Since not everyone can go out, let’s use the Beach Boys’ “In My Room” as inspiration for today’s walk. Afterwards I’ll make some tea and we can sit on the patio, although it might be quite warm.
Let’s walk into the bedroom, take a closer look, and hear some stories. Stories are especially good these days, don’t you think?
(more…)While in or near Fougerolles, we kept seeing signs for le jardin de la fée verte (the garden of the green fairy). Hmmm, didn’t really sound like our style. However, having almost missed several other wonderful places because we thought they might be a bit twee, we finally decide to stop at Distillerie Paul Devoille and see the green fairy garden for ourselves.
And we saw…
There’s always something about a red door, especially when accentuated by a red window frame. And when both are in a stone building, they’re hard to beat.
Now add a way to stay ahead of your neighbors. Trés unique!
As we drove around the countryside near Fougerolles, we kept seeing signs for Foire aux Beignets de Cerises, the Fair of the Cherry Doughnuts. We had to go! So off we went in the early morning.
The first sight of course is the church steeple with those marvelous Burgundian tiles. I shared photos of the cemetery, which you can see in the foreground, in a Thursday Doors post.
You may remember Fougerolles as a great place for cherries. It’s also the home of a number of distilleries, some of which make absinthe as well as kirsch, wines, and other spirits. What I love is that it’s made in very traditional ways using very traditional “machinery.” Let’s walk through the sales room and take a look.
Bottles ready to be filled.
Okay, it’s unlikely that Fougerolles will ever be luring tourists by advertising its selection of doors, but it’s not just all cherries and distilleries. Here’s a small selection for your Thursday delectation. Be sure not to miss the last one!
Here in the U.S., we’re celebrating Thanksgiving. I have so much for which to be thankful and you, my blogging friends, are certainly a part of that. Thanks for making my days brighter and more interesting.
The day of the cherry festival, we arrived much too early, which meant we got to wander around Fougerolles. Near the church and the city hall, we found this small but lovely garden. I’d love to have it in my yard.
This house in Fougerolles caught my attention despite having nothing to do with cherries. It was empty and, if you had the money a/o time to fix it up, would make a large, inviting home within walking distance of church, bakery, the cherry “factory”, and several distilleries, as well as a bookstore.
Each time I visit France, my s-i-l and I explore, always finding something new or a different look at a place we’d formerly visited. This year, due to a move, they live closer to Luxeuil-les-Bains, some of which you’ve already seen, and to Fougerolles, (Foo-juh-roll’) in the heart of the cherry district. Fougerolles is known for kirsch and griottines, cherries macerated in eau de vie or kirsch. Each year, there is a cherry festival, which we were fortunate enough to attend. (More about that in a later post, of course.)
Naturally, there are plenty of interesting doors in Fougerolles. Here are three. The first is right along the main road leading through the town. Step out of your door and across the sidewalk and you’re in the street! Those lace curtains are quite something.
But wait! There’s more!
This, that and the other thing 