Blog Action Day

The environment. In keeping with the personal nature of my blog, I will address this in a personal vein. I can do little more but vote where I might, and express myself a bit loudly when it comes to industrial polution and the carbon tax. However, personally, I can do what I can, and influence those in my immediate world. It comes down to so many small acts, hoping they will cumulate and spread to others:

- Turn out the light(s) when you leave a room (and make sure the kids do too).
- Insulate the house better (at least put rolled up rugs at the bottom of my doors to limit drafts).
- wear sweaters and slippers rather than jacking up the heat. - Into bed early in the winter.
- Bake everything I've to bake at the same time, or at least one right after another. For example, the no-salt bread for Isabelle, two loaves of bread for my family and a batch on corn muffins for the kids' afternoon snack.
- Keep driving to a minimum -- group all errands in the same trip, carpool, encourage bicycling or walking where possible and safe.
- Limit hot showers and baths to what is good hygiene but no more (harder said than done with my crew of pre-teens), but I do repeat myself frequently, in hopes that this message will eventually get through.
- One big sink of hot water to wash all my dishes throughout the morning.
- Buy locally from the farm nearby, or friends. And even better, get to the farm on foot or by bike.
- Buy in bulk from my organic wholesaler -- as locally as I'm able, but also, fewer runs to the store by using my pantry-space.
- Grow my own vegetables as I'm able (the dimensions of my vegetable garden are increasing yearly, as I -- ever so slowly -- gain more knowledge and skill in this area).
- Put in a chicken pen and get a couple of chickens from Gaetan's parents -- a project in the offing, we'll see... How would this help the environment? Well, it would help the house budget, and they'd eat up all the stale bread and such that I am also putting into the compost. At the very least, I wouldn't be using more than one egg carton or so by week, and thus would reduce my own personal consumption of cardboard/gas/plastic.
- As soon as winter sets in and I start firing up the wood stove, it will replace (as much as possible) the gas and electric burners as my cook-top.
- Heat off every night, heavy and warm covers for all.
- Efficient "green" bulbs in all the house lamps.
- Mix by hand whenever possible -- ok, I used the Kitchen Aid for meringues and the cereal bars, but all muffins, bread, cookies are mixed with good old-fashioned elbow grease and a wooden spoon.
- Furnish the house (should I still need anything, which I don't) and my wardrobe (ditto) from the flea markets/Goodwill. I've found some gorgeous items over the years that would do a princess no dishonour. No exotic hardwoods from the forests of Indonesia.
- Read, play board games and talk rather than watch TV -- and just don't own one if you can get away from it.
- Hang my laundry out to dry, either outdoors or in my bathroom, over all my house-hold doors (which I've wiped clean before-hand). Yes, this is doable even for those who have 6 month winters! The dryer habit can be broken.
- In keeping with the washing theme: wash only what needs washing: socks, underwear, and much worn jeans and stained or smelly t-shirts, etc., Don't just use the laundry basket as a catch-all for cleaning the room.
- Recycle, compost, re-use as possible, and have a stash of grocery bags and crates for shopping: as necessary, I give classes in this to the kids (yes, little girl, I'm serious, take a look at this bag, what do you see? Ah, so cold lentils don't really go with clean cardboard, plastic bottles, and printer paper, no? Ok, remove them please, you can use this cloth. And next time, please note the three recepticles and use them correctly).

Where do I find it difficult? Where do I continue to consume?

- I do have a dish washer (for 6 kids remember). But I'm trying to teach them to use one glass/cup per day and re-use it, rather than going through 5 per child (breakfast/lunch/snack/snack/dinner/snack) -- not there yet.
- Wean myself off my computer (ouch!), and let the battery fully run down before plugging it back in to recharge it (I can do this at least).
- In my food habits, it is very difficult to deprive myself of the classic triumverate of imported foods: coffee, chocolate and tea, add to this soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce, and?. Otherwise, I'm doing pretty well eating locally and seasonally and making most everything from scratch.
- I like shoes -- little boots (perhaps made in China?), tango shoes (designed for my feet in Buenos Aires), sandals (Spain). And my boys live in sneakers (made in China) -- though but one pair per year or till they are worn to bits. And, I do re-heel and re-sole my shoes till they become such an eyesore JP is embarrassed to be seen in public with me.

How more can I or any of us help? Public transportation is great -- for certain routes. Keeping lights off as much as possible requires larger windows than I have in this heavy stone house, and better eyes than I was bequeathed by my myopically challenged parents. As such, I'm sitting here with the kitchen lights on (though no others). I use the I-tunes in my computer as a source of music rather than play the radio/hifi across the room.

I'm teaching as I might. Yesterday evening's discussion with Leo included why I resist purchasing yet more plastic toys for he and his brother and emphasize those that last and those that have a thousand possibilties. And, considering the quantity they already have, Christmas may bring more books than toys this year. I don't like the throw-away culture. Yes, I do go through the house and bring whatever is no longer needed/used/ etc., to Goodwill or the Red Cross every June. But, I cringe as I throw away broken plastic toys. I hate it. What was the point of a noisy, fragile, highly colored object that lasted perhaps two weeks at most as a toy of choice for my children? Why? It's so much more fun to climb a tree, draw, build with bits of wood outdoors.

I teach, I encourage, I berate, sometimes lightly, more often no doubt heavy handedly. Am I wacko? Or just reflecting my own education at my mother's knee and my horror of trash, landfills, the green-house effect (which I'd already read about back in 1980 before graduating from high school), large cars, pavement everywhere, yet more large factories and malls going up where farm land once was, and food that tastes like plastic, ripened by a gas and flown across the world? Yes, I react oddly when served asparagus in the winter (in Provence, if I were in South Africa, this would be normal).

I'm just a bit off-center I suppose. Or not. Think Global, act Local. My mantra.

Shopping for the fall, or at least a few months.

I did my first trip to the organic wholesaler's yesterday. It was a time to invest for the year. Some things: grated cheese, quator oil (sesame, olive, pumpkin and rape seed), are truly for the year, but others will be refreshed as needed, month by month. Here's the list of what I considered necessary for my household to function. With these ingredients I've the basics for nourishing my charges daily. Considering I never buy anything packaged and prepared, it means a lot of cooking. But, when you've a house full of pasta, grains, flour, sugar, chocolate, etc., you've not the necessary ingredients to prepare a meal as needed.

Dry goods:

a case (12 packets) semi-whole wheat spaghetti - 12.60E
10 bars (200g) dark pastry chocolate - 21.70E
5kg non-bleached sugar - 9.70E
5 cases plain brown rice crackers - 22.50E
5 cases brown rice and quinoa crackers - 22.50E
3 kg pumpkin seeds - 15.36E
3 kg sunflower seeds - 10.29E
5 kg 9 grain flour - 10.15E
5 kg whole wheat flour - 6.95E
5 kg white flour - 7.25E
5 kg semi whole wheat flour - 7.00E
3 kg 5 grain flakes (oats, rice, wheat, spelt, barley) - 5.70E
a case (12 packets) lasagna noodles - 5.70E
6 litres quator oil - 45.00E
a case (6 boxes 400g) hot chocolate powder - 22.80E
2.5 kilos almonds 21.25
3 kilos chocolate chips (a splurge) 27.15E

Cleaning supplies: (I still have toilet bowl cleaner from last year, and it works very well on limestone deposits too).

5 litres concentrated dish liquid - 10.66E
5 litres concentrated liquid detergent - 15.21E

Perishables (extra to be put in the freezer):

16 packets of 200g sweet butter - 35.88E
10 kilos grated gruyère cheese - 103.50
30 eggs - 7.50

Between various storage pantries and my freezer, this will keep us for a good long while. I go through flour faster than anything else, and chocolate (brownies, muffins, etc.,). I already have stashes of basmati rice, brown rice, spelt, barley, green lentils, bulgur, nutritional yeast, linseed, olive oil, my home-made chunky tomato sauce, 6 litres of plain tomato sauce, a jar of my refreshed sourdough starter, baking soda, sea salt ... and my personal stash of black Tazo chai. Hence, a pantry now filled with what I need to make bread, soda bread, pancakes, lasagna, quiches, tarts, cookies, brownies, risottos, couscous, and much much more.

Weekly I'll purchase eggs, milk, vegetables and fruit. Occasionally a bit of ham, bacon, a chicken, and chunks of cheese. I try not to go over 20E/week, and am normally successful as long as I stick to in season.

Now, if only gas were cheaper...

The Temptations of French Lingerie

Unless otherwise noted, all materials on this blog are (c) 2009 by Madeleine Vedel

OK, I'm getting rather far from the food theme here. But, since French women are known for being good cooks, staying thin, and enjoying being sexy, am I really? It took me awhile to get into French lingerie. Literally and figuratively. I was pretty much a cotton and Victoria's Secret basics kind of girl. Jockey for Her, etc., Basic, well made, comfortable. When I lived in Paris and went to dance class on a regular basis, I would goggle a bit at the super chic underwear of my fellow Parisian dancers -- magenta thongs, black lace, peacock blue satin... and this under leotards they were then going to sweat in?



But something happened when I turned 40. My body changed. My breasts got larger (which freaked me out just a bit), but my legs and torso didn't (could be all the yoga, but also living on lots of veggies, olive oil, fish...). I also had one of those Eureka realizations that this is as good as it's gonna get. From here on out, gravity will have an every greater say. So, I've never had the body of a model, but I'm curvy, mostly flat-bellied (depending on how much I binge on my bread and an evil and wonderful hazelnut spread by the Jean Hervé called Kokolo) and I enjoy what I have.

That same year Erick offered me a very lovely and no doubt expensive Aubade black brassiere with a little jewel in the middle. Hmmm when could I wear that? He quickly figured out that this gift pleased me far more than yet another heavy coffee table book, and followed suit over the next couple of occasions.

I like to watch people (mostly women, I must confess), observe their fashion choices, their sense of style and the grace (or lack there of) in their movement. I noticed that certain friends had their elegant button down shirts buttoned down to the cleavage, and that their lovely bras were definitely in view. Hm? No one seemed to think them cheap or slutty. Au contraire, they were elegant, classy and ever so alluring. Other lovely friends wore bras with little jewels on the straps, again, very much in view (but of course! if not to show it off, why wear it?). Just another little feminine detail.

Since the 1990s, we've been entertained, as a people and a culture, by a gorgeous ad campaign by the French lingerie company Aubade. Take a look at their chic web site and the history of their "leçons d'amour."

http://aubade.com/

These images are photographed so spectacularly, no one could (or perhaps should) be offended. They are a celebration of beautiful women and the power of seduction. My children have now grown up with these on all the bus stops, in all the magazines, in calendars, post cards. It's just normal and beautiful.



So, I bit back my intimidation, and entered the lingerie stores in Arles. The first time I did this it was summer sale period. This made it a bit easier on the pocket book. All bras at 25-30E and all panties at 10-15E. The normal prices were more in the range of 45 - 105E for bras, and 25-55E for panties -- yes, that wee bit of string and stretchy lace costs more per ounce than either gold or black truffles.

I've a favorite store now, the Clin d'Oeil in Arles. I've gotten to know the woman who runs the store, to be able to chat with her about politics (what else?) breast size changes, the local economy, and so on. She seems to enjoy the infrequent visits from her American client, and I enjoy being known and accepted.



Here in Avignon, I admire, I photograph, I look wistfully. But, for the moment, with my pocket book much reduced this year, I've contented myself with my current wardrobe, and resisted further temptation.

Living Close to Avignon

Unless otherwise noted, all materials on this blog are (c) 2009 by Madeleine Vedel

My home, my much-loved and cozy place, is just 5 minutes from the walled city of Avignon. I live in the countryside of the island known as Ile de la Barthélasse. Busy here, and enjoying the calm, I confess that I don't go into town that often, but, there are definitely times when the urge hits for a lovely café in a café, a bit of people watching, or, to visit the chic boutiques for a bit of shopping.

Avignon is an easy town to navigate on foot, and, off season on bicycle. In warm weather, I do prefer to come by bike, but then I'm sure to take the smaller side roads, and to avoid the heavily trafficked pedestrian walks. Parking is a bit nightmarish if I choose to bring the car (when it's cold, raining or windy). I'll park right outside the Place de Crillon, or along the ramparts on the inside, or, if there's no other choice, on my side of the river and I'll just walk across the bridge to town.

When I bring friends to Avignon, we do a bit of a whirlwind tour. I will guide them to the Place de l'Horloge, the center of town where the town hall is, many a mediocre cafe, a decent and small cinema, and the perpetual merry-go-round. Then we wander past the street sellers of jewelry and very bright poppy and lavender laden paintings to the Palace of the Popes, and the huge square in front of it. If we are roaming during the month of July -- the month of the theatre festival--we will be accosted by actors in costume with flyers for their plays, or, we may stumble upon an outdoor presentation by a Japanese mime, or a theatre troup playing out scenes from Hôtel du Nord or another classic of the French cinéma répertoire.

If we've a couple of hours to spare, it is worth it to do the audio tour of the Pope's Palace. If you like history that is, and vast, enormous empty spaces. Can you fill your head with the hundreds of velvet clad bishops and church dignitaries, the many supplicants, the miles of tables, laden with food of the richest and most exotic? I love the descriptions in Terry Jones' The Lady and the Squire. Somehow, a former Monty Python just hits it right. The pope was here for nearly 100 years, running away from the Northern hordes who over-ran Rome, and briefly, being a bit more centralized to his vast domain. There is a wall of portraits of the popes, and the dates of their lives, and their reigns. I'm a bit surprised that in general, they were chosen old, and died relatively quickly. Those who lasted more than ten years in their seat were the rare exception.

Back out into the sunlight, out of the underground shop filled with cards, tapestries, local wines, pottery, etc., and around the curving stone path to the tiny square where the hotel/restaurant La Mirande is situated. Now, if a girl wants to feel chic, she goes here for afternoon tea with her girl friends. It's not cheap, but oh, the service is lovely and you do feel ever so elegant. It's rather Breakfast at Tiffany's for me. An exquisite hat and pumps would not be out of place. There is also a dark and brooding full bar where menfolk can smoke their cigars over a whiskey straight up. As you please.

If at the Mirande, don't hesitate to go down that tiny spiral staircase in the corner of the tea room. You'll be in the bowels of the building, but also, beside the fantastic cooking class room that they've installed, with the ancient wood burning stove, copper and pottery to die for, and a cozy and warm atmosphere. It's not too claustrophobic as there is a tiny garden beside that room, so windows let day light in and enliven the senses.

As I leave the hotel, I'll choose the street to the left of the Mirande (as you're looking at the Pope's palace), into a lovely square with cafés, restaurants, tiny shops, etc., There's a pleasant b&b down here as well. For me, it's now time to wander and discover. Eventually, I'll find my way over to Les Halles. Leo loves it here as there is a store called l'Oule (or something like that) that is very dungeons and dragonsish, with magic cards, pokemon cards, etc., This is his destination if and when I permit him to take his own bike (with a friend along) into town. I like the restaurant Françoise across from the Music Conservatory. Good soups, salads, chocolate brownie and tarts, coffee, tea (it's a tea salon), with a hot spot for my wifi. If guiding my friends further, I'll then drift down to the Rue des Teinturiers with its water wheels, theaters, tiny restaurants, and tempting Asian rug store.

As I've had to cope on my bureaucratic life here, I've become acquainted with the social security office, the health center, the family affairs' office, my lawyer's address, the Post Office, Leo's guitar teacher's string instrument repair shop, and more.

More fun is exploring the cinémas, the shops, the remarkably friendly cafés. I once forgot my computer in the café across from Monoprix on the main boulevard. I returned a couple of hours later, and the lady behind the bar was tending it safely for me. Ahhhh. I truly freaked out that I'd put my life in jeopardy. What would I do if I lost my Macbook? Too scary to contemplate.

As I return to a parked car, or bike back out of the city to my island, I'll window shop down the chic shopping street just beside the Place Crillon. Oh, here I get in trouble at shops like Cotelac or One Step. Funky, interesting, feminine, flowing clothes. Just the sort of thing to tempt me to pull out the plastic. But no, I'll wait for the sales in July. I'll be good, this time.

For wonderful photos of Avignon, please take a look at Nathalie's blog noted alongside, Avignon in Photos. She captures the quirks, the beauty, the light, the strange moments, in a marvelous way. My own shots don't compare. Speaking of Nathalie, she's recommended some restaurants for me to try... La Brocantine looks just lovely, tucked away down a teeny side street by the Place de Crillon. It's only open for lunch, with an ever changing menu. I can't wait!

Frugal Times - Part II - Food, Shopping & Cooking

I look at the various choices I've made this year to reduce expenses and to follow my beliefs in nutrition, packaging, use of energy, etc., I suppose top of the list is the second hand (or third no doubt) cast iron stove I purchased for my fireplace. I then needed wood to burn in it. Purchase, installation and wood came to 600E. Conversely, I kept my thermostat at 14C (57F) during the day and 11C (51F) during the night. That I pay a monthly estimate calculated on last year's consumption and the fact that Gas de France has yet to reduce its prices since its own prices went down from the highs of the summer, have meant that my bills for the moment don't reflect these efforts, but I hope to see a shift in the upcoming year. In any case, I feel just a bit virtuous, and my fire-starting skills have taken a giant leap.

An added benefit of the stove is its cooktop. All soups, stocks, and even many vegetables have been cooked atop the stove this winter. Potatoes and one roast chicken were baked in the ashes, and nearly everything was reheated by simply placing it on the stove's surface. My main adaptation for this trick was working with time and the lower temperature of the stove compared to my electric oven and gas burners. I had to put the soup ingredients in the pot around 3PM to be ready to eat at 7PM, or to calculate double the baking time for the lasagna. But it was possible and a hoot to experiment with. Thus a reduced electricity and gas bill.

I've particularly adapted my shopping behavior to the current moment. I purchase in bulk from an organic supply store twice monthly my flour, rice, sugar, grains, butter, grated cheese, eggs, pasta, house-cleaning supplies etc., On the way home from school I will make a weekly pass by the grocery store for large size strawberry jam, batteries, light bulbs, toothbrushes, ham, maybe a chicken, coffee, etc., My girlfriend who goes to Switzerland once a month brings me back recycled toilet paper in huge quantities. And there is a farm on my island that I go to with the children as we return from school to pick up fruit and vegetables. In organic wine I'm well stocked by JP, no worries there. For milk we go to the farm that is on the road between Arles and Avignon, and Erick brings me 7 liters or so every Sunday evening -- using mineral water bottles discarded by a friend.

Do we have need of anything else? Not really.

After these basics, I've worked hard to limit my car usage to reduce my gasoline/diesel bill. This meant grouping as many activities as possible, fewer shopping runs, fewer to no visits to friends who live far away (we still see each other at school, so my social life hasn't been hurt much); scoping out the two cheapest gas stations in the area and keeping an eye on the prices, as they go from 1.20, to 1.10, to a low of 88.5 and now back up to 91.9. On my weekends at the winery, I take the route with the fewest roundabouts and no stoplights to use less gas for these unavoidable 60 kilometers.

Where I find myself stumbling is my easily awakened desires for a new blouse, a pair of pants, etc., I was raised in a world where acquiring pretty things each season is a well-established tradition. More than any other area, this one trips me up. I no longer live next to that great flea market, and I've read all those articles about these inexpensive, not-super well made clothes from China that have flooded the market and hurt the local garment unions. Yes, I think about all that badly paid child labor, the polluting air-flights over, the no-doubt highly sprayed cotton plants used to make the materials.... Do I make an effort to justify these moments of caving into the desire for a completely non-necessary pretty thing, or not. It all depends on background and my feelings on the subject of 'rewards' for good behavior, or, contributing to the local economy, or, just satisfying an urge for something pretty.

But oh, Promod has some really nice things in their window this spring...