Living the French village life. . . . . . . .

This is the medieval village in the Languedoc region where my brother,

 his wife, and my niece have lived for many years. My niece recently

graduated from Glasgow University in Scotland and is now working for a 

well known international company in England. . . . . . I know she must miss

the quiet French village life, at least a little bit.

Caunes is within the medieval area of the Aude Pays Cathare - just 20 mins. 

from Carcassonne, the largest walled city in Europe. An hour south and you 

hit the Mediterranean beaches, and a beautiful 2 hour train trip brings views of the

 Pyrenees mountains, the coastline, and then you arrive in Spain, which we did at

 the end of our trip. I'll have lots to share from Barcelona later.

My family's house is gorgeous, and the garden produces much bounty in the way

 of vegetables which my SIL preserves to stock her large pantry. My brother is 

now quite the farmer I must say, and his wife a really wonderful cook.

These pix were taken two weeks ago and as you can see the tomatoes were still 

coming in and the onions being dug. One evening John dug

 potatoes an hour before preparing dinner - you can imagine the fresh flavor!

As you can see, the weather continued to hold after we left the river boat in 

Provence and headed to Caunes for a few days. After all the wonderful meals

Alison prepared in her beautiful kitchen, and sampling many great wines chosen

 by John, we headed into the vineyards, les Montagnes Noire (the Black Mountains)

 in the distance, and walked for several miles each day. . . . . . you can guess why!

Some views from around the village where a small population of approx. 1400 live

 the true French life. They are surrounded by acres of vineyards, now in their

 Autumn colors following the recent harvest.

Bob and I walked often up and down the narrow streets to the village ramparts,

 checking all the places we'd seen on previous visits, but which remain of great interest.

Also located nearby the village is the great red marble quarry which has supplied

 beautiful stone to build some of France's most amazing landmarks, such as the

 Palace of Versailles.

An annual red marble carving contest in the village produces amazing statues - Bob

 here with a huge bull.

The 8th century Benedictine Abbey, across from the house,

 provides a lovely view from the upper garden level where there is a pool

and many exotic shrubs - even the Morning Glories were still blooming.

Yes, the entrance to the garden from the lane does have have one of 

those wonderful, so European, Fatima's hand door knockers - and I can't begin to
 tell you how many photos I've taken of French doors sporting these knockers all

 around the country on this trip! 

Happy weekend to all my dear readers. We remain so busy here trying to catch
 up with everything after such an extended trip.
 We are also celebrating Birthdays - granddaughter Jasmin turns 19 tomorrow,
 and yours truly will welcome yet another 'golden year' as I do my best to blow out
 seventy two candles on Monday - well hopefully nobody arrives with a cake with
 quite that many - I do want to make seventy three and many, many more!