Dan and I just got back from visiting Dan's grandmother's friends Madeline and Henry (pronounced "on-ree") on their farm in the south of France. Madeline and Henry have owned 160 acres of land since the 30's in the countryside near Montauban, have been married over 60 years, speak limited English, and are just one of the cutest little old couples I've ever met.

I have never spent much time on a farm, let alone a farm that is so old. The house itself is from the 1700's, and to be honest it reminded me a little of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. When I came up the stairs by myself at night and the floors creaked, and the shutters moved, and the flowers on the nightstand shook, I found myself running a little bit faster to get back down to the kitchen with everyone else.

Besides the possible ghosts, the house had 3 or 4 cats that came and went, a family of owls living in the attic, bats, mice, and an older dog named Kiki with one eye and a busted, frozen leg. So, that was all very interesting. There was also a gigantic wine cellar full of cases of wine, a freezer full of amazingness, and tons of fresh french bread.

Speaking of food, do you do on a farm for 2 days in inclement weather? You eat. A lot.

The day we arrived we got there just in time for lunch - amber wine as an aperitif followed by fresh farm sausages, chips, a bottle of red wine, and fresh grapes and nectarines. After a quick tour of the farm it was time for dinner - ratatouille, a roasted chicken, french bread, sauteed garlic in oil and herbs, and the best tomatoes I've ever had - sliced with apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and basil. Madeline was very patient and explained how she made everything, so I could replicate it again at home. Of course the meal came with a bottle of red wine and another bottle of rose, and we finished the whole thing with nectarines and 3 types of sheep cheese. Everything was fresh from the farm, all the vegetables were from their own garden, and I was amazed by Madeline's cooking. Henry (who speaks the most limited English) kept pouring me more wine and saying "Alex is thirsty!"

I think Dan and I rolled to bed.

The next day we woke up around 10:30, and ate french bread with butter and homemade pear and cherry jam with big bowls - yes bowls - of coffee. We then went into town to get lunch, a 4 course meal with a big bottle of wine, fish soup, lamb, assorted vegetables, potatoes, and dessert (which they insisted on paying for) before visiting the little medieval towns in the area. We got home and drank another bottle of wine with pate, quiche, salad, and more fresh cheese.

I think that we are leaving Montauban 10 lbs heavier!