Carrie's Adventures in France
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| Saint-Ceneri le-Geri |
House for Sale in Saint-Ceneri le-Geri |
Hailey 12 months | |||||||||||||
| ----time to come home to see my Hailey Caroline - I miss her | |||||||||||||||
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| Paris Bridge over the Seine | Paris Bridge | ||||||||||||||
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| Paris | Famous Paris Bridge | ||||||||||||||
| Saturday, July 18, 2009: Went to the Brocante in Sees. Picked up a small rug for 6 euros which I can use between the chairs in the living room---since the floor has very old tiles and can be a bit cold some mornings or evenings. Spent a few hours there, walking the streets and looking for treasures---none of which I found. I did buy about 7 CD's. I didn't care what language or who was singing as long as I could put them in the computer and have some music or noise occasionally. There were only 1 Euro each at the borate.
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Friday, July 17, 2009:
The day started out slowly. Me getting up slowly. After
realizing that if you don't purchase your train tickets early,
you won't be assigned a seat. And if you are not assigned a
seat on the train and there are more people than seats, you will
stand for the trip or sit in the aisle, like the kids do.
 With
that lesson learned, I decided to go get my train tickets back
to Paris for the return flight home. Don't want any surprises
with suitcases to lug. So took care of that, went to town for a
kebab sandwich, the internet and to try and figure out when the
bank will be open. Success on all fronts except the bank.
Stopped by the pastry shop, bought the bread for a couple days
and a chocolate pastry I decided to pick up for Ann. Stopped by
her house in Belfonds and had tea with her and got a nice phone
call from Natalie. She wondered if I could possibly come by
their house around 5 and meet some English friends. Needless to
say I jumped at the possibility of meeting some new folks and
having an evening out. (Photo: Inside Le Train
Blue Restaurant over Gare de Lyon)
Met Rita and Paul from England, who are renovating a farm house
near Flers. From what I understand they are on their second
year. Live in a shed that was renovated while the main house is
under construction. He works full time at it and she grows
vegetables. He also made some homemade wine he shared with us.
It looked like the color of honey and tasted a bit like muscat
(sweet). It was delightful and I told him I now could say I
know a wine maker in France. they invited me to come to their
house and see it---so hopefully I will have a chance to do that.
I am amazed at how many people are into their gardens, either
flowers or vegetables or both. Nothing like it where we live.
Michael and Peter shared a tart with us, apricots, cookies and
chocolate and coffee with us and then it was time to go 2 1/2
hours later. The country towns folk seem to be so appreciative
of whatever is given or shared. They make it a point to thank
you for the wine you brought and make a big deal out of whatever
is given. I get that sense here, wherever I go. Its the
thought and the friendships that are important.
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| Thursday, July 16, 2009:
Well it is 8:30 in the evening, a very warm evening and I have
returned from the train and Paris. The sky was blue and then I
heard thunder---but could it be when it was so warm? Slowly the
thunder continued and the sky began to darken and low and behold we
had a major HAIL storm in the middle of summer. One thing I have
learned to appreciate in Normandy is how small man is compared with
the weather. In California the weather is always nearly perfect,
but here it changes at any time. No control over it, it just
happens.
The hail storm |
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The ladies from the tourist office came over for lunch and brought me flowers and wine. |
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Bastille Day I
had a great Sunday, met one of Joanne's friends who fixes up French
houses and sells partial shares into them through an
American corporation so everything is in dollars and you don't have
to deal with the French government. She did that when she
bought the house. Usually 5-7 owners. It’s the best way to
own of piece of French without the headache. She invited me
over to go “Brochante” with them (flea market). Went to her
place near Belfonds about 2 miles away. She has a large property
with all kinds of excess structures. She used to live on
Vashon Island up near Seattle. She is planning on moving full
time to France. She introduced me to her boyfriend Tim and we
ended up planting potatoes (it really is that easy?) and then having
an impromptu lunch with some of their friends, then off to the flea
market. It was an enjoyable day. That's the way the
French live, a bit spontaneous. Her website is
www.dreamhomesabroad.net
for anyone interested in seeing it.On July 13th I had planned to go to Mortree for the Bastille event in the city square, fireworks at 11 pm. Much to my surprise I had an impromptu visit from Michael and his daughter Natalie at about 4:30 all dressed up the both of them, carrying a freshly made large raspberry and rhubarb tart for me and oh was it good. Made from the fruits of their garden. Well of course, I had to ask them to stay and then Natalie asked me if I would like to see her father's 2nd favorite hobby, renovating little chapels. So they took me about 8 miles away in the forest to see this beautiful little chapel he had lovingly scrapped the rust off the metal and fixed the walls and repainted the inside. ( Click on photos for larger views)
He did a great job and it is very damp
and wet in the forest so I am sure, it needs maintenance every year.
What a great contribution he does for the community. It gives
him pride, I know. He told me the spring water there was
"miraculous" for skin conditions. And that people come
from far away to drink from the spring water. We took four
large bottles home and they gave me one. I will let you know
if my skin conditions improve.
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