A Week in Pictures

 For me, this is the most poignant time of the year, leaves turning mellow colors, so lovely, so temporary, just before they fall. Our weather has alternated between sunny days, warm, achingly beautiful, to gray cold days, anticipating the coming season. 

We took a wonderful walk one day in La Ferté-Bernard around the lake. The sun filtered through the yellow-green branches. Glowing.

It was the first time we had followed this path all the way around. At the mid point we came to a spot where the lake flows into the river.

The view of the castle out our back window is at its best this time of year. The grounds, which are only partially visible from our vantage, are kept in classic, formal shapes but the added color in fall adds charm, especially when the sun begins to set.

As always at this time of year, I begin to get the itch to redecorate, take on some house projects, make changes and improvements. Last year I painted out part of the wall fresco, which tames the little sitting room a lot. We reupholstered the chairs and couch as well. This year I have only rearranged pictures on the wall, changed light fixtures and added another couch. My bigger projects are yet to commence. Our clients have not completely stopped coming yet, so big messy painting projects will wait for winter.

We have, in fact, had some really wonderful clients during these quieter days. We count ourselves very lucky to have met so many interesting people through our bed and breakfast. We so often are regaled with interesting stories in several languages. Some of the people we meet become our friends.

We had the opportunity to go to Le Mans one day, to do a few errands, and catch a movie.

I took this photo of the back of Le Mans cathedral from a moving car. I used one of my new Photoshop actions to turn it into a post card from days long past. The building itself, of course really hasn't changed in hundreds of years.

My favorite new Photoshop action package is called Pioneer Girl. It offers several filters that, especially when experimented with, and used together, create effects that seem rather magical.

We have also had more time for local friends. We have shared dinners with our closest neighbors, Anne and Christine twice in the last week, and had coffee with Renata.

There is much more time in the studio as well. I am preparing my Etsy shop for the Christmas holiday by organizing my work and being sure the store is well-stocked.

And I have been following the inspiration I took from Gail's class to create some cosmic map-like imagery. These have been a great deal of fun to create. This one is called Worlds Within Worlds, and is available on Etsy.

Next week we leave for Paris for a few days to help with the grandchildren. Emily is off to Russia with the Peter Brook touring production of The Magic Flute. She is assistant director. She has seen a lot of the world this fall! Then we are off to Andalusia ourselves for a week with my friend Mariann.  (One of those wonderful former clients who crossed the line!) Come back for that report the last week of the month!

Dog days of summer

Hot summer days and nights make me incredibly lazy. The garden has gone untidy and tired and the same seems to have happened to me. Even if there is plenty of action in town, I myself have slowed way down.

In the village the yearly Medieval festival was celebrated at the turning of the calendar. We woke up on Saturday morning to our sleepy village filled with huge crowds of celebrants dressed in costume.

Of course our site is well-suited to reenactments from the days of knights and ladies.

Emily and her family stayed with us during the festival. It was the first time Quinn had been here for it and he found it all very fascinating. I suppose it was like a story book come to life for him. He called me to the window one day and pointed across to the castle where the young student who gives guided tours in the afternoon was sitting on a folding chair waiting for clients. "Look! There's the princess," he said with great enthusiasm.

I love the beautiful Percheron horses who gave cart rides through town. They're massively large and strong. They seem so noble to me.

Quinn took a pony ride which was a bit tame for him, as he has become quite a competent horseback rider. Still, any chance to get on a horse is a pleasure for him.

This month we're been able to welcome friends and family who are staying with us for extended visits. James and Adric, who are on their way back to California for the foreseeable future, have stopped off for a long French visit before their departure. It is such a pleasure to have them around.

Philippine, the youngest daughter of the neighbors at our old moulin came along for a few days to brush up on her English language skills. And our friend David, from California, has just sold his house in France and stopped off to visit for a week or so before heading back home. Meanwhile, we shuffle rooms around a little to accommodate clients as well, making for a very lively atmosphere.

One recent day we took a lunch and our kayaks and went into our nearest big town, La Ferté-Bernard, where they have a very nice picnic area.

We chose a spot between the river and lake, near the boat launch.

We took turns in the boats, read, snoozed, ate and worked the crossword puzzle.

The weather was just right, the park was sparsely populated and we had no obligations whatsoever.

It made for an exquisitely relaxing and enjoyable afternoon.

My Week in 32 Pictures

 dawn over Montmirail

we served 10 breakfasts this week

 blue bike outside the church

 sunny studio window

 

a  page from my nature journal

 the cathedral in La Ferté-Bernard

 the passageway that leads to the boulangerie in La Ferté-Bernard

 beet greens

 Mr. Crapaud

 window of the garden shed

 abandoned cabbage

 the last nasturtiums

 stocking up at the farmer's market

chine collé project step 1: paint the koschi paper with permanent ink

 chine collé project step 2: dampen the koschi paper carefully

chine collé project step 3: pose the inked plate and paper on the press bed

 chine collé project step 4: place dampened and spray-glued koschi on plate, glue up, towards paper

 chine collé project step 5: run through press

 mutabilis rose in front terrace garden on a sunny morning

 table set for Rick's birthday dinner

 a tiny snail emerges from the flower arrangement

 dogs were invited to church this week

 the local priest and his assistants get ready to say a blessing over all the dogs

 walking down our country road

farmer's gate

 seasonal colors

 a neighbor working in his garden

 local farm, ancient buildings

 empty nest

 little red pony in his green field

 Montmirail seen from across the valley

while I'm walking uphill, she's coasting down