For our dear Linda and Dave, Lovely Young Lovers

Linda, with whom I worked at Little Brothers, and David were united in Holy Matrimony on September 20, 2008 at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Minneapolis.

The bride and groom honored us this week with their presence in our home, where they chose to come on their wedding trip.

May blessings fill this fine young couple's life always and may their days be "rich and long upon the earth."

La Foulerie de Pièces at Le Moulin de Guette ès Lièvres

Saturday, 25 September.

Here is one link to the longest video and then you can watch the others!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_1MKLpVt0s

Check out the musicians!

What a great evening.

And here are some more pictures of a
September to Remember!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingReg.jsp?Uc=k8i3u40.913z64p0&Uy=-u1m4jq&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=125503564235_717691040308&localeid=en_US

Finally here is a copy of a press release I wrote in 2006 concerning "La Foulerie de Pièces." Just a little information on the origin of this event!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DISCOVER THE HEART OF BRITTANY
Participate in Traditional French Bread Making and Breton Dance and Heritage
at
La Foulerie de Pièces—“Stompin’ at the Grist Mill”

St. Caradec, France, June 28, 2006 – Make bread with Breton hosts at the enchanting 17th century Guette ès Lièvres grist mill in the morning and then dance the night away in a marvelously convivial atmosphere on September 16, 2006 in the heart of Brittany.

A unique event that showcases the traditions of the past, when the French gathered together annually to stomp down the earthen floors of their bread mills, “la foulerie de pièces” represents a centuries-old French custom. Bread was truly the staff of life in centuries past and when learning about the history of this grist mill and community oven, the place of bread in French life and history becomes crystal clear. Apart from their crops and the weather, nothing—with the exception of the Church—was more important for villagers and peasants than the community mill and oven, where both bread and meals were prepared. Millers and bakers were honored everywhere in France…and even had special dispensation from attending church! Villagers always came together in the fall to refurbish the mills for the winter and the new year.

In Brittany, they danced on freshly prepared dirt mixed with bales of wheat and moistened to prepare the floor for the next year’s use. (This also took place in French homes, some of which to this day retain their earthen floors.) Certain Breton dances were developed for this specific purpose, and they will be among the dances participants in this unique evening will learn.

After a day of bread making (described in detail at www.beautifulbrittany.com) and a community dinner (prepared in the community oven at Le Vieux Bourg—where the day’s bread is baked), Breton musicians will set up on the millstone at le Moulin de Guette ès Lièvres and begin to play and to teach traditional Breton dances. A wonderful French expression, “se serrer les coudes”—to clasp each other’s elbows literally and to help one another figuratively—comes from the dance as that is exactly what the dancers do! Bretons are renowned for their hospitality, clasping each other’s elbows tightly in their towns and villages, and their marvelous sense of community that is expressed in the joy of the dance. The organizers of this event, which takes place during a weekend dedicated to European heritage, welcome all who wish to experience this delightful evening. Its purpose is to bring people of all nationalities together at the mill to promote a sense of belonging and to encourage conversation and shared experiences.

Les Chantous d’Loudia, l’Amicale Laïque de Plouguenast-Gausson, and l’Echo de Gouet are the sponsors of « La Foulerie de Pièces » in Plouguenast, Côtes d’Armor, France.

THE "BEST OF" PHOTOS AND RECENT COMMENTS BY VISITING "ANGELS"

NEW PHOTOS! July and August 2008!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=k8i3u40.222tc420&Uy=rvv5oz&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=712691968644_704272099208&localeid=en_US

Please visit http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?UAUTOLOGIN_ID=44049788208&UV=941208119381_246962498208&mode=fromsite&collid=44049788208.205672498208.1216041412220&conn_speed=1

for "The Best" (or some of the best!) photos from our home and hearts to yours.

August 2, 2008

A note in our Guest Book from a little Irish angel, who stayed at La Prévenchère with her little sister and their parents on August 1, 2008 §§

"I have had a great time here. I have really enjoyed being here. It is a lovely calm pretty place. I hope that anyone else who visits here enjoys themselves like I did."

July 10, 2008

After seeing La Bleue and La Sainte Anne where he and his sister will be sleeping, a young boy asks his mother, "Mom, is this a 3-star hotel?"

****

A recommendation from the Sturzl-Tahija family (Minnesota)

Our French vacation

Last year my husband and I took our 10-year-old son to France for a vacation. We had the most spectacular time!

My husband and I do not speak French and our son only speaks a little. We took the train from Paris to Brittany where Christiana and Christian met us and drove us through the beautiful French countryside.

Our stay at their cozy bed & breakfast was so remarkable. Each day they took us on a day trip to see the fantastic sites. Most memorable were the Mont St. Michel and our day collecting mussels by the sea, having lunch at a seaside restaurant and coming back to La Prévenchère where Christian and our son cleaned and prepared the mussels for us to enjoy.

After an experience I could never have dreamed of, nor would we have attempted with a tour guide, Christian travelled with us by train to Paris where she gave us the insider's tour of Paris for several days. One evening after dinner, the taxi driver was taking us back to our hotel and Christian asked him to take us to a special spot (Le Palais de Chaillot) to see the Eiffel Tower lit at night. It was absolutely spectacular.

We will never forget the wonderful time we had in Beautiful Brittany and Paris because of our tour with Christiana and Christian.

From our 2008 guestbook

"La Prévenchère is a place for the soul." MD, USA

"De la gentillesse, de l'authenticité, Merci." R F, Belgique

"A time of many bests -- the best luck in finding La Prévenchère through the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; the best comfort in your home; the best meal; the best friends in two short days. Thanks so much for helping make the best memories." J & B R, USA

"Ici l'accueil est chaleureux, les chambres spacieuses, le petit déjeuner copieux...bref, tout est parfait." Famille H, France

"A delightful place with fantastic bread. We will be back!" S & R L, England

"Longue vie à la confiture de cassis! Merci!" LB, France

"Merci à Christiana et à Christian pour leur accueil si chaleureux." MRR, France

"Christian and Christiana, I enjoyed the nurturing of your home. Especially slowed down by a petit illness. I looked at every art object, every beautiful piece of furniture. It was like food to me (which I couldn't eat). Mille mercis!" AG, USA

"Décoration magnifique, chaleur de l'accueil, histoires nationale et amicale. Tout a été parfait." TB, France

"Séjour formidable parmi vous. Je n'oublierai pas." HH, France

"Thank you for your hospitality from your friends from Holland, and we hope to see you again next year." R & E, Holland

"We kindly thank you for your hospitality." M & H, Belgium

MARY POPPINS IN THE HEART OF BRITTANY

Some of our Dear Readers may not know that Madame Caille is also known as Mary Poppins.

This photo (above) from 2005 proves it. With a rendition of "Just a Spoonful of Sugar".

Fast forward to July 20, 2008. We attended a Collector Car Rallye and when we came home, look what was in our garden.

She was here! She was here!

And then Bert, aka Christian, got into the act as it is indeed a jolly holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLaMaP472k

And then MP began to sing---



http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit2?ns=1&video_id=f_RCk-S99Dg&next=%2Fmy_videos2%3Fpi%3D0%26ps%3D20%26sf%3Dadded%26sa%3D0%26sq%3D%26dm%3D1







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcdVkT2sVao







And the finale was



http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit2?ns=1&video_id=7NFN8YKqo68&next=%2Fmy_videos2%3Fpi%3D0%26ps%3D20%26sf%3Dadded%26sa%3D0%26sq%3D%26dm%3D1


Please note, Dear Readers, that MP's cats, Mistinguette and Piaf, always come to MP when she sings.

There is also a darling "rouge gorge" -- our own little Robin Red Breast -- who visits us every morning. Those familiar with the original Mary Poppins may recall that when she sings JASoS the little robin alights upon her finger. (Our videographer did not capture MP singing "... a robin feathering his nest has very little time to rest while gathering the bits of twine and twig..." but a bit of twine and twig was placed gently on Piaf...)











MP is here to stay for a while until the wind begins to blow again. You'll see!

Photos of La Prévenchère

We are pleased to present photos of La Prévenchère!

Singing for their supper (dessert actually) at La Prévenchère

Christian and one of our charming guests sing for their supper--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFBBuC4i6mM

"Gentil Coquelicot"

J'ai descendu dans mon jardin {x2}
Pour y cueillir du romarin.

{Refrain:}
Gentil coqu'licot, Mesdames,
Gentil coqu'licot, nouveau !

Pour y cueillir du romarin {x2}

J' n'en avais pas cueilli trois brins

Qu'un rossignol vint sur ma main

Il me dit trois mots en latin

Que les homm's ne valent rien

Et les garçons encor bien moins !

Des dames, il ne me dit rien

Mais des d'moisell' beaucoup de bien.

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS7XVVUMD4U


"Il pleut bergère"
Philippe Fabre d'Eglantine (1750-1794)

Il pleut, il pleut bergère
Presse tes blancs moutons
Allons sous ma chaumière
Bergère vite allons
J'entends sous le feuillage
L'eau qui tombe à grand bruit
Voici, venir l'orage,voici l'éclair qui luit

Entends tu le tonnerre ?
Il roule en approchant
Prends un abri bergère, à ma droite en marchant
Je vois notre cabane
Et tiens voici venir
Ma mère et ma soeur Anne qui vont l'étable ouvrir

Bonsoir, bonsoir ma mère
Ma soeur Anne bonsoir
J'amène ma bergère
Près de nous pour ce soir
Va te sécher, ma mie
Auprès de nos tisons
Soeur, fais lui compagnie
Entrez petits moutons

Soignons bien, oh ma mère,
Son tant joli troupeau
Donnez plus de litière
A son petit agneau
C'est fait allons près d'elle
Eh bien donc te voilà
En corset qu'elle est belle
Ma mère voyez la

Soupons, prends cette chaise
Tu seras près de moi
Ce flambeau de mélèze
Brûlera devant toi
Goûte de ce laitage
Mais tu ne manges pas ?
Tu te sens de l'orage,
Il a lassé tes pas

Eh bien voilà ta couche,
Dors-y bien jusqu'au jour,
Laisse moi sur ta bouche
Prendre un baiser d'amour
Ne rougis pas bergère,
Ma mère et moi demain,
Nous irons chez ton père
Lui demander ta main

A tour of La Prévenchère garden in June

Please visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SMlrteZLEg

for a tour of our garden.

Crêpes Suzette by Christian

Please visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET09VDXgQB8

for lots of fun!

Bon appétit!

And merry music making at the moulin!