Summer walk in Spring

Yesterday Pauline and I did our first Le Grand-Pressigny Randonnee club walk for some time, in 23 degrees - felt like summer.

We started from the 'source' at 'La Fontaine' just past the pottery and headed along the  local chemins through the woodlands and along country roads towards Abilly and then back in the direction of Barrou.

It is interesting when you come out of the wood sto views that at first seem unfamiliar and it takes a little while to get your bearings but there is always someone on hand to get our geographical postilion mapped. Above is looking towards Descartes.

This is looking down to the D750 which we walked parallel to for a spell in the direction of Barrou. 

I am always a bit disappointed when I cannot reproduce a scene accurately with my photographs...the greens and yellows of this field were much better than portrayed.

The current project...

I have a number of projects on the go at present but the one that I am concentrating on at the moment is the facing of the block wall at the bottom off the garden behind the barn at the Old Walnut Mill.

I have completed the first part - replacing the missing blocks on the existing wall - I now have to face it with the stone that has, as Pauline reminds me, been moved by her over the years on a number of occasions. The anticipated good spell of weather should see a bit of progress, with the only cloud on the horizon being the need to dispose of 'stuff' from the barn becoming the priority. 

Lady in waiting...

As Pauline and I stroll around the region she often has to wait while I try and get a photograph without people in it, which in a popular tourist area can often be difficult.

Our walk around the beautiful Montresor on Saturday was no different.

First guests of the season at the 'Old Walnut Mill'

One of their visits was to Chateau de Cheverny

Our first guests of the season at the cottage left happy, which is always reassuring. Taking early bookings you are at the mercy of the weather and although they had sunny weather during their stay the nights and mornings could be a little chilly. They arrived to a fire lit for them in the wood burning stove to back up the electric heaters and the old house soon got comfortable for their stay.

From our guestbook:

15th April 2019

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Jim's help with local places and restaurant recommendations etc proved invaluable. We have covered a lot of miles on seeing chateaux, beauty spots etc.. The beds in the house are very comfortable and the kitchen is well equipped, the local brochures are very helpful. Your friendly approach was much appreciated...we would have no hesitation on recommending you.

Best wishes for the future,

Alison & Robin Walker,Cambridge,

Pam Wilkie, Woodbridge,

England

UK

Another walk among the tulips at Chateau de Cheverny

We have a project to start at the garden behind the barn at the 'Old Walnut Mill' this week so Pauline and I decided to head up the Chateau de Cheverny  yesterday,to see this year's tulip display in the grounds first hand before they start to die off.

Glad we did - quite stunning!

The displays also extend into the 'kitchen garden'which is themed as is the whole place, for Easter.

These are in the 'apprentices garden' in front of the Orangery'

They are even the boats on the lake.

Worse ways to kill time...

Yesterday we headed over to Loches to get my laptop checked out, the plan was drop it in in the morning, go for lunch and then back for a report. Lunch was simple but good (La Laterne) and we made some new Austrian friends - got chatting to couple at next table and ended up exchanging email addresses!We headed back to shop but due to the shop being busy he asked if we could come back around 5.00 pm! What to do?..not too difficult, we headed over to one of our favourite places here in Touraine, the beautiful village of Montresor.

Not that I needed to but I took loads of photographs to add to the many hundreds I already have of this great village which is beautiful and so photogenic at any time of year.

Back in 'Auberge du Vieux Port' in Maire

Another good lunch at 'Auberge du Vieux Port' in Maire yesterday to welcome some friends back to France.

Alternative route...and breadcrumbs

Due to time pressures and a slight reluctance to get motivated yesterday morning we couldn't make the weekly randonnee club walk, so instead we opted for our circular route from here in La Guerche to Barrou via Maire and Lesigny (12km) and back.

Place de l'Eglise Maire

It was an ideal  afternoon for a walk with spring bursting out all around us.

Love how this house on the street has made the most of the available 'garden' space.

Looking towards Lesigny.

Beautiful Wisteria on Rue des Echelles

and Magnolia on Rue du Moulin in Lesigny.

Route de Lesigny,Barrou.

Grande Rue, Barrou

As it happens we did not complete the circuit, as after stopping into the bar for a well deserved refreshment (non alchoholic), we discovered, just as we were leaving the village that Pauline had left her breadcrumbs in the bar (never thought I'd ever say that in a sentence). She had bought them as we passed Claire's shop and they were needed for fishcakes, so reluctantly, we started back along Grande Rue only to be met by friends Angela and Denis who had been visiting mutual friends in the village - their offer of a lift was gratefully received!

Toasting 'Les Tilleuls'

Went to 'Les Tilleuls' last night with a few friends to toast the new makeover - everyone impressed with the result of the hard work.

'Les Tilleuls' bar/ restaurant,Barrou - new proprietors,new look!

We are happy to report 'Les Tilleuls' bar/ restaurant in Barrou has reopened after some very hard work by the new proprietors Pascal & Catherine - and what a difference they have made!

First guests at the Old Walnut Mill

Yesterday we welcomed our first guests of the season at the Old Walnut Mill after a hectic 4 weeks of decanting ourselves from Les Balcons' to accommodate our long-term renters, preparing 'Le Bourg' for its first (*and last) guests of the season and bringing the house out of it winter hibernation.

A bit early for a lot of colour but promising much! 

* Le Bourg is currently for sale...contact us re any interest.

A busy weekend...

One of the great things about our lives here in Southern Touraine is the diversity of life experiences it can bring on a regular basis. This last weekend has been no different, Friday night had us joining French friends and neighbours  for dinner with our four favourite American sisters at Le Bourg in Barrou (more on this later), Saturday it was the dinner dance in the village, then yesterday afternoon we had the pleasure of a 'Concert Les Baladins' in the church at Le Grand-Pressigny. We rounded it off by joining the new residents in our house (Les Balcons) for a glass of wine on the balcony to officially welcome them to their new lives here in France - lovely.

A bit of a do..

Good fun last night at the PTA's dinner and Dance in Barrou ...friends Margaret and Maureen certainly got in to the swing of things. 

Long lunch

  

A pleasure to be invited along to help a couple friends celebrate special birthdays over at 'Auberge du Vieux Port' in Maire yesterday. Great company and chat meant lunchtime extended until 4.00pm!

Short lived blossom.

Our first guests of the season at the Old Walnut Mill do not arrive until Monday so will probably miss the best of the cherry blossom...which is a shame.

Sundown at Preully-sur-Claise

Had to stop and catch the setting sun from the bridge at Preuilly-sur-Claise last night.