Sept 21: Family

Here we are, in a setting of great beauty, calm and history, and the thing we are enjoying most of all is family. It is a primary element of French society and culture: to socialize! While most events are enjoyed as a reason for gathering, gathering never requires a reason.

Thus, with so much of our family here, we have been having dinners regularly. Rosette had a nice dinner for us, then Joelle had one. Maryvinne has had a couple.

Just as at home, Maryvonne works to make a family gathering a real affair. Menu planning to the nth degree, a big table, and delicious food. These meals are afternoon affairs, starting at 12:00 and ending around 3:00. Our last menu was: finger food- sausage slices, nuts, snacks; appetizer: sparkling white wine, oysters, foie gras, greek salad, sliced meat and bread; meal: rose and pinot noir wine, roasted pork loin, mashed and gratineed potatoes, salad of mache; desert: coffee, cookies, pear tarte.

I won't post too much about about our private time here, just a picture or two so readers can get a sense of it all. We all missed Ian and Kelly, and the only think keeping this from being perfect was their absence.