From time to time we do a photo gallery of les animaux of France. Mostly cats and dogs, but this year we have one interloper in our fauna.
Let's start with les chiens. In the photo above: On a street near us in Beaune, there are big heavy wooden doors which occasionally swing open to reveal the most wonderful of courtyards, guarded by this cutie, although he doesn't look very ferocious.
And If you've been to Beaune, you may recognize this fluffy bit of canine, below. He's a regular fixture at the Saturday market, the darling of the flower vendor.
This elegant chien was for sale at a French flea market.
Next up: the park near our house has a lake with many varieties of ducks. This mama, I believe she is a type of Coot, built her nest out in the water, where she would not be disturbed.
When we were staying near Nice this year, this cat lived in our neighborhood and entertained us every time we passed his perch. No, he's not snarling; he's a lazy bum, and those bared teeth are from a yawn.
A pair of cozy felines, spotted at a flea market
This particular cat, which happens to be our very own Vino Bambino, is upsidedownwards in Ron's lap, for reasons only he understands. Maybe trying to catch that sunbeam.
Here is mon petit chouchou, (my little cream puff, a term of endearment), right side up:
Two cats spotted on a walk in Beaune:
From my favorite Beaune vintage store, here is a carousel cat on an elegant silk Hermes scarf:
The beauties below are not French, but are rescue cats taken in by my Francophile friend Belinda, who lived in France for a while, and I've included this photo because they are simply irresistible. She fosters kittens, as I have done--and I highly recommend it if you want to be entertained or just need perking up. Just beware of Foster Failures, as there's a chance you may be unwittingly adopted by a cat (Belinda has two Foster Failures; Vino Bambino is one also).
And one last heart-warming foster story: My friend Agnes delivered this frightened, abandoned kitten to me a couple of years ago, to foster. The widowed owner of a château in the area soon showed up to adopt her; he had never had a cat and knew nothing about them, but he had a Labrador that he felt was lonely and needed a companion. We were a bit worried how one little handful of fur would adjust to a big dog and a big château. Update: She is now the châtelaine, the queen of the castle; he says she runs the place. She is the boss of both him AND the dog. This will not be a surprise to anyone owned by a cat.
In the COMMENTS: I was amazed by the number of great ouvrier lunch stories y'all had. Ron and I both enjoyed reading the tales from Page, Susan, Rhonda, Martin, Ali and Monty. Page has a really special story, but Martin we got the biggest laugh from yours--that's so French! Rhonda, you've stumped us, we don't know where that place is in Beaune. Paula, your post brought back memories of our visit to Cognac, such a beautiful place. Chris, hoping you can reschedule your trip when (if?) things calm down. In the recipe department, Suzanne has a yummy tart idea and Francine was kind enough to share her recipe for a true French quiche, made from les restes--leftovers.
Favorite READS: Looking for inspiration and comfort in these troubled times? I'm reading, and loving, The Beauty of Dusk, by New York Times opinion writier Frank Bruni. After a health trauma, he explores the hidden disabilities so many of us have. And my friend Nancy recommends Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together.
