The monthly market

We made a trip to the monthly market at Les Herolles on Saturday morning. It is one of the largest outdoor markets in France and luckily for us it was a lovely sunny day. Our main objective was to buy 2 little companions for Barry, the lonely cockerel. But first we negotiated our way through the crowds - not easy with a large 3 wheeler pram. Sam wanted sweets at every sweet stall and I caught Bella (who doesn't have a sweet tooth) arms outstretched trying to swipe baguettes right out of passerbys hands. So with a bag of sweets for Sam and a baguette bought for Bella - all was happy. And, we bought 2 lovely marran hens, who are at the moment getting aquainted with Barry. Now, we just need to give them equally ridiculous names for hens.

Yesterday morning

Driving to take Sam to maternelle yesterday morning, I had to stop and take photos of the mist starting to clear in the fields. I tend to take my camera everywhere with me. You just never know....I am teaching Sam about sunrise and sunsets at the moment. He seems transfixed with the sun 'going to bed' and moon appearing.

Speaking of learning. He is taking so much in at the moment. We are always careful not to push him too much as play I think is more important for him at his age. But, his teacher told me yesterday that he is speaking french naturally now and when I heard him switch from one language to other last week I wanted to cry. It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. His french accent is so natural. And, last night he very proudly declared "me, am french and anglais".

Thank you cards

We made thank you cards recently using a painting Sam had done of a rainbow. I added a few bits and printed smaller versions off to send as cards to everyone who kindly bought Sam and Bella presents at Christmas...even Santa!

Thank you to Bristol Parenting Cafe where I found this idea.

The five minute park trip

We were crazy! To think it was a good idea to take the children to the park. With the sun streaming through the windows, we were stupidly decieved that it was warm outside. And when we all trooped out of the front door, we still thought it was ok. "It'll be ok, we're wrapped up warm". In what felt like artic conditions (ok, a slight exaggeration), I practically jogged around the lake pushing a procrastinating Bella in her pushchair (she wanted to crawl on the floor and collect leaves) whilst Scott and Sam braved the bitterly cold wind at the play area. Promising Sam we'd bring him back very soon, we piled back into the car and drove home to forget about our park disaster! x

Sunlight

The sunlight streamed into the house and onto the children playing . x

The day after the weekend

I always feel I need to have a quiet day on a Monday after the weekend madness. So, we're taking it easy today. NO decorating, no errands, but maybe a nice walk later on. Bella is working her way through my magazines...she seems to be oblivious there is a corner of the room full of toys.

This weekend...

..we caught up with our friends who come to their home in the countryside from Paris every few weeks. Sam is always excited to see Luka and Bella is starting to play with little Louis. I was spying on the boys dancing in the salon d'hiver  and took a few sneaky photos. Sam is a little zonked today  - an early night all round I think!

Village horses

Our neighbour, Monsieur Ovan keeps his horses in various fields around the village. Most of the villagers partake (including us) in lending him our land. In return, his horses eat the grass, therefore keeping it nice and manageable!


So, when we walk about the village, you never know when or where you will bump into these handsome creatures. We did surprise them the other day - or the dogs did. The horses galloped and jumped about in a frenzy. When they calmed down they came over to say hello and Bella was so excited, waving and blowing kisses. The brown and white one walked with us on his side of the fence down the length of the field. I so so wish I wasn't super allergic to them.

Park life

Sam loves, loves, loves the park and we are fortunate to have many nearby to choose from. We tried a new one recently, which luckily passed the test. He loved to perch himself at the top of the slide and look out to the lake pondering what ever it is little boys ponder.

Bella was in her pushchair - as I stupidly thought she would sit there like a good baby and watch her brother for 1/2 an hour. Well, I got that wrong. Bella is still showing no signs of walking, so as the ground was muddy and wet, I put her in the little wooden house. But, she made a bee line for the lovely gooey mud...and was more than happy (after a dog poo and broken glass check) to crawl around getting very very muddy and wet through. I need to purchase some waterproof trousers for her.

We went silly with taking photos so I thought I'd make a collage. x

The best chicken soup and raspberry muffins

I've made chicken soup a number of times and each time Scott has put it aside. I wasn't sure where I was going wrong but not to worry, I ate it and it makes great baby food. So, yesterday when I made chicken soup with the leftover chicken, I didn't expect him to touch it. Amazingly, he wolfed it down saying it was the best chicken soup he'd ever had. So, I'd better record the recipe for future left over chickens!


The best chicken soup

1 onion - finely chopped
2 carrots - sliced
1/2 courgette - sliced (chucked in to use it up)
3 cloves of garlic
2 chicken stock cubes
thyme, salt, pepper and a teaspoon of brown sugar
splash of balsamic vinegar
tablespoon of flour
olive oil
left over chicken

I fried the onion in the olive oil and added the sugar and cooked for 3/4 minutes.
Added the carrots, courgette and garlic - cooked for another 5 minutes
Stirred in the flour
Added 1 litre - 1 1/2 litre of boiling water
Chucked in the stock cubes, thyme, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar
Added the left over chicken and cook for 40-50 minutes.

Then I made more lemon muffins, except I added lots and lots of raspberries...yum!

Rice pictures

Not happy - can you tell?

A little sulky

Can't resist a smile.

Voila! Cheese!

I thought it would be lovely for him to have his photo taken with this creations. As mentioned before, he has discovered glueing things - anythings.


He was a little moody to start with and then cheered up saying "cheese". He's very proud of what he's made and I have many things to frame and hang on the wall.

Wood buddy

Sam trying to console the cockrel who is grieving for the loss of his 4 hen ladies, tragically eaten by something wild and nasty!

My little wood buddy helping me fill the wheelbarrow in the rain whilst Scott was away. We did this twice a day while Bella was napping otherwise it would have been a logisitcal nightmare!

Baking and painting

I gave myself the task of painting the interior walls (all of them) back to white. I underestimated just a little how long it would take. The paint here is so thin and even painting over cream takes 3 or 4 coats! Never mind - it's looking much brighter in our little dark house and at least with white I can always keep a spare tin to paint over those mucky teeny hand prints.


And we've been baking again. Trying to steer away from biscuits, I've been making muffins - lemon ones. I just need to get them a bit more lemony. I'm thinking of just blitzing a whole lemon and have done with it...?

And, biscuits! Sam had a playdate with a friend from school, so we made a batch of biscuits.

Cheekiness, Chubbiness, Cuteness and Comical...

...she's all of these things, my little girl. Not to mention bossy and likes to throw a complete screaming fit - but we'll not go into that, only to say that Sam is learning to quickly put his hands over his ears to cut the noise out.

She has expressions for all situations and laughs regulary and her own babble jokes. And when she sees me grabbing the camera, she straightens her back and tilts her head, ready for posing. She certainly lights up my day and keeps me busy.