Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: May 1 2022
We had a treat for breakfast that morning. Des made chocolate chip pancakes, which we slathered in Breton butter and drizzled with strawberry-maple syrup. Delicious! After breakfast we straightened the house while waiting for Vincent to pick us up. We were looking forward to returning to his home for a barbecue. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect and it was great to be in Vincent’s beautiful garden again.
Such a pretty place to linger!
Desmond brought out the charcoal grill, and he took charge of cooking the Toulouse sausages and the chicken and veggie kebabs. The sizzling food smelled wonderful as the patio table was set with fresh baguettes and two lovely cheeses. One was a goat cheese that was beautifully wrapped in oak leaves, the other was a mild cow’s milk cheese. There was a tray of several different flavors of mustard for the sausages. I really liked the sesame seed mustard! Agathe had been busy in the kitchen, where she made some tasty cookies which we enjoyed for dessert with fresh coffee. It was a fun and delicious meal.
Desmond and Craig at the grill
Vincent brought out his collection of heart-shaped stones, which I enjoyed sorting through. I love finding heart-shaped things and have my own small collection. Vincent presented us with some sprigs of lily of the valley. I love their sweet fragrance. May 1 is Fete du Muguet, or Labour Day, in France and giving these lovely flowers is a tradition dating from the 16th century. They are said to bring luck for the coming year.
After a while, we all engaged in a fun game called Molkky. It was played with wooden pegs set up on the lawn. Using a throwing stick, we tried to knock down the numbered pegs. The score for each round was determined in a couple of different ways. We played in teams and it was a lively competition, with lots of laughter. That was such a fun and relaxing day.
Vincent sets up the Molkky pegs
