Wednesday

We went down today to take some stuff to the Parchemin..and then to the Quillan marche for the last time this trip...had frites at Angela's..chatted with"the boys" and came on home to finish up.
The city workers came around today to pick up unwanted Large items...we had a stove and some stuff from the sheds that Michael has been tearing out. We had been unable to get the large oil tank up the stairs, but when Sissy heard the men outside she raced up the steps and asked them if they could come down to look..which they did...and were glad to help.
That is something that is different here, if you have things to go to the dump AKA Dechettrie..call the mayor and it is a done deal...also  you can offer any city worker a beer or wine and it is well recieved!!
The trick or treaters came on Halloween..very cute..about a dozen of them of all ages plus one mom..They all used their best English...

 the hill above the house..after the fire     Couisa is the town in the distance..A town along the Med.. just below Perpignan...on the way to Barcelona...the long way!!!yea!!!

A hotel in Funchal Portugal

It has been rainy/cloudy here for the last few days..Gone are the sunny warm days..

though tonight Michael and I took a long walk down the Antugnac road and it was warm enough to get a little sweaty in my sweater...I hope that tomorrow will be warm as they have been saying all week would be.. we will be saying so long to our friends here and getting ready to go early on Friday.  Paulo and Didier will come for us at 9 o'clock and it will take a while to load the car then on to Barcelona..

At the fete...toooo hot around 105 degrees...everyone collected bottles "splashed " the crowd!!

Paris   what can I say....I loved it..

..

It has been great, I hope that all of you can come for a visit , take a good long time  there is soooo much to see and do.. see you soon

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..

The Resistance

After we left the fair we went up the the Resistance camp, I can't remember how to spell it but it sounds like Maquee de Pecosell..I will look it up and let you know..it is so interesting..absolute silence except for the sound of  the aircraft that was pulling the gliders up today..after he unhooked it was silent..It is amazing to stand there where the original shepards hut was, where the young men met to plan the next step of their resistance to the Germans..It is even more so to look at the faces of the young men, ful of spit and vinegar, thinking that they could change the world, and willing to put their lives on the line to do so. Unfortunately they did not have the support that was needed and the struggle was difficult.

the tin in the middle has a spiral notebook, it is for people who visit to sign in.. I wrote in the book today that my Dad was there in Normandy , a young man doing what they did in those days...the two tins on the side of it have bullet casings that were evidently found at the site when they rebuilt, they are all melted, the Germans bombed the site when they took over the area...

This is a cool place to visit and Iwill take you there when you come..I think you all will enjoy seeing it..

More later...

Autumn Fest

We went out to Espezel for the fest today. Michael loves Espezel, it is up on a ridge that runs for quite a good distance about 20 minutes from us..but in the heat of the summer it is usually cool in Espezel, so that is where we head to cool off.. Today was Autunm fest there, very like the state fair..animals and farm equipment and food...not at all like the state fair..fresh made cheeses, sausages, aligot(mashed potatos with cheese), breads of every kind, pastries, jams and comfitures, ice cream and fruit...especially apples now..yummmmm.  We met Paulo and Didier there and had a lunch of sausages and aligot and fresh fruit juice

we then went to see the farm animals and farm machines..and the kids riding donkeys...they almost ran over me..

Didier  3 years older than  Jamie.....................................................................................................

Paulo 1 year older than my sister..................

great friends and such fun and both great cooks...good listners..

We all had fun and left at about 3 oclock...more on the next go round.. after the fair we went up to the resistance camp to take pics  then I came home and made MORE grape jam..this time it is a rich purple color  hope to bring some home..

 this one is for you Declan...tractors everywhere!!

More later...

Friday

We went to Carcassone with Pat and Mike,  Michael and I got new shoes, hikers for me and sneakers for him...only 12 E for him and 16 for me..and new red fleece gloves..1 euro  then we went downtown to a Tronc...consignment store..I saw an awesome table there that we could have bought with the money left from the sale of the cabinet..but did not get it...oh well...
We then went to the square and Mike went to buy us BIG Cookies and coffee...good coffee..and cookie.
Then we came home to Montazels..it was a good day and I am sitting down to plan out the next two weeks as activities are getting hectic and we want to do the things that we have planned and the things that folks have planned for us.. Didier is having cooking class on Wed..evening and I get to choose the menu..sure to be fish..he works wonders with fish...and who knows what else..
We want to make one more trip up to the resistance camp so that I can take some pictures, maybe film, Monday is market day a Mirapoix one more time...Jo and Stewart invited us to lunch on Sunday and the farmers fair is Saturday in Espizel...and we are to have a French lesson at home...hummmmm
I will miss my friends here and the activities that keep us busy all the time..I will miss my lovely garden that is still blooming with zinnias, and lavender and something else that I can't remember the name and roses, with the return of the rain the roses are in profusion...and in the big garden the last of the crocus are blooming and the last of the figs are on the vine..we trimmed one of the figs this AM to hopefully bring it down to a level that we can reach next year..the man is to come by and till the garden, he will do it for 10 euro..I am delighted. It is not a huge space but has not been properly turned for a while and I think it would be a lot for Michael to do by hand..though he worked at it in the spring...I am going to try to lay down the leaves from the fig that we cut today under the grape arbor to keep weeds under control next spring..
I will miss the trips out into the vast surroundings and place that we have yet to see...I will miss pizza on the plaza, and Angela's moms shepards pie and frites..though I did get some of the sauce Andalous to bring back to the States with me...
I will not miss French class!!!
I will not miss French drivers!!
I will miss the weather..though it is getting cool here now and seems much like Virginia..
I look forward to seeing my kids, and the hugs of my grandkids, and Pierces BBQ...
I look forward to seeing Sian
I look forward to being in front of my fireplace...and the holidays coming up.
I do not look forward to hauling all the Christmas presents that I have bought along the way, accross the ocean LOL
I have one whole BIG suitcase full of presents...I do have for each family an Advent calendar from Germany...the chocolate kind...
Oh yeah,, I look forward to more than one bathroom...oh yeah...of course I am grateful to have at least one...but more is better when it comes to bathrooms...LOL

Well I guess that is all for now...see you all soon...my pink rose...


Paris...hummmmm

Mirapoix market day

If it's Wednesday....

Very often I find that I have no idea what day of the week it is...but if it is Wednesday it is Market day in Quillan..
Today was cool and cloudy, but Paulo had coffee on and conversation to keep us entertained..
We took a quick trip to the Pachemin where I purchased some knitting needles..got another project to try...Oh help!  Then on to Limoux to the Lidl to get a lot of yummy junk to bring home, lebkuchen from Germany for a treat, tiny stollen, yummy .. It is Greek week so there were many Greek goodies as well..then on to the Pachemin in Limoux where I purchased a picture frame to put my Declans foot butterfly in and a few household goodies for little or nothing..then to L'clerc to get absolutely nothing...then to the super U for a few groceries...are you bored yet?  anyway then I came home to make dinner.Pizza and salad and little cheese and ham crepes...yummmm
Now I am making chicken chili for tomorrow night dinner with Paulo and Didier..Next week Mike and Marion are coming for Potato soup and Virginia ham biscuits...and pecan pie!!
Enough about food...
Friday we are going to Carrcassone with Mike and Pat to go to a Trok...a big second hand store..that should be fun... this week end is harvest festival and study with Joa, the French. LOL Sometime we are going to go back up to the resistance camp..to take pictures and I am going to write in the book about Dad...Monday we are going to Mirapoix for Market there...busy busy busy...
Note to self:  get a very short haircut next time...haircuts here are about $80...yuckkkkk
I look like a witch..long hair...and baggy pants
.  Last night we took a walk after dinner, down the Antugnac road and around to the tracks and up the very long steep hill... at one time it would have defeated me, but now I am the victor!!! I will need some type of activity to keep up the leg action in VA..
.I am going to get Michael to do a film of the house and neighborhood before we leave, maybe go to all our friends homes and get them on film so that you all can see and we will have to remember all by..
I am getting excited about returning and the cruise ahead...stopping off in Alicante to see Pete and Aury..
.I know that I have not done the Italy thing...willl try again tomorrow...needs time to copy pics and such..and I am tired now, going on 10pm...Thanks Bonnie for the school site! I will not let the language barrier defeat me either, though I always will speak French with a southern accent...but after all I am in the South of France!! More later

More more about Italy

You will note that More about Italy is quite blank...well after 45 minutes of catching you up on the travels and posting several pictures I was about to hit send, and the whole thing disappeared...the minute by minute save drafts were also gone...at that time I felt it prudent that I turned off the computer and moved on..so that I would have a computer the following day.. I have yet to have the heart to start over..I will try tomorrow..when I have recovered further...LOL
French class today..frustration...but have met a villiage woman that has offered to come and sit with us at the table and talk in French/English conversational...and teach from the beginning.. Unfortunately it comes at the end of my stay, but as she has been here 20 years, I imagine that she will be here in the spring as well!!
Very interesting person, built her own house on the mountain above us, not electricity, by choice..she lives simply, but has a cell phone..I look forward getting to know her.. many interesting characters here..
Yesterday we went to the hat museum in Esparaza..found out that the factory is just below us on the mountain and they still make the hats..very interesting will be sure to take you all when you come, well worth the visit and it is free.. I even saw some of my neighbors on the film about the factory..
Am tired now almost 11 so will sign off...More later...