A perfect lunch. Bistro Atelier, Saignon

 A new bistro, Bistrot Atelier, has opened 25 feet from our front door. It is run by an American woman, Shannon, who is, literally cook, waitress and bottle washer. You can have Steack Frites, an entrecôte with fries, or a salad bar that is pure heaven. The best hummus that I have ever tasted and lentils and asparagus, stuffed zucchini (courgette), Greek salad, charcuterie and more. You can have a small plate or a large one. After there is a selection of cheeses, wonderful. We ate there for lunch today and came back here. I cut up some fresh strawberries from yesterday's market, with a bit of chocolate.....and there was a perfect lunch.

Watching, Apt market

Saignon sign.

Lourmarin market

Chives and Basil, Rue Cilly, Day one

Last year, feeling the need to do a little gardening, I bought a chive plant, some soil and a pot. It was spectacular. The Provencal sun made it grow like a weed and it filled the pot after 6 weeks. This year I am adding a basil plant. I'll keep them posted weekly.

Pizzeria O'Grill, Apt

 Pizzeria O'Grill is our favorite pizza joint in Provence. The sauce is so fresh you want to slap it and the crust has that wood-fired taste that is impossible to fake. The pizza here is the Provencale, simply, crust, sauce, cheese, garlic, capers and black olives. The bottle is full of dried cayenne peppers soaking in olive oil, if you want to add heat to your pizza.

Stairs and wall, Saignon

Bistrot Atelier chairs, Saignon

Place de Horloge, Saignon

This is the site of a new bistro due to open soon, serving breakfast and lunch. Woohoo

Happy shopper, Saignon

Salade chevre-chaud, Chez Christine

Anything you have in Provence that involves chèvre (goat cheese) is made better by it.

What I left behind.

Here is the last hibiscus to bloom before we left for Provence. I'd still rather be here!

Spongebob in Apt

This year we brought along a friend of mine and my granddaughter, Mr. Squarepants. He loves the camera, so you'll be seeing more of him, I'm sure.

Our ride this time.

This year we have a new car, to me. It is a Citroen C4 Cactus. As you can see it has been "ruggedized" with the addition of what look like large rubber potholders to the doors. It has the usual cavernous trunk and drives very nicely. It is a diesel, of course so will get great mileage. Our friends, Harvey and Carol tell us that the back seats are comfortable too.

French welcome.

Here we were, on our very first walk on the Apt bike path, West, and a quartet of jets came over streaming the red, white and blue that we love. So nice.

Wooden spoons, Coustellet market

All olive wood and wonderful patterns.

Spices, Coustellet market

Now you know that we are really here!

Easter lilies, back home

We have just arrived back in Saignon for an extended stay. Easy trip and got here in time for a great omelette at Christine's. No time to take pictures yet, so here are some Easter lilies that bloom last week at home, only missing Easter by over a month:-)