Oh hey blog heyyyyy

So much to update on before I have to "actually, really, no, seriously" start studying for finals. Because, you know, finals here are all that my grade will be based on.

Dear wonderful friend that sent me the card (you know who you are), I miss you and love you and the card is now on my wall making me very, very, very happy.

So... November. It feels as though yesterday was Halloween, but that is very much not the case. A lot happened. Good golly did a lot happen. I will pare it down for you though to: Revisiting Brittany! and THANKSGIVING for 20!!!

I'm kind of tired, though, seeing as it is 2h14 here so I'll present this in pictures:

Yay Breton coast! Mmm sea air. 

Hello Atlantic, I've missed you. Pokoù. 

Fantastically good home-cooked French meal. Nomnomnom. The family with whom I stayed knows I love duck, so they made me a classic French dish with the pork switched out for confit de canard. Holy shit, best meal ever?

Fest-Noz Quéven 2012! It was great to be back and to see everyone and to dance like a Breton. 

My dear Canadian friend and I had a photo shoot in the streets of Lorient. Guess what, it was a Sunday. That is why there was NO ONE else around. 

When I got back, I started cooking and baking. This is the apple pie I made (entirely from scratch), please note the apple shaped bit in the middle. It looks burned here, but it wasn't. It was fantastic. 

There were 20 of us total, I was the only American. I made 4 roast chickens, stuffing, cornbread, a sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce (soooo goooood), sautéed green beans with pink onions and 4 pies (1 apple, 1 pumpkin and, of course, 2 derby pies). The French adored the sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and derby pies. Proud to say that two of those things had bourbon in them. Just doing my part for the Kentucky economy by making new populations love Bourbon. 

My room (where the eating happened), during a brief moment after a few of the guests had arrived but had been moved into the kitchen. I would post pictures from when everyone was in the room, but I try not to post pictures of other people so... sorry. 

So many bags. 

Aftermath, after the guests had left. 

So much food to figure out what to do with. 

My wonderful flatmate N and I put everything away and cleaned all the dishes. This may be my favorite picture as it represents a night well finished. 

Food for WEEKS. 

I was pretty pleased with myself for defleshing the chicken the next day and using the carcasses to make stock. I had no idea how gelatinous home-made chicken stock is. Fascinating. 

I hope that you all had wonderful Thanksgivings (even if you're not American/Canadian). 

I am so thankful to be back in France, to have a wonderfully supportive family who is encouraging me to have this adventure and to have amazing friends who put up with my inability to keep in contact. 

Much love, 

MCJ