Wednesday is for windows...at the pagoda

 

The cute little windows of the pagoda at Parc Oriental.

Parc Oriental de Maulévrier in spring

 

Yesterday, on what was a beautiful day, we headed over to Parc Oriental de Maulévrier in Maine-et-Loire as we had wanted to see it in spring - we were not disappointed - beautiful!

Is spring the best of times?

I love spring and when it's accompanied by warm weather it can be the best of seasons . Nice enough yesterday to have lunch alfresco in the courtyard where we are reminded why it's such a joy!

 

Marching into summertime...

 

Clocks have gone forward into summertime and it looks like it may actually be about to arrive with temperatures heading to 20+ over the next few days!

  

Not my best look...

 

Trying to get behind the layers of a fireplace that had been given a 'changing rooms' makeover at the project.

Vendredi à vélo - bike break in forest behind Barrou

 

Rue du Pont - ce soir

 

View as I left the project tonignt in La Guerche

Wednesday is for windows...we loved these busy windows at a B&B in Fontevraud L'Abbaye.

 

The bars are off...

 

At long last we have actually gotten around to removing the grill from the former shopfront at the La Guerche project as we are now looking to replace the windows and doors before addressing the expensive repairs to the facade.

An experience we are desperate to replicate...Ada a Chateau du Rivau.

 

Featuring Chateau du Rivau as our Loire Valley chateau on experienceloire reminded us of Michael,Rose and Ada's visit back in 2019 - she loved it there but sure now as a little princess she would appreciate it even more.

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Saint Pierre Collegiate Church in Chauvigny.

 

Welcome to spring in Southern Touraine

 

A woolly bicycle for Vendredi à vélo...

 

Snapped on a visit to Aubigny-sur-Nere back in 2016

Come on Spring ,let's be having you...

 

Spring in the beautiful gardens of Chateau de Rivau.

Wednesday is for windows - another lost to time

On the road to the campsite in Barrou.

Vincent van Gogh's self portrait get's an update...

 

Love this update by the talented Didier Puigsegur, alias 'Putch' displayed in the window of his exhibition space in Le Grand-Pressigny, though one has to wonder how the mask stays on!.

Sunday stroll and some spring colours...

 

Lovely morning yesterday for our Sunday stroll around the village - good to see some spring colour making an appearance.  

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - more from when we could travel!

 Newmarket, Ontario Canada.

This time last year...

This time last year we were just about to head back to Touraine after a visit to Provence.

Vendredi à vélo

Great image from local photographer Vivien Bluteau here in Barrou.

March morning in Barrou...

By the Creuse at Barrou on Monday morning.

 

Wednesday for windows...from the house of Jean Linard.

 

We loved these windows at the former home of Jean Linard, French ceramist, sculptor, painter, engraver and architect which sits beside his fabulous 'Cathédrale' located in the heart of Pays-Fort du Cher, in Neuvy-Deux-Clochers near Sancerre which we stumbled on while on a road-trip back in 2018.  

  

Double grazing...

On the way over to Le Grand-Pressigny yesterday I spotted a flock of birds grazing happily among this herd of cows. On the way back I stopped to capture the scene but as soon as I opened the car door the birds,not surprisingly, moved away while the cows all came towards me. 

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench, Montebœuf

 

Bench with a view - looking towards Pluemartin from up above the  hameau of Montebœuf (36)

Busy morning on Grande Rue...

Barrou 

 

Recycling plant?

 

Last August after a walk around the village of Pussigny we spotted these bicycles in a garden just outside Antogny-le-Tillac and thought, they must have a lot of kids! Was intrigued enough to stop - a look over their large gates revealed this!

We went out...

On Tuesday we actually did something 'normal',at least for us, we visited some of our favourite wine caves to restock our cellar. We even had a picnic!

 

Wednesday is for windows - lost to time in Le Grand-Pressigny

 

Life before lockdown...

To think that this time last year we were sitting in Provence by the river in the pretty Isle sur la Sorgue unaware of what was ahead of us.