What a privilege it is

@ourfrenchvillagehouse Talloires

What a privilege it is.

Beaufort d’été. If you haven’t tasted this raw cow’s milk French mountain cheese with its distinctive concave heel, come … try. I challenge you to place a sliver on your tongue and deny your eyebrows a dance of tastebud synchronicity. AND at 26 euro per kilo (it’s triple that in Australia) you might feel inclined to re-engage with the charming, jolly cheesemaker who has captured your attention and ask for more.

“Je prends cette tranche ici, s’il vous plaît.” (I’ll have this slice here, please.)

 

Ooh. Seduced I must have been as it weighed in at a hefty one kilogram plus.

It felt like the right amount this morning at the Thônes market. But doesn’t it always when one is strolling in sans-coat weather under a bright blue sky and where the pre-market coffee and the friendly stallholder chit-chat stroke your cheeks and leave a trace of rouge.

 

It was a day off from the inevitable return-to-France, long days preparing our French village house (@ourfrenchvillagehouse) for its summer guests. The still snowcapped mountains of the Aravis knew to sparkle a spectacular welcome and the Reblochon Fermier (from the Reblochon capital), nine plump white asparagus, a fennel bulb and a basket of strawberries jumped at the opportunity to join our weighty bag of cheese.

Such a privilege to then carry our goods home and with my feet encased by tiny daisies to stand under the shade of the tilleul tree in our back garden and search against the cliffs of the Dents de Lanfon for the puffs of colour that I know to be paragliders.

From our back garden in Talloires

It is so special. When absent I forget how unique this beautiful corner of the world is, but am rewarded each time with an extra shiver of re-discovery.

Delayed by a month, we made it back to France a few weeks ago, landing in Paris to reunite with our eldest daughter (flyingpossum_illustrations). Together, we undertook a road trip into Germany to spend time with daughter number two before heading south towards Annecy where serendipity brought us to Kate and Nathan’s front door (la_grande_maison_burgundy) and the opportunity to embrace another pen pal of the modern era. if you are travellling in Burgundy, look them up. You won't regret it.

Kate and me @la_grande_maison_burgundy

 

Joy, beauty and gratitude in spades.

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