Yesterday, Kevin and I took a walk around the montagnette where we live – it was a magnificent warm sunny Spring day – and we noticed lots of people with plastic bags, their bodies hunched over, their eyes glued to the ground. What were they looking for this time? We had seen this same behavior several months ago, and discovered they were scouring for wild mushrooms. That season is long past, so now it had to be something else. As we approached a couple with yet another plastic bag, we said, “Bonjour, messieur-dame” (which is what you say as you pass a couple), and I found my curiosity peaked enough to ask, “Qu’est-ce que vous cherchez, s’il vous plait?” The reply, “Des asperges. Mais c’est le fin de la saison.” Wild asparagus! And in our own backyard, so to speak. But I think the gratuitous bit of added wisdom was to try to put us off hunting for our own supply. Nice try … 

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Categories: Environment, Hiking
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Kevin and I just returned from a week in Merry Olde and Very Olde England. Kevin’s parents, Geoff and Jenni, are fortunate to live just a stone’s throw from Bushy Park, the second largest of the Royal Parks of London, and Hampton Court Palace, appropriated by Henry VIII from Cardinal Wolsey in around 1525.

I was very lucky to have several sunny, if not warm, days to stroll with Geoff and Jenni through Bushy Park, as well as the palace grounds. We arrived at the absolute peak of the daffodil bloom. We also walked across Molesey Bridge and watched a couple beautiful boats go through Molesey Lock. The scenery is so completely different from Provence, but so gorgeous in its own way. So veddy English! Check out the photos in Gallery.

Ruth

Categories: Family, Hiking, Travel
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