May 1, 2017. May Day shopping bust

LOCATION:  Housesitting outside of Poullaouen, Brittany, France

WEATHER:  Cold and rainy.  Highs in 40s

 

We are tracking the number of eggs we gather to report to the homeowners.  Today's count was 14 plus two unsellable ones for us.  

After chicken duty, we took off for Carhaix, a medium-sized town about 15 miles from us, to do some major grocery shopping.  Our first stop was the post office, as we needed to return a hotel key that George had forgotten to turn in at the hotel's front desk when we arrived here from Paris.  All closed up!  Then, we looked around and absolutely every shop was closed up tight.  

I had a long grocery list with plans to cook some French dishes like coq au vin and cassoulet. We decided it must be a holiday, but surely the large chain grocery stores would be open?  Nope!  The only shop open was a boulangerie.  I think nothing can stop the French from buying their daily baguette!  There wasn't even a cafe open for lunch, and our larder back at the house was almost empty.  

So, empty-handed and with hungry tummies, we returned toward home.  We decided to stop in our little village of Poullaouen. The town has just a few shops - a small grocery, a butcher shop, pub, hotel, and pharmacy. 

Their small grocery was closed up, too. 

However, the pub looked open, so we went in.  

It was full of men, all puffing away on their cigarettes.  I had a glass of wine ($2.20) and George a beer.  We saw a sign saying that they have Croque Madam sandwiches, so we ordered one.  It was really good.  $3.50

Back home, we cleaned out the chicken coop, which we have to do every 2-3 days.  I looked up "France holidays" on the internet and found that today is Labor Day, or May Day.  The list of public holidays is very long!  There is another one next Monday, so now we are  prepared.  

 

We are supposed to lock one of the cats into the chicken coop at night for mouse duty, but she didn't want to go tonight.  Maybe too cold.  

 

DINNER:  We didn't starve.....I had brought some arborio rice from Italy and made risotto again.  This time with the rest of the chicken carcass as broth, a carrot, onion and a can of mushrooms.  It actually turned out well, but we MUST find a grocery store tomorrow!