Perfect November Day

 

Soupçon - great tea in the sun

I think I've used that title before...but some things are just true, however redundant.  

It's not like we don't have our share of weather here in Périgord, and frankly it was - literally - freezing this morning.  Yesterday, it was 2'C when I got in my car to go to a nearby weekly market and today it was even colder.  But, it looked like this.  

This morning, I'd had a wretched night's sleep, got up just post dawn (which is late here - that probably deserves a post all its own), took care of a couple things and climbed the stairs to snuggle back under the down comforter and relish the fact that I wasn't planning on being at the market for another couple hours.  Delicious.

When the clock was ticking down and the world was hopefully warming up a wee bit, I jumped up, went downstairs, ticked the heat up a couple of degrees, and got dressed.  The morning looked clear and inviting.  I decided to hold off on coffee or tea until my shopping was done and I could sit down with friends.

Damon prepares a board at P+P

I found everything I wanted - much of it for my Thanksgiving for 14 (!) on Thursday - surprisingly quickly, bumped into my pals, and settled into a café by 11.  Soon the others crowded in and we became of table of 9, sipping coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and sharing the latest news.  An hour and a half flew by and we went our separate ways.

But, I wasn't quite ready to head home.  Passing by Planches et Plonk, I thought - why not?  I ducked into our beloved wine bar + charcuterie establishment.  I had the place all to myself.  I chatted with Graham and Damon until a couple of other women arrived and divided the gents' attention, and thoroughly enjoyed my lunch of rosé and a board in one of these cozy chairs - the one right next to the heater it turns out.  Delightful.  Merci!  (I have yet to master the art of being obnoxious enough to pull my phone out and film every encounter so I grabbed this off Google - if I owe someone credit, I'm happy to oblige.)  Am I publicly admitting going from one café directly to another?  Yes.  Yes, I am.

Belvès from the garden, late afternoon

Coming home to a warm house - a rarity since I don't normally turn the heat on until evening - certainly felt luxurious.  I futzed on my laptop for a bit and then headed up to the garden to enjoy a slice of November sunshine and experience the gratitude of having found this magical place.  What a gift of beauty, friendship, and joy.

I've had the pleasure of welcoming some new expats to our village this time around  A couple from the UK, who were again at coffee this morning, renovating a house across the way from my dear friends, and another from a city just a stone's throw from our own Washington home, also deep into major renovations.  We are all smitten and thankful for the turns of fate that led us here.

After a half hour or so of gazing lovingly at this beautiful village from a comfy chair in the garden, the wispy high clouds started gathering and it was time to pull the cushions into their defensive position and head downstairs.  But also time to feed the goldfish in the fountain - the one that didn't work for nearly 3 years and just served as a breeding ground for mosquitos.  I called to them - can fish hear?  I have no idea but I have decided that they must so I call to them when I have food - threw some food into the pond and watched them do their thing.  

Like I said, a perfect November day.

Tomorow:  Preparations for Thanksgiving begin in earnest!