Anona and Claudine walking in the woods
12/10/08
After a morning of pure self indulgence, sitting by the pool in the sun and a very lazy lunch we awaited the arrival of Claudine who had invited us for a walk and tea.
We took a leisurely stroll through wooded lanes, bombarded now and again with chestnuts that were being gently shaken from the trees by a softly rustling breeze. We stopped to take in the sight of cattle slowly chewing the cud with the foothills of the Massive Central in the distance.
Goats, chickens, dogs and people were greeted and chatted to along the way. The dogs (Sheep dogs) turned out to be English and when they were young did not understand French 'requests'! They are now bi-lingual!
We swapped applications for various plants and picked wild thyme from the verge.
Without warning Claudine seemed to dive into the mossy bank and gently picked a Chanterelle, its cap bright and sunny in the leaf litter and a day that had turned to soft rain. I carried them back in my scarf Dick Whittington style and we enjoyed them for supper that evening, with herbs. Yum!
We had the most delicious tea accompanied by tart tatin made by Claudine which was even more yummy. She is the most amazing cook.
John Hill in the 18th Century said 'If we minded our own herbs, we should need fewer medicines from abroad'. It is up to us all not to loose the knowledge that has been passed down to us and regain and rekindle any that we may have forgotten. What better way to do this than to exchange folklore and potions with friends, some you know and others you have yet to meet!
From left to right; Rebecca, Pauline, Anona, Maggie and Ruth.