Me, Mémé, Jeanne, Aimee, Lise, Claire, Jean, Pépé, Etienne. (Cousins not yet born--Jennifer and Louise)
The farm was:
- Light suppers--milk straight from the cow, with morsels of french bread, eaten like cereal from a bowl
- Outdoor lunches that lasted three hours
- "Summer reading" on the terrace swing during la sieste
- A heavy cloth napkin, your own, tucked into a wooden drawer for the next meal
- Climbing barn ladders
- The place my father was born
- The place my grandmother was born
- The place I visited every other summer of my childhood
- Cherry picking
- Wheelbarrow rides, pulled by a work pony
- "Telephone" with my nine cousins at the kids table
- Card games with the adults, Bouchon!, until bedtime
- Hearing our parents laughing and staying up late
- Summer of '89--Sleeping on the floor of the old nursery, the room where my father once slept
- Summer of '93--Graduating to a bed
- Making rounds to see relatives I could never remember, but who remembered me, squeezed me, and kissed me. Wetly.
- Picnics; hiking to french marching songs, "Un Kilomètre à Pied"
- Sparklers on July 14th, instead of July 4th
- Waking up in the middle of the night to watch calves being born
Today, there's no kids table. Today, we used paper napkins at lunch, not the country-style cloth ones (I loved the cloth ones). Today the farm is still owned by my tonton Roger and tata Marie-Line, but someday soon, it will be run by my cousin Etienne (Jeanne's brother). Today, I turned twenty-five at my father's (far-off-but-steadfast) home, Les Guêrets.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go climb a ladder and see some kittens.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Bob | 13 May 2005 at 08:26 PM
Happy Birthday Coquette.
I have been reading & enjoying your blog for a while but have never commented.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that this is a gorgeous photo and a beautiful post.
All the best!
Posted by: kjr | 13 May 2005 at 08:41 PM
Wonderful photo, beautiful memories, gorgeous day! Happy Happy Birthday! :D
Posted by: lizardek | 13 May 2005 at 08:48 PM
Happy Birthday, Coquette...
hope this year brings you all the best!
I love how the photo is balanced out with a fiery red head at each end. :)
Posted by: meg | 13 May 2005 at 09:18 PM
Sounds like a great way to have spent your childhood summers.
Posted by: Milly | 13 May 2005 at 09:52 PM
Mon dieu quel beau photo!!!
Posted by: bluepoppy | 13 May 2005 at 10:22 PM
Joyeux anniversaire mon cher.Espoir vous avez eu une bonne journée.Les serviettes de tissu sont des déchets,je les déteste.
All the best.
Kittens...mmm,lucky
Posted by: Nomadic Camel Breeder | 13 May 2005 at 10:30 PM
wow this is fabulous. this is the childhood i always wanted and the reason i would ever have children. so glad that you shared it, i really adore your blog anway its incredibly sharp. after reading that urban outfitters intervention i was hooked. and your an adorable redhead! i always wanted red hair. alas, theres nothing for it but for me to kill you and take your life. obviously.
Posted by: gaelyn | 13 May 2005 at 10:39 PM
Happy birthday!
There is nothing like life on a farm. Your post makes me miss the summers I used to spend on my grandfather's farm in Alabama with all of my cousins.
Posted by: Dagny | 14 May 2005 at 12:24 AM
happy happy birthday!
Posted by: akemi | 14 May 2005 at 12:46 AM
More happy birthday! Your list seems to date your childhood stays from some far remoter past.
Posted by: R J Keefe | 14 May 2005 at 02:05 AM
Happy birthday!
Cherry picking. I'm jealous.
Posted by: Gloria | 14 May 2005 at 06:38 AM
Lol ! that is so... truthful ?
Posted by: Negrito | 14 May 2005 at 08:46 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: emaleejayne | 14 May 2005 at 11:14 AM
Nous te souhaitons encore un joyeux anniversaire, nous sommes vraiment contente que tu sois ici, et que toute la famille soit entièrement réunies. J'espere que ta soirée d'anniversaire à la ferme t'a plu, le gateau était vraiment délicieux :-))
Un grand bonjour à Katia et Aimee que j ai été ravie de rencontrer...
Louise et Jeanne
Posted by: jeanne et louise | 14 May 2005 at 11:29 AM
Joyeux anniversaire Coquette! The farm sounds like the PERFECT way to spend it too, but tell me, WHAT SHOES were you wearing when you climbed up that ladder?
If you say 'gold heels' I think I might just die.
Posted by: sammy | 14 May 2005 at 12:07 PM
Happy Birthday Coquette!
Posted by: Auntie M | 14 May 2005 at 01:59 PM
Ma petite coquette,
Mom and I wish we could have been there for your 25th BD. Merci bcp for the list of your wonderful childhood memories. You did not mention one that was a staple, "le jeu du foulard". Maybe I remember it better than you because I had so much fun with it myself.
Posted by: ton papa | 15 May 2005 at 01:53 AM
wow, sounds great..happy bday and may all ur dreams come true
Posted by: sM | 15 May 2005 at 04:47 AM
Joyeux anniversaire Co!!
Posted by: Aimee | 15 May 2005 at 05:43 PM
What beautiful memories...and what a lovely way to celebrate the first quarter century of what will surely be a remarkable life...
Posted by: Marilyn | 16 May 2005 at 12:32 AM
happy birthday
Bon Anniversaire!
I have been reading ur blog for a while
but never commented , so I just wish you a happy birthday
and to win a webby award for this blog thats awsome!
Posted by: fanny | 16 May 2005 at 12:55 AM
happy birthday!
Posted by: linda | 16 May 2005 at 02:52 AM
I love the photo - you haven't changed much at all!
I'm intrigued to know what language you spoke when you stayed there as a child?
Posted by: petite | 16 May 2005 at 12:41 PM
Petite--there was mucho gesticulation among the cousins. And too much English--they start learning so much earlier over here. I was, what, in eighth grade when I began with "French 1"?
Thanks to everyone for the kind wishes! I'll stop talking about my birthday now. (It was really nice on the farm btw, they got me the most magnificent cake...) Okay, starting NOW.
Posted by: Coquette | 16 May 2005 at 04:39 PM
Vintage Coquette! I love it!
Posted by: flare | 17 May 2005 at 09:36 AM
un kilometre a pied, ca use ca use...
un kilometre a pied, ca use les souliers!!!
funny because my father's french, I live in Japan, and when we go walking by the countryside we can't stop singing that song!!!
Posted by: Naoknok | 17 May 2005 at 04:08 PM
Your blog is great! I really mean that. I feel like I am having a conversation with one of my friends. You have agreat writing style. I especially love this little blog - happy birthday and salut to sweet memories.
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Nice website!
Posted by: Luther | 27 October 2005 at 12:02 PM
Great job you are in the right way !
Posted by: Keeley | 06 November 2005 at 08:35 AM
Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.
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