Sunday, July 22, 2012

On the road again .




The heat still rising. Due to stay above 35 all this week. The forecast says it might nudge 40 on Thursday. Later this morning Angus and ' the font ' will be loading up the car and heading north in search of cooler climes. General direction Brittany. In our absence Jasper the vacationing dog , who seems to have settled in remarkably quickly, will be guarding the rickety old farmhouse. He'll be spending most of his days in the shade of the downstairs kitchen. Jasper  is a rescue dog, comes from Sussex and is not ( as is commonly assumed ) a Jack Russell. He is an eighth Weimaraner, an eighth Bassett an eighth labrador , and so on . This varied gene pool has given him tremendous reserves of energy and mischief. He even surreptitiously managed to liberate some of Angus's birthday cake . 

For those of you who asked about the little restaurant with the outstanding food. It was FromVianDoux in Camden, Maine. Just opened. Run by an enthusiastic young American couple. Maybe a dozen tables. Located in an unprepossessing side street off the main drag. Pretentious name - Fromage/Viande/Doux. Modern and uncluttered interior. Not the sort of place that you'd expect to be serving the sort of food that would be quite at home in a two Michelin star restaurant in Paris. I'm not sure how long they'll stay in business because the prices they charge , considering the complexity and quality of what they provide, can barely cover their costs. One of those unexpected finds that makes travelling a joy. Talent and enthusiasm in equal measure .Good luck to them.

33 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday, Angus! Nice melons!

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  2. Happy Birthday Angus, hope you enjoyed the cake it looks yummy!

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  3. Ah, Bon Anniversaire Angus! Still quite Spring-like and sunny here in Paris, with cool evenings. Quite sublime!

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  4. ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGUS!!*´¨)

    I think I would have liked to liberate some of the birthday cake as well! I hope you and 'the font' have an enjoyable trip and find cooler climate. Jasper is certainly a handsome gentleman and looks up to the task of guarding the farmhouse and the kitchen!

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  5. Hey Jasper. Birthday cake already. I'm impressed.
    Oh and by the way, Gail is wondering if Angus would like her to tell him all about the geology of Brittany. Apparently she spent 6 weeks in summer 1981 mapping the Crozon peninsula area near Morgat. She can go on and on about it. If you like.....

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  6. Happy Happy Birthday Angus, and wishing you many many more. That cake looks delish!!
    Watch out Hugo and Brunhilda, there's a new sheriff in town, by the name of Jasper.
    He looks like he owns the Rickety Old Farmhouse, and I'm sure he'll do a great job until you and the Font return.
    Enjoy your trip to the cooler northern climes. See you when you get back.

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  7. Have a wonderful birthday trip!
    It sounds like you've left the farmhouse in good paws.

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  8. happy birthday!!
    he looks like a great little guy.
    but then.. i've never met one of those
    guys yet that i didn't like.
    kinda like will rogers... only with dogs.
    happy cool hunting!
    tammy j

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  9. Là breith sona dhut, Angus! Hope it's a wonderful day and year for you. Maybe Jasper just wanted to join in the celebration by being your personal taste tester. ;)

    Purple Magpie and Mitzi the Dog

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  10. Happy Birthday! Many happy returns! Enjoy your travels, be safe!

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  11. Happy Birthday Angus! Enjoy your quest for cooler weather.

    Cindy

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  12. Happy birthday to you, dear Angus. Many happy returns of the day! Have a good, safe , relaxed trip.
    Our love to you on your special day. And love to the font too.

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  13. Happy Birthday Angus :D I loveeeeeee Jasper's happy smile and the fact that he tried to steal cake :D Have a safe journey and happy travels!

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  14. Happy Birthday, Angus! Enjoy your travels; with Jasper on guard, no worries :).

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  15. Joyeux anniversaire Angus ! Have a nice trip to England. Cuddles to lovely Jasper.

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  16. Happy Birthday, and may you celebrate many more! Jasper seems to be making himself very at home. There's something very endearing about a dog who steals birthday cake!

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  17. Many happy returns...And a small cunning chap like that able to sneak some celebratory cake??? well then...you have definitely left the estate in Good Hands...errrr...Paws.. Kudos Jasper!

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  18. 57? Surely that 5 was supposed to be a 2!!

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  19. Sounds like everyone needs cash for the August holidays! Enjoy the cool...

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  20. Happy Birthday, Angus!!! Are you on facebook?

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  21. A very happy birthday to you Angus! Now I have 3 favourite people who share the same birthday! I do hope you had a lovely day.
    Teena & Merlin
    xx

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  22. Happy Birthday :) I have an ancient schnauzer named Jasper living next door - if yours is anything like mine, don't trust him, lol!

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  23. Belated Birthday greetings, Angus! The cake looks definitely dog-worthy (that IS a compliment, of course). Safe travels, and hope you find the cooler climes you are looking for.

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  24. Happy late birthday, Angus. Just catching up with you ad your adventures. :-)

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  25. A very belated Happy Birthday.

    Perhaps their varied heritage (French, African, Canadian, English, goodness knows what else) accounts for my teens rambunctiousness at times!

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  26. Happy Birthday, M'Ongoose! And many more! We hope Jasper doesn't sacre away any workmen in your absence...

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  27. Happy belated Birthday.May you have a wonderful and refreshing time in Brittany and many more happy Borthdays to come with loads of dogs off all breeds making your life happy and joyful.
    Greetings from a sun drenched and sweltering Wiltshire ,UK.
    Bea

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  28. Belated Happy Birthday wishes to you Angus :)

    Janelle. Maggie Mae and Max

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