A Brief Encounter

Lectour Market.  

Armagnac Bottles

Armagnac - Cognac's often forgotten, yet far superior brother. Distilled from wine made of armagnac grapes in the Gers region of Gascony.  It is a distinct kind of brandy that enters your mouth with a kick and leaves a lingering fire of flavour.  They first began distilling the spirit in the 14th century and it's high demand keeps the small time producers in Gascony busy.  I met the owner of a distillery in a tiny restaurant; his name was Hugh (pronounced in French: EW) He was an arrogant French man who proudly shared his bottle of Armagnac from Larrisangle (a petite town 5 minutes from Condom) with us.  It was a real treat to have my first taste of the ancient drink in the French spirit with the organic manufacturer.

Lassus

Queen of the Almond Tree - An Ordinary Day

Cherry Picking in her neighbours orchard.  Delivering flowers to the new summer arrivals. A trip to the tiniest town I have ever seen - Fources - where she searched through the goods brought in for the Sunday market. She purchased the king ancient carving knives as a gift, and a rather obtuse 17th century Armagnac bottle for the kitchen table.  Never a dull moment with the Almond Majesty.  

Lassus

French Gothic

Queen of the Almond Tree

Queen of the Almond Tree

I just arrived in France, specifically in the Gers region in the South; where my mother has created her own slice of Franco-Paradise.  The following blogs will be dedicated to the intense beauty around Lassus- the name of the Farm house - and trips around Condom; and of course, the Queen herself.