It never ceases to amaze me that the people who look after listed buildings in France allow this sort of thing to go on. This monstruosity is in Rue des Carmélites in Blois. The lovely little door below is just next to it. Je suis toujours étonnée que les monuments historiques permettent ce genre de …
Author Archives: avril
The Yellow Church Clock – L'horloge d'église jaune
I’m really surprised that this clock on the façade of the 12th century gothic church of Saint Nicolas in Blois has yellow colouring on it in only a restricted area. Je suis très surprise de cette coloration jaune très délimitée sur la façade de l’église gothique de Saint Nicolas à Blois construite au 12ème siècle.
Poppies and a Swan – Coquelicots et cygne
Yesterday in Blois, we had dramatic skies – I’m glad I missed the hail though. We didn’t have any in Les Grouëts. Hier à Blois, on a eu un ciel spectaculaire mais je suis contente que j’ai manqué les grêlons. On n’en a pas eu aux Grouëts.
The Missing Boat – Pas de gabarre
You may remember the photo below from last summer when we discovered that there was a ferry crossing for pedestrians and bikes over the Loire from Cour-sur-Loire to the bike path leading to Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire and on to Chambord. Imagine our dismay on Saturday when there was narry a boat in sight nor a sign. So …
The New Loire Observatory – Le nouvel observatoire Loire
On Saturday when we were cycling from Blois to Cour-sur-Loire, we discovered a new riverside observatory to promote understanding and interest n the Loire particularly on the part of children. The LPO41 biodiversity group was also present. Inauguration 4 and 5 June at the Parc des Mées. Samedi lorsque nous faisions de vélo entre Blois …
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The Hillside Wash House – Le lavoir pentu
We must have gone past this washing-place on the bike route from Blois to Cour-sur-Loire at least twenty times without knowing of its existence. A photo in the Loire Valley World Heritage brochure sent us looking for it. Nous avons dû passer ce lavoir sur l’itinéraire vélo entre Blois et Cour-sur-Loire au moins vingt fois …
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Lili's Lilies
These beautiful arum lilies belong to my friend Liliane whom we call Lili. Mine, below, pale in comparison but they don’t face the same direction. Ces beaux arums sont dans le jardin de mon ami Liliane que nous appelons Lili (lily en anglais veut dire lys). Les miens en dessous ne font pas le poids …
Flowering Chives – Ciboulette en fleur
I owe this photo to Stuart from Amboise Daily Photo. This time last year he posted a photo of chive flowers on his terrace and I was so taken with them that I went and bought a couple of plants. After giving us chives all year round, they now have these lovely mauve flowers. Je …
Spring Greens – Verts de printemps
Our street, just in front of our house, with some of our favourite spring flowers – leopard’s bane (yellow), irises (mauve) and viburnum (white). Notre rue, juste devant notre maison, avec quelques-unes de nos fleurs de printemps préférées: doronic (jaune), iris (mauve) et viorne (blanc).
Hollandia Irises
My surprise iris opened up after my first photo and became more obviously a Hollandia, though a different colour from the ones I’m used to below. Mon iris surpris s’est épanoui après ma première photo et on voit mieux qu’il s’agisse d’un iris Hollandia, mais d’une couleur différente de ceux ci-dessous dont j’ai l’habitude.