53 - Excavation Continues, Homemade Blackberry Jam & Exploring the Stunning Château de Hautefort!

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Last week, we left you in suspense as Philippe kicked off the big excavation work with two small machines: the dumper and the excavator. With family visiting, it’s been a nice change of pace not having to tackle everything on our own for once. So, while we're getting plenty of work done this week, we’re also excited to step away from the property for a bit and explore what the Dordogne region has to offer. But first—work, then play!

The digging has really taken off, and we've made it past the new barn. While Philippe pushed forward, one task our family was eager to tackle was clearing out the overgrown bread oven. Blackberry vines, holly, and ivy had taken over, coexisting in what seemed like perfect harmony. We’re not exactly sure when this traditional oven was built, but conversations with neighbors suggest it’s quite old. If you know anything about these old bread ovens, please share in the comments—we’d love to restore ours and hopefully use it again one day!

Later, we made some delicious, tart blackberry jam with freshly picked berries and some I had stored in the freezer from a few weeks ago. With all the work we did, we balanced it out by playing tourist and visiting the Jewel of the Périgord: the Château de Hautefort. This fairytale-like château is a stunning example of classical French architecture, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It’s also been a popular backdrop for several films. We explored the castle with its magnificent courtyard, grand staircases, and elegant hallways. Later, we’ll step into the exceptional gardens, though our footage hardly does justice to how intricate and breathtaking they truly are. If you ever find yourself in this part of France, don't hesitate to visit—it’s absolutely worth it!

On the last day before our family left, we spent time cleaning up, hanging out, and making the most of our time together. We hadn’t let the robot mower run because we would’ve needed to re-map the area with the tent up, so Ruben was excited to test out the big Stihl mower. Everyone kept busy with their own tasks, taking breaks to chat, sip iced coffee, and enjoy the day.

All in all, it was a productive and memorable week, filled with hard work, family moments, and a little adventure. We’re excited to keep pushing forward on the projects and can’t wait to share what’s next with you—so stay tuned for more!

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Link to the article mentioned about the bread oven from the 17th century: https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/10/28/l...

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