Just in the Neighbourhood It’s not so often that we have guests from North America who drop by because they are just passing through, but last weekend my sister Marie stopped by on her way to Israel. We had a great – but short- visit with her. The weather was beautiful (warmer here than in…

Chateau de Vizille It’s not so often that we have guests from North America who drop by because they are just passing through, but last weekend my sister Marie stopped by on her way to Israel. We had a great – but short- visit with her. The weather was beautiful (warmer here than in Jerusalem)…

Last week there was some sad news around our house – our neighbours lost their dog. They were on holidays down south – and (what we seem to have understood) is that they were out for a walk with friends and they came accross a big-horn sheep (??) and Zola took after it, and never…

Entrepierres We spent 4 days down in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, close to the ancient Roman city of Sisteron, in the northern region of Provence that’s the southern end of the Aples.  The area is an interesting combination of hot, dry climate,  southern type geography  but also with aspects of a higher elevation. It’s a part…

We spent 4 days down in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, close to the ancient Roman city of Sisteron, in the northern region of Provence that’s the southern end of the Alpes.  family hike: 10 kids between 4-13  The area is an interesting combination of hot, dry climate,  southern type geography  but also with aspects of a…

Joyeuses Pâques It seems that large, tradition-filled celebrations are what often makes living away from home seem rather different.  Easter, like Christmas, was one of those times.  In some ways there is so much different – but in some ways it really helps to see what really is at the core, that remains the same.…

It seems that large, tradition-filled celebrations are what often makes living away from home seem rather different.  Easter, like Christmas, was one of those times.  In some ways there is so much different – but in some ways it really helps to see what really is at the core, that remains the same.  Take away…

Escalade No – not a giant SUV with chrome spinnners on the oversized wheels – that’s an /ɛs kəˈleɪd/ – I mean /es.ka.lad/ – rock climbing. Jonah has been doing rock climbing as his Wednesday activity this year (since kids don’t have school on Wednesday – for more on that see here) Last week was…

No – not a giant SUV with chrome spinners on the oversized wheels – that’s an /ɛs kəˈleɪd/ – I mean /es.ka.lad/ – rock climbing. Jonah has been doing rock climbing as his Wednesday activity this year (since kids don’t have school on Wednesday – for more on that see here) Last week was his first time…

Le Petit chèvre de Micah In school this week Micah’s class had some special guests – some petits chèvres…baby goats. Last week his class made goat cheese (also confusingly referred to as “chèvre”) at school.  We asked him how exactly they did this – but the response seemed a bit suspicious (hint: it included cinnamon).  I…

Formation Civique translated… basically civic training – a course to help you understand life in France: how does the democracy work, why is the flag red, white & blue, what about separation of church and state, how does the medical system work etc. etc. It is a course for people trying to immigrate permanently to France, or get into…

Last Sunday was plant-the-window-box-herb-garden day.  The various plants have already given sacrificially of themselves so that others may live – or at least eat – better.

Recital – voix et corps On Friday the kids had their ‘concert’ for their school music program. They don’t have a regular music teacher at the school.  Both in the sense that there is not a music teacher there on a regular basis, and in the sense that the music teacher they do have is…

Lac Achard On Saturday we went for a family hike with our friends the Pavey’s.  It was a beautiful sunny day for a hike to an alpine lake.  It was over 18 degrees up at the ski resort parking lot where we started –  so you would think that ski season was over..but nope. We had to…

Yesterday the kids had some sort of ‘cheese tasting’ at school.  It was supposed to be a few weeks ago – but somehow got bumped to this week.  Now, this is not to be confused with the chevrettes [baby goats] that are coming to the school later for the kids to learn about, play with…

Sprung This weekend we were blessed with fantastic weather. The first really warm days this year.  We spent most of the weekend outside –  the kids played in the yard, we went to the park twice, sat on patios, went on bike rides, had a  pic-nic lunch, cooked hot-dogs over a fire in our yard,…