Just an hour from Rose and Pierre’s, we took the kids to the birthplace of their French roots. Francoise (a.k.a Grandmere) first took us to the farmhouse where she spent three years of her life with her Auntie. Her cousin, whom she lived with during that time still lives there and operates the farm. The house is at least 150 years old still standing with many of its original features. The old radiator was quite a feature with the little cabinet for warming dinner plates. I couldn’t believe that the table was the same one that Francoise used to watch all of the farm hands eat at everyday for lunch! The tile is original (“Can’t get tile like that anymore.”) and there are 3 interesting paintings in the lounge from 1929. Apparently the artist had painted a fountain with a little boy taking a wee for the fountain part, but the lady of the house found it way too risqué and insisted it repainted in a tasteful manner.

After we had barged in on the cousin (literally, we gave no warning) we headed to Nandy to have a look at the farm where Francoise was born. The old farm had been turned into a shopping center and restaurant—-at least they preserved it! Francoise went about telling us which room she was born in and where all the animals were kept and where they ate dinner and which doors and windows were original and where the fruit trees were. She also told us tales of how she used to drive the tractor and help with the harvest. Kai was so impressed. But what I hadn’t realized was that she was not only born in that house, on those grounds, she was married there as well. She pointed out the chicken coop where Laurence (a.k.a granddad) asked her father for her hand in marriage. The smart guy wasn’t even NEAR the cheese when he asked!

It was really exciting and touching to see the village. The kids weren’t thrilled but I think it must have been amazing for Francoise to be there with her grandkids. And on that day when Kai and Deva show their own grandchildren the photos, they’ll realize that the boring drive and the oh so boring day was well worth it!
Cheers & Ciao