Pumpkin Patch

Bridge Concert

Packed with champagne, freshly squeezed oj, plenty of 'Rustic Bakery' fare and Lila's brownies for the journey, we boarded the black SUV with the Maier troop and headed south of SF to the 22nd Annual Bridge School Benefit at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. The festival is organised by Neil Young as an acoustic fundraiser in support of the Hillsborough school for students with severe learning disabilities. The disabled kids were up on stage throughout the day and grooved along to the laid back vibes. It was a great day - the lineup included Neil Young (who appeared with all acts - very cool especially "Sugar Mountain"); Wilco (yawn); Cat Power (great music, but not a great entertainer); Death Cab for Cutie ("Follow You into the Dark" brought a tear to my eye - awesome!); Norah Jones (hmmm interesting new hairdo though); Josh Groban (operatic pop star); Smashing Pumpkins (super cool); and the highlight, Jack Johnson whose presence just shone from the stage and got everyone up and rocking - Jack, Sam, Blaze and his mate West all loved it, they knew the words to all the songs and they rocked out up on their seats to "Bobbly Toes" and "Banana Pancakes"! Being Jane's old stomping ground (she was the band manager for The Grateful Dead and certainly knows a lead from a bass guitar) she scored us some great seats and backstage passes for the kids to tear around checking out the celebs and their pinball machines! We stumbled home around 10pm kids mostly asleep in the back seat, bleary eyed but still smiling.

Skate Rat

A new phase in Jack's sporting life has begun... break out the band-aids!

Animal Artist

Sam and I had a very special day today... On a recent ferry trip, Trish encountered a very dapper elderly gentleman who turned out to be a former professor in pedriatrics turned hobby animal artist. Over the course of the journey, she waxed lyrical about "her dog Teak" and he requested a photograph to paint from. Now, several months later, we visited Mervyn Schwartz's house in Mill Valley - beautiful, high up in the treetops - with a view to die for. Mervyn's daughter Debra showed us around and we collected the scans of the final painting which he has been pursuaded to sell us for a donation to the local animal shelter! Mervyn was out, but she desperately wanted him to meet Sam (partly because he pulled out Nanna Doreen's camera and asked if he could photograph the 'sculptures' - two hand made ceramics beside Debra's bed!!). So we headed over to the Tiburon Library where Mervyn met us outside wearing his camera round his neck so that we'd recognise him. He and Sam clicked straight away as "fellow photographers" and Mervyn was so kind (you can tell he was a pediatrician); he let Sam choose a book to borrow from the library and Sam shared it with him. Sam even took Mervyn by the hand when it was time to leave - beautiful. Mervyn wants to paint the kids with Teak so I have sent him another photo which he thinks will be a great challenge! Stay tuned for the next installment...

 

Jack's 7th Birthday

Star Wars and Lego... as much as we move forward, things still stay the same. Jack's 7th Birthday began with the unwrapping of presents. Aside from a skateboard from us (yikes) it was all things Star Wars (well, Clone Wars to be precise). The party at the Lego play centre went off a treat - entertainment and no cleaning up for us! Lots of great kids really focussed on their project, then lots of chocolate cake, Davey's obligatory sausage rolls (this year saw a gourmet inclusion of pear and worcestershire sauce yummm!) and fairy bread - delicious! Seafood Peddler for dinner (or, as Jack calls it, The See Through Peddler) topped off a great day. Very proud of our big 7 year old boy.

Mountain Lions

still here, didn't get eaten

Hoo Koo E Koo Trail

Hiking in the ranges above Larkspur on a glorious 85 degree day in
October with my buddy Teak 'the lunchbox' Lundberg. Looking out for mountain lions as there's been much talk...! (I am really just posting this so that you know where I was last seen in case I get eaten!!!)

Au Revoir!!

We retuned from Limoges to Paris for one last night in this gorgeous city. We had left Trish to her own devices here whilst we travelled south; she visited as many galleries as she possibly could manage and was obviously deliriously in love with Paris upon our return. She spoke French to the waiters and regaled us with great stories of all the fascinating art shows and sights she had seen. In the shadow of Notre Dame, we blew bubbles in Parc de John XXIII in view of our apartment, more freeze tag and hide and seek. That evening, Djanet, the owner of the apartment, met us for a guided tour of the Centre Pompidou. Her department is youth and multimedia, so we toured her offices and she then she took us up to the top floor to see the amazing view from the rooftop. Reminder to Davey: when we are next in Paris, book us the corner table at George's Restaurant - killer view!! The walk back through the Marais in the night was electric - bars spilling into the streets, restaurants packed. Wonderful. Our last supper ended the holiday exactly like we began... a simple meal of pasta, tomato sauce and cheeses; a bottle or three of french red wine and chocolate all purchased from the grocer downstairs off Rue Boutarel. Looking out upon that view, with good food, great company (kids sound asleep in the room beside us) - it was the perfect 'au revoir' to our 'bon voyage'.

Limoges, France

Leaving Trish behind to enjoy the galleries and cafes of Paris, we headed south today to Chateau Ribagnac, St Martin Terressus  near Limoges in Limousin, France. This was truly one of the best holiday experiences our family has ever had. Apparently this family had been featured on a UK TV reality show about moving abroad but we hadn't seen it and have never really been interested in the whole B&B type experience, but the owners of this property, the Bergot family, made us feel so welcome it was like staying with old friends. 

Chateau Ribagnac, built c.1642 during the reign of Louis XIII, was traditionally owned by some of the master porcelainiers of Limoges. During it's complex history, it was host to great artists such as Camille Corot, and was rumoured to be a secret Resistance hospital during WWII. 

Arriving at the property at dusk took our breath away. It is a truly gorgeous location. As soon as we arrived the Patrick provided the boys with fishing rods and his young daughter Agnes accompanied us whilst fishing in the lake in front of the chateau. No more perfect sight could be imagined. The mist rolled in and the fire was lit in the great drawing room. The kids played on the rug whilst Colette served us tea. The children's dinner consisted of organic roast chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots - seconds and thirds were requested from the boys!

Colette and Patrick have many varied interests, including the WOOF organic farming that they practice, that conversation over the magnificent dinner that night was incredibly interesting. They were warm and generous and we didn't even mind finishing up at 1am!! It made an enjoyable change from the usual rushed holiday meals! The breakfasts were an absolute highlight - local pastries, four types of homemade jams, vanilla pears from their orchard, great coffee... what a way to start the day! Even on the last day when we were leaving at first light, they provided us with the same wonderful breakfast. All whilst running a household, raising three lovely polite young children, keeping an organic farm and a business - all credit to them.

We stayed in the Grand Room which had a side room for the boys. It was perfect with a view from the window overlooking the valley. There are no "mod cons" in the traditionally furnished rooms thank goodness, although a massive bath and "throne room" were rather luxurious! Waking up in that bedroom was something I will always remember. My only regret was that we never got to see the "secret staircase" that apparently is hidden in a turret somewhere... maybe next time!

The location was perfect for seeing the countryside of Limousin, and Patrick offered us many ideas and brochures for interesting things to do with the kids in the area, and made reservations at a fabulous restaurant in Limoges for us one night. Even though most of the offerings looked great, we decided to spend most of our time in and around the chateau just soaking up the experience and walking around the property. I accidentally left my suitcase in Paris (oops) and I was offered suggestions for shopping excursions - there are great stores in town and I did a bit of damage to my credit card!

The chateau provided a feeling of opulence from days gone by, not as we know today, and that is why we loved it. We not only had a great holiday, but made new friends in the process; happiness is often found in the least expected places.

Paris

Ahhh Paris!! Everything they say about this place is true - arriving in the centre of Paris gives you an immediate sense of culture and otherworldliness. It is magic. Trish and David have never been, and I am surprised how much I remember from my visit almost 15 years ago. When we visited as a family almost 30 years ago, my memories centered around the gravelly parks with long tree lined pathways, play parks on every corner and beautiful buildings all around. It hasn't changed. It was perfect.

The apartment was sensational - it was really more a shoe box, but with a view like that who cares?!! The Isle Saint Louis is in the 4th Arrondissiment right in the heart of Paris on the Seine. We overlooked the back of Notre Dame which, as you can see from the selected photos
above, was a visual dream. We squeezed, two at a time, into the tiny elevator which took us up to the third floor. We dumped our bags and headed straight downstairs for profiteroles and hot chocolate in a cafe overlooking the river.

Saturday was a glorious sun shiny day - chocolate croissants for breakfast on the run whilst walking to the Eiffel Tower. Aided by the owner's tres chic scooter, Jack powered through the crowds along the cobbled streets and we all played freeze tag in the sandy floored playgrounds along the way. A Croque Monsieur in Parc du Champ de Mars as we admired the view from underneath the Eiffel Tower not caring to join the hour + queues. We hopped on the Batobus ferry which took us slowly back home, admiring the sights along the way. 

As per tradition, Davey and I walked the streets most mornings, exploring the Marais with its galleries and cafes; the Louvre courtyard with a view through the Garden Tuileries to the Champs Elysee; and the tiny cobbled alleyways of the Latin Quarter. We spent a fabulous evening here in the bustling Latin Quarter where every window displayed huge skewers of meat and seafood. Crowds gathered to watch street performers and fire jugglers; the window shopping was terrific and the ambience euphoric. Sunday we walked through the Jardin des Plantes and collected the car for our 3.5hr journey south to StMartin Terressus.

(Note: This article in the New York Times would have been a great guide had it been published prior to our departure - NYTimes - the lead photo was taken outside the most gorgeous restaurant just over the bridge from our apartment as you enter the Marais)