watson petting zoo part 04: moutons (france)

Posted by christolles | Filed under France, Petting Zoo

Two weeks ago, Tory and I had the pleasure of lunch at the Lallys’ house, a British family who moved to France a few years ago. They live in Prévessin (I think), just 10 minutes into France, and enjoy a stunningly serene backyard within walking distance of the Jura mountains. With Duncan and Heather (the parents, age unknown), Lois (11 years old), Johnathan (9), Amy (7), and Lizzy (4, we think), we went for an amazing walk after a gut-stretching meal of tartiflette, which is most simply explained as potatoes au gratin with more cheese and pork. Awesome. Also joining us for the walk were our dearest new friends Paula and Yannick, who graciously gave us a place to stay when we got scammed out of $2000 and were homeless in Geneva (more on that in a later post maybe).

Just down the block from the house is a small pasture with sheep, whom by the time I arrived were already being hand-fed grass by the younger Lallys. Though their pen was quite spacious (certainly larger than any apartment I’ve ever lived in), they had eaten the yard down to nothing over the summer, and were glad to finally get some of that wonderful long lush grass that had been taunting them from the other side of the fence. The kids say they used to be cuter.

And by glad, I mean they just about decapitated themselves trying to get to the beyond-fence grass once we stopped feeding them. How did it fit its enormous furry head through that tiny hole?!

There was also a shy, silent calf in the barn next door. That’s Lizzy, the youngest, coaxing it more successfully than the rest of us.

The whole crew (sans photographer) posed for a photo post-walk, and I assured them it would bring them quickly to disrepute on our blog - hopefully none of them are international felons whose cover I’ve just blown. Lallys on the left, then Paula (from St. Lucia) and ol’ one-eyed Yannick (from Belgium, where they ride comically small bicycles).

Permalink | September 14th, 2008

10 Responses to “watson petting zoo part 04: moutons (france)”

tom Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
its a moo cow!
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Joe Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Yay Sheeps!
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Miranda Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Your photos and stories make the adventurous of world travel look like that long green grass! I do love my middle schoolers, and teaching art, but you make traveling look pretty charming (even the scam and rescue by strangers part).
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ruth tolles Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I want to have a lunch of potatoes and then go on a walk to greet the animals, too! xoxo and love, mom
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Able Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Are you sure you aren’t in Wyoming? It looks a lot like Wyoming. (I’m just saying.)

Go Wyoming!
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Christian Says:
September 17th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I’m proud of your friends for taking care of you!!! Tell them so for me, will you? I’m glad to hear that you’re meeting beautiful people and enjoying the pastoral landscape. Looking at that sheep reminds me of this one time I got my head stuck between the bars of a railing at the mall. It was like being in the stocks. Be careful sheep!

p.s.- I was 8 years old
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