"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Showing posts with label Loire Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loire Valley. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Touring France


I have so many photos of my Paris trip that I haven't shared, so I thought I'd show some from our foray to the Loire Valley.  I loved it.  Wish we could have spent more than a day there.  It is located two hours from Paris.  We visited Chambord and Chartres.  I can't remember what is what so I'll just let you enjoy.  


Da Vinci himself designed this staircase.  After we left, I found out he lived his final years around here and is buried somewhere nearby.  I would have dearly loved to visit his grave site.


Some of the household accoutrement.


I loved the quaint villages.  I was surprised that the local roads were only one lane, though I don't remember meeting other cars.  Some of the towns were quite small.  We'd be driving along, and look through an allee of tree and there would be a huge, gorgeous chateau.



The bedrooms at Chambord were still decorated beautifully.  This was the bedroom of Louis XIV.


This tapestry, one of many, was huge.



Don't ask me, I wasn't driving.


Of course, the crazy bird lady of Peaceable Hill Farm was too busy feeding the birds to fully drink in the views.


A statue of the lady of the house and her shoes (and I didn't say this, but they were pretty big for the time period).  More to come.




Sunday, October 30, 2011

You Can't Take Me Anywhere



Well, it's almost all Hallows Eve, or Halloween as we like to call it.  This is the scariest thing I could come up with (or it could be my parrot Birdie trying to pluck my eye out as I work on this blog).  During our 10 day trip to Paris this spring, we forayed two hours east of Paris, in the Loire Valley, and went to Chartres and Chambourg.  I really enjoyed this and heartily recommend spending a day or two around there to see how they live outside of Paris.  Tiny towns, or villages, dot the countryside in a patchwork mosaic of planted fields. Many of the homeowners also had large gardens.  I will show more of Chartres later, though I can't remember whether many of the pics are Chartres or Chambourg, but this old window was definitely in Chambourg.  Of course, you're not supposed to open the windows, so what did I do, yes, as my friends scattered, I had to lift the beautiful old latch and open the window.  Just inches away, on the sill, was this little bat.  It looked up at me and followed me with its eyes.  I looked up to see if it had fallen from the roof line, but saw no others.  Since bats aren't out during the daylight hours, I surmised it must be sick.  Rabies?!! Sorry little bat, I wish I could help you but I'm outta here.  I  took my photo, then gently closed the window.  See what you miss when you always follow the rules.  BOO!