The road I take in my neighborhood to check out what is new in Spring.

I love this little house. I seldom see anyone there. Note that there is only one cyprus. This is standard in Provence. The lady who helped with our yard told us that it means you are welcome. Two means keep away, or something like that.

In Spring the vegetation/weeds between the vines either gets mown or…

the weeds are totally dug up with a tractor.

The first brave poppy. Soon there will be fields of them.

A little ruin left near the small house pictured above. I always wonder what happened to the owners. I know that in Ohio-the States-that old barns are never torn down as it is considered bad luck. Maybe that is the case here but I suspect that their were either no relatives left to take over or a dispute amongst survivors so it was just left to go to ruin.

Lilacs grow wild around here so I help myself to those fabulous fragant flowers.

I think that Aix is one of my favorite cities in France-at least of the cities I have seen so far. It is about a thirty minute drive from our house and I always love walking around the old section. Aix has three markets a week and they are fabulous. The photo above is in the square, or place, where the Hotel de Ville is located. The tower holds a wonderful ancient clock that gives a little show on the hour.

This is the other side of the tower. I love the little passage cut through it so you can walk right into the square.

This wonderful sculpture is right above the post office. I’m sure the building housed something else before. Isn’t it great how the leg of the woman hangs off into space?

Look at the cheerful color of this shop. Many of the buildings in Aix are painted a lovely golden color.

I saw this painting in a window in Aix. I love the colors. I didn’t have time to price it but I’m guessing I can’t afford it.

Tartines

Recently, on a food board, I was reading about someone discovering tartines on one of the shows about cooking in the States. The lady, the Barefoot Countess, visited Paris and showed them Poiline bread and then how to make a tartine, a type of open-faced sandwich. I wasn’t very familiar with them, except for an occasional one on top of a salad in a cafe, but once a friend showed me how to make them, I’ve made them quite often as they are simple, delicious, good for starting a meal, or as the main course.

Tartine

Four slices of a large loaf of bread. Flavored ones are fine, such as loaves with olives.
Garlic clove
tomato
dried tomato
ham-I like the Italian ham
round goat cheese
olive oil
basil leaves

Toast the bread, rub with garlic clove. You can then halve a tomato and rub it into the bread-they do this in Spain. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Some people, at this point, spread some sort of tasty spread on the bread, a tampenade, for instance. Top with the ham, which you can dice for easier eating, then several slices of dried tomato, basil leaves, cheese and sprinkle with the herbs de Provence. Put under a broiler until the cheese is brown and soft. Serve with a simple salad.

Just some photos having to do with food as I don’t have a photo of tartines.

This is a Croque Monsieur. A very good sandwich served in France-a sort of grilled cheese sandwich with a bechamel sauce on top so it must be eaten with a fork and knife.

Last week we went to a tennis master’s tournament for men in Monaco. We went last year as well and it was right after Prince Ranier had died and black draping was every where. This year Prince Albert was there in the royal seats as one of the players was from Monaco. He was beaten but the crowd was excited to see him play. It is a fantastic tennis venue, very upper class and fun to visit. I saw one man there in the crowd that I’m sure was a millionaire. He had a tan to rival that of George Hamiliton, designer sunglasses and watch and, of course, a blond, young thing on his arm. We aren’t sure if we will go the same way if we go next year. It turns out to be a six hour bus ride to watch about six hours of tennis. We were thinking that we should stay in Nice next year over night and save ourselves such a long day. The winner of the tournament this year was Nadal. He beat number one, Federer.

Here is the view from the stadium. Isn’t it great? Maurice and I stayed here once on a special deal with Air France in the off season. It was fabulous. Our room was on the bottom level with a balcony over-looking the bay that can be seen in this photo. So cool to live like the rich occasionally.

Last week we went to a tennis master’s tournament for men in Monaco. We went last year as well and it was right after Prince Ranier had died and black draping was every where. This year Prince Phillip-is that right?-was there in the royal seats as one of the players was from Monaco. He was beaten but the crowd was excited to see him play. It is a fantastic tennis venue, very upper class and fun to visit. I saw one man there in the crowd that I’m sure was a millionaire. He had a tan to rival that of George Hamiliton, designer sunglasses and watch and, of course, a blond, young thing on his arm. We aren’t sure if we will go the same way if we go next year. It turns out to be a six hour bus ride to watch about six hours of tennis. We were thinking that we should stay in Nice next year over night and save ourselves such a long day. The winner of the tournament this year was Nadal. He beat number one, Federer.

Here is the view from the stadium. Isn’t it great? Maurice and I stayed here once on a special deal with Air France in the off season. It was fabulous. Our room was on the bottom level with a balcony over-looking the bay that can be seen in this photo. So cool to live like the rich occasionally.

This is a very common sight in Provence, rows of plane trees lining the roads. It is one of the pleasures of driving around Provence.

I always keep my eyes open for signs posted around the area for brochantes and Vide Greniers. These are flea market type happenings and I always love to look–but seldom buy. I went to one today at a village called St Paul de Durance, a place we often pass when on the road. That’s one thing I like about local brochantes-they take you into villages you normally wouldn’t stop for. This one was very small but had alot of charm.

I like this little lavender wagon filled with flowers. An unexpected jolt of color as I came around a corner.

I love wysteria-both the color and the fragrance.

Another view. I wish the wysteria I planted would do something like this instead of putting out a few puny leaves.

This is just a guess but I bet the person who lives in this house is a hunter.