A glimpse of spring

Don't ask me how I managed to focus on this fluttering butterfly through a mass of blossom about a metre above my head. Some kind of fluke. It was a lovely sunny day and this tree was buzzing with happy bees of different varieties (one in extras), plus one butterfly. I think it's a speckled wood.

On the third day of my birthday we went out for lunch in Lagrasse, to a restaurant we haven't been to for about 20 years, not sure why. A few people recommended it recently so we though we'd give it a try, for a change. When I booked, the patronne asked us to arrive for 12:30, as she had a large group coming at one. Just as well, as when we arrived we were alone, and the group of 12 who duly arrived half an hour later were the only other customers. We don't like eating in empty restaurants. The set menu was very short, only two choices for each course (and no cheese option!). It was fine, not as good as the Bastion of course, but a lot cheaper. And we were sitting next to the full wall of window with a lovely view across the valley, currently lush and green. The best part was the dessert, a lovely mini croustade of pears, heavy on fruit, light on pastry. And also an excellent bottle of white wine from Limoux, which we finished in the evening. I'm so unused to eating large meals now that I felt completely stuffed for the rest of the day! And it's strict diet for the next few days to get back on target.