This blog is a big success

Reading about a lady in Graulhet, Tarn reminded us of how blogs such as hers (and Taglines) can become almost indispensable to hundreds of readers each day.
You often read that Tag has passed the 1000 readers barrier and that of Josette Baysse has seen a similar success. When she retired in 2010 Josette decided to share her love of cooking by posting recipes in her blog la-cuisine-de-josette.com. She says she switches on her  computer as soon as gets up in the morning and has had to install a translation service to cater (sorry!) to her many overseas readers. The recipes are not all her own but she does make them and the blog is full of beautiful photographs. The whole presentation is a bit "girly", but her enthusiasm and expertise are evident.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Evelyn fulfills her tasks to be added to the TAG bloggers.

Here's how I, a retired American woman, came to live in France....

I made my first trip to France in 2005 with a dear friend from high school. It was, as they say, love at first sight! Our initial stop was Provence, and I remember saying to myself “I'm going to live here someday.”

On Christmas Day 2007, I began writing my first blog, “Musings From Red Bell Farm” and immediately began searching for other blogs on the internet that were about France. I found one that I particularly liked and began commenting, which led to emails with its author, and eventually to international phone calls. I had made a friend, Laury, who loved France as much as I did! Laury lived in Cadrieu, a tiny commune in the Lot. She was giving some thought to doing a chambre d'hotes-type thing at her house. In 2009, she invited me to come stay and 'trial' the idea with her. Who could refuse a month in France? Not me...I made it happen. I met Laury in person and her sweet little village.

2010 began with a bang. I lost my job and decided that since I was old enough to retire, I would. Laury and another friend asked me if I could come to Cadrieu that winter and house/pet sit. That's when I began to seriously consider making the move. Afterall, I wasn't getting any younger. I decided if I wanted to do this, I better do it now. I spent the winter, returned to the States to get my life in order (and try to explain to my family why I wanted to move to France!), and came to live here in Cadrieu in late Septmember 2011. It's my two-year anniversary, and I couldn't be happier with my decision.

I love the Lot. I love exploring the history, the architecture, the legends, the food in the region and getting to know the people who live here. That's what I blog about. Melanged Magic is a way I can share with my family and friends in the States what life is like for me these days. I enjoy sharing my life with other readers as well. I've made friends through my blog and have found a worship group and a writing group through it as well.

In fact, you might say if it weren't for blogging, I wouldn't be where I am today!
Evelyn Jackson
Val says - Mission accomplished in style Evelyn and I am sure it will make people more interested in looking at your blog.  www.melangedmagic.com
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Mentioning your blog on TAG

Dear Val
I had been thinking along similar lines - I know of several interesting bloggers amongst your readership and there must be a great many more- maybe your could have a bloggers tab to put links 
Sue Carter 
Val says I think you are absolutely right Sue. I will create a label blogs and if anyone would like to send their blog I will add it. The only stipulation is, it has to be about life in France. Also if I spotlight a blog maybe the writer,  who must like writing if they keep a blog, will consider writing from time to time a piece for TAG or even for the creative writing section for Doreen. In fact the more I think about it that will be your entry into the " blog" label. Write a relevant piece for TAG or a piece of creative writing for Doreen and I will add your link to the " blog" label.
No sooner said than done, there is the blog label at the top of the page. I have added Rupert Hatfield's blog, as although Rupert the poodle is supposed to write it I think it is the creation of  Doreen Porter who interviews for our Face to Face spot. I have also added the Browns who have been interviewed by Doreen for Face to Face and are offering further services which are at the planning stage.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

The family Brown's blog

Hi Val, hope you're well. As you know we have a blog about our family life in France and if you're looking for contributions for TAG we would be happy for you to use any post on our blog that you think TAG readers might like. We'd be happy to put a link to TAG on our blog in the hope that you might increase your readership even more?! Let me know what you think.
Kind regards,
Becky
 La Famille Brown – family blog about our move to France!
www.lafambrown.blogspot.com
Val says  thank you Becky for that kind thought

Bruno does like his chickens

Trouble is that they are not his chickens but the next door neighbours. Now the next door neighbour does not like Bruno and has even been round rifle in hand. I remember when we first moved up here our French neighbour coming to say Bonny our golden retriever had killed all her chickens. I was just protesting that Bonny would never do that when she appeared round the hedge, tail in the air prancing to me with ... a chicken in her mouth. Hard to get out of that one, fortunately the lady only had 3 chickens and it worked out none were dead just scared. Now can you remember the picture of the dog sleeping with the chickens in the bedroom,  that is the very same dog. She has been trained that she must not touch chickens, ours or anybody elses. By the way Bruno's owners some people may remember, Leon and Gill Green who used to live near Unicor in Varen, now moved to the outskirts of Gaillac. Gill writes a blog under the name Olga Swan, I have given you a link if you want to know how they are doing. 'Bon Courage  Leon and Gill avec Bruno'
http://olgaswan.blogspot.fr/

Love Cooking, check out David's blog

Dave Hatfield has recently totally redesigned his weblog. It features over 60 recipes and is still growing. In addition there are a lot of commentaries on and about life in France. The address is: www.frenchfoodfocus.com.
Dave says he's looking for comments and for guest recipes or further commentaries about life in France. He's happy to include 'guest' contributions.

O Limb Picks

I'm very patriotic and have been watching the O Limb Picks with great interest.

Didn't they do well! We dogs couldn't have done a better job of organizing things.

As for the athletes, well they did amazingly well. I look at it this way:

The USA won a total of 104 medals, but their population is roughly 300 million.

The UK with a population of 60 million won 65 medals.

On that basis if the UK had a population of 300 million they would have won 325 medals. 

THREE TIMES BETTER on a medals per citizen basis!

It makes me proud to be a BRITISH poodle.

Roll on Rio.

barks & woofs

Sent by Rupert Hatfield  Follow his blog on     http://adoginfrance.blogspot.fr/

Just a reminder that Linda Hatfield's husband is called David [Rupert is their dog]  there has been some confusion on this point

Whatever next?

Linda Hatfield's dog, Rupert, now has his own blog.

Take a look: www.adoginfrance.blogspot.com

Our dog Bonny thinks he looks quite a handsome chap, whilst Twister thinks he looks a bit of a Toff, not a proper dog. Bonny tells me she will be reading Rupert's blog when Twister is not looking.

Doreen Porter revitalized

Doreen Porter who writes and edites the Fifi newsletter is returning to her blog with renewed vitality.Check it out on

http://www.anatozoflifeinfrance.blogspot.fr/

Forage for Wild Garlic

Whilst looking for your wild asparagus don't forget to look for wild garlic.

I don't know if its really wild garlic or not, but it tastes like a strong spring onion & is absolutely delicious. Its great in green salads or just cleaned & dipped in coarse salt.

You look for the tops which look exactly like spring onion tops except that they grow closer to the ground & spread out a bit. You need a small trowel or digging implement to dig them up as they are deep rooted. Make sure you get down below the bulb.

Just wash & peel the outer layer just as you would a Spring onion. Then enjoy.

Much nicer than the dreaded wild asparagus. I think you have to be a native to enjoy that stuff!

Sent by David Hatfiled who lives at Verfeil and writes a food blog  www.frenchfoodfocus.com

Ode To Laguepie

We love Laguepie, a bold but true statement of fact. To our minds it is the real France with agriculteurs, commercants and lots of old happy french folk enjoying life. All keen to get you involved in occitane dancing lessons,occitane language groups,chorale groups and generally passing the time of day. When I say ' real' it is not 'twee' like Sarlat or Carcassonne both massively restored. It has a few empty houses that is true but in the ten years we have lived a stones throw away it has continued slowly to evolve, but in the right way. You can go in with your slippers on or your wellys and know an eye would not be batted. You can take your big,wet and smelly dogs and sit outside at one of the two cafes Chez Fifi or Troubador and watch 'the passegiata' any time of day. You are at the confluence of two beautiful rivers, the Viaur and the Aveyron with walks along the banks of both. The ruined castle of Laguepie stands proudly up above and unbeknown to most behind its facade are two beautiful semi detached houses.
Previously living in Henley -on -Thames the contrast between these two river towns is amazing. When we have Henley visitors we are so pleased when they feel the warmth and charm of Laguepie.
For the first time last summer the banks of the Viaur were covered in green plastic grass and a swimming platform put out in the river. Lifeguards were in attendance through the peak summer times and old and young, holiday makers and residents enjoyed the benefits of a 'Paris plage' situation. Our young grandaughter when here on holiday is constantly saying ' Lets go to Laga' where there are the delights of a shallow river with lots of stones for building or trapping tiddlers followed by a 'diabalo' at one of the cafes.[If you have Grandchildren you will know what a diabalo is! ]
Come to Laguepie on the last Sunday in April and witness the Festival of plants and flowers on view and on sale and tell me you do not love Laguepie.
Why the ode? Well reading a super blog on the area by writer Vanessa Couchman she describes Laguepie as 'not an attractive place with an air of decay about it.' and finds the worst possible house to take a picture of to illustrate her wildy wrong statement. All I can say is ' get your wellys on and see the other side of Laguepie Vanessa.'
http://vanessafrance.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/chestnut-fair-at-laguepie/

Read Vanessa's blog on the area called Life on the Lune.

Christmas Stocking pressie - proceeds to charity

Doreen Porter must be feeling very proud of herself- well done.
Her own blog is at    www.anatozoflifeinfrance.blogspot.com


The 2011 anthology from Writers Abroad has just been published. 'Foreign Flavours' is based on the general theme of food, drink and cooking from around the world and contains articles, short stories and recipes. All profits from its sale will go to The Book Bus, a charity that aims to bring the joy of reading to children in the developing world. And one of my articles has been included.

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/foreign-flavours/18192264
www.writersabroad.com
Writers Abroad is an online community of expat writers from around the world. I'm a member, and every year they publish an anthology. Details are above. I have an article, "Cheese, Snails and Dandelion Jam" in the current one, which was published today.