Our Lone Survivor

Oh boy! Chicken farming is definitely not for the faint of heart. That's our lesson learned in a nutshell. They are totally fun and delightful and of course produce the most delicious eggs BUT so much of their survival falls outside of our control as we've learned.

We lost another chicken this week; Zoe. Thankfully not to a predator but to what we can only assume was an illness. For the last month or so she's been a bit off. Not producing eggs (which is not totally unusual in the winter) and alternating between her normal perky self and sleepy and lethargic.

Since we got the chickens back in October I feel like I've always been able to hear Zoe breathe. Almost a bit labored. But that definitely got worse in the last month and was followed by little squeaks here and there, which I eventually figured were sneezes. We assumed she was dealing with some kind of "chicken cold"?! Figured it would eventually pass but that ended up not being the case.

This was the day before she died.

Sadie snuck in through the kitchen door but Zoe's in the back pecking away like normal.

She died Wednesday night. We found her the next day in the coop.  :(  Marc actually found her and graciously saved us (and especially the girls) from seeing her.

After only 5 months we're down from three to one!! Sadie thankfully has always seemed to be the strongest of the three and that hasn't wavered at all in the last week. I wasn't sure what to expect. Do chickens grieve? Would she not like being alone? Would we be able to tell? Thankfully she seems completely normal and content! Phew! I was not prepared for this emotional roller-coaster when we decided to become chicken owners. Little did I know.

Sadie posing on the window sill.

Hoping that Sadie will continue to live out a long and full life with us.

On Parle Francais

It has officially been six months since we arrived in France. It seemed time to update everyone on the state of the language.  In other words, how is our French going?  It's been a different experience so far for each of us.

As you know from previous posts it has been hardest for the girls as they've been immersed in the French language all day. BUT after 5 months of French school, they are officially speaking French! Sure, they still search for words on occasion but seem to have enough vocabulary now that they can find the words to say what they want to say. The first time I heard them play with their friends in French, I was astounded. For me it seemed like all of a sudden it was there. They could speak it. When their friends' parents told me they were not only speaking to their friends in French but the parents too, I was ecstatic. And then the teachers confirmed that they were speaking to them in French too and participating more in the classroom.  Yahoo!!  In some ways it very much feels like mission accomplished. So in case you were wondering how long it takes to learn a language if you immerse your kids in a new culture? In our case, 5 months!!

For Marc, his French has gotten a lot more natural. Although he is French and was born and raised here, after living in the U.S. for 25 years and only speaking French on the phone with his family once every week or two he had lost quite a bit. Now of course he can still get by fine, but at first, most people thought he was American with a really good French. Now his French is back to speed but his writing is still a bit rusty; that's taking longer to come back.

For me, the progress has been slower. Not that it's not happening, it is, but much slower than for the girls. The reality is I spend all day working in English and speaking to Marc and the girls in English. We had considered switching to French at home but the girls put up a huge protest, arguing that they have to listen in and speak in French all day and when they get home, they need a break. Okay, fair point. So, we never made the switch at home. There are some days when the only French I hear is from the radio. And then of course there are other days, when we're out and about, and I'm surrounded by French. My vocabulary is slowly expanding and my confidence is starting to grow when I'm speaking to Marc's parents or even just going shopping on my own. At dinner parties it varies. At some parties there is only French being spoken and my skills are put to the test. And then on other occasions we're speaking English most of the time. Several of the families we've befriended who have children at the girls' school speak English really well. So in all honesty I get to "cheat" quite a bit.

There are a couple of things though that I'm sticking with and do feel like they are both helping with my progress.

1. Every Monday I go to a yoga class that is all in French and I carpool with a woman where we only speak French together.
2. Every morning I get on Babbel (on the computer or phone) for at least 30 minutes and am working through their lessons. Over the years I've used various language learning tools (Rosetta Stone, CDs in the car, and even classes at the local community college). I don't think any have been as good as Babbel. Definitely look into it, if you're trying to learn another language.

I'm not sure how long it would take to really feel 100% fluent. I've heard various lengths depending on who I speak to. Most people though seem to think around a couple of years. I'm sure this would go faster the more you force yourself to speak the new language. And I definitely think that if I was trying to work in French that that would really help speed things along. But for now, that's where we are. And honestly I'm just so happy the girls are picking it up and finally able to really speak with their friends and family in French!

Winter Wonderland

Although all in all it hasn't been a very wet winter so far it's definitely a new winter experience for me. Coming from California I am not used to living where it snows or where the temperature drops below freezing. That's not to say it never drops below freezing at home but it usually happens at night and then during the day will warm up another 20 degrees.  Not the case here.  The range between mid-day and the middle of the night is only a couple degrees.

It finally started snowing here after the first of January. Just in time for the girls Wednesday afternoon ski classes.  I loved watching the snow fall during my morning yoga. Hearing the crunch of the snow under my feet when I walked on it. And of course playing in the snow with the girls. So much more fun than I thought it would be. And surprisingly more pleasurable than rain. That first weekend the snow storm continued. We headed up into the mountains to enjoy some snow time at Marc's brother's chalet. I felt like I was in a French Alps Postcard.

The view from my yoga mat.

The other view from my yoga mat.

The girls made a snow man (bonhomme de neige) at Mamie and Papi's house. To the dismay of Papi's dog Louki who proceeded to bark at it for 3 days until in the end he got the courage to grab the snow man's hat end shred it to pieces. May be he just knew he who must not be named was from New York!

Sledding down the small hill behind Mamie and Papi's house.  Mamie found this toboggan for the girls and its the same one Marc and his brother used to play on when they were little. 

Playing Monopoly with the cousins at Tonton's chalet.

The next week the snow stopped but the temperatures dropped so low that all the snow remained. To add to the cold, the wind (called La Bise) started blowing and temperatures dropped even further. Apparently this wind travels all the way from Siberia blanketing much of Europe in cold, freezing wind. It was honestly difficult to be outside for any real length of time, even with 2 layers of pants, 3 layers of shirts, a jacket, beanie, gloves, etc. It was so cold that we had to head out to the chicken coop every hour or two to add hot water to the chickens water. It would freeze over and the hens couldn't break through it with their beaks!

With the wind also came waves in the lake and because of the freezing temperatures, icicles developed all along the shore of the lake. They were amazing! Marc and I braved the cold to take a walk to see them. Marc managed to get some beautiful pictures.

And then finally the glorious sun returned; several weeks later. For me, that is the hardest part. Going days on end without seeing the sun. Only different shades of grey filling the sky. A grey fog rests over our region, along the lake. It reminds me of the marine layer in Southern California, only much colder of course. For the lucky ones who can escape into the mountains, you are able to climb above the fog to see the sun. One thing is for sure. I definitely don't take the sun for granted, which admittedly I'm fortunate enough to do in California. As soon as any rays of sunshine start to sneak through the grey you move into it and attempt to absorb as much of its warmth as possible. You definitely get out and take a walk! I feel like a cat seeking out the sunny sports in the house and just sitting or laying in it as long as I'm able.

As Marc keeps reminding me. When you live somewhere that has more extreme weather you appreciate the changing seasons much more and learn to love parts of each season that you end-up waiting all year for. I am starting to understand the allure of the snow. But my body is still craving more sun!