Postcards From Susan: La Vendee

From Paris to the Vendee...by train from Paris to Nantes, then getting the leased Twingo (a car of which Tom says no expense has been spared -- the most essential features only). By some freak of fate, the car leasing office was actually open on a Sunday, and Mattieu arrived exactly on time at the train station to pick us up. The trip to La Gite was the usual hour more or less, probably less, since many improvements have been made to the route, and the autoroute goes farther south than it had last year.

We arrived in time for dinner, and were immediately welcomed into the extended family and friends. Our visit of just over a week included many lovely and delicious lunches and dinners outside with the family, with many friends and family dropping by, the local march and marche de puces, dessert at Odile's with two lovely cakes (a fruit tart with lemon custard, and a St. Honore -- so good as to defy description), and a trip into La Roche sur Yon for a museum viewing and theater tour. we also put in a brief appearance at one of the Stages put on by cousin Mattieu. Mattieu is a very famous singer who gives concerts internationally. In August, when the neighborhood is filled with people on holiday, he gave lessons every morning and afternoon for a week to anyone interested. The turnout was quite good -- about 20 people. As it turns out, most of them were cousins, so perhaps that explains the good attendance. The culmination was a grand fete our last Sunday evening, when pretty much the whole town turned out for an evening party featuring a variety of songs by the group (and anyone else who knew the words), and a huge potluck. Our contribution was an apple and a plum tart from a local bakery and a couple of bottles of local rose.

The first of many fabulous meals at the Gite.

Yelen above, Pauline below.

A little snooze by visiting Sam and little dog Odie.

Our first day in the Vendee Tom and I went for lunch at our favorite restaurant at Jar sur Mer.

Aina and Marie at lunch.

Jeanne

A quick trip to La Roche sur Yon for a museum exhibit of Japanese woodcuts and French cartoons. This is the local theater which was open for viewing.

Napoleon in the square

Would you believe left-overs? The caramelized fennel I could eat all day.

Aina and Yelen

Paul the Tablecloth Man and Aina

Jacques, the eldest brother

Paul, Pauline and Jeanne on the way to a cocktail party.

Marie

Yelen

Bertrand

Solange -- her glasses reflect it all!

After lunch

Each person was responsible for dinner one night. Our contribution was a plateau de fruits de mer -- actually two giant styrofoam boats filled with oysters, langoutine, small grey shrimp, clams and bulots. Oddly, I enjoyed the bulots the best. For dessert I made two apple pies, American style, served a la mode. A hit!

One of the two plateau de fruits de mer we provided for a celebratory dinner.

My favorite? The bulots -- they are the fluted shells.

Tom and Paul make a new foundation for a fallen rock "marmot" marking the entry to the drive.

Paul signs their work

The work party returns

Always a cheese course

The lovely light drifting in from the windows above the garden

Mattieu

The food frenzy begins. The hosts offered sanglier (wild boar) that had been dispatched the prior season, and potatoes. The attendees contributed everything else imaginable.

Noelle and Bernard at the potluck

Marie and Aina at the marche, buying armloads of books. When I went closer I noticed silver teaspoons....sigh. They are now in my suitcase ready to be brought home.

The Halle of Moutiers-les-Maufaits all decked out for lunch for the Marche au Puces (Flea Market). Featured: moule frites (mussels and fries) and merguez sausages.