Loire Valley shop front...La Clef des Champs

La Clef des Champs in Preuilly-sur-Claise (the key of the fields) always offers a lovely display.

An idea for holiday Monday...

If you decide to go brocanting over the weekend we would recommend a visit to Moncontour over in the Vienne. A bit further away at just over an hour from Barrou but worth the trip as is a good brocante plus it is a pretty place, Be sure to check out the interesting church with its arched nave.

Something for the holiday weekend...Brocantes / Vide-greniers

Moncontour 2016

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 29th April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

CHATILLON SUR INDRE  Brocante Vide-greniers **

TOURS  Vide-greniers rue Lamartine ***

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 30th April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AUTRECHE  Vide Grenier *

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Brocante de l'ile *

BLERE  Vide grenier ***

CHINON  Bric à Brac **

CHATELLERAULT  Brocante***

JOUE LES TOURS  Brocante Bric a Brac Fête de la Grande Bruére ***

LE GRAND PRESSIGNY  Brocante ** (cancelled)

MARRAY  Vide-greniers *

RILLY SUR VIENNE  Brocante **

  

SAINT CYR SUR LOIRE  Vide Grenier ***

SAINT OUEN LES VIGNES  Vide-greniers ***

 Brocantes / vide greniers Monday 1st May

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

BALLAN MIRE  5ième Foire aux Plants-plantes/brocante Jardin **

BERTHENAY  Brocante Vide-greniers**

CANGEY  Bric à Brac ****

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Brocante

FERRIERE SUR BEAULIEU  Brocante *

LEUGNY Vide-greniers *

MONCONTOUR  Brocante ****

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

MONTS  Vide-greniers ***

PARCAY MESLAY  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

SAINT BENOIT LA FORET  Brocante **

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-greniers ****

New beginnings...'Chez L'

The former 'Café Jean Bart' in Le Grand Pressigny re-opened its doors last night (officially opens on Friday) as 'Chez L' with the new proprietors hosting a welcome night.

Lisa and her team did an excellent job which bodes well for its future.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by 'I Don't Know' accompanied by Dave Brown on fiddle.

Olivier Debré Contemporary Art Centre in Tours...open

Well yes and no...we had to go up to Tours yesterday to visit one of its many medical clinics as Pauline was having a MOT type check-up (passed with flying colours BTW) and as it was raining, decided to take in a visit to the new contemporary art centre built near the Pont Wilson Bridge in the north of the city. We choose the underground bunker that is the parking on 'Place Anatole France' which is within walking distance of the centre.

The grounds are still being worked on externally but the site is open for visitors although unfortunately for us,not on a Tuesday! I should heed my own advice - in France when planning a trip check opening hours first due to the different opening time criteria 'historical monument', seasonal variations etc.. So after quite a bit of announcing its opening, up until May 20th it is not open Mondays or Tuesdays and when it is, it is from 11.30am (?) - something to do over lunchtime rather than eating? don't think so!

FYI

• 11/03/2017 to 20/05/2017 : from 11:30 to 18:00 (except Monday - Tuesday

• 21/05/2017 to 15/09/2017 : from 11:30 to 19:00

Brocante bizarre...Preuilly-sur-Claise

Sunday's brocante at Preuilly-sur-Claise had the usual eclectic mix of items for sale...nothing too bizarre although the life-size grumpy policeman might just qualify.

A weekend of sunshine and reminders

What a good weekend weather-wise. We are always grateful when we have a sunny day when greeting new guests as on Saturday, when a lovely couple from Wyoming arrived at 'Le Bourg'. It also allowed us to do some overdue garden work at the Old Walnut Mill. We also had some leisure time which as ever involved eating and drinking, Aperos on Friday night with friends and neighbours on Grande Rue and dinner with friends on Saturday night, We rounded it off by catching up with our neighbour David last night for aperos and are embarrassed to admit we missed a 'significant' birthday of his (bad). His last milestone was actually celebrated in our barn 10 years ago (surely it can't be?) and we would have loved to have done something for him again (though the barn is now crammed full of 'stuff'). Anyway it drives home the point that no matter how busy you are you need to take time out for others.

Yesterday at Preuilly-sur-Claise - 'Foire de la Saint-Georges'

Lovely spring day for a walk around the brocante at Preuilly-sur-Claise

The sun had its effect on choice of headgear.

On brocante day was amused to see that this shop was closed for the afternoon.

By the time we got to this display we were rather tired! 

Sadly the only thing that caught our eye was this pair of tables. We had to actually waken the stall holder from a little snooze to enquire as to the price, 15€ each, she had earlier bought them from the stall across from her! We let her return to her snooze.

We ended the afternoon by joining Simon and Susan for a refreshment (water) on the way back to our car and then on to this charming little cottage for a spot of sparkling Vouvray with the owner who we have only recently become reacquainted with.

First meal alfresco at La Guerche...

Pauline calls it 'a study of deprivation'

We were able to have our first meal (lunch) in our courtyard at La Guerche yesterday due to Charlie and Pascal our plumbers and Jean-Paul our electrician getting us hooked up to some services...progress indeed. 

Something for the weekend...Brocantes / Vide-greniers 22nd/23rd April,

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 22^nd April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

  

CHAMBRAY LES TOURS  Vide-greniers **

PREUILLY SUR CLAISE  Foire de la St-George ***

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 23^rd April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

BLERE  Vide-greniers **

CHINON  Vide-greniers ***

CROTELLES  Vide-greniers *

HUISMES  Vide-greniers *

JOUE LES TOURS  Vide-dressing *

LA'NGENNERIE  Vide-greniers *

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Brocante de la St-jean ****

NOUANS LES FONTAINES  Brocante Vide-greniers **

NOYANT DE TOURAINE  Vide-greniers **

SAINT CYR SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers **

SAINT LAURENT EN GATINES  Brocante Vide-greniers *

SAINT SENOCH  Brocante **

SAINTE MAURE DE TOURAINE  Marché aux Livres de Printemps *

SAINT VALENTIN  Brocante Marché aux Plants **

TOURS  Vide Grenier APE Camus Maurois **

TOURS  Brocante BD Béranger ***

VALLERES  Vide Greniers ***

VILLAINES LES ROCHERS  Vide-greniers *

Returning again and again to the Loire Valley...

Our American sisters are heading home after their usual bumper packed holiday in France.They took in Paris and Chartres and a stay in Burgundy after their visit to Le Bourg here in Barrou.

This was their fourth visit to Barrou and as their comment in the houses guestbook suggests, they hope to return again next year:

"We love being here - our second home. Jim & Pauline are wonderful - so kind and attentive....we have been here four times and plan to be here again next April. We love 'Le Bourg', Barrou and especially Jim & Pauline. There is always something new to do here!"

A 'summer house' in spring...

This is a'summer house'(Angles sur l'Anglin) in spring waiting to be opened up!

Brocante bizarre...

Sunday's brocante at Angles sur l'Anglin didn't disappoint when it came to bizarre item on offer, like this animal (horse?) skull...every home should have one!  

Or this scary pair of 'lobotomy dolls'.

We didn't buy any of these or this tasteful apero dispenser...missed opportunity?

Easter brocante...and get-together

Went over to the brocante at Angles sur l'Anglin yesterday where the usual eclectic mix of items were for sale...we actually bought the wooden lantern in this pic. for when we do up our outside space at 'La Guerche'...very much forward thinking there!

Couldn't resist taking more pics of the village,one of the most beautiful in France.

The sky cleared for the afternoon allowing us to have our planned get-together with the local 'Hirondelles' who are over for their Easter visit. 

Moon shot...

Took this as I was going over to work on the 'project' at La Guerche yesterday morning...the moon apparently flying off and leaving a chemtrail of its own

Vide-greniers / brocantes for Easter weekend.

Angles sur l'Anglin

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 16th April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

ANGLES SUR L'ANGLIN  Brocante **

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Brocante Vide-greniers *****

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle **

ESVRES  Vide-greniers**

MONTS  Vide-greniers ***

SAINT ROCH  Vide-greniers **

TAVANT  Brocante Vide-greniers ****

First rose of 2017...

The first rose on our wall rose bush at the 'Old Walnut Mill' has appeared. This is well ahead of last year's 4th of May appearance, probably accelerated by the recent great spell of weather.  

When the chips are down...call on a baker

On Sunday evening we joined in the birthday celebrations of one of our English friends where it was decided to treat him to a rather special cake...of 'fish & chips'. It fell to Jean who as the founder of  the Loire Valley branch of the  'Clandestine Cake Club' was well qualified to create it - and what a great job she did...even down to her version of salt & vinegar,

First guests enjoyed great spell of Loire Valley spring weather at Les Balcons.

Our first guests of the season (Australians) at Les Balcons  enjoyed a great spell of weather for their visit to the Loire Valley.These are the views from  the balcony on the day of their departure, it had pretty much been blue skies from the day they arrived.

Here is their comments from our guestbook: "As everyone has said it is a great place to stay - very comfortable - good CD & DVD collections. Thank you Jim & Pauline for everything we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves."

 

Au revoir

 

The Knolls & The Smiths,

Sunshine Coast,

Australia

Loire Valley church for Sunday...Saint Christophe, Bléré

Read more here

Brocantes / vide greniers this Sunday...

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 9th April

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

ATHEE SUR CHER  Brocante ?

AZAY LE FERRON  Brocante - Vide-grenier - Foire au Tout ***

CHARGE  Brocante Spéciale Musique *

CONTINVOIR  Brocante Vide-greniers **

DAME MARIE LES BOIS  Vide-greniers **

LA VILLE AUX DAMES  Vide-greniers *****

RIVIERE  Brocante **

SAINT BRANCHS  Brocante - Vide-greniers + Foire à l'Oignon ***

SAINT CYR SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

  

SAINT QUENTIN SUR INDROIS  Brocante **

SEUILLY  Vide Penderie, Jouets et Puériculture *

TOURS  Vide Grenier Quartier des Fontaines **

TOURS  Vide-grenier Tours léo Lagrange *

TOURS  Vide-greniers Esplanade François Mitterrand *

A spring walk from Barrou to Lesigny and back in pictures...