Mother’s Got A Dot Com

Today’s little bit of real estate:

My father is selling his property in the South of France.
Oh, no, he’s not moving back up here, he’s too fond of the climate and of the French way of life. He’s bought himself another property in the area, since they’ve increased the number of horses, and need more space.
If you want to see the realtors prospect, it’s here.
As for me, I thought I’d put out some pics of my own – some from the property itself, and some from the area. Actually – the estate agents’ pics are better and there are more of them, so just click any photo below if you want to see more.
The Lot-et-Garonne is within spitting (pun intended) distance of the Bordeaux wine region, and has some fine wines of its own, there are medieval historic sites nearby, and the local food is to die for, both for the gourmet and the glutton!

This is the pool house – both it and the pool have been upgraded since!

The library/ dining room/great hall.

The houses – you can see the inner courtyard.

The “grotto houses” in the Perigord.

Bonaguil Castle, just a Sunday stroll away.

It’s a lovely place, with just the right amount of privacy (it’s all enclosed), and with room for horses. (Stables, a workshop, plenty of fenced outdoor space). The gardens are lovely (it’s more like a park, really), with fruit trees galore, and there is quite a lot of woodland as well. There are 2 large and 2 small apartments/houses, and one can start a bed-and breakfast right away, or just move in with all the family and still have room for guests.

So – do you know anyone who’d like to make the move? No renovation necessary, just pick up and move in. No floral wallpapers anywhere – the kitchens/kitchenettes are newly renovated, and so are the bathrooms. And – the owners just have to vacate – they don’t need to buy somewhere else first…

- ours will soon come to an end…
#3 Brat turned 17 two weeks ago, and tomorrow is #5 Brats turn. Then me on Wednesday, and #4 Brat on Friday, with a kiddie party for #5 on Saturday, (outdoors, with a bonfire and a tractor safari, weather permitting) and a round-up family affair for all of us Saturday evening.
I tell you, when it comes to birthdays, it doesn’t rain in this family, it pours…
With regard to presents, we’ve got a small one for #5, but the main one has to be got today. As for me, hubby wondered what I’d like, and I think I’d just love an evening out with him and a meal. That’s about it – I’ve got everyting I could possibly want already, but one-on-one time is a luxury.

For #4, anything that comes out of a horse supplies store is a sure winner. She’s got a horse that she calls her own, and they’re great together. A cute riding outfit would be nice, actually. She doesn’t worry much about how she looks while on horseback, but I’m sure she’d love it.
Anyway – once this is over, I can start thinking about Christmas.
Some traditions have been carried out already though – this Saturday, we went for Lutefisk. The Royal Lutefisk Society had its annual bash, complete with free-flowing Aquavit and endless amounts of Lutefisk delicacies… and we were there. Great fun.

This Thursday, some ladyfriends and I have planned a lefse-baking day, which should be fun also. That’s something I really hope will be a tradition – with recipes from all over the country. We’ll start with some easy ones, like potato-lefse… I guess this will call for a blog post after the fact! Please remind me to bring my camera along…

The 4 oldest Brats are getting to that age when they have to consider a career. It’s not easy – there are so many possibilities.

It’s not easy to advise them either. We can come up with suggestions and ideas, but at the end of the day, they have to make that call themselves. Their plans are quite diverse, and we think that’s wonderful – after all, what would the world look like if we all had IT jobs…

#1 Brat is heavily into music at the moment, and is enjoying a year at a music academy. I think it’ll be just the one year – she wanted to explore herself and her talent. It may come to something, or not. She wants to travel before she’s stuck with a mortgage, a steady job and kids, and I don’t blame her. She’ll probably be working for a while next year to save up for a trip around the world. I shiver at the prospect, but I understand… As for an education – she’ll get one. When she figures out what she wants.
#2 Brat wants to be a designer, and has done two years of dress design already. She’s still at it, but this last year of high school is more academic, to improve her chances of getting into the schools she wants to attend, in Denmark. Slightly less alarming, but she’ll probably have to take some punches along the way.
#3 Brat wants to be a carpenter, and is well on the way. He needs to find a place to do his apprenticeship as of next year, and has started looking into it already.
#4 Brat is going to high school next year – at the moment she wants to be a psychologist. A daunting prospect, but we’ll be backing her if that’s what she wants.

I’m glad I’m not 18 anymore – I guess I’ll never quite figure out what I’ll be when I grow up, but I’m glad I’ve got my life (at least partially) figured out. And the Brats – well, if they’re happy, I’m happy. They’ll have their share of bloody noses – that’s life – but I hope they’ll be able to find their own ways to happiness without too much grief along the way.

#2 Brat has entered a dress she’s designed in a designer competition, and she’s passed the first test, which means that she’s going to be modeling it on the catwalk tomorrow.
So – it’s a girl’s trip to Oslo, complete with an extensive make-up kit, shoes ans stockings, and a stomach full of butterflies.
I haven’t actually seen the dress – she’s used her grandparents’ basement for a studio, and the dress itself is already at the venue, but I’ll see it tomorrow, and post pics from the event.
The first prize is a state-of-the-art sewing machine, and to a designer in the making, that’s something indeed.

Men and women are equal. They have the same rights, the same duties, the same worth.
Boys and girls are definitely different though.

My little 6 year-old princess is into all things pink, she plays with dolls and dollhouses, she loves arts and crafts… The tiny thug, who’s 2, becomes starry-eyed when he sees a tractor, and almost faints with glee when he’s allowed to ride in one. Anything with wheels that makes noise is his favourite toy.
Have we helped the situation along? Not consciously. Does it matter? I don’t think so. If she develops an interest for machines, that will be her choice – if he chooses to be a WAHF, that will be his (and his significant other’s).

Kids, when given the choice, will choose what appeals to them. Little boys, when given a doll, will more often than not take it apart to see what’s inside. Little girls might put the toy car to bed and tuck it in, if given nothing else to play with and “care for”…
It’s how most of us are made. It’s quite fun to observe, actually.

# 1 Brat’s school has an open day/weekend this weekend, and Hubby and I are going over there to see how she’s faring.
I know she’s enjoying herself no end, and it’ll be fun to experience what they’re up to. They’ve got a whole seminar lined up for us on Saturday, and an evening of entertainment to follow.
Must remember to buy a new micro sd card for my camera, so I can start recording events again, and get some fresh photos for this blog of mine, as well as for posterity.
On Monday, her music class and the theatrics class are off to a mini-tour of Europe – they’re going to Prague, Berlin and a couple of other places to soak up some culture. So – I guess we’re expected to come bearing gifts, in the form of pocket-money for her trip… (Wrong choice of words – we’re not expected to, but I’m sure it would be much appreciated). Must remember to go to the bank for some Euros.
Over Christmas, they’re off again, this time to London, to get their fill of musicals and concerts, I think.
I don’t know what she’ll do with her life – she doesn’t either, but she’s treating herself to a year of doing what she loves – music – while she thinks about what to do next. That could be music, or something totally different. Time will tell.

We’re looking forward to seeing her in her new environment this Saturday. One thing is to know she’s all right, quite another is to see it with your own doting eyes…

I know – it’s silly. I have 6 Brats, 4 of them stem from my own battered innards, and I’ve done my bit for humanity.
Still – I haven’t started menopause in full yet, my hormones are as active as ever (although slightly unpredictable), and I’ve always adored being pregnant and caring for infants. People procreate – I see those cute little counters all over the web – and I would love to do it again.
Maybe it’s because I was cheated out of half a pregnancy with Miracle Boy (I got a lot of infancy though…), the truth is I sometimes mourn my fertility.

I guess I’ll have to project it all onto my unborn grandchildren when the time comes (no, I’m not replacing the girls’ birth control pills with placebo – yet), and then I’ll be able to buy cute outfits and lovely crib bedding. I’ll also get to take down all the baby stuff I’ve saved in the attic, to the sound of the standing ovations not so suppressed irritation of the mother/father to be.

On the plus side – I’ll be able to required to babysit. Even more on the plus side: I’ll be able to give the Grandbrats back to their parents, send them off, close the door, and enjoy my book/cognac/trip to the Seychelles in peace.

I guess every age has its charm…

One of the few traditions that we’ve not adopted from the USA over here (and I’m saying this with all due reverence to both McDonalds and Halloween), is the prom. The flowerwhatsit/limo/irratic dad thing just hasn’t caught on.

We do, however, have a long standing tradition of Christmas and New Year balls, that is immensely popular with kids of all ages. Schools have them, men’s clubs have them (They get to bring their wives. No fun without them),  youth clubs and community clubs have them too.

Now – never mind the men. There’ll always be a tux or a suit avaiable. The big issue is: The Dress. In the olden days, formal dresses or ball gowns were compulsory – these days us womenfolk can be more adventurous.

I don’t buy a dress every year. One reason is that I could neither afford nor justify it – another is that I just hate trying on clothes. (A third is the fact that shops only seem to have them in pygmy size…) Our family counts 4 girls in need of a new outfit for the Christmas season – and the Rissy Roo’s site might be just the place.

The Brats (#s 1,2 and 4) would just adore the Cocktail dresses ( I know they’d swoon over Jasz Couture as well).
For myself, I’d choose from the Plus Size section, where the choice is actually very good. They even have mostly plus size women modeling them, so you do get a pretty good idea of how they look on a non-pygmy frame.

They do bridal and bridesmaids too – and their “Mother-of-theBride” section almost prompted me to go on a diet. There’s probably time – no Brat weddings in sight for a few years yet. (Excuse me while I uncross my fingers…)

There! In need of a gorgeous gown at a reasonable price, or just up for a drool? Have a look!

We sold our old banger today… That is – one of our two old bangers, but this one has been standing still for 3 years, and getting rid of it was no less than a miracle. (Yes, I’m talking about a car – a Toyota Hiace). It was rekindled by a bunch of youngsters the other week – they only had to put a new battery in, it started like a charm. Good old Toyota engines, 3 years of standing idle is nothing! So, we contacted a company that buys old cars and export them to Africa. I guess it’s some kind of charity thing. We got more than we thought we’d get, so in this case, it was charity both ways.

Three things in one: We got rid of the eyesore, we got a little wad of unexpected cash, and we’re saving on insurance and road tax. Yay!

Brother in law did the negotiating – neither hubby or I are any good at taking money for anything…

Maybe we should get some electric blankets for the money – the kids are complaining that it’s getting cold. They’re right, of course. We’re in October, and there’s at least 6 months to go before we get any warmth out of the sun again. Wow… I never should have written that. I’m all depressed now…

Not seriously though. The winter has its charm. Long evenings in front of the fire, scores of birthdays (here, anyway), and Christmas. And then, after just 3 more months, we can enjoy another spring.

In the mean time, we’re off for our break tomorrow, and with a little extra spending money too.

For two whole days. Can you believe it?

We’ve rallied the troups, and we’re going to our mountain cabin – my aunt and uncle, my sister and her husband, and hubby and me. They’ve all managed to raffle off their kids, and so have we – that is, ours are staying home, and they’re also looking after sis’s youngest.
It’s only for the weekend, but for me, two days of being called Stine is a blessed respite.
Saturday, there’s the yearly local market day, complete with local produce, natural foods and crafts, and no one will be screaming because we have to go home… In the evening, there’s even a local party/dance sort of thing, and since we’ll all be walking home, we don’t have to bicker about who’s driving either. (Not that we do. It’s just nice to be “all out” together for once).

Can you tell I’m looking forward to some grown-up time? I love all my brood to bits, but once in a while, getting away from them is an absolute must.