Kitchen...

Kitchen floor is ready. We're just waiting for the new stove to arrive and then the kitchen bench can be moved in. How exciting!

Visitors

This morning our last guests have left. Now a few days just us, and then Sian will be here, and in September one more couple from Holland and then the summer will slowly come to an end. I believe most of our visitors have had a great time and they've also made us and the kids have a lovely summer!

We've seen Sonja and Brett with their little Raul. The kids clearly remembered each other and picked up their play where they'd left it a year ago. Then Mels came to stay for a few nights. She missed her plane back to England so she ended up staying a little while longer.

Then we had Hein and Jannemieke with their two girls, and another collegue Tibor with Wendy and little one Twink called in for the day. At the end of the day Charlie and Twink were running hand in hand on the market, looking like cute little dutchies. All the girls had pony lessons that they'll probably always remember (helped by photos) like I remember my first ride ever on a black Shetland pony just like Trefine.

We've had a Canadian and a German family that have seen all the sights. After them three families with children that all stayed for two weeks and that have played endlessly here on the farm with Charlie and Lola with bikes, in the hay shed, building things, collecting snails and grubs, and creating fairy castles in the trees.

Clare, Gordon, Rebecca, Oliver, Sabine, Sarah, Steve, Jill, Rebecca, James, all lovely parents and great kids.

And last but not least the 'Witches of Eastwick' called in: Bianca with husband Wayne and mum and sister. Bianca and mum are into (animal) healing, Reiki and crystals and have helped Scooter (who has again a broken leg...) and Toby who had a sore paw. Such great people, we were very sad to see every one of you go.

But it will also be nice to have our own quiet space back, and get some more stuff done like work, building, gardening, dogs, horses...

Apart form all the staying visitors we've also had loads of people call in: A surprise visit from my cousins, and of course our local visitors Lisa, Christina with her mum, daughter and grandson Maxwell, Simon and Eddy, Steve and Erin. And Tom and Isabel of the mill next door with their four kids. Never a dull moment in Kervelen!

Some photo's:

Been awhile..

Yes indeed, along time since I sat here to write something, maybe before I went to Wales to say hello to Jon and Meryl or so...the truth is I do not find this an easy media, it feels to exposed to be a diary of thoughts yet uneventful enough not to be a diary of activity...

However, here we are, bright summers' day 18 months into our French experience...I think I am still adjusting!! It's as if we came on a big holiday and have decided to stay. In part, this maybe a classic response to something that is 'foreign' to our systems (not unable to speak the language being an effective agent for this)...so it is difficult to fit in, find a place etc. That being the case I guess another year and afew more phrases may make the difference!!

Very close to laying the wooden floor in the new kitchen and so this will bring to a close the messy, dusty side of the job and the focus to move the kitchen...for now we intend to move the old units etc. in by cutting them up to fit and for Pearce to come and Morrocan plaster the bench surface...sounds good to me...

With all the focus and energies poured into the house the outside, gardens etc. have suffered abit...so next year I am determined to reverse the trend...first up is a polytunnel so I can get going alot earlier in addition to growing many things that do not go well outside...then I need to rebuild the raised beds and extend the overal size. This week I have actually sent my application in for organic certification with Nature & Progress...no doubt my Google translate assisted form will give them a laugh but no doubt it should get the ball rolling....if we can achieve this it may go some way to feeling more stable...

Meanwhile back at the ranch, another sunny day, Monday morning, Heleen back from the Netherlands, C&L firing on all cylinders awaiting their porridge, maybe a long walk in the woods....all's well..

R

New rooms

Wow, I can hardly believe it but... we have slept in our new rooms! Kids in real big beds on legs in their own room with all their toys upstairs. And Rod and me finally just the two of us in our beautiful new room with a view on the apple trees.

Spectacle!

Fridaynight was the end-of-the-year spectacle of the school. The kids showed what they've worked on in their music and dance class. We were very impressed!

The teachers have done an amazing job teaching the kids beautiful dance and yoga moves and even choreography on interesting minimalist music. It was great to see that Charlie and Lola are getting it and actively participating. Lola has amazing balance!

Charlie and Lola are 5!!

Charlie and Lola are 5 years old! What a big lovely kids! They had a lot of friends over for their birthday party. We had cake with lovely sprinkles Roms sent us, and pizza. It's so good to see them having fun with their french schoolmates. In the mean time they just love going to school.

Lola and Charlie want to say THANK YOU to everybody that sent them nice presents!

Hay

Hay has been baled: 75 bales, what a lot of hay!.
It was trying to rain yesterday, but no luck...