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Written by Judy
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Thursday, 19 February 2009 04:17 |
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 This Christmas all the Castaillacs gathered at the Mas. The French contingency came from Rodez and the the "children" came from California. All of the bedrooms were used and they all agreed that the new quilts kept everyone warm and toasty at night. On Christmas Eve, we drove into Avignon and bought our 2 turkeys at the Halles d'Avignon. Judy decided to try her hand at making fois gras mi-cuit. Let me tell you that it was really good. We even had time to go to Saintes Maries de la Mer and to Aigues Mortes.
By the 5th of January, almost everyone had left. Then it started to snow. The French were not really prepared for this. The airport was closed in both Paris and Marseille for a day or two. But Provence is lovely under the snow especially when almost everyone else stays home. Yes, driving can be dangerous when you don't have 4-wheel drive or chains. But we had 4-wheel drive so check o ut the pictures that I took in the Photo section of this site.
Have a Happy 2009
The bear picture comes from the Foire de Noel in Aix en Provence. The picture of the house was taken during a snow storm in the beginning of January. Kathleen brought the stocking which we hung on the chimney with care. And yes, Santa filled them with candy!!! |
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Written by Judy
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Thursday, 19 February 2009 02:39 |
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The fall is a wonderful time to stay in Provence.
The weather was great and there is still so much to see and do in the area.
Thanks so much to Judy and Jacques. We will be back.\
2008-10-18
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Written by Judy
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Monday, 10 November 2008 02:42 |
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 This has been a really good year for olives in Provence. We are expecting a yield of about 100 liters of first press virgin olive oil. This may not seem like much, but our trees were only planted in 2003.
I hope that we will have more pictures for you to see later in the year.
Why don't you join us in 2009. When you help with the picking, you get to take home your own bottle of oil.
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Written by Niko
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Friday, 20 February 2009 02:45 |
November 23, 2008
Robin and I arrived at the Mas de la Fourbine late Saturday afternoon to help pick olives in the property’s orchard. We were warmly greeted by Pascal, Danny, and Louis (past Mas owners residing in the Bergerie) and were quickly given an “Olive Picking 101” lesson. Excitedly, we immediately applied our new knowledge and attacked the head-high trees… They being trees, did not fight back! In just a few short hours, we had collected several crates worth of olives. Soon after, the sun began to set, and we decided to head back under the shelter of the Mas for dinner. Our tired 2 hour olive-picking bodies needed rest. We would be back at the crack of dawn to continue what we had neither started nor would really finish. Still, it was fun to pretend that we had worked hard in the fields like true country folk!
At about 10 am, we woke, dressed, and devoured about 1/2 dozen pains au chocolat, which I dipped into hot chocolate milk... Ah, the breakfast of champions! Soon after, we enthusiastically trudged across the field to the orchard from the Mas. There, we met the gang and were turned loose on the olive trees once again. A couple of hours few by, and we found o urselves sitting outside with Pascal, Danny, and Louis for an aperitif. Even though it was November, we basked in the warm winter sun in our long sleeved t-shirts and jeans. Vacationing in Provence truly can’t be beat!
From the day’s olive picking, we had learned that Pascal and Louis had been busting their butts for the past two weeks picking crate after crate of olives. After 6 years of carefully nurturing, watering, and talking (yes... Pascal talks to the trees,) the orchard has produced hundreds of kilos of beautiful red and green olives. In just the past couple of weeks they collected a total of 62 liters of olive oil… And still, there’s more to be gathered. It also turns out that this is apparently the most supernumerary olive producing harvest in 10 years. All their hard work paid off and Robin and I are absolutely thrilled to have been a part. The olive-picking visit to the Mas de la Fourbine is one that we will hold closely for years to come. |
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