KITE FLYING

I took the kids to Megeve in the holidays to make kites one morning.  They were frozen and blue by the time they finished but their kites turned out great.

It was great fun, we also did the climbing wall.  All free for the kids in the holidays.

Ben

Ben above Sam underneath

 

Ben - I couldn't believe how fast he went up it's the first time he's ever done it.

 

I went off and bought a crepiere.  It's a flat stone for making crepes and the professionals use it to produce many many crepes.  I have been practicing for my buvet days which are almost on us.  We are due to take over the Buvet in December.

 

First attempt

Second attempt

 

Third attempt



TOUSSAINT

All Saints holiday and the kids get two weeks off from school, so for the first time in our three year history with Manu's boss, he asked for leave to go to Paris.  It was granted - yay.  NOT.  Manu's best friend - David - was very ill in Nantes and so we cancelled the holiday and Manu headed off to Nantes for a week to be with David and his family.  Unfortunately David passed away but Manu got to see him before he went and whilst the whole thing was heartbreaking and exhausting, especially watching your best friend go so slowly so much was said in his last days.  He left a beautiful family consisting of three children and a truly dedicated wife who was so brave and strong through the whole ordeal.  Manu is back home now and life goes on, but it just goes to show how short and cruel life can be.  It has certainly taught everyone involved in this tragedy to treasure every moment with your loved ones because you never know what the future may hold for you.

Anyway I was left with the kids, the weather has not been behaving and there is not much to do at this time of year.  We found a little fairground in Sallanches which amused us for a day.

 Bumper Car fun.

 

Sam - the only one on the train

 .....and wooden games in Megeve.

 Halloween - made good soup.

WINTER'S COMING

Sunday Morning.

 



 

Monday Morning.

 

Well whilst New York is in the grip of Sandy, we seem to be experiencing an early winter.  The leaves haven't had time to fall of the trees yet but after Saturday night it really seems we are in for an early winter.  Can't say I'm thrilled at the thought as this year the last of the snow disappeared in May and it feels like Summer was only a month long.  Anyway it makes for some fun days for the kids.  You feel alive when you walk in the crisp air.

 

Samuel building his first snowman of the season in our neighbours garden on Sunday.

 



Our woods are looking pretty and the sun was even out although it was 0C it made for a pleasant walk.

 

Snowball Samuel

A funny looking snowman more like a snow cow.

 



 

Transporting the snow man/cow.

 

We went off to Megeve to kill time.  It is the holidays for two weeks and Manu was working, we didn't spend too much time here as the wind was freezing.  They have set up the wooden games again in the square, the kids love them.

 

 

Emile Allais was the first person every in France to be crowned world skiing champion, and he is considered the first person to put skiing on the map so to speak in France.  He was influential in starting the great ski resorts in Meribel etc and he started the famous ski school ESF, he was the first ever moniteur de ski and the first Pisteur (ski patroller).  He was born in Megeve and he died last week at the age of 100.  He was buried in Megeve and the funeral was attended by hundreds of ski fans.  Here is the poster they put up above the Town Hall in honor of Emile Allais - Legend de Ski.

 

 

 

 



SEMAIN DU GOUT AND CROSS

So school was wrapping up for the holidays and we had Semain du Gout which this year was regions of France,  we had to go in (as mom's) to help the kids cook a traditional dish.  It was fun if not a little hectic at times with kids everywhere jumping to stir, cook, fry etc.  I made a cake from Brittany and savoury crepes with sausages.  All the parents are invited on the Friday to eat the eats.

The kids made homemade apple juice with an old fashioned press, and it was delicious.  The hoody is Samuel.

Look at all the plates we cooked.

So the last thing before the holidays was the Cross country race of Autumn. The kids did really well, it is done on a time per age thingy.  Samuel had to run for 8 minutes and Benjamin for 6 minutes and then all the kids get a certificate to say how far they ran, so no loser's, everyone is a winner and all the parents are there to spur them on.

Benjamin at his marker where he finished. He ran 1080m in 6 minutes

Ben at the back-middle in Red, you can just see his head.

 

Ben receiving his certificate.

 

On your marks.....................

 



Go Sam Go Sam

 

2030m in 8 minutes

 

GO BEN

 

 

A scanned picture so bizarre dimensions sorry.  We went to a tournament for Benjamin in Saturday in Faucigny which is a good 40min in the direction of Geneva.  It was well organized considering they were all 5 and 6 years old, not an easy task.  Benjamin scored two goals so very pleased with himself.

 

Manu coached the team - yip totally legal at this age and necessary.

Benjamin in Goal or Gardien as it's known in French.



 



GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Changing the subject this is what we ate last week discovering it in the supermarket, it was Manu who discovered it - of course he is always in the cheese section.  Similar to fondue but pure reblechon in a wooden barquet which you just heat in the oven.  Slightly sharp but delicious never-the-less.  Gosh my dad would have been in seventh heaven.

Benjamin was the guinea pig.

MORE MUSHROOMS, MORE CAKES.....

On a Thursday our kids go to canteen.  YAY.  Not actually because first of all Samuel hates it, secondly he is allergic to fish and what do they usually have on a Thursday - yip fish, so I have to prepare him a separate lunch, and pay the normal price and no sandwiches allowed.  Then we have the whole day to ourselves but there are only so many times you can go to the same restaurants.  So brilliant plan - go mushroom hunting.  Not knowing a thing about what you can eat and what you can eat only once - if you know what I mean - we were invited by Seb and Julien and off we went.

 Checking the book

 

Believe it or not make excellent eating material you just have to take of the mousse and you have a beautiful mushroom underneath.  Most that look like this are edible and the ones with gills like a brown mushroom or a button mushroom are not.  Or that is the basic rule but there is always the exception.

Mushrooms like mud

 A real cepes.  Fabulous stuff.

 



 

Washing and then..............

 



 .....................into the pan.  We made an omelet everyone enjoyed them and everyone I am pleased to report lived.

 

And these are the inedible ones................

 

Lots of magic ones in this lot - a little tea and whooohaaaaaa

 



 

Had to take this shot of the chalet in the distance, gosh what a dream to live here.  Manu looks bloody funny with his basket.

 

 

Well still practicing for my cake making spree for the birthday part of business.  This was for a friends son he wanted an American cake and ideally I should have covered it with an extra layer of ganche.  This is a blueberry and white chocolate ganache layered between 4 sponges.  Apparently was delicious so half way there.  The decor I made from homemade fondant also a little tricky to get the right consistency.