Sunday morning David leaves early for the market in Bretignoles. Since David is at the local market, it is Natalie who does the milking and Odette is up early to help in the fromagerie. Though I saw the big Saturday market in Sables d'Olonne, everyone suggests I also go to the smaller, local market. I am delighted since, as you know, I LOVE markets.
My work in the beets have left my hands a bit blistered so I take precautions for the time I plan to spend in the early morning (before it gets too hot) continuing with the weeding. Natalie gives me an old cotton rag and I make strips and wrap around the thumb and fingers that get the most "action" as I weed.
David has driven his little stand to market hitched onto the car so I "drive" to market on a bike. Along the way I stop to take a picture of the rural area around the farm. You can see the sea in the background. Notice also the dryness of the land.
When I get to the market David is making a sale and doesn't see me right away.
Here he smiles a greeting to me and I get off the bike and park it in back of the little caravan David uses on market day.
It is really hot and stuffy inside the stand. I stay with David for a time and hear conversations about the port from some of his customers. Then I go off for a while to check out the rest of the market. Below I cannot resist buying a piece of pork at this stand that sells both chicken and pork. I go down some steps from the market and sit on a log to chew my way through part of the chunk of pork. Yes, delicious!
Here the vendor jokes with his customers.
When I arrive back at the David's stall, I ask him if he wouldn't like a Perrier. Of course we both wanted one and I crossed to the bar below to get us some cold fizzy water. What a relief! Those cold little bubbles were just the antidote for such heat.
In spite of the heat, there are a lot of people at the market. There is a constant stream of tourists and regular customers for David. I spell him for a short time as he hurries away to buy something for the house. One person wanted to wait to see him so I told her he would return in a few minutes.
As it becomes time to pick up and leave, David offers to put the bike inside the stand and take me with him in the car. I decline knowing that I can make it home and certainly need the exercise. Then, before I leave for home on the bike, I get another drink of Perrier for us both. Goat farming is a difficult and time consuming life but one full of excitement as well. All the tasks are very different but one always has something to do. David's only time off is a permanent date to talk by skype with a friend in Spain.
I take the shortcut on the way home as it is all downhill so I approach the farm from a different angle.
For this shot I got down on the ground as I wanted to have the grains as the focus for the shot.
After lunch, it is decided that Paquerette must be moved from her "pen" as she needs a place that has more refuge from the sun. Her skin has become a bit blistered and she has a rash. Everyone in the family gets involved and there are no results to be had. Paquerette doesn't want to be moved. She emits high squeals when they try to get her into the cart hitched to the tractor. They almost have her in the cart when she jumps out, bruising herself a little. Helline and Natalie try to tell David what to do. They say if he is patient, she will go in the cart on her own. Everyone has an opinion on how the job should be done (except us Wwoofers who keep silent on the subject). Finally the rest of the family decides to let David take care of this job all by himself early the next morning ("and please Papa, don't hurt Paquerette"). Of course, David would never hurt any "member" of his animal family. You will find out what happened in the next blog.
Odette and I go to the evening milking as it will soon be time for both of us to leave the farm. We love to "hang out" with the goats at milking time. As for David and Natalie, it is not just a business, but a relationship with their animals. I remember what my parents told me when I was young - we have animals, we treat them with kindness and then, even though they have become "pets," we all knew what would happen to them in the end. Yet it seemed OK, part of the order of the world as it should be. Certainly far from the "factory farming" concept.
And here late Sunday evening Natalie gets ready to leave for 4 days of hiking with friends in the Pyrenees. Tomorrow I will have to say good-bye as I will be leaving on Friday and she won't be home until the evening. I can sympathize with her as she tries to eliminate weight. I certainly came with TOO MUCH STUFF that I am sure I will never use on this trip. Hopefully I can learn someday not to overpack.
See you soon.
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