An American in Sologne

Last Night Raggy Saved my Life...

Raggy saved my life.

I need to do this; to talk about Raggy. Raggy, full name Ragamuffin, was the epitomy of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. She was them all.

I bought her on the Quai in Paris (so she was way overpriced!) ten years ago for my daughter Samantha. I bought her because she was so ugly I didn't think anyone else would. A cross between a terrier and a toy poodle she was prognatic thus bad breath, so hairy most of the time that she strongly resembled a dirty mop and bad, oh she was bad! Barked all the time, must have been the poodle part in her. Her nickname was the sonnette (door bell) because she announced everyone and everything.

 

But she was good. Although I bought her for Samantha, due to a terrible no-good divorce she wasn't allowed to take Raggy with her when she was with her dad. It was invietable that she would become attached to me. And she did. That dog ADORED me like the men inn my life never did ! And, in return, I loved her.

Saturday I had 6 dogs with me. Laurent left Pearl and Aya to do some work at a friend’s house. I was taking care of Petrus and Aimer for a family taking a week’s vacation in Santa Domingo.

When I went upstairs with the dogs I thought Raggy was with us, but no she was shut in the kitchen. She has a bed there and often stayed there rather than climb the stairs. (She was 10 years old and stair climbing was no longer fun) I shut the door as usual so that the larger ones would not do « betisse » (mischief) like stealing the bread off the table.

Raggy was the one that signaled the fire by, guess what, barking. Because the living room doors were shut (another reason why I am still here typing) the smoke arrived slowly giving Raggy time to smell it. Had she been upstairs with us the smoke would have arrived in my room probably at the same time that she smelled it. And, probably too late to have successfully exited the house. From my room to an exiting door was approximately 80 meters of turning hallways.

When I was awoken by her barking I thought she was with us. To say I was a little confused would be correct. I saw a wafting of smoke outside my window. I opened the window and looked below to see that there was smoke creeping around the walls. It looked as though it was seeping thru the walls. I couldn’t figure out what was going on but I knew I had to call the firemen. Reached for my cell phone and god forbid that I could remember their number!!! Thought it better to call from the café across the street. With the dogs behind me, still thinking Raggy was among them went down the hallway. When I reached the staircase the smoke was thick and starting to climb the staircase, Raggy was still barking but I thought with us!!

I opened the living room door and a blast of smoke hit me in the face, and, I thought at this moment that maybe this was a bit more serious than I thought. I turned and quickly left the house leaving the door open. I ran out to the street yelling for someone to call the firemen and saw that everyone from the café were already there and had already called them.

What happened when I first opened the door to the living room and then the back door that gave the needed oxygen to the fire. In the street I heard the first set of windows explode and looked to see the flames hurtling up the outside wall straight into the window of my room which was the next to explode. My room is located above the office and was destroyed within 15 minutes from the start of the fire.

Someone asked if there was anyone else in the house, I said no but there were 6 dogs. Patou, who knows all the dogs and Jean-Marc helped me gather them up and we took them to the café. At that moment I could hear Raggy barking, Patou tried to get back in the house for her when flames exploded from the back door. It was too late.

 Thank you Raggy, I love you.

Ok, that was my American style of therapy, write it down, get it out. I did, it helps.

Now I am going to do the French style of therapy, pour an extremely good Cognac, slug it down and then get on with Life.

Kristi Anderson is the orignal owner of Tea & Tattered Pages and until February 6th ran a bed and breakfast near Orléans.

kristi anderson

le saint jacques le coin perdu

15, place de l'église

45240 Ligny le Ribault

[email protected]

The Burqa and the Marquis de Sade

After reading Dedeene's post today about the burqa http://soyezlabienvenuechezmoi.blogspot.com/ I started delving into the "art" of slavery. Came across this amazing quote which really sums it up in ONE sentence. (yes, read it again, it is one sentence)

What is more amazing is the man who said it. No matter, I am putting it on the frigo!

Never may an act of possession be exercised upon a free being; the exclusive possession of a woman is no less unjust than the possession of slaves; all men are born free, all have equal rights: never should we lose sight of those principles; according to which never may there be granted to one sex the legitimate right to lay monopolizing hands upon the other, and never may one of the sexes, or classes, arbitrarily possess the other.

-Marquis De Sade

Kristi Anderson is the orignal owner of Tea & Tattered Pages and now runs a bed and breakfast near Orléans.

  kristi anderson

le saint jacques le coin perdu

15, place de l'église

45240 Ligny le Ribault

Sologne Loire Valley

France

[email protected]

A pheasant in the pot...

After feeding the four footed zoo (they are easy, it is "croquettes" otherwise known in English as kibble) I am thinking what I should do about the two footed beasts in the house (Samantha Laurent and I) as we usually desire something more than kibble.

Sologne,just next to the Loire Valley is the hearting center of France. We have thousands of forested acres where the deer and, not buffalo, but "sanglier" (boar) roam as well as pheasants and partridges.

Here I am with one. Now that is about 130kg of BEAST!








Yesterday was the last day of the season, at least for the pheasants and a neighbor was nice enough to give me one.
A beauty he is.


Because hunting is so important here in Sologne, game cooking is one of the regional delights. In fact, I give a cooking course in it at my B&B www.TheAmericanFrog.com.
The name of the course? "Eat Like a Wild Man - The Art of Elegant Game Cooking"

The "Eat like a Wild Man" is also the title of a very good game cookbook by Rebecca Grey that I use quite often. I will be doing a variation of her Etruscan Pheasant
1 whole pheasant
1 lemon
l large red onion
4 tbsps butter (I use "escargot" butter, garlic and parsley mixed into the butter)
2 cups chopped veggies (I used carrots and onions)
1/2 cup wine (I replaced it with my smoked chicken stock
1 tbsp your choice of herbs (I used sage and thyme)

Soak a terra-cotta pot for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat dry, then rub the pheasant with lemon salt and pepper it. Put 2 tbsps butter along with a quartered onion into the cavity. Put the pheasant into the rinsed pot, add the veggies, herbs and the wine or stock. Cover pot and put it into a cold oven for 90 minutes at 450°F, 230°, 8 gas mark.

But to go with the pheasant...yes, of course, Brussels sprouts!
This is easy too, but it does take some time. I slice the carrots then grill them just a bit, with a little butter. When they start to brown I add the brussels sprouts, then about 1/2 smoked chicken stock. I let it reduce, stirring occassionally. I "braise" the vegtables by continuing to add a little of the stock at a time until tender. I add about 1/2 cooked bacon and crumble chestnuts just add the end of the cooking.

I served it with, what I think, is the best Cherveny wine, Domaine des Huards. It is a local Loire Valley wine, their winery is just 20 minutes from our B&B.

The poor Loire Valley wines get lost among the Grand Crus from Bordeaux. Since living here I have happily tried most of them and find many very very good. The Domaine des Huards I serve at my "table d'hôtes" (dinner for my B&B guests). And, the best thing, is since they don't keep as well as a Bordeaux you can drink them sooner!

Kristi Anderson, the original owner of Tea & Tattered Paris, now runs Saint Jacques, le coin perdu. A B&B located just 1 1/2 south of Paris near Orléans.



Saint Jacques le Coin Perdu
15, place de l'église
45240 Ligny le Ribault
[email protected]

Feeding time at a tiny zoo in Sologne Loire Valley

 

Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo

-Paul Simon

 

I missed my calling. I should have been a zookeeper, but then again, I am. I am also an Inn keeper, but then again, maybe inn keeper and zoo keeper are the same (just kidding) But I do have a zoo and I do have a Bed & Breakfast in Loire Valley, Sologne. To be a zoo keeper and a inn keeper at the same time isn’t always easy.

Some people don’t like animals or they like just dogs or just cats (I haven’t yet met a person who doesn’t like just goldfish…but who knows?) There are some that love animals but not exactly drooling in their laps. And, THAT I perfectly understand. Nor do people want their black woollen pants

So I give a subtle hint to potential guests with this front page on my web site

This is Laurent (my off again on again French boyfriend), me, his two dogs, Pearl and Aya, and my two dogs, Sushi and Raggy.

But we have never had a problem and we even had one young girl who lost her fear of dogs with Sushi.


And, on several occasions, Sushi has been invited into the guest’s room for the night!

But we are talking about “feeding time at the zoo” so let’s go….

…but first I have to explain that we have become a Parisian Pet Refuge. If you don’t know the quai de la mégisserie à Paris, it is the longest pet store I have ever seen. Animal boutiques line the street and not so long ago they were still selling spider monkys. But they have been forced to clean up. They do still, however, still sell rabbits at 100€ and ferrets at 800€!

Here is Bunny, She was bought by a young Aussie who discovered that rabbits like to eat curtains and electrical cords! She is happier here with corn, cabbage and carrots.

Stinky arrived with the illustrious name of “Fleur” (flower). Sophie was lovingly given her by her children who did not realise that the name Stinky was more appropriate than Fleur. We love her and bath her once a week. Stinky likes to share her dinner with Pookie.


Stinky and Bunny are Parisian Refugees, Pookie the cat came from the local pet refuge.

We are not yet finished, here are Franklin and Caroline. I have not yet mastered the technique of photographing them but I shall persevere

Caroline likes to hide in the floating log
and Franklin, under it..


Franklin and Caroline are two South American aquatic turtles who were born in captivity. I love watching them. They are “apaisant” (calming) and peaceful.

These are the only pets I have not named, they move too fast. When I have guests I don’t have to feed them as they are given croissant and bread crumbs and swim with delight afterwards.



It is 18h (6pm) and Pavlov’s reflex is right on. The church bell is ringing and the dogs are drooling. Time for the “gamelle” (mess kit).



Even Pookie is hoping.

The oldest first, Pearl, (ask Laurent why he named a male “Pearl”, I haven’t the faintest) The biggest
and the smallest are the oldest…

Sushi,
wife of Pearl, mother of Aya and Aya

Of course, in France, an after dinner conversation
Then a “petite sieste” (little nap)



Of course I talk to them in French because they never « se moquer de mon accent » (make fun of my accent)

www.TheAmericanFrog.com
Kristi Anderson
Bed & Breakfast
Saint Jacques
Le Coin Perdu
15, place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
Sologne Loire Valley
France

the menu

Ok, Yesterday I promised to translate my Valentine's poster. Well, I was on strike. (it's France!) and with good reason. What would you do if your desk looked like this. I couldn't find the computer!

After organising at least two files I located the computer and am back on track! For those of you who are faithful enough to have come back today I will. For those of you more gifted for the French language than me can correct, but, please, with love and tenderness. It is the le fléau de mon existence (the bane of my life) that I continue, after 22 years here, to speak French like a vache espagnole (Spanish cow but more apt would be worse than Jane Birkin!)

For the Saint Valentine's menu I tried to have an aphrodisiac ingredient in each dish or drink. We will be starting with a Valentine's Kir,

It is actually my Thanksgiving Kir with a little Kirsch added. The recipe: l tsp Cranberry (or Raspberry) liqueur, 1 tsp Kirsch add 3 or 4 dried cranberries then fill the glass with sparkling wine. (for those who do not drink the Devil's drink may use Perrier)




I tried desperately to upload a video of the Kir. Because, I promise you, the cranberries dance!! It is magic! If any of you can and would explain how to upload so can you enjoy the dance!

As a starter, oeuf poché (poached egg) red & black
Ok, so this wasn't hard to translate; in fact this whole menu is easy! The red and black will be salmon and lump eggs. The recipe is one of the Christine's who has promised to give it to me afterwards.

The plat de resistence (main dish) will be roasted chicken marinated in a ginger, honey and mustard sauce. Recipe later as I haven't yet made it!
Safran rice (the safran comes from local producer just 6 kms from us!)

Endive salad with walnuts
Chocolate tart (see the posting "Chocolate for Lauren" to have the recipe)
wine and coffee

ALL THAT FOR ONLY 25 EUROS!!

You should think about coming over for the week end! The fire in chimney will be ablaze the whole week end long!

kristi anderson
bed & breakfast
15 place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault

Snow, rain and she devils

Snow, rain and she devils

The lovely snow is gone.


The rains came and washed it all away.

I haven't even had the courage to go outside and play!Sunday was beautiful and I did get out to the terrace. Then back in to organise the upcoming Saint Valentine's dinner. The Christine's came over and we decided on the theme "angels or demons". We are encouraging everyone to dress for the occasion.

I think it would be more fun if the guys dressed as angels.

I mean, really, does anyone know a male friend that could look this angelique? Not me, in any case.

All my male friends, when they decide to put wings on their backs look more like this guy.....
Then to be equal I needed to look for a she-devil.

I searched high and low, and, above all, on internet for a she-devil and, guess what, couldn't find one.. What do you think this means....?! We are not, after all, the DEVIL
However I did find a photo of my daughter's favorite and, I hope, beloved, she-devil.


This was taken two years ago, I am sure that I look much younger now!

Now that you have seen a preview of just a few of the demons and angels that are coming here is poster that I sent out today to my "Coin Perdu" list. I will be translating it tomorrow. So come again!





kristi anderson
saint jacques le coin perdu
bed and breakfast
15 place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
06.83.18.42.31

winter wonderland and old pessimists

Last night's snowfall was really a winter wonderland!

But I cannot tell a lie. I was too warm and too lazy to put on my galoshes and traipse outside to share it with you by taking photos. Luckily for you my neighbor, Sylvie, is much more courageous.


Here is our church,. (It is so pretty it almost makes me want to be a catholic!)
If you been drinking a cafe or kir at Sylvie's last night.....

...this was the view
And, Syvlie was nice enough to take one of the house. (yes, that us, you can tell by the big street light)

Just another word about the French. And, yes I was watching television againlast night (very good for my French). From Tuesday's newscast we learned that the French were pessimistic. From last night's I learned that France has the most 100 years or older citizens in Europe.

I'm telling you. It is this eating, drinking and being merry!



kristi anderson
B&B
saint jacques le coin perdu
15, place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
[email protected]

Christmas just left and now it is Saint Valentine who is coming

I feel a frenzy attack coming.
The Christines (I will explain them in a later note) and I have decided to organize a Saint Valentine’s dinner for Saturday, February 13th. I organized one for 2007 and 2008 but I was recovering from hip surgery last year so the Christines did one by themselves. Now we are back in business.

The theme this year is , what else?, Angels & Devils, Red & Black. Can’t wait to do the deco.
But I am frustrated. I use a simple software called Printmaster, unfortunately all the versions don't mix together and my favorite angel is on the old which I can't get up on the new version. So here are some that I have found, along with devils, but I am not thrilled with any of them!




BUT.....at least I have the menu.

Raspberry kir

Ginger and honey roast chicken
Safrane rice
Endive and walnut salad
Peppered Olivet cheese
Dark chocolat tart


And, all that, with a 1/4 wine and coffee for 25€!

kristi anderson
saint jacques -le coin perdu
15 place de l'église
45240 ligny le ribault
06.83.18.42.31
[email protected]
French Blog: http://theamericanfrog.typepad.fr/lecoinperdu

Oh, those French

On last night's news presentation (I think it was FR2) it was announced that France is Europe's most pesimistic nation. I don't think I would go so far as to say pesimistic, I'd rather say that the French are resigned. Resigned to life as it is.
Maybe that is why they know how to eat, drink and be merry so well!







Vive la France!

It is still snowing...

Just another snowy day

I did manage to get out and take a few photos.



Everything looks pretty when it is covered with freshly fallen snow, even my garden.

That lovely snow hides the fact that I didn’t finish cleaning up the garden before the snows came!

Quickly returned to the house and the fire. I had last minute guests for dinner last night and wasn't very inspired for the dessert. These were guests who come often and thus, had already enjoyed (at least I hope they enjoyed...) many of my recipes. I also knew they loved to try new dishes.

I looked around, the cupboard was almost bare. Then I noticed no one was eating the rosy red apples that I had bought, not even bunny!



Soooooooooooooo I sliced them up, put them in a frying pan with a couple of tablespoons of butter and brown sugar, fresh ginger slices,and a pinch of cardamon.
While letting the mixture carmalize I toasted some slices of "pain d'épices" (spiced bread). I served the apples over the toasts. The marriage between the spiced toasts and the apples was lovely! And, if you really want to let yourself go, add just a splash of Calvados to the apple mixture before serving. Delicious!



kristi anderson
Saint Jacques le Coin Perdu
15 place de l'église
45240 Ligny le Ribault