Like most summers in France, our daily vegetables and fruits come from the garden. The family used to have a bigger orchard.  When they moved to Les Sables d'Olonne, the space left for gardening is a tiny fraction of what they used to have. Thanks to a neighbor who lent his land for my father-in-law to freely use for his gardening, they're growing well and we'll have enough to last the whole summer. During the previous years, they even had a chicken coop where we got lots of eggs from. Sadly, they had to let this go when they moved to the new city.

The scent of coffee drifts in the air. The kind that will make you forget your worries and will temptingly lure you in.  My mother-in-law was looking for a gift for a new family acquaintance in Paris and I suggested a box of chocolates is a safe choice to give, especially one that is a speciality in the region.  Off we went to the nearest branch of La Vendée's famous chocolatier, Chocolatier Gelencser.  

We finally had that coffee with my favorite old couple who used to be my in-laws' neighbors. They always invite us for a cuppa every time we are in France on vacation. Since my in-laws have moved to the city an hour away from this quiet village, we drove to see them and enjoyed an afternoon re-visiting the countryside where my husband grew up.  I'm thankful for this opportunity. 

Have a lovely afternoon.

Love & light,

Arni