a rainy day....

We spent the morning inside jumping, sliding and climbing...and let's not forget the giant lego fort. Is it ever going to be sunny here again?

feel the burn...

Sebastian thought he'd start working out now to get in tip top shape before Christmas vacation (the mexican food...chocolate...custard.....the list goes on and on).

 balls, balls everywhere...get me out of here!

Festyland fun...

Mamie and Papie leaning into those turns...

Festyland...

We went to Festyland (theme park..pirates, knights, dragons) yesterday for the last day of school vacation. Not as lame as us parents thought it would be and the kiddies had a whale of a time.

Trick or treat.....

So of the 8 houses we tried, about 3 had treats. One of the 8 told us it's mardi gras we celebrate here in France, not halloween, before shaking her fist and threatening to call the police. (Just kidding about the police.) What is this world coming to she must have thought. You aren't even safe in your own house anymore. The other four shut off their lights and hid in fear. But above all, the kiddies (and adults) had a whopper of a good time dressing up and really could have cared less about the candy.

the pumpkin...

Sebastian's favorite part of all was washing the seeds. Geez, who doesn't love playing in water.

an afternoon at the apple orchard....

my favorite shot...

The neighbor's sheep grazing on our grass, in our field, overlooking our shed and house. Probably as close as we'll come to having a farm. What more can you ask for. Free lawn maintenance, no upkeep required, no contract fees, hefty down payments or livestock knowhow. Only the very faint sweet smell of fresh sheep dodo wafting through the air as you are hunched over gathering hazelnuts ..... ooh.... to dream.

little farmer boy...

Coolest birthday gift ever.

At no time in my recent memory has a gift hit home like this one. Heavy as hell, totally uncomfortable, not to mention a hazard for my early onset brittle bone diagnosis (only kidding). 

Thank you Carih, you are the best treasure hunter out there. I love them.

The stars have nothing on me.

A clerk in London recently asked Stephane, "Where do you get your hair colored? It's just like George Clooney" Always one step ahead-

The PERFECT wheelbarrel

We made 12 jars of blackberry jam. That's gelée actually...no seeds,no pulp. Only pure juice strained with a towel, add sugar and love.....sublime.

a little something for

 the birds...

before and after....