La Maison des Mots - March 2023
The Beginning of Spring...
Now then, just what are you thinking about? I am thinking about Spring. it appears to be coming and going with the changeable weather. Gardening can be a little difficult when the ground is frozen. But when the sun shines for a few moments on the garden, the world is good. A sudden Spring-like rain offers the chance for Minette and I to do some rain-dancing to Chopin. A reminder of how much I love rain. Rain is good for the garden. And the bounty of the garden makes for wonderful cooking. Just where would I be without the joy of cooking? I so appreciate the ingredients available to me here, so close, and so wonderful.
The natural beauty of the outdoors beckons every day and encourages exercise. Walking (uptown, downtown, across the pont and into the wild blue yonder.) I would like to cycle more but my cranky old bicycle does not encourage me much. I did ask Santa for a new bicycle, but he did not hear my pleas. As for swimming, I am desperate to embrace the cold Loire, but somehow, something else always gets in the way before I can take the plunge.
I have signed on to a drawing class and the first three sessions have been an excellent exercise in artistic discipline. As always, I indulge my love of reading. This week the book is: Living and Dying with Marcel Proust. As for writing, the muse is much like the intermittent signs of Spring. Inspiration comes and goes, along with plenty of scribbling.
And, I am thinking an awful lot about French Curiosities. I have just finished posting out the Spring Surprise, realising – more than ever - how much I enjoy the process that comes with thinking up individual gifts for friends and subscribers. So, I will carry on with French Curiosities. From this date onward, if you desire a French Curiosity for yourself, or a gift for a friend, lover, mother, daughter, son, grandchild, teacher or pet…… send me an email. I ask that you give me 5 weeks to create the surprise and get it in the post. We never know exactly how long the post will take, but generally 17 days is about the usual amount of time it takes to fly from here to where ever.
I also offer Maison des Mots for a holiday rental in a different way between the dates of June 25th and August 25th. La Charite sur Loire is beautiful all the time, but the first time I truly fell in love with la Charite was when I came in August, 2015. Previously I came in February and March, and though I found it lovely, it was chilly. In these Summer months its all ago. Saturday Farmer’s Marche, Concerts, Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming and Cycling. Long walks through the countryside. So many charming surrounding towns and hamlets. Festivals galore. Wonderful picnicking, gardens to visit. Moulin, Vichy all close, with beaucoup history to discover.
The Rez-de-chausse (ground floor) Premier-etage ( 2nd floor) Cour (Courtyard) and Jardin (Garden) will be available for rent for 5 day minimum, or two weeks, three weeks, one month….. This means you are on your own in the house to cook for yourselves at your own leisurely pace. While guests partake of this offer, moi, the proprietress will reside in my 3rd floor apartment. Available for discussion, but mostly invisible.
The ground floor has a large kitchen, dining room, salon, cooks library, toilet. The 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms, each with a toilet and shower or toilet, bidet and bath. And a library that could have another single bed in it, but the sleeping beauty would need to share another’s salle de bain. So, 3 couples and a single, or 5 single sleepers, one of the chambres has 2 beds. Linens changed and house cleaned once a week, included in price.
One does need to rent a car to appreciate all on offer, unless of course you are happy to rent an e bike and sportif yourself ready for delicious meals, cooked in your temporary home or dining about the region. Please send me an email for further details and prices.
Gros Bisous,
Madame M et Minette
La Charite sur Loire, as Winter ends, 2023