New Years Day "Resolution" hike in the Gorges du Gardon
Cole - working hard!
Check out the gorge, we hiked to the caves.
Cole and Ellie have both been taught well in regards to proper carbo loading before and during a hike. Fuel, baby... fuel.
Ellie - On the rock. "Climbing."
It's a pretty narrow, wet path up to the shrine...
...but check out the tilework!
Very creepy little cave type thing (only creepy to me as I was sure rodents were going to come out of nowhere)
A bit questionable with a kid on your back, at least I have the litte kid.
Just cool and really old
Lance got the better work out here.
Cole: "Why does she always get to be the Queen?"
Galette - who finds the prize?
Ellie - it was a miniture Ron Weasley from Harry Potter whose head fell off the next day. Tragic.
They love their shrines here. This one at the summit of Mont Bouquet.
Day trip to Bouquet, France (the mini mountain we see every day when taking Ellie to school).
Bad picture quality but check out those rays.
Cole: "Are you people nuts? It's freaking freezing on top of this mountain... my elbows are frozen!"
OK - coolest thing of this day trip "Tractor Museum."
Just some guys' yard on either side of the road. Priceless.
Grape picking tractor.
Cole, parking his wagon and truck...in my closet.
Took the birds a LONG time to figure out the popcorn and cranberries were for them.
Frozen pool.
One of the really cold nights.
We should have known this was an omen...
Campagnac in the snow. Hadn't snowed in 4+ years.
Started out cute...
looks like it's going down hill...(literally)
...and "we have a piper down!"
Entry to the Gite.
Gotta love the retro Red Cross truck.
Our vineyard in snow.
"I'm Putting snow on Daddy"
good thing Daddy didn't run away - that would have spoiled the fun.
Our snug little hillside hamlet.
Our vineyard
Hamlet Cross in the snow
This is the back of the gite (guest house) and our house.
Rosemary
Lavender
The road to Vic
This is a picture of the back of our house & the gite. Everything to the left of the hedges & telephone pole is ours.
Close view. (Where's Waldo?)
Back patio
This stone table looks better with a glass of wine and a plate of cheese on it...
Or... Ellie
Don't need much snow to make a "bonhomme de neige."
Actual coal from our fireplace for the eyes.
Under the wood shed.
"I am a giant"
A sad one inch, but snow in Provence!
Patio
Our evening without power - we went over 24 hours without power & heat!
Heating up left overs by the fire.
Really high quality wood we ordered - kinda wet!
Ellie, staying warm!
Cole's lunch menu
He has a gourmet chef cooking for him at the Crèche - not so much at home.
Ellie patiently waiting to get picked up for lunch.
The pre-school foyer.
Ellie and Vanessa. Everyday she runs out into my arms and says "Mama."
Gotta love the pile of empty oyster shells!
This guy can park anywhere.
Check out the grand entrance to the Uzès hospital (not the hospital that we have taken both the kids to).
The "Journée de la Truffe" in Uzès.
Truffle eggs? Ummm ya!
It took four men working paddles to keep these truffle eggs moving and not burning in this MASSIVE pan!
The had to use a forklift to move the massive pan back and forth over the HUGE fire.
And they were good!
Ellie, not as daring... Cole "bring it on."
ASL (American Sign Language) -- "More, more!"
Ultimately the woman we bought our truffle from
Yummy treats at the Truffle festival
Ellie especially liked them
All the restaurants in the square were busy.
All the restaurants had "all truffle, all the time" menus for the day.
The Truffle procession... these people take this seriously.
Um... do still live in your Mom's basement?
the hopin' square
Truffle auction
This one is HUGE! Couple grand minimum for that monster.
Truffle hunting exercise - dog, not as good!
The pig - HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!
So sweet.
Look at that mug!
OK, this guy is for real...check out his hands!
Like pros!
That is what you get when you leave the decision to your 3 year old! She goes for size wihout any care for cost!
So proud, even though she ate none of it.
This guy looks like he is either really French or straight out of Southie.
House of the Truffle.
The doorways are just so cool.
Rugby Club Uzège - undefeated season!
fights similar to hockey...I can do this.
Guy in the lower left...not loving life.
This was the craziest thing ever. Ellie spent the next week "jumping up" for Cole's toy Rugby ball.
Dog pile on the rabbit!
Mid sized car here
Extrememly large car here.
Best day ever - Inauguration Day with our kids mesmerised by the goodbye van!
Ellie's quote: "Barack Obama is my friend."
At one point Cole was clapping and waving goodbye -- unprompted -- while Marine One/Executive One was pulling away.
On top, on top, on top!
The actual Inauguration Truffle (what was left if it when we remembered to take a picture).
The beginning of the truffle food pictures. We paid enough for the truffle that we had to document it. Truffled boursin in puff pastry.
Appetizer: Truffle crostini (this was Lance's favorite of all the dishes)
The shaving.
Leek and truffle risotto with shrimp and shaved truffles
....and of course good champagne for the occasion.
Cole with the strike out!
Don't they look like angels?
Reading is good.
Cole has a different agenda for "Family Book" time.
Squeezing yet another meal out of the truffle. Leek and truffle risotto cakes on a bed of mixed greens. Those things go a long way!
