Moissac Vide Granier

Garages are not as common in France as in the states. The country houses have barns which are often converted into covered parking spaces and garages, and the village homes often just don't have them. So when the townspeople want to purge their cramped closets they hold a community-wide Vide Granier. Last Sunday was Moissac's community sale, so Bill and I walked past the weekly farmer's market in the square, and down to the park along the river where the sales are held. The morning temps have definitely chilled and the trees that create a canopy over our street are changing color and dropping their leaves. It made for a perfect autumn scene and I'm loving this season's whole vibe.

On the renovation front, we completed one of the guest rooms (The Rose Room). Technically, it's the only room besides the library that is 100% finished. It's been a long time since I had a room in our house that was so keenly feminine, but what better time than now to embrass it. And, I love every bit of this space. The hand-embroidered pillowcases are from my Grandma Happel, and the patchwork quilt was made for me by my Grandma Schultz. And my grandfather, who was in advanced stage Alzheimer's dementia at the time, hand cut each square of fabric. We also finished the trim work in the salon and hung pictures, as well as the giant mirror above the fireplace.

h I have slowly been figuring out how to recreate some of the everyday meals we know and loved in the states, but it has taken some effort. I've had to replace ingrédients that are not sold in France, with alternatives I can get my hands on: like cornbread using Semolina instead of cornmeal, casseroles using crème fraiche and bouillon instead of condensed soups, pancakes using baking soda and vinegar instead of baking powder....I'm even making my own vanilla (although the vanilla beans need to rest in the vodka for 6-12 months--so it will be a while before I can actually bake with it). So this week, I'm determined to add some french recipes to the rotation and the cooler weather means it's the perfect time for a new soup recipe. So, tonight it's Potage Bonne Femme--which appropriately translates to "good woman soup." It's made with carmalized potatoes, leeks and carrots, and because the vegetables are all grown locally, they are packed with flavors that are much more earthy and intense than the supermarket variety I found in the states. The first raw carrot I ate in France blew me away it was so flavorful and delicious, and the same goes for the potatoes, so it was no surprise that this soup was absolutely delicious.