birthday cake

Banners and birthday cake. Hurray!

cake stand here

spinach pesto

glass dish here

Did you know you can make pesto with spinach? Neither did I till my friend Sarah told me.

I made some for supper last night and it is absolutely gorgeous - fresh and clean tasting.

I never measure when I make pesto so just have a go with

A large handful of spinach leaves

A dozen ish  walnuts

Parmesan cheese

A clove of garlic

A glug of olive oil

A splash of lemon juice

Razz in a blender, tasting and adding more of one or other ingredient according to taste.

Check and adjust seasoning.

Can't really go wrong!