Pastimes

We have been passing time, enjoying some lazy days of November in our adopted town while we await Ed's return.  This weekend was rainy at times and cloudy, but we were still outdoors a lot.  The children did their horse-back riding Saturday.  Ivy and I look forward to this time as we have found some wonderful walks around the horse farm.  The farm is about 7 minutes east of Vaison.  It is surrounded by vineyards.  Some photos of our walk last weekend when it was sunny:

This week I found some great views of Ventoux but did not have my camera.  I'm going back with it soon!  Also came across about 30 beehives tucked into a grove of scrub oak.

The kids are progressing in their horse-back riding and their instructor gives the group more challenging things to do each week.  Here they had to sit on their horses:

Just kidding!  They really are advancing.  They have to guide their ponys through different tasks now, and can't just follow the pony in front.

We like to check on the river and see what it's doing.  It was very full for quite a while, like this taken a few days after a massive rain:

From the new bridge west to Mt. Ventoux

Pont Roman - no longer just a trickle

From the new bridge east

Later we went down to investigate.  This is the "rock" where Ford likes to fish and swim in the summer, way too swift right now, and the view to the Roman Bridge:

Sometimes we just like to chew on the fireplace ledge:

(Don't worry, Dad.  No marks.)

When that turns tiring, we think about new sporting equipment.  The kids have been roller blading at school.  Guess what came to mind?  Roller blades.  And so we got some:

And some video:

And again, with a brief neighborhood tour:

This weekend we also played Monopoly (it ain't over but Ford is bleeding AJ and me to death), saw the Speilberg animated flick Tin Tin, read, did homework, grocery shopped, bought shoes, cooked (including Ford who made soup and quesadilla for lunch today), and bathed.

Nothing like a bubble bath!