The final countdown

The countdown to our holiday has officially started.

Olivia has only two weeks left of school, then she's off for a whole 2 months.

Yesterday she had her school play. Yes, I blinked back my tears and smiled with this massive knot in my throat.
They sang, joked, laughed and were just carefree little six year olds.

Last night she spoke to her mamie (her french grandma) and she asked the usual question of what Olivia wants when she arrives.
This is what Olivia asked for

Fois gras (expensive taste this little girl), dried sausage, duck ,quack (she did say that, poor duckies).Cheese and choco.
She loves going back. She goes up to her room and finds all her easter eggs from April that the easter bunny left for her. All her toys from the previous times. New clothes, presents and more kinder choco. Kids paradise.
Then its out into the garden to feast on whatever fruit is hanging on the trees. Normally its cherries, so we just see little legs on tippee toes. Alexs parents try to leave the low ones for when we arrive, that way she has the pleasure of picking them all by herself!
Then its apricots, plums, raspberries, strawberries and figs. No shortage of fresh vitamins during our summer holidays.

Every year on the drive from Toulouse to the inlaws there's signs on the side of the national roads showing of the typical dishes off the region. And when you think of Carcassonne and Castelnaudary, you can only think of Cassoulet.
It's a dish made up of beans, garlic, onions, tomatoes, herbs, pork sausage and confit duck and gizzards. OOOOH. I crave the stuff as soon as I see the big earthenware pot filled to the brim with cassoulet and topped with golden breadcrumbs. Its not exactly a summer dish and not too good on the waistline but its once a year.

Summer time in the region  Langudoc Roussillon rhymes for me with ....
Endless fields of sunflowers, the crik crik of crickets, fresh summer fruits and even fresher garden vegetables. The beautiful landscape, vide greniers  this is quite common. Almost every village has them. Its a bit like the car boot sale. You can find some rare little gems like beautiful wooden chairs and units. Petanque, I love watching the old men playing their favourite game under the trees and having a good old gossip!!
Chilled Rosé and cooked sausage of toulouse done on the grill. Olivia loves the smell of braaied meat. We'll be doing a lot of bbqing.
Fresh baguette with homemade jam and crispy fresh croissants for breakfast ( did I mention I need to seriously start to starve myself!!!) Olivia loves going to the boulangerie in the morning with her papa and asking for her goodies!!

I love watching them go off to the vegetable garden with their little baskets and coming back with them full and big smiles and tales of what they saw and picked. Mathilde loves picking the tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, aubergines. But the high light is when papy takes out his tractor, takes them for a spin and they honk the  horn. He digs over the potatoe patch , then the hunt is on. Tiny ones, funny shaped ones, the biggest one, red ones, brown ones and purple ones, they love potatoe picking!!

Oh, and lets not forget la fete national le 14 July = a great fireworks display at the castle of Carcassonne. Since the age of 3,Olivia goes every year and loves it. The fireworks are amazing and Olivias jaw is on the floor from start to finish. We take a blanket and snacks, she plays with the other kids. its a great ambiance. She gets to stay up late and gets carried back to the car on her papas shoulders. Before we get home, she's fast asleep and having sweet dreams about the enchanted castle!

This year will be Mathildes first fireworks display.

This year is going to be really nice as Mathilde can really appreciate playing outside. She loves being out and mamie and papie have just bought a new climbing frame with swings and a slide, so they are both very eager to go and try it out. I'm sure we'll be having a few bloody lips and grazed knees.  Then there's the pool and not to forget our little Nyala who we love and miss terribly.

Last night we had a picnic down at the bottom of our residence. A few french kids and their moms, we ordered pizza, I made mini ones  and the small asian pork bites just to tie them over. A chilled white wine and some fruit. Alex got home early and the girls wanted to go with him, so I had a good few hours of relaxing and chatting without having to run after Mathilde and make sure she wasn't getting up to any mischief - pure bliss!!

Ca sent les vacances!!!