Chambord, being a hunting lodge, boasts a very large number of antlers! Chambord étant un pavillon de chasse possède un nombre important de bois de cervidés !
Author Archives: avril
Château de Chambord
No matter what time of year it is, Chambord is magnificent. François I was only 25 when he commissioned the château in 1519. Unfortunately, despite the 2000 workmen, it wasn’t completed in his lifetime and he only stayed there for 72 days out of his 32 years on the throne! He used it as a hunting …
Our holly – Notre houx
When I was a child growing up in tropical North Queensland in Australia, we used to buy small branches of holly in David Jones department store at Christmas. I never imagined that one day I’d have my own bush! J’ai grandi dans le climat tropical du nord du Queensland en Australie. A noël nous achetions …
Happy Christmas – Joyeux Noël
Happy Christmas from the bottom of the steps leading up the Blois Royal Castle! Joyeux noël depuis le bas des escaliers qui mènent vers le château royal de Blois !
The Bird Feeder – La mangoire
The bird feeder in our little wood behind the house at Closerie Falaiseau. La mangeoire dans notre petit bois derrière la maison à Closerie Falaiseau.
Christmas Market – Marché de noël
I’m not convinced about all the Christmas markets that have sprung up all over France in recent years. Usually, there are no handcrafted goods and it’s mainly about eating and drinking. This one, on Place Louis XII, was practically deserted on a Friday evening just before Christmas. Je ne suis pas convaincue par tous les …
La Caf'Thé in its Christmas finery – La Caf'Thé décorée pour noël
French shops often choose names that are plays on words. La Caf’ Thé sells coffee and tea, as its name suggests, but cafeter means to tell tales (tattle or sneak). It is also a brûlerie, which means they roast the coffee themselves. They also sell all sorts of coffee and tea-related items. Here it is …
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Firewood – Bois de chauffage
Living next to several very large forests means that we can buy our firewood directly from the sawmill. However, it means sorting and loading it ourselves. In France, firewood is sold by the stère which is equal to one cubic metre. Our trailer can take 2.4 stères. In most of the United States, the standard measure …
The Loire in winter at sunset – La Loire en hiver au coucher du soleil
The leaves have fallen, the days are short and sunny and the reflections of the sun setting over the Loire are a source of infinite pleasure. Les feuilles sont tombées, les journées sont courtes et belles et les reflets du coucher de soleil sur la Loire nous ravissent toujours autant.
Winter lyres – Des lyres d'hiver
I was mystified when I saw lots of banners along the Loire saying DES LYRES D’HIVER which literally means Winter Lyres. Then I saw this sign advertising the town’s Christmas and New Year festivities. Des lyres d’hiver is the same pronunciation as délires d’hiver means winter delirium i.e. craziness or madness. J’étais perplexe de voir …