Greetings from France

[LaChatteGitane]

Hello all ! Googling for elderflower champagne brought me here !
I am Belgian and live in the south of France for 2.5 years after 7 years in southwest Ireland. My husband and I own an old farmhouse on 1.2 ha of land and I'm trying to grow organic vegetables. So far so good after the Mistral did some damage to the tomato plants, luckily the have perked up considerably in the last week.
We have 6 cats and a dog and soon a couple of hens.
I am really looking forward to exchange some ideas and stories with you all.

LaChatteGitane

[cat]

Hello! Nice to "meet" you!

[ina]

Hi Chatte, welcome to the forum!

Yes, it's elderflower time again... I'd better get the recipe out, too, just in case I should come across a bush of them!

[Andy Hamilton]

gonna try the elder flower beer me thinks this year. welcome to the forum

[Millie]

Welcome to the forum!

[Wombat]

G'Day LaChatte!

Welcome to the forum.

My son-in-law is Belgian, form Maasmechelen. we were overe there last Christmas.

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

Bonjour gipsy cat! You've moved around a bit! Are you a native French speaker or Flemish? Welcome to the forum.

[LaChatteGitane]

Thanks for the welcome peeps !
Ina does the elder flower champagne actually turn bubbly ? Hubby has already emptied a bottle and drinks it diluted with water ---> is very sweet.
Millymollymandy I'm Flamand, but even these days I speak more English than any other language and watch British TV
The English is also due to the fact that we get volunteers who are mostly English speakers
Wombat Yes Maasmechelen is in the province of Limburg, not too far from where I grew up, but then in Belgium no place is too far from the other (in distance I mean). So does your son in law and daughter live in Oz or in Belgium ?
Anyroad, got to get some more work done in the garden, hope to catch up with you later
LaChatteGitane

[ina]

Ina does the elder flower champagne actually turn bubbly ?

The stuff I made some years ago was very bubbly - in fact, several bottles exploded! I think the sweetness depends on how long you let it ferment. I have to try (and err!) again this year - haven't made any for some time, but I now know a huge bush, so should be able to get some!

[Shirley]

Bonjour gipsy cat! You've moved around a bit!

Hi LaChatte

What a lovely user name... thanks for the translation M3.....

(incidentally enjoyed a bottle of wine last night called.... chat-en-oeuf - what a rip off of a name - pic has a cat sat on an egg - scrummy wine though and cheaper than chateuneuf (sp?))

Looking forward to getting to know you.

[Millymollymandy]

Is the cat in your avatar a Chartreux? It looks like my great big fat French cat!

[Millymollymandy]

I've just taken a peek at your website. Lovely photos! I do love the Ardeche!

[Wombat]

G'Day LaChatte,

They live with us here in Aus and currently in our house.

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

G'Day LaChatte,

They live with us here in Aus and currently in our house.

Nev

Oh! I thought they lived in Belgium and that's why you were going there, to see them!

[LaChatteGitane]

Ina does the elder flower champagne actually turn bubbly ?

The stuff I made some years ago was very bubbly - in fact, several bottles exploded! I think the sweetness depends on how long you let it ferment. I have to try (and err!) again this year - haven't made any for some time, but I now know a huge bush, so should be able to get some!

Thanks Ina, I've just picked the last flowers (the rest were too far gone, so will pick the berries instead afterwards) I've poured the liquid in plastic bottles with screwtops. We've consumed quite a bit already (hubby is a sweet tooth) as it can be drunk diluted with water. From the first batch there are botlles that have already bubbles on them and they look as if they do want to explode. Have to keep an eye on them.