A Fun Springtime Day

 Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Tuesday, April 26 2022

It was lovely to sleep in. We lingered over coffee and then breakfasted on fresh, warm bread from the nearby bakery. Desmond had put his homemade spreads on the table. It was difficult to chose between the peanut butter, the chocolate spread, and the fig jam. I tried a bit of each and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Craig and I were looking forward to seeing Vincent again and meeting his children. After a half hour tram ride, we arrived in Fleury Les Aubrais where Vincent was to pick us up. Then it was just a short drive to his home. Desmond and Vincent gave us a tour of the house and the beautiful gardens which surrounded it. The gardens were a feast for the eyes, though it was still early in the growing season. Every nook and cranny was filled with plants and interesting objects. There were several inviting areas in which to sit. Colorful cushions were tossed on wooden chairs and loungers, overhung with the branches of fig and hazelnut trees. A koi pond in one corner was a serene place to linger and enjoy the calming music of trickling water. I was enchanted with it all.

A quiet corner in Vincent's garden

A beautiful little Zen garden

Vincent had prepared a salad lunch for us, which was delicious. We heaped our plates with greens and added toppings of grape tomatoes, cooked new potatoes, walnuts, chick peas, cheese, lardons, mushrooms, ham, and croutons. It was all drizzled with a tasty dressing and served with a fresh, crusty baguette and a delightful wine. Vincent’s son Arthus joined us for lunch, as his school was nearby.  He was a bit shy and hesitant to speak English to us, but we managed to converse using both French and English. Arthus had to return to school after lunch, but the rest of us piled into Vincent’s car and headed to the nearby forest. 

A delightful salad

The weather was perfect for a walk. As we parked near a small castle, we noticed a large group of children playing games in a meadow. There were several classes of the youngsters who had been driven over to the parkland and their little bicycles had been brought over on a trailer. The air was filled with sounds of their laughter. The noise faded as we walked deeper into the forest.

A sprig of muguet des bois

The woods were calm and peaceful and I wish we could have walked deeper into the lush forest, but after about 30 minutes I had need of the facilities. There were several workers nearby who were sawing at the trunk of a large oak tree. We were directed past a roped-off area near the parking lot, where we could see the schoolchildren and their chaperones watching the activity. We stood near the children and all of us watched in awe as the mighty tree was felled. The noise and the vibration of the earth as the tree slowly and heavily crashed to the ground was intense. Everyone yelled out “wow!” and began to applaud. I’m sure it was the first time any of us had seen something like that. 

It was fascinating to watch the oak tree fall.

After we returned to Vincent’s home, he picked up the kids from school and we were delighted to meet his sweet daughter, Agathe. She was a bit shy with us, though we were certain that before long she and her brother would feel comfortable around me and Craig. We all gathered around the patio table for a special treat. Vincent knew that Craig and I had a love of French pastries and he told everyone that we were in for a special treat. Agathe kindly prepared coffee for us as we all seated ourselves around the large table outside. Vincent set a plate before us which had six different pastries on it. Each one was an enticing creation. We decided to share the pastries by cutting them in half, and each of us chose two pieces to enjoy. They were delectable! I wish I could have remembered the names of each one. After finishing our sweet treats, I brought out the little gifts that Craig and I had brought from Kansas. It was mostly nostalgic and unique candies, though it did include some beef jerky for Desmond and Vincent. We had also thrown in a packet of chocolate covered insects, just for fun. Agathe and Arthus were hesitant to try the bugs, so Vincent decided to give it a go. Things got pretty hilarious after that while we watched the different expressions crossing Vincent’s face while he choked down a chocolate covered worm.

A special afternoon treat

We enjoyed the wonderful hazelnuts
from Vincent's trees.