bio "vin de table' in Carces!

delicious bio wine from Correns at "L'Oie qui boit" in Carces/Var -
and that's their house wine!

About 2 weeks ago we finally managed to eat at the newly opened, very funky restaurant in Carces (yes, it is the only cool one in Carces), and what a surprise! Their table wine 'vin de pays' is from Correns, and hence, as Correns is the first bio village in France, it is a bio wine!

Only €4.50 for 1/2 liter of the rosé which was very nice, indeed.

"L'oie qui boit"
33 av Georges Clémenceau (main street)
83570 Carces

tel: 04.94.04.39.42

Their food, although only partially bio, is also very good, the owner is also the chef and used to cook at a fancy restaurant close to the coast.

We will definitely be back for that rosé. Or maybe we will try the white next time...

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim

Qi Gong in Manosque, July 2009

!!! This workshop has been cancelled !!!

Jacqueline, one of our yoga and Provence friends, and a vegetarian, is offering a Qi Gong workshop in Villeneuve, Provence, from 19. - 24. July.

Qi Gong Summer Workshop
July 19 - 25, 2009
www.yogaretreatsinprovence.com

Enseigné par Pamela Edwards , professeur blingue francais/anglais,
formée a Londres et Paris, en activité depuis des nombreuses années, le Qi Gong sera practiqué a Villeneuve, dans le Luberon.

Le soin Ayurveda / reflexologie seront assurées par Armelle Jacquin, formée par David Frawley.
Restauration BIO possible.

tarifs:
Enseignement Qi Gong
La semaine: 280 €, le cours de 2h: 24 €

Le soin Ayurveda (1h30): 50 €

Reflexologie (35 min): 30 €

contacts:
Qi Gong: Pamela 01 42 55 72 65 / 06 70 04 59 71 / pam.edwards@free.fr
soins: Armelle 04 92 75 40 34 / jacquin.armelle@voila.fr

*************************

A Qi Gong work shop is being organized by

Pam Edwards

English / French speaking teacher, in the old Luberon village of Villeneuve.
Daily classes, or separate sessions, organic food and beautiful surroundings will revive your "Qi", the vital energy.
Holiday visitors are welcome!

*************************

Please contact Pam or Armelle, or Jacqueline at "Yoga Retreats" directly for more information.

!!! This workshop has been cancelled !!!

Namaste and
sunny greetings from the Provence,
Claudia & Jim

spring gardening in the Provence

It is the end of April, and everybody is waiting for summer to arrive. Nature decided to skip spring altogether, it seems: rain, rain, rain! This has caused all kinds of green plants to grow in Jim's garden so that we needed to get busy and clear the area of some unwanted ones. Yes, there is no such thing as 'mauvaise herbe', the famous weeds. But nevertheless we decided to rid the garden of some which didn't need to be there.

In searching for gardening gloves I came across the usual ones, full calf leather, with all kinds of qualities any gardener could want: long-lasting, washable, stretchable. But what about finding some that don't use leather?

Inspired by my internet search for something natural, I even came across hemp gloves. But where to find them?

In my quick search in Aix-en-Provence I discovered a very pretty pair of slim gloves, ideal for weeding, at Bricorama! Made from an elastic material, they are ideal for the small plants and didn't involve the slaughtering of any animals!



So if you are going to do some gardening this spring, please consider the animals!

As you can see there is no need for chemicals when gentle human hands can have the same effect!

All the best from the
(sometimes) sunny Provence,

Claudia & Jim

yoga weekend June 2009 Hautes-Alpes

A special weekend filled with fresh alpine air, dynamic yoga sessions to suit every level, pilates and wonderful local food. This is what Elise Maes, our fantastic yoga instructor in Aix, is offering to anyone interested in a relaxing time away.

There is a choice between 2 or 3 days but the 3 day-deal is the best one, as it allows for 2 complete days of relaxation before driving home again the afternoon of the third day.

For more information please check this
http://aixyoga.com/images/stage-yoga-pilates-nature-juin09.pdf

If you want to sign up, please contact Elise at elise@aixyoga.com before May 15, although an earlier date is recommended as to ensure enough rooms at the lodge.

And if you want to practice yoga in Aix with Elise or Maryvonne click here http://www.aixyoga.com/

Sunny greetings from the sunny Provence
Claudia & Jim

* * * Jim's meat-free birthday 2009 * * *

The weather was perfect on this Saturday afternoon in the middle of March!

Friends from Aix-en-Provence and around the Var came to celebrate Jim's birthday on this beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. Various nationalities were present (Dutch, German, French, English, Scottish), enjoying the delicious vegetarian dishes. Amongst the guests were 9 children who happily played in the garden and were kept content with home-popped popcorn.

The dishes we made were (recipes below):
- spinach-artichoke dip
- Moussaka (potato and feta cheese gratin)
- carrot & date bread
- Hungarian mushroom soup
- banana nut bread

links to recipes we used for this meal
Spinach artichoke dip
Banana nut bread
potato feta cheese gratin
couscous salad
Hungarian mushroom soup

Sunny greetings from the Provence,

Claudia & Jim