You'd Think I'd Never Seen Farm Animals Before

Everyone is busy, busy

It is stunningly gorgeous here today in Carcassonne. It's sunny and clear and fairly mild.  I think every single resident of the city was out this morning, either at the Arab market, at the Place Carnot market or the post office. Things were pretty packed, but nobody seemed very grouchy about having to wait to be helped or to get through the crush of people with strollers and rolling grocery sacs.  I was glad to have mastered the post office self service machines, because it meant no real standing in line for me, at least there.

Henny Penny ponders an escape?

The young farmers were around the corner at the Dome.  I meandered there to see what was happening.  It reminded me a little of the 4-H booths at the county or state fairs back in the states.  However, there were a few differences. Notice the way they cleverly disguised the "fence" with slabs of bark-covered wood.  In France, presentation is everything.  The chickens weren't in pens or cages, nor were the rabbits.  Yes, there was a fenced off area for them, but the allotted area was as big as the areas for the larger farm animals, and they could run freely.  One chicken in particular... maybe she was a scout, or a spy chicken... insisted on walking the parapet. At one point, some kid approached her and just whaled on her. That kid quickly got a swat on the behind and a good scolding from his papa. Good for you, pere. The hen didn't seem any the worse for it, thankfully.  She consented to pose for her portrait.

Sweet face

I loved the little donkey--such a sweet face.  The pig actually reminded me of someone I once worked with.  There was a big shaggy dog keeping company with the goats, the grey momma cow had a little nursing calf, and so did the brown cow.  How contented and clean were all of the animals! There was no sense of stress or distress. I don't care if I sound naive. I got a great deal of enjoyment from seeing the animals and their caretakers.  The day that I can't find joy in something so rustic--well, I hope such a day NEVER comes.

Cheese of the Pyrenees

My slice

And there were, of course, vendors selling the products of these animals.  I bought some Pyrenees cheese. The man who cut and sold me the slice of the cheese was the man whose hands had made it.  What a great thing--to know the provenance of our food. Some of the booths hadn't yet opened; there was a big cluster of obvious farm-hands around the main food stall, waiting for it to start selling.

Momma and baby

After leaving the farm exhibit, I walked down to the boat where they are exhibiting photos of the Canal du Midi in an attempt to raise funds to  save the plane trees from the blight that is affecting them.  Nobody was around, but I will go back and buy the set of postcards that go toward the cause. 

Goat-herd?

Perfect day for a sun-bath

Lots of greenery is for sale at the market and I see people coming away with bundles of holly and mistletoe.  The stores were busy but I didn't get any sense of that dog-eat-dog fight for the last "must have" toy this year. I encountered a group of Santas--complete with electronics.  Guitars, saxophone, drums and singers offered up Latin flavored jazz numbers.  Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, helped in part, I am sure by the good mood of the weather.  It definitely feels like a holiday is near.

Now we know what's in the sleigh---electronic amplification equipment