A Short Side-Trip To The Alps

\Last week, my husband, son and I took a quick trip to the Alps, which are only about five hours away from the Auvergne. Granted, the Auvergne has its famous chain of volcanoes, but the Alps are impressive and its highest peak, the Mont Blanc ((15,782.3 ft), also called "la dame blanche",  is worth a trip. Taking small roads, we made it through Grenoble, Albertville and Annecy, which is just lovely. In between there are charming towns and beautiful...

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Of The Joys (And Hard Work) Of Taking Care Of An Old Farmhouse In The Auvergne

Though spending the summer here in the Auvergne involves a fair amount of going to the various market, cooking, eating and drinking, it also involves a huge amount of work on the family's stone farmhouse.  In addition to regular maintenance, there are bigger, unexpected jobs that need to be taken care of.  The summer of 2013 will be remembered for all the time spent digging a drainage ditch to (hopefully) keep rainwater away from the back...

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'Save Gowanus' Planning Community Rally To Voice Concerns About Lightstone Group Project On Thursday Evening

rendering by Lightstone GroupMeanwhile, back in Brooklyn....'Save Gowanus' is planning a rally on Thursday night at the Carroll Street bridge to protest the Lightstone Group's 12 story, 700 unit project at 363-365 Bond Street on the shores of the Gowanus Canal.Save Gowanus is composed of Gowanus residents and home-owners living near the site on Bond Street between Carroll Street and 2nd Street, as well as members of civic groups Friends of Bond (FOB)...

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A Long Awaited Event: The Yearly Pétanque Tournament In Our Village In The Auvergne

Registration for the Concours De Pétanque 2013 in our little French VillageThe official rulesThe prizesThe drinksThe spectatorOur friend Michel with his young partnerGetting readyLet the game beginMy son Max checking on the competitionGetting ready to throwThe importance of a tape measureFriend SimonTeam Kelly with friend Timo on leftIt was a picture perfect day for the yearly Pétanque tournament in our little village here in the Auvergne this past...

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A Sign Of Life From The Auvergne, France

It has been way too long since I blogged last. I apologize. But you see, the days have been flying by here in rural France and there never seems to be a dull moment.  After spending the first two weeks re-connecting with friends and catching up with the neighbors, my husband and I have started some projects around our 1866 stone farm house.  Since we are at least fourty-five minutes away from the nearest 'Mr. Bricolage', the French equivalent...

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