The Sound of Music in a French Village!

There are so many sounds in a French village.

The many birds whistling in harmony, and the cuckoo birds who seem to keep time with the Church bells.

Last evening Monsieur Honey was whistling with the local feathered friends...and receiving return calls.

The clip clop of the horses and ponies riding by the cottage...today, it was a thundering sound as two of the horses were loose and on the run.

 On Thursday and Sunday mornings the horn of the visiting butcher's truck announcing his arrival in the square. 

It sounds like a French horn...no pun intended..actually, it is a bit like the sound of French police car sirens.

And sometimes there is a loud gunshot...very near...perhaps the "chasse".

The neighbouring horses naying as if to say "Bonjour" when we walk out to the car...Monsieur Honey has introduced himself by presenting the single horse with some carrots. This horse could be "Mr. Ed".

And of course, once in awhile even if you can't see them you will hear the thundering roar of jet powered French Airforce training airplanes flying low overhead, usually two... one chasing the other.

Duck Soup in Sarlat!

We arrived in Sarlat late in the morning unaware that there was a market on Wednesdays.

The town is very busy most times due to its' attraction to tourists, and the population swells in size on a Market Day.

Today's market was mostly produce and not as large as the Market held on Saturdays which includes many additional vendors with their wares, tablecloths, fabric, clothing, art, souvenirs, etc.

We wandered throughout the traffic free streets checking out the market stalls and then the Main Street shops before it was time for a light bite for lunch, mostly to escape the misty rain that had also decided to visit Sarlat today! 

I wanted to capture a photo of the same building where last year in mid April we found "The Wisteria Lady".... and maybe catch a glimpse of her and say "Bonjour".

This photo was our favourite postcard of our 2012 trip.

It was not until we returned to the cottage that we figured out from which window she was viewing the world, and smiled ever so slightly when we asked to take her picture.

                       

The following photo was taken today ..the Wisteria Lady was in the bottom window now obscured by the roses, and here we did not see her, maybe she was doing her shopping at one of the many Market stalls.

The wisteria flowering season is over.

                                  

Wisteria framing the windows April 2012

    

              For your sweet tooth...nougat?

          

                                               Vegetable and fruit stand

                                                   Cheese anyone?

    Does anyone see Monsieur Honey in the crowd?

   Also admired the architecture of the many buildings.

This time of year the many outdoor cafés would normally be full with patrons searching for a place to have their alfresco lunches or a cool drink.

                                            A table for two, please!

Today we could have had our choice ... some with outdoor heaters blazing, but we opted for an indoor table in a quaint restaurant rather the misty outdoors.

                       

   Making the most of the "Ducky" weather....

   Bonjour from Sarlat! À bientôt!

Rain, Rain Go Away

                 

   

There has been more rain and cooler temperatures than normal for this time of year and this area of France.

Actually, the weather this year all over the universe is very unusual and not what we normally experience.

We have been doing some landscaping and have planted some perennials (hostas, hollyhocks, lavender and some grasses), plus some annuals in the terracotta and concrete planters.

The plants have been slow to smile and speak to us. 

Yesterday, I decided they needed some additional nourishment, so I fed them some fertilizer infused water and already overnight they seemed to stand a little taller and with more vibrant colour...and then it rained some more.

They are all waiting to play in the sun!

Once the sun arrives full time, the gardens and planters will explode with growth and colour.

These photos were taken tonight at dusk in between the rain showers ....shortly after nine o'clock.

Nasturtium

White jasmine

The front garden...the Hostas are already developing flower buds, the Gaura is growing rapidly and showing signs of flowers, the hollyhocks have struggled but may be coming back now.

Portuguese Laurel ....beautiful plant with lots of new growth

Snapdragons and lobelia...

The resident carnation full of buds ready to flower.

Mellow Yellow!

Monday again...it was a "Mellow Yellow" kind of a day.

This morning... household chores, some cleaning up and tidying with the windows open with sunshine and fresh air filling the cottage.

As the day progressed, the temperatures kept rising...I had a walking date today with Madame M and off we set early this afternoon.

We walked a familiar route on the rue de la Gare to the train station, and onto Domaine Gaury, then a new addition to the walk was introduced through the farm lanes and forest and around to the other side with a stop to say hello to some other friends of Madame M.

These friends had just arrived this weekend for a quick working holiday at their "movie perfect" property.

Here we were warmly greeted and rehydrated with some delicious apple juice and then a glass of champagne.

Everywhere I looked today there were many shades of yellow... the shining sun, the various wildflowers, buttercups, spurge, the grapevine leaves and the yellow stone walls of a deserted farm house  and even the flowers in the arrangement at Madame M's friends.

Now, the late evening sun is throwing long shadows with the direct sunlight tinted yellow...a very mellow day! 

                                                         

                  

                         

Photo taken at 9PM from the terrace at the cottage....a yellow tinted gloaming!