IN THE NICK OF TIME

We made our way to Gerberoy in Picardie to see and smell the roses, a week after the village's rose festival, and a week before the terrible heat wave that has hit France--and just in the nick of time.

Gerberoy, a medieval country village, is classed as one of the most beautiful in France. In 1901, post-impressionist painter, Henri le Sidaner installed himself there and transformed the ruins of Gerberoy's ancient fortifications into a suspended garden where he did some of his best paintings. He also led a campaign to plant climbing roses throughout the village. They teem with blossoms in the early weeks of June.

Vocabulary

juste à temps:  just in time; in the nick of time

©2019 P. B. Lecron

KNOCK-KNOCK

Nothing adds character to a door quite like an interesting door knocker does! This one we spotted in one of my favorite villages, Gerberoy, in Picardie.

Vocabulary
un heurtoir:  a door knocker
frapper à la porte:  to knock at the door


©2018 P. B. Lecron

HEAD TO HEAD

What could be better than to while away an afternoon tête-à-tête in the beautiful Picardie village of Gerberoy?

©2016 P.B. Lecron

POINT OF VIEW

It was fun coming home after a visit to Gerberoy to discover that I had taken this photo from practically the same point of view that Henri le Sidaner had painted "Table sur la Terrasse," below. It's not the same angle, but it's close enough. Le Sidaner (1862-1939) was a post-impressionist painter who purchased property in the Picardie hill-top village and created a multi-terraced garden in which he found inspiration for many of his intimist paintings. The scene here is from an upper terrace which has a commanding view of hay fields in the distance. This village with a thousand years of history and sitting on the ancient frontier of Normandy and France, was a strategic outpost in the Hundred Years' War. 

Vocabulary

à peu près:  not very different from; roughly; just about

For another photo of Gerberoy's ancient houses and splendid flowers, click here. 

MEDIEVAL BARBEQUE

We were mightily impressed when the waiter placed a small, individual roasting spit in front of the lady at the next table and overheard his announcement that it was a barbeque medieval. As he fired up the rectangular tray of alcohol under the skewered pieces of fresh monkfish and salmon, he explained that she only had to turn the spit once on each side as soon as the fish cooked--about a three minute process. When done, she was to extinguish the flames with a flat "snuffer" tray. Amazing. We took this photo as discreetly as possible with a zoom lens from our table at Le Vieux Logis Restaurant in Gerberoy, one of the most beautiful of all the most beautiful villages in France. 

Vocabulary

la lotte:  monkfish

le saumon:  salmon

une brochette:  a skewer, a spit

©2016 P.B. Lecron

KITCHEN TALK

Made from Scratch

Like the slate board says, the foods served in this restaurant are entirely prepared and elaborated by its own kitchen staff, which means that it qualifies for the French government's "Fait Maison" label. The label indicates to the prospective client that the dishes served are made on the premises and are not industrially prepared and assembled. Le Vieux Logis Restaurant in the charming village of Gerberoy goes a step further and posts a delectable litany of culinary skills practiced in its kitchen. After enjoying a delicious meal there of fresh, in-season local foods meticulously prepared and presented, we can vouch for the results.

Located in the heart of Picardie, Gerberoy is classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France. The French post-impressionist artist, Henri Le Sidaner, put Gerberoy on the map when he installed himself there in 1901; like his friend Claude Monet did in Giverny, Le Sidaner created his own country garden paradise of light and flowers. Roses and hollihocks abound in this medieval village.

©2016 P.B. Lecron


Of interest
A new French children's story written by my Franco-American daughter! And illustrated by yours truly.  Le Lapin et la lune, and it's English translation, The Rabbit and the Moon, are both available on worldwide Amazon sites.

REALITY FARMYARD

Glouglou

Life in the basse-cour, a show for all to see when entering Gerberoy, one of the prettiest villages of France and located in the heart of Picardie. The small utility trailer doubling as a roost is a spot from which the hens like to see and be seen.

Vocabulary
la téléréalité:  reality television
la basse-cour:  farmyard
un dindon:  a turkey cock, a gobbler
une dinde:  a turkey; also slang for a silly woman
glouglouter:  to gobble (like a turkey); to gurgle
glouglou:  gobble
engloutir:  to gobble up, devour
un perchoir:  a roost, a perch

Expression
faire la loi:  rule the roost

©2012 P.B. Lecron

COCORICO

Gentil coquelicot

So many days have been cool and rainy this season that it's nice to have wake-up reminders that it actually is summer in northern France, like these field poppies bordering a wheatfield at Gerberoy, a country village in Picardie. Until the 16th century the flower was called coquerico because it resembled a rooster's cockscomb. Its name was eventually morphed to coquelicot.

A classic French children's song with sing-along words for French learners: Gentil Coquelicot

Vocabulary
un coquelicot:  a poppy
rouge coquelicot:  poppy red
un champ de blé:  a wheatfield
gentil(-le):  nice, kind
une comptine d'enfant:  a nursery rhyme; a children's song
cocorico:  cock-a-doodle-do
un coq:  a cock, a rooster
une crête:  a crest
une crête de coq:  a cockscomb





©2012 P.B. Lecron

BEST DRESSED TOURISTS

Charmed

After years of personal observation, I have come to the conclusion that in France the best and most appropriately dressed tourists for the circumstances are by far Japanese. Here's an example in Gerberoy, a beautiful country village in Picardie.  

Vocabulary

bien habillé(e):  well-dressed

habiller:  to dress

un hortensia:  a hydrangea

harmoniser:  to blend in

©2012 P.B. Lecron