I have to confess there has been another reason for my relative silence here on the blog. You've probably been wondering about the lack of posts detailing my plans for this year's garden plot, or crowing over the first seedlings poking through in their sunroom starter home, or preparations dug in the garden beds. But in fact I'm sorry to say that none of that has been taking place, as we have some big news...
No, not that big news...I'm not pregnant. Actually, it looks as though we will be moving to the old USofA! So the French Country Challenge will become the Montana Country Challenge (we'll practically be neighbors, Mike! :) ) for this half of the American girl duo. The good news is that we'll no longer be renting, and we will have a whole 20 acres on which to enact our vegetable and other smallholding dreams. We seem to have unknowingly shared a mindmeld with the previous occupants as well, as they have already planted fruit trees with a drip irrigation system, set up a heated chicken coop and constructed a 3-bay wooden compost heap, not to mention put in deer-proof fencing for the garden area.
We are extremely excited about this new leap toward a more self-sufficient life, but naturally it is bittersweet to be leaving France and abandoning the French Country Challenge. Rest assured, however, I will be starting an as-yet-unnamed new blog in a few months' time (move date is still not nailed down, but sometime in May), once we have settled in, and we can all pick up where we left off. I will post here to let you all know of my new virtual address. In the meantime we are going to be dealing with the craziness of a transatlantic move and the 8 million official registered letters you have to write to tie things up here in France, so it probably will be as though I have fallen off the face of the earth until I resurface sometime in July or August, so apologies in advance and I'll 'see' you on the other side!
I think Big Sky Country Challenge is a good name.
Posted by: a | March 9, 2011 at 15:59
That's a good suggestion, thanks!
Anyone else with suggestions feel free to share!
Posted by: Laura | March 9, 2011 at 16:15
Ah, should have looked here before asking all those questions. Answered provided here. Well best of luck with the new project. If ever you head over to see Mr. H give him my best.
Posted by: Heiko | March 9, 2011 at 19:49
Congratulations. Sounds like a fantastic opportunity :)
Posted by: Ben | March 10, 2011 at 10:31
Will do Heiko! And thanks Ben!
Posted by: Laura | March 10, 2011 at 10:38
Shocked! And sad, but very happy that you're getting the acres you deserve. Very timely decision. Well done!
Posted by: Max | March 11, 2011 at 14:40
Thanks! We are very glad to be getting some more land and land that is properly ours (soon to re-become the most prized commodity!). Montana also has a lot of proper wilderness that will provide another very useful string to the self-sufficiency bow. We're looking forward to learning to trout fish, forage and even hunt deer/elk, if I can ever bring myself to shoot one.
But it doesn't look like we will be getting the chance to visit before we leave :( We will be back to the UK to see Henry's family though, so hopefully we will be able to manage a little trip across the channel at some point!
Posted by: Laura | March 11, 2011 at 17:38
Welcome here any time, Laura. And, I'm told, Emma has always wanted to visit Montana!
Posted by: Max | March 11, 2011 at 21:22
Likewise! We're also just over the pass from Yellowstone. I'm sure the kids (and adults for that matter) would love to see all the wildlife :)
Posted by: Laura | March 11, 2011 at 22:10
Wow.....Big News indeed. What a fantastic step in your adventures. I wish you every possible success with your very own land.
Keep in touch via your Blog, we want to be with you every step of the way.
I would wish you luck, but hardworkers like you don't need it wishing... you make your own.
Congratulations and I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible.
Sue xx
Posted by: Sue | March 15, 2011 at 16:49
Thanks so much Sue! I'll be sure to stay in touch :)
Posted by: Laura | March 15, 2011 at 17:11
Forgive me, I just saw this post of yours...how exciting, I can't wait to hear how you are doing in Montana. My wife was born there and we have often talked about moving there ourselves...good for you.:) Welcome back to the good old US of A.
Posted by: Mike | October 1, 2011 at 00:51
Thanks Mike :) We are definitely loving it here. We got a late and small start to the garden, but managed to grow some great veggies nonetheless.
I'm working on getting a new blog started (though I'm still stuck on the name!). If you're traveling through Montana be sure to stop in and visit! And/or hopefully we'll be coming through your area sometime soon!
Posted by: Laura | October 4, 2011 at 01:48