LAST UPDATED: 2 MAY 2010 MORE PHOTOS OF THE REGION: QUERCORB SITE

An American Expat in the South of France In November 2004, we decided to relocate from Los Angeles, California, to the South of France. In December 2004, we came to France, looking for a new house in the "departments" of the Aude and the Ariege. We eventually bought a three-story "village house" in the lovely village of Chalabre, near the Aude-Ariege border. At the end of January 2005, after selling our house in Encino, we left Los Angeles. After a week's stay in Paris, we arrived in Chalabre and eventually took possession of our new house on February 18. The story of our move, and our continuing adventures in Chalabre, is told in Randy's book, OVER HERE: AN AMERICAN EXPAT IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE: (click on cover for full-size image) Also check out Randy's cookbook (in FRENCH), LES PETITES RECETTES D'UNE AMERICAINE DE L'AUDE, 22 American recipes adapted for French ingredients, with 27 color photos: Our story continues on Randy's blog: The section below offers a selection of color photos about our move, the renovation of our house and our daily life in Chalabre. THE VIADUCT OF MILLAU (06/210) MISTY MONTH OF MAY (05/210) WELCOME TO WEASEL'S WORT (05/2010) BIG SHMOO AND LITTLE PEACH (05/2010) VIDEOS OF CHALABRE'S 2010 CARNIVAL (05/2010) XMAS MARKET 2009! (12/2009) WELCOME MIZ PEACHES LAROO (11/2009) THE NEW BAKERS HAVE ARRIVED (04/2009) BOOK SIGNING (03/2009) COOKING SMELLS & WINTER DAWNS (02/2009) BIG BOY SHMOO (02/2009) WE HAVE FOUND THE SPEAR OF DESTINY (02/2009) SNOW IN CHALABRE (01/2009) DOMAINE DE CASSIGNOLES (11/2008) THE APPLE FESTIVAL (10/2008) LOOKING FOR CHATEAU MONTY (09/2008) MOM MOVES IN (08/2009) TOUR DE FRANCE IN CHALABRE (07/2008) WORK BEGINS ON MOM'S HOUSE (06/2008) OLD JALOPIES IN CHALABRE (05/2008) BRIAN STABLEFORD IN CHALABRE (04/2008) SHMOO IS HAVING FUN (04/2008) DIVA MAGGIE McMIGGINS (1996-2008) (IN ENGLISH) (02/2008) DIVA MAGGIE McMIGGINS (1996-2008) (IN FRENCH) (02/2008) MAGGIE AND SHMOO'S GREAT ADVENTURE (01/2008) XMAS MARKETS (12/2007) THANKSGIVING AT THE POSSUMS (11/2007) WINTER DAWN (01/2007) SHMOO! (WITH MORE PHOTOS!) (01/2007) XMAS LIGHTS IN CHALABRE (12/2006) PEPETE PASSES AWAY (12/2006) DESTINATION: CADAQUES (11/2006) AUTUMN IN THE PYRENEES (10/2006) THE CONCOURS DE NOUVELLES CATHARES (09/2006) A BOULANGERIE FOR ALL SEASONS (08/2006) CIRCUS DAYS (08/2006) LA FÊTE À CHALABRE (06/2006) (incl. the Majorettes du Pays d'Olmes cheerleaders) GRUISSAN'S COMICS FESTIVAL (05/2006) CARNIVAL IN CHALABRE (05/2006) JM'S COMICS WORKSHOP (04/2006) SPRING IN CHALABRE 2006 (incl. Guy & Agnes Sahuc's new fresco) (03/2006) WINTER IN CHALABRE 2006 (01/2006) JM HELPS THE LOCAL SCHOOLKIDS DRAW THEIR OWN SPIDER-MAN COMIC (01/2006) XMAS IN CHALABRE (12/2005) HALLOWEEN & VETERANS' DAY IN CHALABRE (11/2005) MICHAEL IN CHALABRE (10/2005) DIANE IN CHALABRE (09/2005) THE RENOVATION OF OUR HOUSE (05-09/2005) FIRE IN CHALABRE (08/2005) BASTILLE DAY IN CHALABRE (07/2005) THE STREETS OF CHALABRE FESTIVAL (07/2005) THE GARDENS OF CHALABRE (06/2005) BEANIE ARRIVES IN CHALABRE (04/2005) CHALABRE IN THE SPRING (03/2005) CHALABRE IN THE SNOW (02/2005) OUR FIRST TRIP TO CHALABRE(12/2004)