It began like this!
and now my garden looks like this..................................
The mountain has disappeared from view and the temperature is plummeting. I just nipped out into the village to take some pictures but after a couple I had to give up as I couldn't feel my hands anymore.
This is the view from the front door.
And this is from the other side of the church.
Not sure how I made La Poste lean so precariously, it is quite an upright building really! Normally the view between the buildings is of the mountain with its forests soaring above the village.
La Jovienne is quite snug despite being a big house. There is a thick granite wall between the kitchen and the dining room that seems to act as a huge heat sink. The heating can be turned off overnight and it is still comfortably warm in the morning.
I am already discovering that the warmth (temperature and ambience) of La Jovienne is making it very popular. I have already had several guests arriving who had had miserable cold experiences in other accommodation, they soon cheer up as they thaw out in comfort.
This is the boundary between the medieval part of the house and the more modern part, modern in this case being the early 1800's! Presumably it was the external wall for a few centuries.
I finally finished 'Winterizing' the house by hanging the great damask chenille door curtain at the front door. I didn't bother before because it has been so mild and it weighs a ton! It is lined and interlined and just looks cosy.
I fell in love with the Zoffany textile that has the same acanthus scrolls as the lanterns in the dining room, so it creates a subtle visual link.
Today is also market day although there were very few stalls today. The vegetable stalls had protected their produce from frost with thick wool blankets, it was quite odd trying to guess what there might be beneath and made me realise how much I rely on the visual appeal to inspire recipe ideas.
I did buy some lovely 'ancient roots' as they are known here.
On the left is salsify, know as the vegatable oyster for its delicate taste, then there are Jerusalem artichokes with crosnes at the front, they are related to the artichokes but have a more delicate flavour. They are highly prized here. I have lots of boeuf bourguignon bubbling away, enriched with marrowbones. It smells warm and hearty.
Right now I am really enjoying the cold, although I reserve the right to change my opinion if it continues for too long!
This is the view from the front door.
La Jovienne is quite snug despite being a big house. There is a thick granite wall between the kitchen and the dining room that seems to act as a huge heat sink. The heating can be turned off overnight and it is still comfortably warm in the morning.
I am already discovering that the warmth (temperature and ambience) of La Jovienne is making it very popular. I have already had several guests arriving who had had miserable cold experiences in other accommodation, they soon cheer up as they thaw out in comfort.
I finally finished 'Winterizing' the house by hanging the great damask chenille door curtain at the front door. I didn't bother before because it has been so mild and it weighs a ton! It is lined and interlined and just looks cosy.
I fell in love with the Zoffany textile that has the same acanthus scrolls as the lanterns in the dining room, so it creates a subtle visual link.
Today is also market day although there were very few stalls today. The vegetable stalls had protected their produce from frost with thick wool blankets, it was quite odd trying to guess what there might be beneath and made me realise how much I rely on the visual appeal to inspire recipe ideas.
I did buy some lovely 'ancient roots' as they are known here.
Right now I am really enjoying the cold, although I reserve the right to change my opinion if it continues for too long!
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