Maillane~

The cuteness♥ Petite Arlésienne~

Paper napkins as toppers..economical..easy to cut..and cute.

For a number of years Sam wrote posts about Maillane and St-Rémy..and I mentioned to Jacques that if EVER we went back to Provence..I would like to see those places..

IF EVER happened and we went.
I have Sam to thank for the inspiration and her darling Meakin.

Our home base for the week in Les Alpilles was St-Rémy..Maillane was so close:) 
We went..
The drive is pretty and the town so sweet..

We happened to be there during the Frédéric Mistral festival.
He was born there and his father was from St-Rémy~
Do have a read.. I learned a lot.A Nobel Prize Winner.


That is where the word mistral for provencal winds came from.
We had some mistral winds particularly in Gordes..where market day took on a whole new meaning w/ crates flying..people walking against the wind..it was in fact not dangerous..but humorous in parts.

So I have put a few Maillane photos..and I must tell you that we ate lunch twice there..and loved our meals..magret de canard etc..but especially the desserts..we were told it is because the desserts were works of a wonderful pastry chef.
So good!

The festival..gave us access to his home there..the gardens..and we had a delightful show by les 

danseuses provençales who ranged in age from little to ladies♥

Maillane..where everybody knows your name I think:)  Population ap 2400 in 2012.

A young woman was the tour guide for the festival..tour of his home..she could not have been more pleasant.
She would love to come to QC..
it was so nice to hear so many people tell us that that they would love to come to Canada,especially QC.And out west.
Because it was the festival..photos were permitted..
Look at the atmosphere there:)♥
Melts your heart,



Things I bought in Provence..

mostly watercolor things..like Ochres..powders to paint with..3 brushes..a couple of watercolor journals and a book on how to  paint Provence.

When I have gone to Europe..3 times now..I always remember the moments and the things we came home with..

Never costly things..but fun things.

So I did spend a few euros.
Again nothing very costly..
and I have regrets..in Aix..the last day..an amazing market..I found the antiques and etc..much more affordable than Isle -Sur-La-Sorgue..well for my pocket book..

ooohh..aah..a stack of gorgeous old plates/bowls..that off white w/ a touch of crackle w/ those old blue small flowers around..3 euros each..
those beautiful salt boxes..  you know the ones.. 13 euros..
a canister set..the kind we love..24 euros for 8 pieces I think..
well none of that came home w/ us..
we are limited w/ weight etc..

economy flying..

did I mention I used to get excited at an airplane meal?
No longer;)
Oyoyoy.


I made Jacques' mom's ketchup this week..he loves it..
It smells like her home when I make it:)
You can find the recipe here~
A wonderful lady..that we saw at a few markets..makes all her own jams from all her own produce..she topped her jars w/ paper napkins..instead of fabric..=winner.♥

Happy TG Monday ..we had dinner at my daughter's last night ..Thank you Mylène!
Made Kim's brown bag apple pie..and the power went out:( It came back on several hours later..I stuck the pie back in..w/ out the bag..there was very little time left..it worked!

PS notes re the ketchup..it is more like a sweet tomato fruit chutney..the spices are PICKLING SPICES..I don't blanch the fruits..before cutting now..only the tomatoes..I don't use a wax seal..I trun over the hot filled sterilized jars..let cool..turn upright..and refrigerate.I did not water bath this time..but am refrigerating .