Nadine Hathaway, a DC fundraiser and longtime client, has often expressed yearning for time in France at our house. Nadine, just know, when you come, the top-floor bathroom shower stall is new and perfect, thanks to my brother-in-law Alain's persnickety construction standards. Here he builds a concrete lip for the new shower pan, which he felt was too shallow. With Alain, every step subdivides into two or three steps, all in the service of doing it the right way. Great attitude.
Paul has been here. Marilyn has not. Next time, we will go to the new restaurant in Valros, Les Asparagus, a five-minute stroll away. A few preview photos, l-r: walking there past the Central Bar; the outdoor dining; the 1st course of the 25 euro menu, oysters au gratin; Simone explaining; the 2nd course with vegetable cupcakes.
James is a documentary filmmaker in San Francisco. His subject: the ethnomedicines of Nigeria, a subject he is expert in. We met via the Internet. I interrupt my conversations with James re: fundraising comms to go off and help Alain rebuild a bathroom, from moldy to pretty magnificent (within a tight budget). Alain does all the work. I wash all the buckets. Here's the proof, l-r: 1st you destroy what's there, then you assess your tool room to see what you're missing; here are the parts; here's the 19th-century floor exposed; here's Alain building out a warped wall; here's Alain putting fast-setting cement on the wall to smooth it; here's Alain starting the tile; and more tile; and more tile.
Half the great Pézenas brocante (used goods less than 100 years old) fair, held in May and October. We walk. We buy little over-priced things. There are scores of stalls.
... development director truly extraordinaire, Planned Parenthood of Maryland. To you, we dedicate some time at the semi-annual brocante (second-hand stuff) fair in Pézenas, the next town over, one of Europe's antiquing centers.
Patti and Marshall flew over the North Pole to Valros from Anchorage, AK. And had a mythical time. We can't promise a 15th-century rat to everyone staying at our 15th-century house, but Patti and Marshall dealt with it handily. (It's an old house with lots of holes. Expect the occasional intruder.) Among their distinguishments: Patti's sister and friend dressed up in medieval costume for a visit to the Abbaye de Valmagne. Plus they left us a gifty set of Valmagne wine glasses. Love it. Love them. Right after they left, we began to demolish and rebuild the scummy the top-floor shower.
Remember when Merlin was just big enough to brace himself against the glass doors here and leave indelible memories? Missing you in France. L-r: A so-so-sweet watercolor an artist/guest left the house as a tribute, showing the neighbor's laundry hanging to dry outside our dining room window; a bottle of the tres cher wine from Les Creisses, Valros' distinguished and very hidden vineyard, with my notes about its contents based on Jean-Claude's comments; and Simone eats dinner in front of the TV and a video movie, a near-nightly occurrence as we chew through the evening hours.
Dedicated to Paula Potato, a hike in Gruissan, on the Med., on the limestone fringes of Le Clape, a peculiar little outcropping that supports a terrific collection of wineries. First we eat, then we hit the trail, Les Goules. Flamingos flock to these lagoons to feast on shrimp. So did I, broiled in spices, for lunch.
Dedicated to the fastest rising rocket in the donor communications arsenal, Mr. Rick Schwartz, a 5-hour hike along an old pilgrimage trail, up a mule track from St. Guilhem le Desert. L-r: The Devil's Bridge over the Herault river gorge; the sign of the pilgrim, a sea shell; the trail out; the trail up and the ever-present limestone gravel you walk on; a fig tree growing from a cliff favored by rock climbers; the trail behind.
