SARRAZ'S QB INC

It's no suprise is it?

 Here's a kids song originating in France in the 70's by one Chantal Goya:

"This morning a rabbit killed a hunter.  It was a rabbit with a gun..." (que cutesy girl with hand wiggling for ears and a blink or miss it moment of pretending to hold a gun,  including the recoil).

Please do look at the following link - it's much funnier!

http://bunnybissoux.blogspot.com/2008/03/ce-matin-un-lapin-chantal-goya.html

I also thought gun - rabbit - kids song...huh? But now it makes sense!?

For all you pony and horse lovers out there, we took the kids to a pony stud today to see what we could see.  We fell in love with the baby ponies - well they were gorgeous, including one blondie with blue eyes, a playful little boy called Angel Fire and Athena - the prettiest little pony of all. 

Two things impressed me - one the fact that Mr Pony had a big welcome for us and I mean big.  It was far too late to hide/avert the kids eyes so we tried for the studied nocholance but I'll be dealing with the questions for weeks.

Second we finsished up our hour long visit with a chat about the horse abattoir next door and his tasty horse steaks...

Hope you are all doing well.  It was Amby's first time back on a pony for some weeks (it's been competition time which she is not involved in, being a beginner), and she had a lovely straight back and a horse that made all the spectators laugh. There's Amby sat astride and kicking at the rounded tummy and the horse doing nothing. Quite comical but well done "Ambers" for getting that pony to move at all.

There was another BBQ tonight and beforehand we managed to drop the kids at memere's BEFORE we went shopping.  Here's me thinking it would go faster with no tantrums from Alex, but with Ange present there always seemed to be people to meet, so we would stop and kiss and chat, blocking the isle with our trolley as we did so (as per the norm). Then I'd ask - 'who was that' - to the rather cautious reply - 'I'm not entirely sure'.

The weather was much cooler tonight and little Lou Lou (one of the cousins of the kids) has got a cold.  We adults overcompansated with champagne and suduko.

Now at home watching bizzare clips from the 70's including one about a rabbit...

Bisous toute les monde!

Cheryl - we miss you, big hugs!

 
Since my last post, written a week or so ago, we have experienced some relief from the weather which has increased our energy levels.  Of course today the weather is back to it's old tricks so we are hiding inside, shutters down, playing Thomas the tank engine and watching cartoons until it's time to go the pool with the neighbours.

Sunday was a perfect day, hot but with a breeze and we spent a good 3 hours at the local riverside, picknicking and swimming and making dams.  The river is a nursery for fish and you can just see the fingerlings in one of the photos.  You can find more information on the waterways of Franche Comte here: http://www.interfrance.com/en/fc/na_rivers.html and on fishing here: http://www.gofishn.com/content/france

The location of this part of the river was just behind the salle des fetes where Ange and I celebrated our wedding.

 

 

Yesterday was another great day.  I took the kids to the local swimming pool and then we went to Ange's parents to drink a magnum of champagne because Ange's dad has returned from his extended stay in Senegal.  Tonight they have 'threatened' to take the kids overnight (yay!!!!).

We have been doing our usual sorties on the weekends to find out more about the area and to see if we fall for any one place in particular.  A few weekends ago we discovered Chateau Oricourt.  Sorry to bore you with more links but here is an english translation of their webpage http://www.oricourt.com/medieval-castle

They actually hold medieval fetes, markets and jousting here and it's a shame we just missed the last one.  The village itself is more like a hamlet and most of the buildings appear to have been part of the same village.   I had a grand designs moment with the little round house - isn't it cute!

  

 

The garden is producing! and we have our very first peas.  Good thing too, as the sun has mummified the plants so I think thats that for the peas.  The beans are starting to grow and are withstanding the heat better.  We have had several round courgettes which I have been experimenting with.  First a veal and pork 'farcir' or stuffing, with lentils, fresh tomato and herbs topped with cheese and chunky croutons, and then a vegetarian filling of courgettes, fresh tomatoes and aubergines with comte cheese mixed into the filling.  Both were really moreish.  We also did a gratin of various roasted vegetables and mozerella cheese.   Mmmmmm.  I love summer veges.

It's not only us of course.  We have enjoyed a bit of occasional bartering with our neighbours and so we had fresh groiselle in exchange for a courgette.  We also discovered which of our courgette plants was actually a melon!

The lunch siren has gone off and I must get some food on for the little gourmets before they complain.

We are really glad to hear from you all - keep up the emails and comments as we are missing you all very much!

La Pluralies and the weather

Dans la journée La nuit Température maximale : 35 °C Température minimale : 21 °C Humidité : 53 % Vent d'Ouest Sud-Ouest à 6 km/h Risque de précipitation : 20 % Ephémeride Lever du soleil : 05:48 Coucher du soleil : 21:33

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According to two different websites, the temperature today is either 27 or 32 degrees C with humidity of 47 or 37%.  Hmmm

Tomorrow may be 32 or 35 deg C and both sites agree that it will rain on Sunday and Monday - great news as the berries have started to mummify in the heat.

I know on paper it doesn't seem hot, but it really is.  It's been a while since I felt the need to shower every time I go outdoors.  The shutters are down on houses and there's no one on the streets.

The town has the festival of the pluralies on throughout this week, so we can see free shows at 7pm every night and enjoy 'de l’auberge' for good home cooked food within the courtyard of the l'Abbaye.  I can't wait to check it out - it's a great time to have an apero and a walkabout.

http://www.pluralies.net/

Shall we go back then? Life in the country and all the other nasty bits.

Life's a bit hard at the moment.  I start to remember that the new life in the country still involves washing socks and all the other nasty bits (the heat, the wasps...)

We will soon come to crunch time about whether we spend the 4k to send out things over or spend it going back to Oz...

There are times we miss the easy way of life, the family and friendships we have made and the beach and I have to keep reminding myself that while the weather here is perfect for the beach (stay out all day and not burn) it's not the sort of weather we would have in the Australian summer (burning feet, burning skin).  

And while we miss the impromptu chicken dinners and sparkling wine with our lovely neighbours in Oz, bare foot shopping and bike riding and the huge variety of wildlife, we still get to see our neighbours here in their pj's and have a laugh with them!

To be honest I have seen a fabulous ruin of a mill and we spent all last weekend trying to find it.  We ended having a picnic on a grassy verge between a chateau and a water treatment plant.  Sounds bizzare eh?  The day was perfect; not to hot, a little breeze, tiny, windy country lanes and beautiful little villages and hamlets everywhere.  We ate a meal of pizza on a discarded jacket - goats cheese or lardon and cheese, swigged sparkling mineral water and watched the kids try to catch grasshoppers.

 

In need of DIY.... all 300 m² of it.

1.77 Hectare backyard

ANCIEN MOULIN à restaurer du sol à la toiture sur 1 hectare 77 ares de terrain et bois. 

Ok it's a bit of a wreck but there's something about it!   Here's hoping we find it find it next week! 

If you are interested in owning you very own moulin (renovted or not) take a look at this site; http://www.moulin.nl/moulin-a-vendre

We missed a medieval joust on the way home in order to make time for the cherry festival at Fougerolles (where they were celebrating being awarded an AOC).  We saw 'Miss Cherry' - yes giggle all you like, the french make a celebration out of everything.  We ate cerise beignets hot off the pan and it's they were amazing - warm, with hot cherries exploding all over one's face. It's the same recipe as the clafoutis but its cooked in a pan - like pikelets - and the cherries are small so the stones are left in and we had to dodge the pips that were being spat everywhere.  Down it with a cold artesinal beer and a crate of cherries for 15€ and we were in heaven - Bernie and Kathy - we are thinking about you right now!!!! 

A few pics of the last week:

What about this for a stunning interior...

...this was a church at Remiremont....

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Fathers Day at Besancon...I love my Papa!

The garden progresses...

last day of school.

Less romantic aspects of the garden.  You can just glimpse the car repair shop where we see anything from tour cars and racing cars to complete wrecks (Alex loves this).

Washing Rhino's cage (in heels).  

Amby's last day at the swim club..  

 

FOOOOD

Before I start I have to say how much the daily morning walk is affecting me.  Not so much the middy walk when the temperature heats up or the after school walk when I'm in a rush, but the gentle stroll after a successful school drop out when I can look forward to 2.5 hours of peace and quiet (and the code :-O).

I think it's because of the forced exercise that I have been experiencing a real tranquility of thought and inner peacefulness lately.  Plus life is more simple.

More on food...

We have been starting our day, the kids and I, with a bowl of raw porridge oats and ice cold milk.  It's suprisingly delicious and the kids love it.  I'm happy to keep things simple and that seems to be theme with all our meals.  I'd like to try upping our fruit intake though with some grated green apple, mashed banana and sultanas.

The other day we roasted a chook (farm bred, large, 8.50€) which would normally be demolished at one sitting. It lasted us 3 days. 

Meal times are more of a picnic than anything, in this heat.  Last night we ate a small portion of smoked salmon, a can of mackerel in sauce (much nicer than it sounds - I adore mackerel) and a generous handful of mussels served with an equally small portion of hand cooked frites.  We ate the last of the chook (deboned) and the last of the beef roast (thinly sliced).  There was home grown salad and Amby did the vinaigrette while explaining to me that vinegar was heavier than oil and that's why they don't really mix.

Amby's recipe

mix Dijon Mustard and raspberry vinegar with a fork and then gradually add olive oil to taste.  The mixture should increase in volume - a bit like when you make mayonnaise.  Add fresh chopped shallots, salt and pepper to taste.  Add salad leaves but don't toss them until the salad course.

Ange and I are loving the tomatoes at the moment so usually serve some at dinner sliced or quartered with either mozzerella or red wine/cherry/raspberry vinegar and oil.

Another thing I love is the dijon seeded mustard mixed with mayonnaise (it's bought like this in a jar and is called 'Dijonaisse').  I mix some into boiled new potatoes to make a simple potato salad.

The garden is coming along and soon we will have baby yellow courgettes sauteed in butter and garlic, fresh peas (Ken Hom's calamari with peas please!) and beans simply steamed or boiled and then tossed over heat with some lardons.

Lunch is where I try to get the kids to have veges.  We eat raw vege fingers and perhaps I'll cook a pasta and stir in some grated zucchini or fresh tomatoes.  Did you know - I never knew I could cook maccaroni or spaghetti in the microwave - until now.  I bung it in cold covered in water for 10-12 mins and it comes out al dente and not even stuck together.

I also found that the finer you grate zucchini the sweeter it is.

The french idea of a salad can be as easy as grated carrot with vinegar and a pinch of sugar - this is a popular salad in this part of France.

My favourite dinner in a hurry (apart from eggs) is the fromage you put in the oven with a dash of white wine in the centre and then eat like a fondu with left over baguettes cut into small cubes.

I am going to buy a raclette grill soon - it's like an indoor or outdoor) BBQ and I guess I'll have to try some horse meat, kanagroo and even frog on it. As long as it's covered in the melted, yummy racelette cheese who cares!

I'll try to post some more cost of living soon but in the meantime re:washing powder - when we arrived I bought this condensed powder that looks like tiny white ball-bearings that fit into a padded ball that goes into the washing machine.  The cost was 14€ and I have not had to fill it up yet (it even comes with a spare recharge).  Never seen this product in Oz but pefhaps it's been there all along and I haven't noticed?  At any rate it's been amazing.  Let me know if you have seen it.

I use white vineager at the end of the wash to soften if I can be bothered so that saves me loads as well.