This is the time of year when France goes into a deep slumber. This time of long sleep is punctuated by Fêtes such as Noël, Epiphany (coming of the Three Wise Men on January sixth), and lately Valentines' Day.)
But long-cooked meals and intimate gatherings are also looked forward to in these long nights.
The summer and fall crops are harvested and with the holidays looming we've been planning meals. We ate the first of this years sweet potatoes this week. We have some butternut squash waiting to become soup. A turkey and a variety of local meats from the mountain are stored in the freezer. Fresh lettuce and parsley in the garden, with cabbage, broccoli, and greens coming on strong. This is a good time of year to celebrate the Earth's bounty.
I've been trying for the last few years to lose weight, but with my disabilities, exercise...well...sucks. That's bound to happen when you're hemiplegic. But then I found something that doesn't suck: my complex wading pool. Sure, it might be only 3 to four feet deep, but there's a lot you can still do with that, with or without equipment.
