Christmas Dresses – Robes de Noël

Just in case you thought I’d disappeared, I’m safe and sound. After we arrived in Boston, all my time and energy were devoted to my beautiful grandson. When we got back to Blois, having left half my heart behind, I suffered badly from jet lag for more than two weeks. I have been trying to …

Tulips for Charity – Des tulipes de bienfaisance

I don’t usually buy tulips because the garden is full of them but the Rotary Club was still them today at the market for medical research. Je n’ai pas l’habitude d’acheter des tulipes alors qu’il y en a tant dans le jardin mais le club Rotary en vendait aujourd’hui au marché pour soutenir la recherche …

The Deserted Market – Le marché désert

The market in Blois has remained busy despite Covid but today’s temperature of 5 degrees below zero left a lot of empty spaces. Regrettably the oysters were frozen and our regular organic market gardener wasn’t there. The vendor we bought our vegetables from had left his lettuces in his truck and fetched them on demand. …

Blue Sky after Hail – Ciel bleu après grêle

By the time we were ready to go to the market this morning it was pelting with hail. We waited until it was finished to leave home. In the centre of Blois, only 5 km away, there had been no hail at all. But then it started raining. After about 10 minutes it stopped and …

Bears at the Market – Des ours au marché

We have a new curfew across the country from 6 pm to 6 am. With 21271 new cases today and 76 in our immediate area (Loir-et-Cher), we need to be very careful. We found little respect of social distancing at the market today but everyone was wearing a mask, although not always on their nose, …

A Cold Market – Un marché froid

The cold weather is continuing and it was minus 1 degree when we got to the market this morning despite the sun. What amazes me is the number of people without anything on their head and some without gloves. At least wearing masks keeps our noses warm. I even wore long Johns today under woolen …

Dressed up for Christmas – Habillée pour Noël

I think it’s the first time I’ve seen the 16th century tithe barn in Bracieux dressed in Christmas garb. When the tithe owed by the local farmers was paid in kind it was stored here but today it is used as a covered market once or twice a week depending on the season. The other …