Find an Article by Les Trois Chenes
How do you find an article by Les Trois Chenes?
I don't find it all that easy myself, so to help both you an me I've compiled this list: a cross between an index of my articles, and a 'Hubography'. It's a bit about Les Trois Chenes, our Bed and Breakfast, holiday cottage or gite and our painting holidays. I add a snatch of where, why, plus a little about myself, who I am and what I do. As I write about what I do, there's quite a lot of overlap.
This article, I must admit, is mostly for my own use, to keep tabs on it all, but you might just stumble across it by chance, and if you do I hope you enjoy it enough to have a look at some of my musings and electronic scribblings.
What on earth is Les Trois Chenes?
Well, Les Trois Chenes is French for The Three Oaks. When it came to finding a name for our house, I looked out of the window and there it was, staring me right in the face, so to speak.
Les Trois Chenes is a beautiful stone farmhouse in the heart of the countryside with extensive gardens and views overlooking wild flower meadows and the chestnut woodlands of the Limousin. We run and Bed and Breakfast (Chambres d'hôtes), a self-catering holiday cottage (gîte) and painting holidays and week-end breaks.
Our family friendly guest house and gîte (holiday home) provide excellent accommodation of a high standard. Registered with Gîtes de France, we have four rooms in the Bed and Breakfast and can welcome eleven guests. The three bedroom holiday home will be able to accommodate seven guests in 2010. All our rooms have private bathrooms or shower rooms.
Painting Holidays in France Step back in time to enjoy painting and drawing the beautiful landscape at the heart of rural France. Be inspired by our châteaux and lakes, indulge in our delicious local specialities and traditional dishes. Relax in our charming farmhouse Bed & Breakfast and Gite accommodation. Where our lawns and gardens end - Limousin begins.
Our painting courses include drawing, watercolour, acrylics, pastel, and mixed media with qualified and experienced teachers.
You can contact us on +33 (0)5 55 48 29 84 info@lestroischenes.com
A
Videix:
Videix, 87600 Videix, France
Where on earth is it?
Les Trois Chenes is situated in Videix, Limousin, S W France about halfway between Limoges and Angouleme. We are right in the South West of Haute-Vienne, only minutes away from the Dordogne and Charente.
We are sandwiched between the wild Auvergne region and the gentle rolling cornfields of Poitou-Charentes. Our nearest small town, about ten minutes away, is Rochechouart, a quaint little place with a fabulous Chateau, now a centre for Contemporary Art. The (slightly) larger towns of Saint Junien and La Rochefoucauld are thirty minutes away and Nontron and Confolens are about forty minutes away.
Limousin is a green and pleasant land of oak and sweet chestnut woods, wild flower meadows, rivers and lakes. This landscape is perfect for rearing cattle and it is famous for its Limousin beef cattle. Limoges, the main city, is renown for its manufacture of the strong, fine, translucent porcelain known worldwide as Limoges porcelain and for its enamel work. St Junien is famed for its gloves. What I love best about Limousin is its tranquility. No traffic, lots of wildlife, few people. It is one of the few beautiful places in France yet to be discovered.
Who am I?
Where to start? At the beginning? I don't think so. I'll start from now. I look after Les Trois Chenes, I run art holidays and art courses, and I would like to get back to painting again. My husband and I bought Les Trois Chenes in 2002 and have spent our time learning some French, renovating the house and gite, learning to build, (he trained as an electrician and I trained as a plumber), and tending the land. I wanted to have animals and have hens and geese, a cat and a dog (more about our dog Molly later). We also had goats and sheep but couldn't manage to keep all the balls in the air, so they had to go, I'm afraid.
Now we have built and furnished the accommodation, the gite was finished in June 2010, and we are up and running as a B & B, the next thing is to launch our painting holidays. Painting and drawing was my life for many years. I trained as a painter at Edinburgh University and College of Art, then worked professionally for many years as both art teacher and painter exhibiting in Britain at the Mercury Gallery in Cork Street, London amongst other venues and abroad.
My other love is gardening and landscape. I've always enjoyed painting and drawing flowers and plants and, having worked as a landscape painter in Italy and in the Grizedale forest in the Lake District, England, I became more and more interested in every aspect of landscape and what shapes it. I qualified as a Landscape architect and spent some time working with private companies and local councils before making the move to France. I'll admit that managing the land with your own fair hands is much harder than directing a team of burly men to do the work for you. So, that's about it. Artist, teacher, landscape architect and plumber, with an interest in old buildings and animals. I'm also a wife and mother. Goodness, I feel tired just writing about it.
Oops, almost forgot, my name is Barbara Walton.
What are the articles about?
My articles are about my life. At first I started to write about where I am, and what I did. I garden, I clean, cook, look after the animals, teach art, paint, build, renovate, fix things. I run a B and B and gite. I live in Limousin. Occasionally I hear something on the radio that catches my attention or enter a competition for writing, so you might see the odd article that is a little bit different. I generally let my alter ego Daisy Chain write anything that doesn't fit into my life here, and recently, I've invented the English Lady who will be writing about painting and drawing. She (me) will be publishing an on-line painting and drawing course as well as producing articles about art and art history. When she takes off her hat as an English Lady painter, she can always put on her English Lady Gardener hat and concentrate on getting to work in the fruit, flower and vegetable garden.
I have done a bit of cross-referencing so some articles appear more than once if they fit into different categories
Prize winning articles
There are regular competitions held by HubPages with lots of great prizes for winners, plus one very handsome hand-over for the Hub judged the best overall article. The competitions are great fun and give everyone a bit of a push to put together the best ever Hub. It is an excellent way of learning what works in a Hub and a good way of meeting new Hubbers. My advice is to join in! The cherry on the cake is to win. My winning Hubs to date are:
Where to buy Limoges Porcelain in Limousin, France
Overall winner September 2010
The City of York - Tips for a Vacation on a Budget
Staff 'Pick of the Day' January 2011 Money Grows On Hubs
Tips for a budget Friendly Holiday in S W France
Staff 'Pick of the Day' January 2011 Money Grows On Hubs
How to Bend Copper Pipes With or Without Plumbing Tools
Staff pick winner Sept 2011 Clogs to Coins
Cassinomagus Roman Archeological Site at Chassenon The Charente South West France (Week 3 winner of the Rigorous Review Contest November 2012)
Articles that have featured as Hub of the Day
Hub of the Day
I was delighted when my hubs were selected as 'Hub of the Day':
12th July 2011 The City of York - Tips for a Vacation on a Budget
2th0 July 2011 Where to buy Limoges Porcelain in Limousin France
25th December 2011 (Christmas Day even!) An Illustrated Guide to the Town of Brantome, in the Dordogne, South West France
21st September 2012 York, City of Chocolate - the Story of Cravens, Rowntrees and Terrys in the Chocolate Industry UK
'Editors Choice' articles
- Curry Chicken Gizzards Recipe
Chicken gizzard curry is a super healthy, budget-fiendly dish for all the family. Good food is becoming even more precious to us in these hard times. Money is tight but we don't want to compromise on nutrition, so what could be better than a deliciou - How to mark a route on Google Maps, save personalised maps and get backlinks
How to mark a route on Google Maps. This is a simple, illustrated explanation which will save you time and effort. Use add a route or add a shape to mark boundaries, walks, roads and areas. Useful for me to mark footpaths in and around our B&B in - Medlar Jelly Recipe
Easy, step-by-step medlar jelly recipe instructions with illustrations. Medlars are back in fashion and medlar jellies are delicious conserves to eat with sweet and savory dishes.
Articles about our life here in Limousin
- Easter Egg Hunts - The Vital Clues for an Easter Game
Every year at Les Trois Chenes we organise an Easter egg hunt for our own and any children staying at our Bed and Breakfast or holiday cottage, (gite) in the sleepy hamlet of Videix, Limousin, S W France. Of... - A Breakfast menu from Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast
Im always looking out for breakfast ideas for our bed & breakfast in Limousin, south west France, espcially for special celebrations when we want to serve the best breakfast ever. I do like to have a healthy breakfast menu so anyone on a diet won - Life in Limousin: Tips for the B&B to be (Part 1)
Hi Welcome to Life in Limousin, France Fed up with work? Need a change of direction? New career? Ever thought about earning a living by setting up and running a Bed and Breakfast, holiday cottage, gite or... - The Story of a Bed and Breakfast in France
The story of our Bed and Breakfast, Videix, Limousin France. How we renovated our farmhouse in Haute-Vienne, and created a gite in rural France. Just ten minutes from the medieval town of Rochechouart, half way between Limoges and Angouleme, and near - Les Trois Chenes Profile in Pictures
Painting holidays at Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast Videix, Limousin, France. 87600. We also have a gite, or self catering holiday cottage so there are many ways to spend a wonderful holiday in the French countryside. We are ten minutes from Roch
Christmas at Les Trois Chenes
- Traditional English Christmas Cake Recipe
Every family has its own traditions, and non more so than a round Christmas. The tree decoration that came out year after year, the bowls of nuts on the sideboard, and the Christmas cake with icing and the... - Stir up Sunday Christmas Pudding Day
Stir-up Sunday is just one of many Christmas traditions surrounding the Christmas Pudding. Here at Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast, we love our food and we love to celebrate Christmas with friends and guests. Merry Christmas! - Christmas Markets in Limousin 2010
Christmas is so romantic in Limousin but information about Marchs de Noel are not easy to find, so here is my list of Christmas Markets in Limousin, France to date.
Art, painting and drawing
- The History of Pastel
Ever wondered what the history is of pastels? I doubt it, but there are some very interesting things to know. For example, the first artist to take up pastels and use them professionally was a woman. - How to stretch a canvas yourself
you can buy canvases but sometimes you might want to make your own. This is a step by step guide on how to do it. - Painting Limousin
Limousin is deservedly celebrated by those who know it for its marvellous landscape, its castles and lakes, wonderful traditional cuisine and its abundant wildlife. You might even have heard of Limousin beef... - How to choose a painting holiday in France
Choosing a painting holiday from the internet or a magazine article can be a bit of a gamble, but here are a few pointers which might help you choose the ideal holiday for you. Here at Les Trois Chenes we run... - Learn to Paint in France
As a young artist I taught painting and drawing in school, colleges and in adult education centres, but I could never have dreamed that I would be running painting holidays in France, in a large French farm... - Contemporary Art in the Chateau of Rochechouart, South West France
Rochechouart Castle in south west France is now a Centre for Contemporary Art. The Chateau provided the perfect venue for works of art and takes a delight in juxtaposing the old with the new. Rochechouart is situated between the cities of Limoges and - Best Gifts for Painters and Artists Part 1
Artists always need materials and love to receive those special items that they won't splash out on for themselves; a really beautiful sketchbook, a functional easel or a nice, clean set of top quality soft... - Gifts for your creative friends
If you have a friend who is an artist or would like to start to paint or draw, what should you buy them as a gift?
Limousin region
These are all my articles about the Limousin region, and the Charente-Limousin region - because we are right on the borders of both regions. We are also just twenty minutes from the Dordogne so we often cross into Dordogne country. In effect, I write abou the area within a 60 km radious of les Trois Chenes.
- Cassinomagus Roman Archeological Site at Chassenon The Charente South West France
Cassinomagus is one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in France and possibly Europe. This well- preserved site includes Roman baths, or thermes, gardens, temples and amphitheatre. Situated in Chassenon, the Charente, South West France, - An Illustrated Guide to the Town of Brantome, in the Dordogne, South West France
Brantome is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Situated in the Dordogne region it is famous for it's caves, monestary, church and water ways that run throughout the ancient town. - Brantome - The Story of Stone
Brantome is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Situated in the Dordogne, it is an ancient town surrounded by water and entered by five bridges. It has been called the Venice of the Perigord. - French Castles - Chateau de Peyras Roumazieres-Loubert
If you enjoy French Castles, you'll love the Chateau de Peyras, Roumazieres-Loubert, Charente, S W France. It is about twenty minutes from our Bed and Breakfast near Rochechouart, Limousin. This is an account of a guided tour given by the owner and o - War of the Buttons The Book and the Movies
La Guerre des Boutons or War of the Buttons, was a novel written by Louis Perfaud which has been made into movies in France and Ireland. The first film version was in 1936 under the title of La Guerre des Gosses (the war of the kids) by Jacques Daroy - Casting for La Guerre des Boutons 2011 at Rochechouart, Limousin
I live in Rochechouart and this is an account of the castings for 2011 film La Guerre des Boutons or War of the Buttons. Originally a novel written by Louis Perfaud the story has since been made into movies in France and Ireland, an opera and a comic - http://hubpages.com/hub/War-of-the-Buttons-or-La-Guerre-des-Boutons
- Limousin Cattle in Limousin. World Famous French Beef Cattle Breeds
Limousin Bulls and cows are a beef cattle breed that is world famous for its wonderful meat. Grass fed beef, especially Limousin grass fed beef, is highly prized and you only have to taste the beef prepared here in this rural region of S W France to - Videix, A Village in France in Words and Pictures
Videix Lake - a picture in autumn Nowhere could be less important, less well-known or less ostentatious than Videix but the minute we saw our stone built farmhouse in this unassuming village, we fell in love... - What's on in Limousin - A Calendar of Festivals and Events 2011
There is so much going on around Videix, but it is very hard to find the information. After that it's hard to remember when everything is, so I've started to collect some of it together but the task is rather... - Rochechouart and the land of the meteorite
The historic city of Rochechouart, Limousin, France, is dominated by a magnificent chateau, now a centre for modern art. The second most prominent building is the church, famous for its twisted spire. The surrounding countryside is ideal for fishing, - French castles The Chateau of Montbrun, France
The chateau or castle of Montbrun is on the Route of King Richard the Lionheart. It is near the village of Dournazac, Limousin near the Dordogne border. It is about thirty minutes from Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast at Videix. The rich history an - Limousin: the Land of wolves and Witches
Limousin a land "of savage beauty, ancient castles, werewolves and witches a land of magical obscurity. (The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova), has a long history of beliefs in sorcery, witchcraft, werewoves and healers, including local stories from - Vignerons et Gourmands at Saint Junien Food and Wine Festival
The Salon des Gourmets et des Vignerons at Saint-Junien in Limousin, France is the ideal venue in which to discover traditional French food and wine; specialities from every region. Meet the producers, taste and buy real French products. - Contemporary Art in the Chateau of Rochechouart, South West France
Rochechouart Castle in south west France is now a Centre for Contemporary Art. The Chateau provided the perfect venue for works of art and takes a delight in juxtaposing the old with the new. Rochechouart is situated between the cities of Limoges and - Amelie the Witch. A Story from Limousin for Halloween
.... a man with lots of horses came to tell us stories from Limousin, a land of folk tales, of witches and were-wolves, wicca and healing fountains. This is the story of Amlie the witch and healer told by Franois DELARBRE. A true story, and a perfect - The Route of Richard the Lionheart
Limousin is a land of lakes and legends, of enchantement and mystery, of castles and chateaux. In medieval France Richard the Lionheart fought and died, and left a little of himself here in Limousin. Discover the middle ages and follow The Route of R - The Medieval Festival of Rochechouart in Limousin, France
Every year the quaint medieval town of Rochechouart, Limousin, France, holds a splendid festival that brings the middle ages alive again, in all its glory. The whole town is devoted to celebrating life as it...
Where to eat
- Where to eat in France - the Lakes of the Haute Charente
find restaurants near Rochechouart and Massignac. Food is a serious matter in France and no less so in Limousin and in the Charente, south west France. The lakes of the Haute Charente have their share of excellent restaurants to suit all tastes. Ther - Its easy to get a cheap lunch in Limousin
Whether you want an economical but delicious four course lunch, or a very special dinner you will be pleasantly pleased with our local restaurants
Holidays and vacations in Limousin
- Activity Holidays for Kids and Adults in Limousin, S W France
At our Bed and Breakfast and holiday cottage in Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France, we offer painting and drawing holidays and classes but we can also help to organise the perfect family activity holiday in this most beautiful region of S W France. - Gites de France can help you find your ideal holiday home in France
Gites de France, or the 'Federation of Gites de France' is an organisation that promotes tourism in France and labels tourist accommodation to ensure that holiday homes, camp site and guest houses are of a high standard; - Ryanair - What you need to know about cutting costs of budget flights
- Limousin: a favourite holiday destination for families
Ever been on holiday to somewhere you liked so much that you just wanted to stay there forever? That happened to me with Limousin. It was love at first sight. I am not well travelled, but in my youth I loved... - Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday in S W France
Budget holidays in France are good deals. Prices for hotel b and b accommodation in France are very reasonable. Gites in Limousin are plentiful, of excellent standards and not expensive at all. Reastaurants and eating out is cheap and there are plent - A Vacation in France for Fitness and Health
Well, not quite but it must count as one of the healthiest places in the world to live. Mile upon mile of beautiful oak and sweet chestnut forest, wild flower hay meadows, pastures full of cows and sheep and...
Walking, hiking and rambling in Limousin
- A Pilgrimage along the Route of St Jacques and the Church of Saint-Eutrope
The Church of Saint-Eutrope in Les Salles Lavauguyon, Limousin, France is an established stopping point on the famous long distance footpath, the Pilgrim route of St Jacques de Compostelle (or in English the Way of Saint James of Santiago de Composte - Walking in South West France: Videix in the Snow
Limousin, south west is a wonderful place for ramblers and walkers and long distance and short walks begin from our Bed and Breakfast, Les Trois Chenes in the pretty hamlet of Videix. The roads are empty and the paths numerous. It is also a great pla
Limoges porcelain
- Limoges Porcelain Easter Bunny Boxes
Collecting Limoges porcelain boxes is both fun and profitable. These pretty boxes make wonderful gifts for celebrations, Easter, Christmas, birthdays and so many other special occasions. Have a look at these beautiful Easter bunny boxes. - Limoges Porcelain Decorative Eggs for Easter
Porcelain eggs from La Vie en Rose Porcelain factory shop, Saint Junien, Limousin, France What could be a more charming Easter gift than a hand painted egg made from Limoges porcelain? Limoges is an ancient... - White Plates of Limoges, Princess of Porcelain
The beautiful French city of Limoges in Limousin, South West France is famous for its porcelain production. You can still buy this lovely china through its factory shops in Limoges, Saint Junien, Aix-sur-Vienne and the many exclusive boutiques in Lim - Where to buy Limoges Porcelain in Limousin, France
Buying Limoges porcelain in Limousin is fun. Explore this hidden and beautiful region, visit porcelain museums, see the china being made and even see the old kilns, but above all visiting Limousin is about choice and price. Why not take a porcelain v - Lampe Berger or Berger Lamps
I first came across the Berger Lamp through my investigations into Limoges Porcelain but I soon became entranced by these lovely objects.They are also sometimes called fragrance lamps, perfume lamps, effusion... - Best Limoges porcelain boxes
Beautiful decorative eggs at La Vie en Rose Porcelain factory in Saint Junien, S W France What would be the perfect gift for the woman in your life? Something delicate, beautiful and personal? A gift that is... - Limoges porcelain lamps
Limoges is famed for its fabulous beef cattle, its enamel work and its porcelain. The history of Limoges and porcelain goes back to 1766 when a very pure form of kaolin was found near Saint Yrieix-la-Perche,...
Property in Limousin
- Why buy property in Limousin France
I've lived in rural Limousin since 2002, lured by the wealth of cheap property here and the wonderful landscape. Eight years later and I still love life in France, and there is still cheap property for sale in...
Things to see and do in Limousin
- Oradour-sur-Glane A World War II Memorial in, Limousin, France
The haunting face of the village never to be forgotten On the 10th June 1944 a unit of the SS of the 'Das Reiche' division invaded the quiet village of Oradour-sur-Glane, Limousin, France. They ordered the... - Christmas Markets in Limousin 2010
Christmas is so romantic in Limousin but information about Marchs de Noel are not easy to find, so here is my list of Christmas Markets in Limousin, France to date. Great for Christmas shopping holidays. Buy Limoges porcelain. Where to stay in Limous
Food, eating and cooking is close to our hearts
The way to a man's hear is through his stomach. At Les Trois Chenes we extend that to women, children and all our animals. We all love almost all food! We try to use locally produced or home-grown fruit, vegetables, eggs and honey where possible (although I have noticed that the hens seem to take a delight in going off laying as soon as guests arrive). We also have an eye to healthy and not too fattening food, so you can enjoy without feeling too guilty. Having said that, the puds don't always live up to the low calorie promise, but we always have fresh fruit in the house if you can resist. Personally, I think eat the cake and go for a good, long walk in the morning.
Starters and snacks
- Stuffed Grapevine Leaves Turkish Dolma Recipe
This delicious stuffed grape vine leaf recipe is easy and has a touch of the exotic. Like stuffed cabbage rolls, this traditional Turkish Dolma Recipe, is also a good vegetarian and vegan recipe. - Wild Mushroom Soup
It is the end of October, Halloween, All Saints Day, (or Toussaint) and the weather here in France is warm and wet - perfect for mushrooms! Les Trois Chenes bed and breakfast is set in the rolling hills, oak... - Cheesy Pumpkin Soup recipe
An easy step-by-step guide to making this delicious creamy pumkin soup with parmesan cheese - a favourite recipe at Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast and perfect comfort food for cold winter nights. Great for a Halloween treat and you can use the sh - Creamy Jerusalem artichoke and carrot soup recipe
A warm and creamy winter soup made with carrots and jerusalem artichokes, a firm favourite at Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast in Limousin, France. Here they grow like weeds, so get gardening and get cooking this delicious and unusual root vegetabl - How to Make Weed Soup
At Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast, near Rochechouart, Limousin, France, we have lovely gardens - and lots of weeds. Just on the borders of the Charente and Dordogne, our climate is perfect for growing plants! Did you know, though, that you can co - How to make sugared flowers
Using real flowers in the kitchen is fun, fashionable and good for you! Your guests will love to nibble on sugar frosted flowers picked from your garden and making decorations from fresh, edible flowers by... - Flower Fritters
It was early June last year when my friend Sue came to our Bed and Breakfast in Limousin, France, with her arms full of what we call acacia flowers, (they are really from the Robinia family though) and I soon... - Quick & Easy Sweet or Savoury: French Toast Recipe
Not long after we moved to France to open our Bed and Breakfast and run painting courses, my (then) five year old son came home from school asking me to make 'pain perdu'. I gathered from him that this was a...
Main courses
- Traditional Stuffed Cabbage Recipe from Limousin France
Stuffed cabbage is one of the many traditional, frugal and absolutely delicious recipes from Limousin, the rural heart of France. A farming area and once very poor, there are many dishes which feature stale bread, chestnuts and cabbage and this cabba - Fish for Friday - easy one pot fish dish
That is what we needed when we first began to offer evening meals at Les Trois Chenes guest house, and our friend Nick came up with this amazingly simple and mouth-wateringly gorgeous one-pot fish dish. ... - Vegetarian and Vegan Wild Mushroom Tart
It is late October, the weather has been wonderfully sunny, it is warm, and then the rain came, lightly, and the mushrooms began to sprout. They cover the lawns of our chambres d'hotes, the road sides, the... - Chicons in Cheesy Sauce
Chicory baked with ham or salmon. A perfect dish to serve to guests who attend our painting courses or stay with us at Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast in Limousin, France. Try it yourself if you rent our self-catering holiday cottage. - Easy Chicken Tajine Recipe
There have been strong links between France and North Africa for a very long time and even here in Limousin, we feel the influence of North African culinary heritage through the restaurants and the...
Salads and Vegetables
- Flowers are vegetables too!
Most people will be used to eating broccoli and cauliflower - but how many people eat the many other delicious flowers blossoming in their gardens? Put them in salads, sugar them for cake decorations, garnish desserts or make flower fritters. Flowers
See my online shop with gifts and cards from Limousin and France
Cakes, puddings and desserts
- Stale Bread Recipes - Recipe for Bread Pudding with a Limousin Twist
Whether you're saving the world or saving your money you will just adore this frugal but delicious bread pudding, (or, as we used to call it bread and butter pudding ). This is one of the best know and most... - How to make Summer Pudding
Summer Pudding is economical, seasonal and, with all those wild, freshly gathered red berries, it's super-healthy as well! You can't beat it for a dessert that is quick, easy and cheap to make, looks smashing... - Apple Cake - a Limousin Speciality
A regional speciality of the Limousin, France, you can make this moist cake using either apples or pears. An apple cake is easy to make and very economical so we often serve it in our chambres d'hotes as a dessert. It looks pretty as a picture on our - Flognarde - Traditional Limousin Recipe
Clafoutis and Flognarde are specialities of the Limousin and Auvergne region, and we serve this dish, along with other regional food and wine, at Les Trois Chenes chambres d'hotes, Limousin, France. - Queen of Puddings
Queen of Puddings is one of our Great British pudings, economical, thrifty but delicious. We make it as a family pudding even though we serve French food for guests at our Bed and Breakfast in Limousin, France? You won't believe how wonderful, cheap - Clafouti with Cherries: a Traditional French Dessert Recipe
Sometimes life really does seem to be a bowl of cherries in Limousin, this hidden corner of rural France! It's June, the sun is shining, wild flowers line the country lanes, the woodlands and fields are green... - Quick & Easy Sweet or Savoury: French Toast Recipe
Not long after we moved to France to open our Bed and Breakfast and run painting courses, my (then) five year old son came home from school asking me to make 'pain perdu'. I gathered from him that this was a... - Traditional English Christmas Cake Recipe
Every family has its own traditions, and non more so than a round Christmas. The tree decoration that came out year after year, the bowls of nuts on the sideboard, and the Christmas cake with icing and the... - Spicy winter fruit pudding
This is a spicy, warming winter fruit version of Summer Pudding. At Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast we like to use our own fruits and vegetables when possible, and we like easy, tasty recipes. This is a... - Rat Novelty Birthday Cake
This is the best ever birthday or celebration cake. Why? It is a quick, easy, no-bake, cheap cake that raises an instant laugh. It can't go wrong, tastes better on the second day and lasts quite a long time.... - How to make easy baked peaches recipe
Hi Welcome to Life in Limousin Today I made a deliciously simple dessert with peaches baked in the oven. Fabulous seasonal food, quick to make and stress-free. The peaches are dropping from the trees like rain... - Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever for a Wickedly Moist French Dessert
This is a wonderfully moist chocolate cake and one of the best chocolate cake recipe ever! And its such an easy cake to make. This French recipe has been passed around my circle of friends and is definitely a winner with adults and kids alike. You m - Moist Almond and Orange Cake A Gluten Free Cake Recipe
Not only is this cake easy, delicious and moist almond and orange cake, but its also gluten free cake recipe and a fat free cake its got to be a winner! These days, we need to use low fat cake recipes, but we still want to treat ourselves and thi
Jams, jellies and preserves
- How To Find the Setting Point in Jam Making
How to find the setting point in jam making. Finding the setting point is the hardest part of producing your own homemade preserves. The recipe to successful homemade jam and jelly making every time. - How to make Marrow and Ginger jam
It is time to get out my Granny's cookery book and look up all those fabulous old recipes for chutney and jam. Today at Les Trois Chenes, our farm house bed and breakfast in deepest rural France, I'm going to... - How to make peach jam
Peach trees grow easily - very easily. It is so easy to grow a peach tree that you don't even need to try. Our peach trees grow as weeds from fallen peaches, from compost heaps with peach stones, from peach... - How to make Peach and Apple Chutney for Christmas
We had a glut of peaches at Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast this year, and what better way to preserve all that summer sunshine goodness, than to make jam and chutney? This recipe makes a chutney so rich,... - Medlar jam or 'cheese' recipe
This Medlar jam recipe makes a wonderfully special and spicy Medlar cheese which is perfect for Christmas breakfasts. The medlar is an old fashioned fruit much prized by the Victorians. The Common Medlar (Mespilus germanica) is a pretty small tree fo
Miscellaneous recipes
- Stale Bread Recipes - Delicious ways to use your old bread
Stale bread recipes: Transform your old bread into delicious dishes. Use up your stale, day old bread and save money with these budget-friendly frugal recipes. Easy bread pudding recipe, puddings recipes, stale bread recipes, summer pudding white bre
About food
- The Problem With Food
What is the problem with food? Our children are not eating. There are constant worries over diabetes, an obesity epidemic, ADD and despression in children. One in three American children are medicalised. Supermarkets are full of expensive 'junk food' - Pie birds and pie funnels help you bake the perfect pie
Pie birds, pie funnels, pie whistles, pie chimneys and pie vents are all one of the same and they are enjoying a revival as people collect them and buy them as gifts. The recent interest in traditional cooking and baking have also helped to popularis - How to make your own natural yoghurt
A step-by-step guide to making your own natural yoghurt. No special equipment needed. Save money, have lots of good, healthy food. It is easy to add your own fruit as well. - Mushrooms from the Wild
Autumn is the time for mushrooms in Limousin, France, but is it safe to eat them? Last year we picked baskets of this delicious wild harvest from the fields around Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast, Videix and made mushroom tarts, soups, cassaroles - Flowers are vegetables too!
Most people will be used to eating broccoli and cauliflower - but how many people eat the many other delicious flowers blossoming in their gardens? Put them in salads, sugar them for cake decorations, garnish desserts or make flower fritters. Flowers - Tagine Pot versus French Casserole for Cooking Chicken
The wonderful Moroccan meat and vegetable dishes called Tajines derive their names from the special pots that they are cooked in. These elegant pots look beautiful, but, ever sceptical, I wanted to know if I... - What is a Tajine Pot?
I was introduced to the tajine relatively recently by a friend who had lived for many years in Morocco and Tunisia. The food she had prepared was rich and tender, and I was impressed with the elegant and... - Cheronnac Oyster Festival: Enjoy the taste of Limousin, France
The oyster festival at Cheronnac, Limousin, south west France took place in September 2010. There were local food producers, wine merchants and a grand communal meal. Accommodation was provided by Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast 5 minutes away at - Vignerons et Gourmands at Saint Junien Food and Wine Festival
The Salon des Gourmets et des Vignerons at Saint-Junien in Limousin, France is the ideal venue in which to discover traditional French food and wine; specialities from every region. Meet the producers, taste and buy real French products. - What is a Medlar?
When we moved to Limousin in S W France to start our Bed and Breakfast, we were lucky enough to inherit a mature meldar tree. At the time I didn't know it was a Medlar, we were told by the previous owners...
Gardening
- The Romance of the Black Tulip
The romance of the black garden led me to the black tulip. Here I found a path that took me to Alexandre Dumas, to the Impossible Black Tulip Map of ancient China and to the anti-war memorial in Yekaterinburg (also known as Ekaterinburg) Russia. Does - How to grow medlars
Grow your own medlars. The common Medlar, Mespilus germanica is an easy tree to grow and makes a pretty, flowering garden specimen. A hardy tree or shrub, a flowering tree and a fruit tree. What more could you want? - The Autumn fruit and vegetable garden
Autumn is always a busy time at Les Trois Chenes, our farm house bed and breakfast in deepest rural France when all the fruit and vegetables in the orchards, hedgerows and garden ripen at the same time. It is... - The Spring Garden
Spring is a lovely time to be in Limousin. The French gardens are full of spring bulbs and flowers. The trees are full of blossom and the wild flowers bloom along the roadsides and the hedgerows. Come to... - Everything you need to know about compost
Why should you have a compost heap? There are so many reasons. To avoid waste, to produce excellent compost for your garden, as part of organic gardening, as part of your campaign to live a greener life, to...
Animals at Les Trois Chenes
Our house used to be a farm house with Limousin cattle, sheep, poultry, dogs and cats. My dream is to have a smallholding here, and to have our own organic vegetables, eggs, milk, honey and cheese and to serve this wonderful, home produced food to our guests. That dream is a little way off at the moment, but I'm working my way to it. Have a look at some of our cute animal pictures in the articles below.
Our English Pointer Molly and her puppies
- The Story of our Pointer Puppies
Here I am living the good life at our farm house bed and breakfast in deepest rural Limousin, France, and our pet dog, Molly,an English pointer, makes a fair contibution to... - The Puppy and the Peach
Our pet dog, Molly, a beautiful English pointer, gave birth to three lovely pointer pups earlier this year. The birth was traumatic, ending with a caesarian. A dutiful, if tough mother, we learned many lessons about nature and nurture! Read more abou - Molly, An English Pointer Puppy in France
This is the story of our French English pointer who shares our life at Les Trois Chenes farm house bed and breakfast in Videix, Limousin: deepest rural France. There is never a dull moment here and Molly, I... - What Our Pointer Pups Did Next
Last summer our English Pointer, Molly, had three puppies at Les Trois Chenes, our Bed and Breakfast in Limousin, deep in the heart of rural France. Sadly, they had to find homes of their own, but as you can...
... and the other animals
- Ecological Lawn Mowers, The Goose
Do you dream of a lawn mower that would work by itself, run on free fuel and provide you with free fertilizer as it goes? What if I added that this lawn mower would cost you between six and eleven euros? How... - Bee-keeping for beginners. Why keep bees?
Bee keeping is fascinating, ecologically essential and produces pounds of deliciously healthy honey. Recent worldwide bee colony losses have worried experts who are calling on ordinary people to set up hives in their back gardens.
The City of York, UK
I was brought up in York and still have family there, so York is very close to my heart. York is an historic town, rich in culture and with many things to see and do. I'll never run out of subject matter, and when I go home to York, I take the opportunity to take photographs and get out and about to see or do something interesting. York is always changing and there is always so much going on. I also like the change from my life in Limousin, but I'm always pleased to come back to Les Trois Chenes - yes - to come home.
Articles about York
- The City of York - Tips for a Vacation on a Budget
Visit York City on a budget it can be done and a budget holiday in York need not be second best.In York tourisme is big business, but you can have a wonderful time and hang onto some of your hard earned cash. So, what to do in York that is free, ch - Secret things to see and do in the city of York
The City of York in England, UK, must be one of the top tourist destinations in Britain and you will find plenty of information about the many fantastic places to see and things to do on your vacation or... - York, City of Chocolate
York has long been a centre for chocolate. The great chocolate names of Bettys, Rowntrees, Thorntons and Cravens have all been associated with the historic city of York. More recently we could add the names of Lush, Chocoate Hotel, Chocolate Heaven a - Horrible Holidays in Haunted York for Halloween
I was brought up in York and was surrounded by the history and legends of this great and ancient city. Not surprisingly, over the centuries of martyrdom, turmoil and battles many stories of ghosts have emerged. Do you believe in the supernatural? Why - Visit Bishopthorpe, York
The beauty of Bishopthorpe is that this quaint and pretty village is situated just south of the ancient City of York, near York Racecourse, Bishopthorpe Palace, Designer Outlet and York College. It has a...
Miscellaneous
- The Horsemeat Scandal
Horsemeat found in beef burgers food world-wide health scandal. Pork found in halal meat given to Muslim prisoners in the UK. What is in the meat we eat and who is checking what goes into our food. - How to Bend a Copper Pipe With and Without Plumbing Tools
There are several ways to bend copper pipes, but it is useful to know which are the best tools for your job and how to bend pipes without special tools. Every plumbing job made easy. - My Training as a French Plumber by An English Lady Artist
An account of my training in plumbing as an adult. Re-training in plumbing in France at the age of 52 was a big step, but worth every minute. This account of the course will help you decide if you would like to qualify as a plumber and if training in - Turkey Loses a Magnificent Monument-The Statue of Humanity or nsanlk Ant by Mehmet Aksoy
- Cath Kidston's Vintage Design Success
Cath Kidston has achieved success with her vintage-inspired patterns. She sells fabrics, household goods and furniture which all bear the bright and cheerful prints which have led to her fame and fortune. - The Romance of the Black Tulip
The romance of the black garden led me to the black tulip. Here I found a path that took me to Alexandre Dumas, to the Impossible Black Tulip Map of ancient China and to the anti-war memorial in Yekaterinburg (also known as Ekaterinburg) Russia. Does - Chocolate Childrens Books for Easter
Children love Easter, they love chocolate and they love stories, and I've unearthed some chocolate treats that won't damage their teeth! Lucky children will receive lots of chocolate Easter eggs, so why not... - Summer holidays 2011 Heart Shaped Vintage Sunglasses
Heart shaped glasses are a fun Valentine gift and perfect for summer holidays 2011. Sexy heart glasses, (you can wear these sunglasses at night), were made popular by Vladimir Nabokov in 1955 and have never gone out of fashion since. See the stars in - Lolita Shoes Classic, Gothic and Sweet Tokyo Fashion
Hot shoe fashion for summer holidays 2011 - Corel Photo Paint Pro and Serif page plus can bring your HubPage photos to life
How to make a page come to life using photo editors, or even just a bit of imagination? Im not a computer expert, so Im not going to go into all the technicalities, but rather show you just a very few... - Cut your household expenses by 50%
Living in Limousin and running a Bed and Breakfast on a tight budget is a lesson in thrift from times gone by. People here live the good life on a small income and I can help you to think twice and save 50% on... - How to organise an Easter Egg Hunt
At Les Trois Chenes Bed and Breakfast in Videix, Limousin, France, we take Easter and Easter eggs very seriously. Spring here means blossom, chicks goslings and the Great Videix Easter Egg Hunt! Here is how to prepare and decorate your eggs, and how - Do I see benefits from my HubPages?
This was a question that one of my followers, owner of Basse Copette, asked me on Twitter. Like Les Trois Chenes, Basse Copette is a Bed and Breakfast with luxury gites in France but while we are in the South... - Babies Can Cost Less Than You Think
Contrary to popular belief, if you don't count loss of income through not working, babies don't have to cost that much! If you have lots of cash and don't mind wasting it on posh baby stuff, then you won't be... - Lampe Berger or Berger Lamps
I first came across the Berger Lamp through my investigations into Limoges Porcelain but I soon became entranced by these lovely objects.They are also sometimes called fragrance lamps, perfume lamps, effusion... - How to mark a route on Google Maps, save personalised maps and get backlinks
I needed to know how to mark a route on a Google Map, save it, and incorporate it into my articles and have just discovered how. I write about Les Trois Chenes and our life here. Les Trois Chenes is the name... - Lolita Shoes, Gothic Tokyo Fashion
Have a look at these great classic, gothic and sweet Lolita shoes. Perfect for summer holidays 2011!
Hubs written under the name of DaisyChain
- Curried Chicken Gizzards Recipe
Chicken gizzard curry is a super healthy, budget-fiendly dish for all the family. Good food is becoming even more precious to us in these hard times. Money is tight but we don't want to compromise on nutrition, so what could be better than a deliciou - DaisyChain on HubPages My profile page
Artist, plumber, gourmet and wine lover, living the good life in France with husband and son. We run painting holidays, a Bed and Breakfast and... - Anna Nicole - The Opera
The incredible life of Anna Nicole Smith,(born Vickie Lynn Hogan in Harris County, Texas), is now an Opera. Anna is portrayed by Eva-Maria Westbroek and the opera opens at The Royal Opera House (ROH)at the Covent Garden venue on 17 February 2011. - How to care for geese - natural ecological lawn mowers
A simple guide to keeping geese and raising and caring for goslings. Geese make good pets and great lawn mowers and watch dogs but do you know what they need to keep them healthy and happy? - How you can pass exams and get good marks
"One in 12 A-level exams (8%) has been awarded the new A* grade as pupils scored another record-breaking year of results" . I am writing this article on Thursday 19th August 2010 and the above quotation is... - How to beat cystitis
Straigh-talking, no-nonsense advice on how to beat acute cystitis. A clear description of the symptoms, what to do if you have an attack and how to manange cystitis in order to live a 'normal' life. Which treatments to accept and which to reject. - Health and Safety in the Killer Kitchen - Not for the faint hearted
Health and safety in the kitchen is crucial. This humerous guide points out real dangers to both adults and children. The kitchen can be a killer, and the home is the most dangerous place to be. Take safety precautions. Better safe than sorry. - Beautiful feet - give your feet a treat
Ladies feet deserve to be pampered in preparation for summer and vacations. Make sure you have beautiful feet when you bare all on the beach. Why ar celebrity feet such gorgeous feet? Treat yourself to a foot massage; make sure your shoes and feet ar
My favourite sites and blogs
- Why I Love Limousin
My Limousin and Les Trois Chenes blog - Barbara Walton (LesTroisChenes) on Twitter
- Beautiful gite - Videix, France
Our gite on Vacaza. Try out the site for one year FREE with my code bawa-free - Deligogo! Local Food, Hand Crafted Wine - Cooking courses, wine tasting and wine tours
Find gourmet, wine & cookery breaks, classic wine tours and small scale producers of fine foods. Negotiate with and pay directly to the suppliers without any added commission charges. - Painting and drawing courses - Les Trois Chenes Barbara Walton - France
I advertise my painting holidays on Krazart. You can try it FREE for a year with my code BAWA-free
I have articles under the name BLouw
Squidoo closed down in 2014 and my articles will be tranferred to a new account under the name of BLouW. I do hope you'll catch up with me there.
My Wikinut articles
Visit us at Les Trois Chenes
- Painting courses at Les Trois Chenes B and B, Limousin, France
Painting holidays in France. Bed and breakfast holiday cottage at Videix Haute-Vienne Limousin France near the Dordogne and Charente. Between Limoges and Angouleme. Near Rochechouart and Saint Junien.
Pictures of our Gite, Bed and Breakfast and painting holidays
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