Philippe Speyer’s farm is full of cackling, lowing, whinnying and grunting. Dozens of animals populate "le cour", the stables and the farmyard. Philippe’s daughters, Anne, Cathy and "petit" Sylvie, who is called after her grandmother, chatter away as happily as the animals, which they love looking after. In the nock of the huge barn that is built against the house a pair of storks has made its nest and the beams inside are home to owls and bats. The patched dog called Spot, who used to be a reliable guard dog, has become old and lazy. That’s why Philippe has bought a large number of geese, which give visitors a very noisy welcome.  The farm supplies almost all of Ville de Reidy. Most of the hen and goose eggs end up at restaurant "Chez Gwendoline" belonging to Gwendoline Jonas. The herbs from the herb garden go to "Hôtel de Ville" belonging to Yvette Bayon, and to Inge Waldkirch, the town’s  "pharmacienne", who uses them to make herbal elixirs and healing teas. In his small field Philippe grows a strong corn type, which Stephane Felbach from "la Boulangerie Stéphane" uses to make his special corn biscuits. He takes small quantities of corn at a time to the watermill belonging Didier Abresch, who grinds it into corn flour.

Now that the days are short and snow has made working outside virtually impossible, the farm’s living room is warm. Philippe throws large blocks of wood on the fire, which crackles and gives a cosy light. Then the three daughters cuddle up close to him and listen to Philippe’s wonderful stories. Stories about other times when bandits roamed through the country and stole livestock.  Especially "petit" Sylvie gets frightened and shuts her eyes with excitement. Fortunately Philippe always makes sure there is a happy ending.