We woke up to croissants and the most outrageous selection of jams, including quince, apricot, rhubarb/grapefruit, and strawberry.  Lydie brewed a fantastic pot of black tea.  We all talked and lingered.  Lydie held her baby kitten on her shoulders.  It seems that when the kitten was born, it developed feline flu and became very sick. It spent six weeks in the hospital and now that it was out, Lydie kept it on her shoulders wherever she went.

Around 10:00 am we set out for a drive throughout the countryside, which is dotted with purple lavender and bright red poppies, lush green fields sprawled around these steep angular mountains.  

We headed north toward Montelimar and made a loop back around to Nyons, stopping at several of famous local potteries along the way.  Some of the pots were really quite beautiful and all were hand made.  I would have bought bowls, teapots, trays and the like from each of them but it is very hard to get them home.  I cannot carry big pieces and to ship them back is quite expensive.  In one case, the shipping came to more than the pottery.

We stopped on top of a mountain mid-day for a lunch of red and white wine, local Nyons olives (that Lydie brined from her own tree), smoked salami, Comte, Camembert, Brie and a blue cheese I never tried before; along with a mixed grain farm bread and fresh tomatoes.

A British artist that relocated to Provence more than 10 years ago runs the last pottery shop we visited.  She makes all different clay animals; rams; small dogs, cats, and the like. I saw a small white ceramic cat in display and decided to buy it. When we returned, I gave Lydie the cat as a gift.

After a day of sightseeing, a small group of us wanted to walk down to the Patisserie for some chocolate.  However, today is Monday and most shops are closed.  Half-way back, it began to thunder, lightening, and pour.  So, I came upstairs to take a nap before preparing dinner.

For dinner, we cooked:

• Turban de Souffle Au Parmesan, which is a parmesan soufflé in a ring mould
• http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/LadyinRedDS/Provence%20Day%203/IMG_1257.jpg
• A Provencal-style Lamb Stew
• http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/LadyinRedDS/Provence%20Day%203/IMG_1258.jpg
• Hand-rolled homemade spaghetti
• http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/LadyinRedDS/Provence%20Day%203/IMG_1254.jpg
• http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/LadyinRedDS/Provence%20Day%203/IMG_1259.jpg
• Souffle Aux Abricots (apricot soufflée)
• http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/LadyinRedDS/Provence%20Day%203/IMG_1260.jpg>>

Throughout dinner, Lydie told stories of her school in LACE w:st="on">New YorkLACE> in the 1970's, her friendship with Jaques Pepin, her experiences teaching the likes of Patricia Wells, Nancy Kissinger's maid and other notable celebrities.

I have already learned a lot from Lydie regarding cooking techniques and Provencal regional cuisine.  I look forward to learning more each day.