Le grand livre des "Pourquoi?"

The lovely class project of CE1 (Sophie's class). Everyone raved about her teacher at the beginning of the year and they were right. She has been absolutely lovely and encouraged Sophie to stretch herself.

Looky, looky

Four fantastic new Eardley mugs - personalized even

[posted whilst we are in Barcelona]

Medieval Issigeac (Summer Update Part 10)

Our ruelle by night

 An association of villagers keen to preserve the medieval character of Issigeac has sprung up. Les Menestrels have produced a little book of its history (Roman in fact!) and now a series of events entitled Issigeac en flambeaux. 6 times / summer, locals and tourists gather for a fascinating slide show of the history (projected on to 16th century buildings!), followed by a teen group that does ancient-looking tricks (such as the diabolo), then some poetry and a fable enacted by our neighbours. The highlight for us is that the public lights are extinguished in order to facilitate a tour of the village by flaming torch.

approaching the house (on the corner) by torch light

The villagers' fable - money talks

Joanna with the stars of the show (neighbours Russ and Jean Louis)

 This year our stay overlapped with the annual "Medieval Day" - see previous years for full effect! It was the 2nd most highly anticipated day of the summer!

Silks in the church square

The boy who was knighted in that very spot 4 years ago

The girl who aims to be knighted in 2013

My love the Benedictine monk of many pleasures

 

The evening ended with fire dancing in the main square (professionals, not would be knights and monks)

and pottery...

There is ALWAYS pottery in Issigeac, though I did discuss with Marite what retirement might look like for her. She and Michel won't some to Canada during the cold months and are always too busy in the warm months.

and painting...

For the children, 'twas the French summer of...

board games

summer 2008 round-up - Part 1

We are in the last week of what we North Americans consider summer, so I thought I should scroll through my digital photo collecton and see what gaps I should fill. These are from our French friends' wedding. I love the shot of the kids trying out their table manners en masse. The child aspect was well thought through (the bride and groom have two children the same age as ours): a separate and earlier meal with child-yummy food, a table of toys, lots of run-around room, a craft, some boules, a baby room for sleeping/nursing/changing.

The promised art

As promised, here are 2 pieces of grown-up art that we have purchased this summer. I know we are living on a tight budget but it's ART. When you have a coup du coeur and generous friends and family who donated to Sophie's art for life fund and our armchair in Issigeac fund (which got raided for the oil painting), you just have to commit.

The oil painting is "The last village" and painted by an artist based in Cadouin. We spotted it at a cafe in Limeuil. I hope to get it back to Canada one day... The piece on the right is Sophie's birth

present (Seb's was a silk screened maritime view) and was made out of various textiles by a neighbour, Elma (a transplanted Scot who married a Parisan and worked in Ethiopia for the UN in the 60s). The snap doesn't do it justice. She found the sacking 1/2 buried and created something around it. It's titled "The forgotten garden" and is glued and stitched and painted.

We are so pleased with them both. So thank you!