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Jackie Melnyk's avatar

Sandra I have 2 questions for you: 1) How many steps a day do you get in walking all over your acreage, 2) How the heck do you know and remember each chicken’s name?

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

I walk about 10,000 steps a day, sometimes more. The chickens sort of name themselves - a name will suggest itself to me based on how the chicken looks and acts. They are pretty individualistic, so it's easy to tell them apart.

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Caroline Smrstik's avatar

Beautiful! That last photo makes me want to sigh “home.”

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

it is starting to feel like home, our stuff will make it more so

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Between Dog and Wolf's avatar

I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you mention Clos Mirabel in Pau. I had an apartment in Pau for ten years and have been to CM - such a stunning location. One of my favourite cities in the world.

Loving all your stories.

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

stunning is the word! I really loved it, how fun that you had an apartment there!

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Between Dog and Wolf's avatar

It was magical. My apartment had three floor to ceiling windows that looked out on the chateau and from the balcony I could look over the river to the mountains. Owning a piece of history came at some cost however. A couple of years after purchasing it I got presented with a bill for £49,000; my share of major works. I had intended to retire there but life had other plans. I now live happily on the west coast of Scotland.

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

wow so interesting - I'd never even heard of Pau, many French hardly know it. I'm glad you're happy over in Scotland!

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cwnidog's avatar

My one trip to France was to the northern part of the country; Normandie, Paris, Reims. I enjoyed it immensely. The south awaits me and my lousy French.

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

even lousy French sounds nice

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Boho Devereaux's avatar

I just loved this update- your writing is meant to be savored…

I was surprised that you write…horror stories?

I hope your containers arrive safely to find their new purpose in your ever evolving home. 🏡

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

Yes, I write horror. It's just this thing I've always had. Wes Craven says we watch horror movies not to experience fear but to release it and I think the same is true of writers of horror. I've published horror shorts in seven horror anthologies.I tend toward psychological and body horror, but not on purpose. I don't always write horror but I often *tend* toward horror. My first book however is for middle schoolers! And then I have a historical fiction novel, so wideningt he horror aperture nowadays, I guess. Though if ever there was a haunted property it's the one we bought in Portugal. Thank you for your container wishes, we pray every night to the container gods to show mercy on us, who have lived without so much for so long!

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May 21
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Sandra Stephens's avatar

thank you! we're going to plant more wildflowers....

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