Spring

Two Thousand and Twenty-Four

Warm. Wet. Dry. Chilly. It is Spring. And it is Beautiful.

I Labour, Whine and Wonder. It is all Beautiful.

I Believe and Accept. I Embrace all I have learnt. It is Truly Beautiful.

I always find magic in my (Minette’s) Garden, especially in Spring’s early morning, and at her days end. Maybe it is the birdsong waking me with promise - and again as dusk settles us into the dark hours. It feels to me they sing Hallelujah, another day lived.

After a morning of labouring, and if the sun shines warm, I enjoy my lunch in the garden, then take a siesta under the Wisteria. If it is warm, Minette lay with me, if it is hot, she lay on the gravel, under the chaise. If it is damp, we restore in the house. This Spring, the challenges of living with a garden are many, probably no more than other Springs, but I know more now, and am becoming aware of what it takes to live with so many breathing life forces. We each have our own dream for a garden. Your desire requires investigation and experience of how to manage all the personalities, and sustainably assuage your own.

Now that I have all my planting done, my early morning ritual is to rise around 6am, and take a stroll through the garden with a sack in hand. I gather the Escargot, give them plenty of greens to munch, then take them for a walk to the forest, and set them free. I tell myself that they will be happier without walls and sloping roofs to imprison them. This decision came after 20 new plants were enjoyed by the chubbiest escargot in town.

I have also had altercations with Pigeons. An aggressive couple were wanting to nest in the Wisteria, and when my gaze was not upon them, they built a loose nest that I kept poking to dismantle. They were adamant to keep this real estate. I did not realize there was an egg in that shoddy structure, and it fell to the ground. I felt very mean. Even Minette who always meows a mournful tune when the pigeons enter her territory, looked at me with sad eyes.

So, I carry on. I have guests coming and going, and it is lovely. After many years lamenting the loss of all those books I shelved in Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks, I have decided to grow my Cook’s Library. I love my collection, most of them personalized from all those chefs and authors who came to visit, but I am missing many titles and books that keep knowledge I have yet to learn. My idea is to create a truly stellar Culinary Reference Library. It would be wonderful to have folk come for the purpose of food knowledge learning with books - maybe stay for awhile to write their own cookbooks or essays. Perhaps just to cook with me, selecting recipes, creating menus from the books… If any of you would like to donate a book to my emerging dream, please send me a note. I am happy to pay the postage from where you be to me. And please, ask me any questions you like about how this idea of holing up in a beautiful house (Maison des Mots Gourmands) in France to inspire your writing, might work for you…

I have recently introduced Cooking Class Week-ends. So many folks love traveling to Paris for all its Glory, Culture and Beauté. A week-end in the Country might be the perfect break in your Big City Spell. Look under the Experiences page on the website for details.

Oh, last week-end La Charité-sur-Loire held the annual Fête des Plantes. I introduced and prepared a new sandwich to sell at the Buvette. One of the local boulangeries made the Brioche Buns. I prepared the filling, and assembled at the fête. They were a hit. This recipe is good for about 6 Sandwiches.

Brioche Thon Barjo

2 Tins good quality Tuna, drained

1 Cup Chopped Fennel

1 Cup Chopped Celery

1 Cup Chopped Apple, place in bowl with Lemon Juice

Zest of Lemon

¼ cup (or to taste) Excellent Mayonnaise

3 Boiled Eggs, sliced

Chopped Lettuce

Mix the Tuna, Fennel, Celery, Apple, Lemon Zest and Mayonnaise together. Add a smidgen of salt and pepper if you wish.

Place Mixture on Bottom half of the Brioche you sliced. Place sliced egg on top of mixture. Then some chopped lettuce. Place the other half of Brioche on top and munch away.

I wish you all a very Happy Spring. If you do not have your own garden, go snooping in others. Better yet, come visit me here at Maison des Mots and stroll around Minette’s Jardin. There is such joy in feeling it all grow, appreciating the beauty, and if lucky, taking a few snippets home for extended pleasure.

— Barbara-jo, May 2024

Maison des Mots Barbara-jo Residency

Spring