This week we woke as much as a light-weight frost. The whole lot was glowing – the grass, the hedges, leaves on bushes, roofs and vehicles, excellent timing for the annual pumpkin contest that’s held within the village.
That is no slick affair with glitzy prizes. The occasion takes place in my neighbour Jean-Claude’s barn, the place boards are laid out on something that may maintain them up and take the load of some pretty huge pumpkins. The French language distinguishes between various kinds of pumpkins and squashes, and even French folks get confused by the completely different names – citrouille (spherical pumpkins), potiron (pumpkins with flat tops), and potimarron (pumpkins with pointed tops) – a minimum of I feel that’s the way it works!
I’ve grown a variety this 12 months which in some way have managed to keep away from being trampled by 4 canines and eight cats operating via the vegetable patch. And I’ve a contender within the potiron part – a giant orange beast with a considerably crusty pores and skin.
The file in France is a 984kg whopper (simply over a ton), the scale of a small automobile (like a Twingo). Mine is the scale of a small canine. However I’m very pleased with it – it’s the largest pumpkin I’ve ever grown.
Now, I say I may very well be a contender, however Jean-Claude has held the title “greatest pumpkin within the Valleys” for 18 out of the 19 years I’ve had a house in France. He was usurped simply as soon as by a grower in a neighbouring village – that outdated saying about collaborating being extra necessary than profitable shouldn’t be one thing Jean-Claude agrees with. He likes to win. After that he upped his sport, talks to his pumpkins, sings to them, feeds them along with his secret ingredient fertiliser. Being a contender to me means being within the prime 5 and I’ll properly simply pip a few of my different neighbours pumpkins to the put up. However in fact, I’m simply joyful to be part of the pumpkin gang and be part of within the enjoyable with my neighbours. We’ll drink a pumpkin liqueur – not a blow your socks off model, however a mellow, spicy drink made with pumpkin puree and vodka. We’ll eat candy pumpkin pie and heat up with a scrumptious pumpkin soup. That makes us all winners so far as I’m involved…
Bon weekend from just a little village in the course of nowhere, rural northern France, the place nothing a lot occurs, however life is rarely uninteresting.
Bisous,
Janine
Editor
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Janine Marsh is Creator of My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream, My 4 Seasons in France: A 12 months of the Good Life and Toujours la France: Dwelling the Dream in Rural France all obtainable as e-book, print & audio, on Amazon in all places & all good bookshops on-line. Her new guide Tips on how to be French – a celebration of the French life-style, is out in October 2023 – a have a look at the French lifestyle.
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