Deux-Sèvres Life

Cooking on a poele a bois - woodburning fire

We have a lot of trees - on 15 hectares of land there are a lot of trees! And generally during the winter storms a couple of them will take a tumble.

So MOH (my other half) trundles out on the ride-on mower with trailer attached, in which lies his chain saw, helmet, protective gloves and goggles, to warm himself up cutting the trees to manageable lengths for storing for a couple of years, before using on our woodburner to heat the house.

When we bought this house, the only source of heating was electric convector heaters. As there was a chimney, MOH explored the wall below in the sejour, cut away the plasterboard lining and rockwool insulation and exposed an attractive stone fireplace, ready made to accept a poele a bois!

Alcoholics Anonymous in France - help and support

I hope you all enjoyed a Merry Christmas this year, and are looking forward to celebrating the New Year. We all eat and drink too much, and then make a resolution to lose weight when it's all over! For some people, the low price and choice of wines and spirits in the French supermarkets can be a temptation to buy larger bottles and maybe have a glass or three too many. This can lead to a glass at lunchtime, then maybe one in the afternoon, and before you know it, you are drinking too much.

No one likes to admit they could be an alcoholic. We've recently met someone who did admit it and took steps to do something about it. Here's an article from This French Life with contact details for anyone needing help.

Pause Cafe, L'Absie - now open

The Pause Cafewill be open this Sunday 4th December from 11am-4pm, and will be serving hot pork baguettes with apple sauce, homemade mince pies, Christmas cupcakes, mulled wine and lots more. Pop in and see what they have to offer.

Ostrich for Christmas? Buy now

If you want something a little different for Christmas lunch, why not try ostrich. Sevre Autruche at Courlay have now culled for this year and the shop is open every weekend in December, plus a few days extra. Times are as follows.

every December weekend and 19-24th December - 10-1230 & 1430-1700
31st December - 10-1230.

The farm is signposted in Courlay - follow signs Sevre Autruche

Potimorron - from the potager to the pot!

We really love pumpkin, especially either roasted or in a soup. As the grandkids are in the UK, I have no need to grow large ones which I find very difficult to disect, so I grow the small ones. Along with marrows, I've tried storing them in a dry dark shed without success - they end up as unusable mush! So this year I decided to freeze them as puree, for soups, gratin and pie.

I cut them in half, removed the seeds and placed them face down on a foil-lined baking tray, roasting them at 350F for about 40 minutes. When they had cooled, I scraped off the cooked flesh from the skin, put in covered clear plastic containers and put in the freezer.

Pomme Expo, Secondigny - 8-16 October 2011

Back in the Middle Ages, fruit trees grew wild in many woody groves dotted around the Gatine countryside and people organised the distribution of the fruit from the trees to provide food.

In 1955 the 'Grande Foire Commercial de la Pomme Reinett Clochard' was created. The Gatine is one of the regions where the Reinetee-Clochard apple variety originated and this variety is known as Reinette de Parthenay. This initial fair evolved into the Pomme Expo, an annual festival of cultural, visual and gastronomic elements.

Puy de Serre, Quiz evening - book by 18th September

For those of you in the north and west of 79, here's a date for your diary.

A Quiz has been organized at the Salle Paroissale at Puy de Serre, teams of 4-6 contestants. These evenings are always a great deal of fun, you need to book before 18th September, as a meal is included in the price.

Date: Friday, 23 September, 2011
Venue: Salle Paroissale, Puy de Serre
Start time: 1800h, registration and apero from 1730
Price: 10 euros includes apero, 2 course meal and quizzes

La Chapelle St Laurent - visit the Basilica de Notre-Dame de Pitie

On the first weekend of each year the village of La Chapelle St Laurent, between Secondigny and Bressuire, organises a village event. It used to be called the Foire de Pitie - the Pitie being the Basilica which stands majestically above the village. Although the weekend is now past, the Basilica is really worth a visit.

Entry is free, no problem for disabled access as the event is on the level, although a little hilly in places. There is a small shop round one side, open occasionally. No dogs inside the building.

19-26th August, Labryntruche, Courlay - evening meal and lamplit walk

A while ago I wrote about the ostrich farm at Courlay, north 79. During the summer they create a maze which is great fun for kids. This week they are organising a lamplit evening walk through the maze, which follows a dinner including - what else - ostrich meat. You need to book if you fancy an evening with a difference. Details are on the website here.

Vide Grenier, Verruyes - 14th July

There will be a big Vide Grenier at Verruyes, between Mazieres-en-Gatine and Saint Maixent l'Ecole, on Bastille Day, Thursday, 14th July. It's at the Stade from 8.00am all day till 7pm. Also snack food vendors