coming home

well the time is drawing neigh...the bags are pretty much packed, some with clothes, some with gifts that we purchased while here. That is the good thing about taking a boat back..we are not too limited to what we bring. I will give the house a good clean on Thursday, do the remaining laundry. We have had the friends over for dinner almost every night for the last week..not all at the same time.. Jo and Stewart came for pancakes on Friday, Paulo and Didier came for Chicken chili, Marion and the American couple from the Gite came for potato soup and ham biscuits, and Tuesday Jean-Louis will come for pork roast.. I think I am done LOL
Jo brought me about 4 kilos of figs from her tree so I felt compelled to make yet another batch of jam...no more!!!! I am out of jars and energy. we have about 11 jars on the shelf, 6 in the kitchen and about a dozen packed for America..ginger/plum,white grape,purple grape, pear/kiwi and fig..
I am sad to go, but glad to see all my family and friends.
The weather here has turned cool, well actually cold..last year it was cool when we left so we missed the fall color.. this year it is amazing..I hope that we will be able to go down the Pierre lyse and do a filming of the color. It looks like someone put a multicolored quilt across the top of the mountain in blazing colors..
My French improves, at least in understanding, I can write it very well, but lack the courage to speak..LOL...with time I am sure to improve.. I have so many nice neighbors that I would like to converse with.
I hope to sneak up in the Chateau before we leave. someone has pushed down the fence so that I can get in...when it stops raining...
We will be finishing up the loose ends..going to the chocolate shop, the hat museum looking for some shelves for the towels now that we have gotten rid of the cabinet..putting out the things for the city workers to take away on Wed.. we have an oil stove and tank and a lot of bamboo that we cut..No more major projects this year.. the man was supposed to come to till the garden so that I could put in clover for the winter but alas he did not show...awww well.. Michael said that he would hand turn it, but the point was to have it done deep, and we don't need any injuries this late in the game...
While I was away a dear friend from grade school, Nancy Brown passed, July 27. Her husband passed last year, he was much older than she, but she was lost without him..Sad to have her go.
I got word this week that my friend Donna's husband has been sent home from the hospital with hospice care. He is a distant cousin on Dads side. He has suffered for several years with brain tumors, with little peace.
It makes you think, How fortunate I am to be able to put my feet on the floor when I get up each morning. Creaking down the stairs to go to the lu..not really such a big problem. Over the last 5 months I have learned that I can go down the mountain and COME back up, under my own steam..and not too much huffing and puffing!!
I have climbed many mountains, go figure... me at my age lol.
I have had great adventures on back roads and climbing around ruins of castles long forgotten.
I have eaten some wonderful foods, with great friends of many nationalities.
and lost 20 lbs..I am sure I will find them on the ship on the way home...
I have relaxed in my little garden down the path, and by the little garden on the side of the terrace. They both have brought me great joy.
I have used "solar" clothes drying methods that work great! I will miss that for sure.
I have lived without TV and loved it.
AND I lived without airconditioning!!!! and loved it.
I do look forward to sitting by the fire in the winter, talking to friends and family up close and personal,
real milk that has not been so pasteurized that it does not need refrigeration..The Mexico restaurant...and Pierces BBQ... We hope that Jo and Stewart will come to visit in the winter when business is not too good..then we can show them  all our favorite places and things...
well part of the message disappeared, but what can I say...  More later

up the stairs..to the street..from the front of the house...always up up up.and then up the street to the car park...that is the hardest climb..so straight up..lol

In the Resistance museum, a cool place..a must see when you come..

Dinner with Didier, Opening night, I hope he finds success in this venture.. we had   fish chowder... fish fried in butter , ratatouille, and crepe susette...yummmmmm and of course the wines that go with that sort of food...awww well.

"Boogie Rock" AKA Bugarach..it is where the bubba cools live and the space ships land...really...just ask my neighbor....there are some cool caves there to explore..