Percy's Point of View

The Quilt Camp

2011-07-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

We have just hosted a Quilt Camp for Véronique Réquena from

"Born to Quilt", a few kilometres from here.

What a wonderful time we all had including Annemarie ( who is also a quilter), when she had the time to join them. Véronique teaches in both English and French. See her web-site for more information: www.borntoquilt.fr

Véronique's Quilt Camp ready to go in our barn!

Dining room prepared for dinner in the main house.

Quilters quietly working at the start of Véronique's project. As the week progressed so did the chatter in 3 languages.

Lunches every day in our garden


Two French participants for the Pyjama Party.(Finished at 2a.m.!)

Counting the votes (each quilter designed and made her own pyjamas!)

The Spanish girls who won - front view ...

....

... back view with Véro in the centre.

In our sitting-room - all the quilters dressed up and ready for dinner at the famous Bernard Loiseau Relais in Saulieu.

They all enjoyed the Quilt Camp!

2011-07-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hola!
Solo quería deciros que ya he publicado una entrada sobre nuestro quilt camp en mi blog. Os lo dedico a todas vosotras.
http://cosascosidascosasmias.blogspot.com/2011/07/quilt-camp-en-born-to-quilt.html
Un beso y hasta pronto!!
Itsaso

Hello Anne-Marie and John

Je suis de retour dans mon petit coin de Normandie.

Je souhaitais vous remercier pour cette agréable semaine passée en votre compagnie.

Tout était parfait, l'accueil, votre sympathie et votre délicieuse cuisine.

Je garde un excellent souvenir de ma colo "Born to Quilt" et j'attends avec impatience de vous retrouver le 2 septembre prochain.

Bien amicalement.

Nathalie

Too Hot??

2011-07-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

It was so hot - this little chap was keeping cool on the shutters!

Holidays!

2011-07-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here we see the winner of the Camel Beauty Pageant!

Maybe me next year when I'm older!

Hello Quilters!

2011-06-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

This group of exhibitors from 'The Quilt House' in Spain stayed at La Chouette qui Chante on a visit to 'Born to Quilt'

Before they left they showed us some of their designs at the breakfast table.

For a better view, take a peek at their blog!
www.quilthousepatchwork.blogspot.com

May 8th - VE Day

2011-05-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Family, friends and local people gather to remember the five members of the seven-man crew of a Lancaster bomber that crashed near St. Brisson in 1943.

Family members of the airmen pose by the stone memorial to the crew 100 metres from the crash site.

Family members walk to the actual crash site and still find remnants of the Lancaster.

The Parade assembles to walk to the War Memorial at St. Brisson for the traditional VE Day rememberance ceremony - then on to the village Commonwealth War Graves cemetry to lay wreaths on the graves of the five airmen.

Mayday Mayday

2011-05-03T03:11:00.000-07:00

Dropping in for breakfast??

Do you like butter??

Lillies-of-the-Valley given as a token of good luck on May 1st

Wild "asparagus" collected from a local wood - delicious!

A little trip out in the country

2011-04-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

A lonely hidden chateau in the Auxois!

A host of golden......DANDELIONS!

A Walk with our French group

2011-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

A walk in the snow around Semur-en-Auxois -SUPERB!

"New" kitchen table

2010-11-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

From this.....A Heap of old oak from a vintner's wine barrel!

To THIS.....!

A table fit to eat off!

Jam Session?

2010-09-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

Annemarie makes delicious plum jams from locally picked fruit

Medieval Festival!

2010-09-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

A wonderful Medieval weekend at nearby Chateau de Thil, owned by a French magician and held every year at the end of August.

Medieval potter's oven

Dining on the ramparts - what a fantastic view!

The Archery field

Medieval shopping!

Summertime

2010-07-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

After a hailstorm caused a lot of damage to our Pawlonia tree, the fallen leaves were wonderful parasols for our three young granddaughters.

2010-04-06T12:10:00.001-07:00

Six foodies celebrated a birthday here last week and for their final night they took over our kitchen and cooked us a meal - a wild boar haunch which our neighbour had given us - de-licious. Thank you Ben (chief chef). We'd like to wish Nikki, the lovely blonde, all the best in her new job as manager of the new Eau de Vie restaurant at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel in Beirut.

Special Occasions!

2010-03-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Providing we do not have any individual guest bookings...
Do you have a special occasion to celebrate? (a special wedding anniversary or birthday) – Why not bring the family / friends for a special stay at “La Chouette qui Chante” in the heart of beautiful Burgundy. We can tailor each occasion to your individual needs.
For example:

A celebratory meal with Burgundy champagne
or perhaps a Murder Mystery dinner!

Two guests are about to reveal the identity of the murderer!

French beer and cider tasting - with crèpes and galettes!

Have a walk in our glorious countryside with a picnic lunch or enjoy relaxing at 'La Chouette' - Play a game of boules or just enjoy the gardens!

All ages are welcome - minimum 6 adults, maximum 14 adults in our combined B&B and Gîte accommodation.
We have extra beds available for children of all ages.
Children under 5 yrs - free of charge

NOTE: We do not accept parties if private guests have reservations!
We do not accept individual reservations if a party is arranged!

For further information of our B&B and gites - visit
http://www.burgundybreak.com and http://lachouettequichante.blogspot.com

Finished at last!

2010-01-13T02:18:00.000-08:00

Some of our guests wil recognise this patchwork quilt - hand-stitched while preparing their many breakfasts!

A Winter walk

2010-01-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

A surprising sight of an Aberdeen Angus here in Burgundy!

A winter view of the Serein river nearby

A fast disappearing occupation!

2009-11-05T12:36:00.000-08:00

A fast disappearing occupation - The man who turns fruit juices into alcohol with his mobile still, for all the locals, at nearby Vic sous Thil.

A New Discovery! 'Born to Quilt' has opened nearby

2009-11-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

A patchwork shop and country store "at the end of the garden"... but for me, a patchworker, it's the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - and only 3 minutes from our door!

An Aladdin's cave of gifts, buttons, candles and a haven for patchworkers and quilters.

Garden produce!

2009-08-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just today's pickings from our potager - ready for guest's dinners, and breakfast jams!

A sunny day in Dijon

2009-08-05T14:17:00.001-07:00

Relaxing, having a coffee and seeing....

a happy group of young children on our weekly visit to Dijon!

After the rain....

2009-07-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

After a night of welcome rain, Annemarie spent a sunny half hour picking wild flowers from the wayside.

Feeding time...in the Garage!

2009-07-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

A lucky photo taken in our garage, a swallow bringing home a moth for lunch!

Vide Grenier treasures in use....

2009-07-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Jars and the bell-cover, bought from a local Vide Grenier, perfect for our summer produce!

Stages d'Aquarelle - Summer courses

2009-06-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Watercolour courses in local Précy-sous-Thil
25-26 July; 8-9 August; 12-13 & 26-27 September
Contact Eva Wieland 03.80.64.42.10
email eva.wieland@orange.fr

August event...

2009-06-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

Saulieu :

17th Saulieu Cajun & Zydeco
Music, Film & Food Festival
5-6-7-8 August 2010

In praise of some young visitors...

2009-06-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Megan, Brendan and Kevin - Owen's brothers and sister who stayed in the gîte this week - what a delight they were! They made some bread with Annemarie while Mum and Dad went on a Wine tour.

After the rain...

2009-06-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

View from the Serein

Summer Sundays...

2009-06-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

One of the many stalls at a local 'Foire et Vide Grenier' (a food fair and carboot/garage sale held all through the summer in the various Burgundy villages).
An enjoyable day out to taste local produce and have a light lunch and a glass of wine and meet the locals.

Treasure...!

2009-06-08T12:01:00.001-07:00

Some treasures acquired for a few €uros at a local Vide Grenier.
Watch this space for their transformation.

Wine tasting for the golfers!

2009-05-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

A super wine tasting by Susanne SHICK!

Spring is here!

2009-04-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Violets in the garden

Hazelnut and Apricot Meringue recipe...!

2008-11-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

We've had abumper crop of hazelnuts this year so here's a good recipe to use them!

3 large egg whites
175 g. caster sugar
100 g. ground toasted hazelnuts
275 g. double cream
125 g. dried apricots
Juice of 2 oranges
3 tbsp. water
1 tablespoonful of Cointreau
1 tblsp. Brown sugar
pinch of cinnamon

Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they form stiff peaks , then add the sugar , a little at a time; using a metal spoon gently fold in the ground hazelnuts. Spread the mixture on baking pan (or sandwich tin) lined with silicone paper. Bake on the centre shelf gas mark 5, 190deg.C, for 20 – 30 minutes. Allow to cool before turning out.
Cut the apricots into slices and place with orange juice, water, Cointreau, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl to soak and simmer gently until juice is almost absorbed.
Put cooled meringue on serving plate. Whip up the cream and spread on top; then place cooled apricots on cream.
Drizzle with remaining juice.

A paintbox of late autumn colours

2008-10-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

Bumper crop!

2008-10-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Bumper crop of pumpkins and gourds decorating the long table in the gite.

A young friend helping to prepare a pumpkin soup!

Out for a stroll.....with Michael

2008-09-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Young Michael was visiting, staying in the gîte, so we had a little stroll out by the Boules pitch!

Butterflies in the garden...

2008-09-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Percy's point of view

2007-10-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hello again! - as you can see I'm as happy as a pig in clover!!!
It's jolly good weather at the moment
Judging by the scraps I've been getting lately....the menus are changing, as there is a hint of summer fruits in my food.....
Makes a change from porridge and boiled rice!

Check out the blog info for some of the great events this summer and DO try my recipe of the month!

a bientôt
Percy

My daily meal consists of all the peelings, left-overs etc from their kitchen so I thought I might suggest a recipe each month, that had caused those left-overs. I have had rather a lot of summer fruit ends lately, so here’s a recipe for something I imagine they would have at the house. I shall call it “Fruits d’été à l’Yvonne “, in honour of a very lovely visitor who made a lot of fuss of me!

Fruits d’été à l’Yvonne

3 weeks before making the dessert: marinate 5 grams of fresh black pepper in 250 ml. (8 fl. Oz.) of olive oil for fifteen days, stirring it daily. Strain it and add the seeds of one vanilla pod and infuse for one week (the oil will keep for 3 months).

For 6 portions: Wash 1 kilo of fresh strawberries (quarter these), redcurrants or other red summer fruits Wash and cut into fine slices 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves.

Mix in a bowl the prepared fruit and mint leaves, 100g. of icing sugar and the prepared pepper oil; leave in fridge for 1 hour. Meanwhile in a saucepan, reduce 100 ml. balsamic vinegar and 100 g. caster sugar to thick syrup.

On a plate, using a metal circle, place the fruit mix, lift off the metal circle and encircle the fruit with syrup mix. Serve with a scoop of ice cream, sorbet or a crisp biscuit.