Pepe's Morning Quote:"Cherie, Je t'amie..La da, la da, ra dum… I want to tell you, I love you so. La da, la da… Do not say it's in vain…"
This past weekend we headed to Linda's Aunt Francois' and her husband Christian's House in the French countryside outside Avignon. There we met her cousin Odile her husband Nicola and her son (Linda's Nephew?) Tomas. Aunt Ella and Gerald drove us...it is great to be chauffered around!! Thanks Gerald!!
If you know Linda...you will gain further insight into her personality, and background when you see her family in France...read on and you will begin to see...
Linda is greeted with a kiss from 5 year old Tomas
The French are very family oriented and when they get together for a meal to celebrate family visitors...they bring out the "fatted calf". It is a true experience to be welcomed as family and to eat like I have never eaten before...takes several hours. Here is how the meal went...1st...aperitif's...French wine with homemade French sausages, and crackers...as appetizers.
Followed by a great salad and some kind of fried fish "hushpuppies"...spicy and incredibly tasty.
Christian was pointing to a Rooster in the yard and said, we killed his brother for you and we are going to eat him for lunch...they weren't kidding...notice the head still attached!!
Apparently you can't have 2 roosters in a hen house...so the timing of our visit was perfect!
This past weekend we headed to Linda's Aunt Francois' and her husband Christian's House in the French countryside outside Avignon. There we met her cousin Odile her husband Nicola and her son (Linda's Nephew?) Tomas. Aunt Ella and Gerald drove us...it is great to be chauffered around!! Thanks Gerald!!If you know Linda...you will gain further insight into her personality, and background when you see her family in France...read on and you will begin to see...
Linda is greeted with a kiss from 5 year old Tomas The French are very family oriented and when they get together for a meal to celebrate family visitors...they bring out the "fatted calf". It is a true experience to be welcomed as family and to eat like I have never eaten before...takes several hours. Here is how the meal went...1st...aperitif's...French wine with homemade French sausages, and crackers...as appetizers.Followed by a great salad and some kind of fried fish "hushpuppies"...spicy and incredibly tasty.Christian was pointing to a Rooster in the yard and said, we killed his brother for you and we are going to eat him for lunch...they weren't kidding...notice the head still attached!!Apparently you can't have 2 roosters in a hen house...so the timing of our visit was perfect!
I can't remember what came next...but this is Christian's homemade Pate'...one was rabbit and the other Venison...
Pretty sure the cheese or "fromage" came next...the "stinkier" the cheese the better it is!!
Linda's cousin Odile made this chocolate raspberry cake...with some kind of cream sauce that was poured over it....amazing!
Then I think we had cafe'...(coffee).
Little Tomas was a cute kid...full of life!...he says he knows 10 languages...as a 5 year old.
Linda with cousin Odile, Nicola and Tomas....
Linda and her Aunt Francois'...
Actually the last of the meal was "bonbon" or candy in French...Linda sampled many!!
That afternoon we walked off our lunch at the Papal Palace in Avignon...The Avignon Papacy refers to a period in the history of the Roman Catholic Church from 1309 to 1378 when the seat of the Pope was moved from Rome to Avignon.
These pictures cannot convey...
After Avignon, we drove up to Christian's weekend house in the small village of Villeperdrix...about 1 1/2 hours out of Avignon...the house belong to his grandparents...and if over 200 years old...there we spent the night...the scene was like that of a movie set.
Aunt Ella and Francois warm up....nothing like a wood burning fire.
We got there late at night, when I opened the window THE NEXT MORNING....
Christian's Wine Cellar in the basement..actually this is where they used to keep the animals...sheep, chickens, pigs, etc...
Linda sampling some of Christian's special...whatever it was...very strong!
Pretty sure the cheese or "fromage" came next...the "stinkier" the cheese the better it is!!Linda's cousin Odile made this chocolate raspberry cake...with some kind of cream sauce that was poured over it....amazing!
Then I think we had cafe'...(coffee).Little Tomas was a cute kid...full of life!...he says he knows 10 languages...as a 5 year old.
Linda with cousin Odile, Nicola and Tomas....
Linda and her Aunt Francois'...
Actually the last of the meal was "bonbon" or candy in French...Linda sampled many!!That afternoon we walked off our lunch at the Papal Palace in Avignon...The Avignon Papacy refers to a period in the history of the Roman Catholic Church from 1309 to 1378 when the seat of the Pope was moved from Rome to Avignon. These pictures cannot convey... After Avignon, we drove up to Christian's weekend house in the small village of Villeperdrix...about 1 1/2 hours out of Avignon...the house belong to his grandparents...and if over 200 years old...there we spent the night...the scene was like that of a movie set. Linda, Christian and Gerald....The back of the house in the village.
The same door is still in place...200 years later.
The same door is still in place...200 years later. Aunt Ella and Francois warm up....nothing like a wood burning fire. We got there late at night, when I opened the window THE NEXT MORNING.... Christian's Wine Cellar in the basement..actually this is where they used to keep the animals...sheep, chickens, pigs, etc... Linda sampling some of Christian's special...whatever it was...very strong! One of these bottles dates back to 1962.
This is a pathway leading up to the front door...
Christian and Francois have orchards of Olive trees, Apricots, and Vineyards...we had a great walk around the town and on their property.
A gift from Christian...fresh olive oil...which when anyone comes to visit in Colorado will probably have this used in their salads!
Francois looking beautiful!!
Vineyards in the foreground...Olive trees in the back.
Fantastic host for the weekend!
50 families live in the town...
One of the best weekends I have ever spent...great food, great scenery, great family...Merci Beau coup!
This is a pathway leading up to the front door...
Christian and Francois have orchards of Olive trees, Apricots, and Vineyards...we had a great walk around the town and on their property.A gift from Christian...fresh olive oil...which when anyone comes to visit in Colorado will probably have this used in their salads! Francois looking beautiful!!Vineyards in the foreground...Olive trees in the back.
Fantastic host for the weekend! 50 families live in the town... One of the best weekends I have ever spent...great food, great scenery, great family...Merci Beau coup! 
I absolutely love the pictures! I bet you're having an amazing time that you'll never forget. Thanks for sharing it with us. We spent a few days in Paris several years ago but I bet I would have enjoyed France better if viewed your way. Thank you also for the wonderful card. We're doing great and can't believe how wonderfully our lives have changed! I'm constantly at a loss for words, that's for sure. Thank you!!
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