Those of you who have already met Willow will appreciate there is no let up when he finds a ball, rock or stone! Even when we are picking the freshly grown vegetables from our potager he is right there ready for a game. The carrots, broad beans, yellow courgettes and peas are deliciously fresh.
We promise not to serve the tennis ball at dinner!!
Every Thursday evening one of us heads off to the local organic AMAP market where we have a monthly contract to buy certain produce. We take along our own containers and come home with the most delicious butter, eggs, honey, goats cheese, bread, bierre, creme fraiche and milk all produced to our order.
No wastage for the producer, no recycling for us , just to most unbelievably fresh products that we will share will you at the breakfast table.
Wow May 2008 has been our busiest month ever so no wonder I have not had chance to update the diary as yet! We have seen guests from France, Great Britain, USA, Australia, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Gernany and Zimbabwe. We hope all have left La Grande Maison more rested that when they first arrived and many determined to return on another occasion.
Jean Charles at Domaine de Mihoudy in the Anjou region was very happy to meet our seven friends from Australia. They were blown away with the selection of wines they had on offer and as you can see came away cluching a few cases.
A few of our guests ventured further up the river to visit the beautiful village of Amboise where you can visit the Chateau of Amboise with it's stunning views over the River Loire. Clos de Luce is where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life (having travelled from Italy on a donkey!) and his tomb can be seen in the chapel at the chateau. En-route to Amboise you can also stop off to see the amazing gardens at Villandry and the chateaux at Usse and Langeais.
Those of you who have already met Willow will appreciate there is no let up when he finds a ball, rock or stone! Even when we are picking the freshly grown vegetables from our potager he is right there ready for a game. The carrots, broad beans, yellow courgettes and peas are deliciously fresh. 
Every Thursday evening one of us heads off to the local organic AMAP market where we have a monthly contract to buy certain produce. We take along our own containers and come home with the most delicious butter, eggs, honey, goats cheese, bread, bierre, creme fraiche and milk all produced to our order. 
Wow May 2008 has been our busiest month ever so no wonder I have not had chance to update the diary as yet! We have seen guests from France, Great Britain, USA, Australia, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Gernany and Zimbabwe. We hope all have left La Grande Maison more rested that when they first arrived and many determined to return on another occasion.
Jean Charles at Domaine de Mihoudy in the Anjou region was very happy to meet our seven friends from Australia. They were blown away with the selection of wines they had on offer and as you can see came away cluching a few cases.
A few of our guests ventured further up the river to visit the beautiful village of Amboise where you can visit the Chateau of Amboise with it's stunning views over the River Loire. Clos de Luce is where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life (having travelled from Italy on a donkey!) and his tomb can be seen in the chapel at the chateau. En-route to Amboise you can also stop off to see the amazing gardens at Villandry and the chateaux at Usse and Langeais.