september 5, 2012

This is a "before" picture, because I'm hoping to get this little area landscaped before it gets cold. "After" picture coming soon!

september 4, 2012

Out on an evening walk exploring the village of Grevilly and its surrounding countryside. 

september 3, 2012

Out for a picnic and a walk with a mini-intern (length of stay, not height), Sarah, and it got dark by the time we got back to the car. This church is at the top of a hill, surrounded by fields...one of our favorite picnic spots.

september 2, 2012

I'd love to know who lives here---they must have a great sense of humor! {They also have a big red flower as their mail box, but that didn't fit in the picture.}

september 1, 2012

One of the happiest sights in the world, n'est pas?

august 30, 2012

Jay always finds efficient and enjoyable ways to accomplish tasks...sitting down and listening to an audiobook is a way more fun than just standing there...especially when you have about 20 pounds of carrots to peel.

august 29, 2012

For any of you Mentalist fans out there, you can imagine how I felt when I walked into the kitchen and found this.  

august 28, 2012

Prepping Jamie Olivers "Moorish Crunch Salad" for lunch today. Love that vegetables come in such appealing colors, even if they taste more like dirt than skittles. 

august 27, 2012

On today's lunch menu: chard-stuffed pork roast.

august 26, 2012

Waiting for their turn in the spotlight for the starter course tonight at the Château.

august 25, 2012

I rummaged around in our of our jungle of a garden and found this monster pumpkin. Dang, it was heavy! And large enough to make soup for 40 people for dinner tonight!

august 24, 2012

A little visit from two of our favorite Brits, John and Rod.

august 23, 2012

Around the table with friends (and an amazing Thai soup that Nichole made). Content.

august 22, 2012

There's something so wonderful about catching up with old friends, especially the kind where it feels like just yesterday you were together (and not nearly a decade! wow---we're old!!!) Great to meet Eric and get to share a few of our favorite local haunts.

august 21, 2012

So excited to have a visit from our college friend, Carina Strappello Long, along with her husband and parents! I haven't seen her in such a long time, so it's really great to catch up. Here we are giving them a tour of the Château; the bread guillotine never fails to impress.

august 20, 2012

There's a informal kind of mini family camp here at the Château this week, and to my glee, our friends Rob and Nichole are participating, and she brought supplies for making some of her amazing Thai recipes! Bring on the rice noodles, cilantro, lime, chiles and coconut milk!!!

august 19, 2012

Okay, I think I'll give this one the "most boring photo of the year" award. But in real life, it is a pretty swell view to wake up to each morning. There even are horses!

august 18, 2012

We dropped our interns, Ben & Crissy, off at the train station early this morning, (best wishes, you guys---and thanks for all your hard work!!!) which is right by the farmers' market in Mâcon . We couldn't help but buy some of this candy-colored chard, it's so cool!

august 17, 2012

Crystalyn working in the garden.

august 16, 2012

A little "tchin-tchin" with our new co-workers, celebrating Christelle's birthday.

august 15, 2012

This is Plottes, the village we're staying in until mid-September. The sign talks about the specialities of this town: red, white and sparkling wines, old houses, a (presumably) famous engraver from the 18th century, and hiking paths with nice views. We've been enjoying all of those except perhaps the engraver.

august 14, 2012

The place we're house-sitting at is in a little village surrounded by rolling hills with vineyards, and lots of hiking paths. We've been living it up, going on a walk or bike ride pretty much every evening that we're home. So spoiled!

august 13, 2012

Intern Ben, doing some very serious gardening. I don't think he really hates me, even though I seem to be getting a major stink eye. 

august 11, 2012

Nadia surveys Moving Day as the Salas arrive. (And she doesn't know it's moving day for her as well...she will be staying with some friends since the Sala family has their own cat, and Nadia doesn't play well with other cats. At all.)

august 10, 2012

Our kitchen, finally all finished up & painted, just in time for it's new occupants, who will move in tomorrow!

august 9, 2012

Ha! Finally got that little cupboard door painted and installed! It's only been like two and a half years that I've been meaning to do that!

august 7, 2012

Another squash picture. They look so cool though, as the plants have overgrown the garden wall and are doing their best to take over the parking lot, leaving pumpkins and squash hanging all around.

august 6, 2012

We're trying to finish up all the projects on our house that we never finished while we were living there in time for moving-in of the Sala family. It looks so much better, I totally should have done this years ago!

august 5, 2012

More squash for dinner. I'm so glad my husband likes vegetables and basically will eat absolutely anything---I know I'm a lucky girl!!!

august 4, 2012

Jay doing his favorite thing ever, cleaning the Château! Sorry for the kindof dorky picture, Jay, but it's the best I've got today.

august 3, 2012

Hanging out with Crissy, making Bekah's spicy chocolate gingersnap tart. 

august 2, 2012

Off on our evening bike ride: yes, it all looks a little fake, doesn't it? Must be the light, plus Jay pretending to be riding his bike for me, plus the amazing landscape. Sometimes it doesn't feel real to us, either.

august 1, 2012

Garden pickings = dinner tonight. (Plus a beautiful view out the back of the house we're staying in!)

july 31, 2012

Had another one of those A Year in Provence moments today. A group of guys got together to help another guy move a bunch of huge stones on his property, and we enjoyed experiencing the whole wonderful way that French people do this, with much discussion over how to accomplish the task, many breaks with delicious consumables, and friendship and enjoying the company being at the foremost. We laughed that what would have taken a group of Americans one hour (get it done quick and get back to whatever else you need to do) took these guys four...but they had a whole lot more fun and community along the way. 

(BTW, Jay did not do all the work by himself and I in no way am trying to imply that through this picture! It just so happened that I took a picture while my husband was working, a normal proud wife thing to do I guess).

july 30, 2012

Ben & Crissy, hanging out at our friends' place in Lyon. We got ice cream at Adélice twice today, which makes it pretty much the best day ever.

july 29, 2012

Out for an evening hike in the hills around the place we're house-sitting. 

july 28, 2012

Out for an evening stroll in the neighborhood. I'd be jealous of me, too.

july 27, 2012

Taking the early train out of Lyon.

july 26, 2012

In Lyon for the day, visiting some really great people, the Klopps. Temperatures over 90 degrees called for a trip to my favorite ice cream place in France, Terre Adélice. It's a place where you can get all your basics...plus about a million other flavors, like smoked bacon, goat cheese, cucumber, red bell pepper, wasabi mustard...you get the picture. Jay was pretty adventurous, his cone here composed of lemon-basil and tomato sorbets. I had rhubarb and the red bell pepper, which were both amaaazing. I would seriously love to live in Lyon just for the chance to try every one of their flavors.

july 25, 2012

Market day in Pont-de-Vaux...tis' the season for peaches, nectarines, and apricots! We're pretty much in heaven.

july 24, 2012

Some friends took us out for a day on their boat, which they live on year-round (so cool!). We took the Sâone river up to Tournus, had lunch on the boat, and came back. Okay, we drive to Tournus all the time, on a road that goes right next to the river, but being out on the river on a boat felt like being in a totally different place altogether...such a different perspective.

july 22, 2012

We participated in a local wine walk, a combo hike through the countryside/wine tasting event, with booths set up for tasting every couple of kilometers for about 15 kilometers. Here we are with our little wine glass carrier necklace things, enjoying the sun & vineyard views. We're going to miss this place, I do believe!

july 21, 2012

This is the annual Bastille Day celebration in our village (they do it late to spread out the festivities between the different towns). Before the fireworks show, the children are given paper lanterns (which yes, do catch fire from time to time) and they parade around the village, parents and on-lookers in tow. It's quite charming, and gives one that happy glowy feeling that everything's just wonderful in life. 

july 20, 2012

Our house is getting empty. Feels so good!

july 19, 2012

Jay taking a break from the packing. 

july 18, 2012

Jay found this pretty little nest today. What a lovely home!

july 17, 2012

Some friends of ours are lovingly restoring this old building on their property, turning it into a concert hall. We haven't seen it for a while, so Pierre gave us a tour of all the progress they've made; pretty amazing. 

july 16, 2012

Mmmmm...doing a deep clean of the kitchen, scrubbing grease out the inside of the hood fan. A strangely satisfying job.