Memo from J-P

For this page of oldquimper.com, we give the floor to Jean-Pierre, who serves as the CFO (Chief Feline Officer) of The Meadows Collection.  Appointed to that position in 2007, he has gamely agreed to attempt the daunting task of taking over the duties previously fulfilled by the late, but ever-present-in-our-hearts, Porquier-Beau...whose image continues to grace the upper left corner of this link.

Jean-Pierre is eleven-years old, which translates to sixty in human years. He is still very young-at-heart and so full of enthusiasm that he has bravely stepped up to the plate.

It is with great pleasure that we pass along the latest Memo from J-P:

Greetings to all.

First a little bit about my background.

I was born in Paris and am thoroughly français despite paperwork that lists me as being a chat de la fôret norvégienne (Norwegian Forest Cat). My full name is Châtelain Jean-Pierre. Châtelain because being born in 2007... December 21, 2007 to be precise...means that in accordance with French regulations, my name must begin with the letter 'c'.  Those born in 2008 have names that begin with a 'd', those born in 2009 have names beginning with the letter 'e' and so on.

Châtelain is a French term from the Middle Ages used to distinguish the seigneur or lord of the manor. We live in Quimper now, so it's more like lord of the apartment...but the important part is that I rule the roost, so to speak. Jean is in reference to Jean-Baptiste Bousquet who settled in Quimper in 1699 and Pierre is in honor of his son, Pierre Bousquet, who in 1708 founded Quimper's first modern -day pottery factory.

Every once in a while I like to put the spotlight on a specific topic…it might be an unusual example of Quimper pottery or perhaps a further look at a place or structure…something  that I feel will further your enjoyment of French faïence. 

And then sometimes I take this opportunity to share with you some of our adventures in Quimper...because one of the results of being so gab-smacked enamored of Quimper pottery has led to the inevitable and now we live in Quimper...right in the middle of Old Town !

I'm an indoor cat, but I do see a lot from our windows and the folks are always up for an adventure. Here's a quick rundown of what we were up to last month...it will give you a bit of a taste of the sights and sounds of living in Quimper. 

A new optical boutique opened on rue Kéréon amid a lot of fanfare...some of it visible from my perch overlooking the street...

I don't think the French indulge in soap box derbies...maybe...but I'll just call this contraption an enclosed bicycle. It was spotted around Old Town Quimper for several hours advertising the new shop and inviting neighbors and potential new clients to a party that evening. 

It was quite easy to find the party; for one,  rue Kéréon is pedestrian only, so a parked car is not the norm...and two, the car was a vintage "2CV" and not just any vintage "2CV", but one that wears eyeglasses ! "Mom" and "Dad" checked out the party venue, but only briefly as they continued on to an evening of Breton dancing.

The next day, the folks were on their way to get their "daily bread" when a bevy of newly-minted gendarmes briskly crossed their path:

Speaking of moving briskly...

Every week, the folks duly cram their backpacks with necessities and don their unfashionable hiking duds in order to enjoy a trek in the countryside surrounding Quimper. Usually the hikes are around 12 to 14 kilometers along the coast or inland hiking trails of the southern portion of the department of Finistère. 

But last month, they participated in hike that was a little more ambitious...traveling a little farther afield than usual...up to the Monts d'Arrée. The group's "fearless leader" had checked out the route the month before and promised a day of beautiful vistas.  They began near the top with the idea that they would hike about 11 kilometers down the mountain, have a picnic and then hike back to the very top returning via a trail that was a little shorter. 

It was not evident from the departure point, but after a few steps,  it became apparent that the rocky stream in the picture was their only option for a path. The leader had failed to take into account that it had rained considerably since he checked out the route. Everyone hoped it was a temporary situation, but would soon discover that what had been a path the month prior was now promising to be a seemingly endless stream.

Some areas were worse than others and it turned out to be a day filled with lots of jumping and fording...human chains were formed and although everyone was wet up to their ankles, no one fell in or was truly soaked.

​Oh, did I mention that "Mom" was wearing brand-new hiking boots? 

The verdict...Gore-tex is good, but not for hour after hour of treading directly in a stream. 

Mid-point, they left the soggy trail and paused for a visit to an eco-museum in Saint Rivoal where they played pioneer at La Maison Cornec...built in 1702 and continually occupied and updated to include the latest in "modern comforts". 

The Cornec House...built by Yvon Cornec ( 1668-1728 ),  who lived there with his wife, Anna. and six surviving infants. 

The property includes four bread ovens, stables and an apple press and was purchased by the local government in 1968. 

It had been the home of relatively well-to-do country folk...

...complete with beaten-earth floors and rudimentary furnishings. 

Updated with electricity in the 1950s and running water in the 1960s,  the Cornec house provided the hikers with a genuine  step back in time...

...as well as a welcome chance to take turns drying their pants out a little before they headed out for the trek back...

I wonder how many times Yvon and Anna Cornec and their descendants did the exact same thing ?

After several more kilometers of wet going, the path was finally dry and the group was at the top and eager to admire the Chapelle Saint Michel de Brasparts. 

The chapel was built in 1672. In previous centuries, The Druids worshiped Belenos, their sun god in a previous structure.

The view from the chapel site offers a panorama of the neighboring countryside...

Unfortunately, they began the hike from the other side of the mountain; had they begun from this spot, the group may have noticed that the path was going to be wet. That's the trail shining bright ( and wet ) as it snakes along in the center of the photograph above; they followed it as far as the eye can see toward the right and then turned toward the left to circle back to this spot.

They came back wet but happy...

...but somewhat disappointed that they had only worked off 834 calories !

Not all of their hikes are like that...usually they are shorter in length.  In the autumn, a good hike means coming home with some chestnuts...

For hunting mushrooms, "Mom" and "Dad"usually go out on their own rather than with a group...for that sort of bounty,  locations are kept secret and more of the time is spent digging around rather than actual hiking...

Humidity can have its virtues...like this good haul of wild cêpes !

You know its the season for finding them when the local pharmacies put mushroom charts in their window displays. 

This particular chart features the mushrooms you don't want to bring home...ones that are non-edible and even deadly !

When they are not digging around in the forest, the folks enjoy working on the pseudo-garden they created in front of our place. There's no real garden area, only space for potted plants, but they have fun changing the plants with the seasons. That's why they went to the semi-annual marché aux fleurs...this time it was the autumn edition...

Even for those without a garden, it's lovely to see the quay in the center of town all decked out in flowers and plants. The building in the background is the Préfecture...the place for different aspects of official business...licenses, permits, etc.

And this is a city garden in front of part of the old ramparts...the wall built to protect Quimper from invaders in the Middle Ages ...

During the flower market, the garden was embellished with all sorts of garden sculptures for sale.

And there were more traditional offerings as well, like an abundance of succulents...

...and plants that promise to provide scrumptious Breton strawberries...

​The folks also managed to fit in a bit of culture this past month...

...enjoying a concert of chants marins...traditional sailors' songs...performed by Les Gabiers d'Antimon de Lorient. The group was celebrating its 40th year with an evening at Quimper's Théâtre Max Jacob...a great venue for music !

And they also attended the vernissage or gala opening...

...of an exhibit at the Alain Gérard Library. Kir Royals in hand...a kir royal is a French cocktail made of crême de cassis topped off with champagne...the exhibition featured some of the Library's collection of ancient maps "topped off" with modern art created by Anne Paulus. 

Maybe it was the Kir Royals or perhaps because they  had gone on a hike earlier in the day, but they returned home with a verdict more in favor of the ancient than the new...

California as an island...

A colorful geological study of Brittany...

...and an embossed topographical look at Brittany...revealing just how treacherous it was...and is...to sail along its extensive coastline. The deeper blue areas represent submerged land masses that ships have to maneuver as best they can to avoid. 

That's my memo for this month; I hope you enjoy my sharing of our adventures in Quimper !