Fete de Vendange; otherwise known as the Harvest Festival...

After having surviving 10 days without Dan in France (he was back in the states for work) and then promptly getting sick upon his return, yesterday was my first day out of the house in about a week. Lucky for me not only was there the weekly Thoiry market going down, but also the Fete de Vendange in Russin, Suisse. This is a festival in honor of the harvest of the grapes that make the wine of this region, and there's plenty on hand to try. So, after getting our weekly goodies at the market and watching the Nebraska/Washington game online, we crossed the border to enjoy some Suisse wine and festivities. We had a bit of a long walk up a swirly, whirly hill, and on the way there were ponies (or are these mules?)...



And donkeys...


And Billy goats....



This one in black and brown was quite feisty and tried to steal my hat everytime I leaned down to pick some weeds to feed to him....




Then Dan found a shortcut (a very steep shortcut!) up to the Fete de Vendange...




And then, voila! We found ourselves right smack in the middle of the fete.


Being that it was beginning to get dark and that it was the last day of the festival, things were starting to shut down, but we still walked around, took in the festivities that were still going on, popped into a cafe for a glass of wine, and explored Russin, as neither of had ever been there before.


[I heart Ratatouille.]










[Party foul.]



[Swoon. Major garden love.]


[It ain't over 'til the marching band leaves...]



We had a great time at the fete and next year I plan on being healthy so we can partake in a greater amount of the festivities. Look out this weekend though - there's another fete in Thoiry AND a beer festival in Russin. Wow Russin, two fetes in two weeks - ce vous hardcore!

Somethings hiding in here...

Sunflowers, eggplant and cayenne peppers OH MY! I'm so excited that things are starting to fruit in my quite large container garden. Hoping that the Habanero plants start flowering soon too...


And not to brag, but I don't think my Bright Lights Swiss Chard is looking too shabby either in it's pot...

And now, as I sit here post 8.06 mile run eating my homemade breakfast burrito with neither eggs nor cheese in it (damn you expiration dates!), a few random pictures from the week before heading out for Round 2 of the Thoiry Salon de Vins...

There were CAMELS at the Plainpalais Flea Market in Geneva, Suisse this week...CAMELS! I think they were lost...or maybe it was because the KNIE Circus was in town...either way I think someone should get them back home...


On the way to the Thoiry Salon de Vins on Friday evening, I chit chatted with one of the neighbors...


The french were out and ready to write some checks for cases of wine...


Marc and Kira, displaying their fancy-shmancy authorized Thoiry Salon de Vins glasses...yours for only 4€!


I had forgotten to eat dinner before the salon, but luckily the boulangerie was open just across the street so I could carry around a safety baguette so I didn't get too "trolley-ed" - which by the way, is my new favorite UK-ism. Also, apparently taking bites of bread in between tastings is a good way to cleanse your pallet...who knew I was such a pro at these things?!


The weather's been gorgeous this week as well. Again, saw some of the neighbors on the way to go food shopping on Thursday, but they were too busy to talk...


And finally, the play-by-play of one of my favorite events here in Thoiry, the moving of the cows! I love when the rebellious cows don't let nobody push them around...


Or maybe he was just a special cow...


The last stitch efforts of the herder (is that what they're called? I'm still new at this lingo...) before they just straight up leave him...


Cue the music at the end of the Hulk...


But then he realizes he'll miss his cow-belled buddies and GALLOPS back to the herd...while very close to a man on a moped and a few bikers. That was a close one! We almost had a huge, lonely, and possibly depressed and/or special cow roaming around Thoiry.

Yes, these are the things that now keep me up at night.

Happy College Football Eve and Weekend!!!

Pic via here.

Hello friends! What have you got planned for this weekend? It's a busy weekend here in Thoiry as tonight begins the annual "Salon des Vins," and I'm way excited. I am however feeling the pangs of not being able to watch the first day of College football with a pumpkin beer in hand, as per usual. So whatever you're getting into this weekend, be it some football, Kegs-N-Eggs, or a hurricane party (I'm looking at you Jersey!), have a great one. Oh, and one last thing...

GO PENN STATE!!!


[Caos x 2...]


[The guys and I with Morelli, who the next year would take the reins as QB...]


[WE WANT THE LION!!!]


[Linebacker U]






All pics and video from November 20, 2004's win over Michigan State for the Land Grant Trophy...and my last game as a student...damn I'm old.