Taking a Day off and a Work Day to Follow.

Every once in a while we have to take a day off to do ordinary things like laundry, food shopping, and just kicking back or writing the blogs that have been lingering on the fingertips but not making their way onto the computer!

Why do we feel guilty doing nothing? And why do we look for things to DO when we are doing nothing:) I guess it is because we are so used to always DOING something. It is a sad state of affairs.

So,on our 'Day Off', we did the much needed laundry...much needed in that our work clothes were almost standing alone, and we only have one set! The dryer in the Manoir doesn't exactly dry dry the clothes, so we have to go for round two. It takes time!:( So we sat in the adjacent medieval Dining Room and I wrote Blogs and Waz did some research.

This scene is to my left.

 This one to my right. I am sitting at the other end of the large table, with the stairs to the attic to my right and slightly behind me.

 This tableau is behind me to my left and next to the exit door. I don't really like the Deer tableau, especially the way the little feet all turn up!hmmm...a bit macabre for my liking.

 Basically this is what I ma looking at right now. Love the light fixture...not!

Now you have an idea of where we sit to do anything on the computers. It is the only place in the Mainoir with an Internet connection (wired and therefore more reliable), so we have to vacate our cozy little apartment to come in here.

Ernie and Terry, our hosts, had told us there was a lake too far from here, but we couldn't think where it might be. We asked again, and were told, turn right at Carentoir and then right again. We followed Ernie's instructions and made  wonderful discovery. This was on the way to the Supermarche (marshay) in Carentoir, the SuperU.

The water was pretty brown, but the location and everything else about the lake was lovely.

This is a restaurant, Bar and Glacerie....it sells Ice-cream/sorbet etc...with a lovely Liquidambar in front that is just starting to change color.

 Camping is a popular parstime, as is fishing.

This person had the right idea. He was camped next to his fishing spot, for the weekend.

 My type of camping!:)

After walking a short way to make what discoveries there were to make, we drove out of there, towards the Super U. I thought I would show you some of the food we are buying and the prices...just because they are interesting for some of you.

One dozen extra large eggs = 1.54 euros.
500Grams of lovely Normandie Butter = 1.59 eur
4 Crème Caramels in pottles (Waz's fav. desserts) 1.99 eur.
Chicken isn't very inexpensive, nor is turkey, duck (of where there is a wide and wonderful selection) and Beef is not too bad. We favor the Pork, which we find is very tasty, locally grown and inexpensive.
These Pork cutlets are excellent, as well as inexpensive. There are three in this package.At 6.80 Eur. per kg, we think that is well priced. I bought two packs and now we have three meals:) for less than 6 dollars, total.

 Made with extra fresh eggs!!! We had one for dessert tonight, and it was excellent. THey aren't large, so they are a perfect end to a meal.

These two Pork Filet are more expensive per Kg, but we eat only one each. At that price, they are a steal.

A few other things you may be interested in, price-wise

At home (anywhere) I cut bacon up small into Lardons for meat dishes, omelets etc. Here you can buy Lardons already cut and in portion sized containers. Love it!

 Best of all they are only about .99eur. each.

 I was over the moon to have found my most favorite of cheeses...Walnut! It is a silky smooth cheese with a layer of walnut or two and a couple on the outside. Stunning flavor.! No, that isn't the price. I paid about 2.35eur. for this slice.

Waz has fallen in love with this silky smooth Duck Pate. It is a lovely lunch time addition to our chunky nut and cereal bread, which, by the way costs about 1.50eur.per loaf.
This pate will feed both of us for about three lunches. :)

One of the reasons we aren't sitting in next to the fire that Waz built before dinner, is that the laundry is almost finished. It is in the corridor next to the Medieval Dining Room...as pictured earlier.

When we first arrived, Ernie greeted us with a welcome bottle of local Apple Cider. As we have run out of our 1.99eur. per bottle lovely Sauvignon Blanc, we had the cider and thought to try it. He carefully took the wire off the top (think champagne style) and I said "better open that over the sink!!"...which he did...didn't matter, coz that cider was in one hell of a hurry to exit the bottle. It went ALL over Waz's front, the floor, the cook top and up the wall. Things got a good mop, and so did his clothes. Off they came and into the laundry! Horrid sweet sticky stuff. We decided not to drink it, as it didn't smell good, and Waz said it tastes like it smelled! :(

 The only surface I could show the cider splotches, is the cooktop.

We did a full 8 hrs of work today. There is a lot to do before we leave here on Oct. 3rd.

I forgot my camera at work, but I promise to take some progress shots tomorrow. We have to go to the hardware store tomorrow for some supplies, and then we are on the home stretch in the bathroom. Because it is cold, the paint and spackle takes a long time to dry, so we get held up a bit. It means we can take a day off in between to wait for the drying process.

Waz took down the old ceiling in the bathroom, and today screwed in the new Gib boards. Tomorrow we spackle them ready for light sanding and painting. Moving right along!

Well, I am headed back into the warmth. It is a bit cold in this dining room, and I have decided to curl up and read a book about Global Nomads...hmm. I wonder if that is us? ya think?:)
Night night, and sweet dreams.