Friday Afternoon in Brantome

A couple of weeks ago I did a post about Brantome on a Friday afternoon, after the market had finished.

Today I had to go into again to post a parcel to a little girl in the UK who has been waiting patiently for her quilt.

This time I was too late for a quiet stroll round a nearly deserted town! The place was heaving, even at 3.00pm

The old church which is being restored (I talked about it last time), but a lovely shot showing geraniums.

Then I walked over the bridge towards the Abbey and spotted these gorgeous flowers, in boxes hanging from the railings.

Oh look! The little children from the Centre Sociale (they look after the kids during the day) were performing a flash dance.

It's the wedding season in France and Brantome has been the venue for lots of very very smart, Parisian style, weddings

You can tell how smart it was.  The sapin de mariage is usually a pine branch decorated with paper flowers in the wedding colours. However, these are bamboo with fine gold ribbons and delicate decorations.

Outside one of the many tourist shops. This particular one is owned by a friend of ours.

English tourists enjoying a late lunch by the river (I heard them talking so I knew they were English!)

and some riverside shots.

The last shot of the day before I too wilted in the heat and braved a very hot car.

More soon.

Saturday Photo Shoot

Not a lot of sewing going on at the moment. I'm waiting for Round 4 of the Liberated Round Robin.

However, yesterday I took the camera out for a walk. First time in ages.

I had to go into Brantome to do some chores. You know the sort of thing. Go to the bank, post some letters, do a bit of shopping.

I managed to time it just right. The market had finished (if you live here Brantome is to be avoided like the plague on Friday morning's unless you have a death wish!), the streets were clear and most sensible people were finishing lunch.

The old church is undergoing a major refurbishment. They're taking off the cladding, revealing the stone work and old windows.

I haven't got a photo of what it looked like before, but you can see some here.

To think that these windows and walls have been covered up for years. Aren't they stunning.

The Place d'Albret is where the main market is and during high season is a disaster area.  As I said, you've got to be mad to even think about going there on a Friday morning, unless, of course, you are a tourist.

However, when the stallholders have packed up and the street cleaners come in, the place is deserted. In 13 years I've never seen it looking like this, even out of season. Actually it does look like out of season doesn't it?

Where has the summer gone?

There is some sort of exhibition going on at the Abbaye. I love this poster against the brick wall.

Walking back though Albret and along the Quai Bertin, very fast before the heavens opened.

I was tempted, very tempted, to stop for a bite to eat, but they were closing.

I finally made it back to the car before it rained

More soon.

Not Wordless Wednesday .....

........ because we have photos and words.

I've been slaving away and trying to meet my self imposed challenge.

So far I have one more quilt basted and waiting to be tied.

This one is going to a little girl in the UK who has just celebrated the first anniversary of her bone marrow transplant.

Then we have another quilt waiting to be be basted.

I've grown very fond of this one.  It's the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning.

Then we have my huge string quilt.

Whoops!  Didn't realise that a corner had flipped!

Each 1/4 block is 9" so this is going to be BIG!  It takes me about an afternoon to do one complete block.  I managed 1 and 2/3 today and have got another 4 complete blocks to do.

When it is finally done you'll have to flip over to the Quilts 4 Leukaemia blog.  I'll let you know when.

So far I've completed 3 quilts and with 2 in the making that makes 5 done and 4 to go (the one above doesn't count.  Yet!).

I've also extended the date of my Challenge until the end of April.  Spring is on its way and the garden is calling. The Wisteria needs pruning and there is a lot of stuff that has got to be moved or removed!   I've yet to update my sidebar, but keeping watching it.  The date may change again.

Mimi Pipette/Poucette is doing fine.  Gaining in confidence every day.

I somehow managed to lose the SD card for my camera today (goodness only knows where it is).  The inbuilt memory only allows 5 captures at a time so this is the last photo of the day.

We've decided to kick the old fashioned desktop (5 years old!) into touch.  It's still with us and being used as a music player/recorder etc, etc, etc.

The Young One and I now use a cross between a laptop and a Netbook.  It's downstairs in the kitchen and we love it.  The only problem is I'm standing up/crouching to use it and it's not doing my posture any good.

I promise that photo is not posed.  That's how it is.

The cotton reel is there because I'm doing a search for the thread that I like best.  The coffee cup?  A long story but I love it and it's staying put!

Just before I sign off.

Someone recently gave me an blogging award.  A Very Nice One.  She sent me an email and I looked at her blog.  Now I can't find the mail or the blog link.  If you, nice personnage, are reading this could you contact me again.  Thanks.

More soon.

Photographic Playing

I'm playing with my new tripod.

I haven't had a chance to use it outside yet as it's been too cold, but inside is okay. VBG.

So here are some close ups and posed shots of Family Trees.

I getting fond of this quilt, even though it's causing so much anxiety.

Thanks for stopping by.  More soon.

Boing!

Bouncing back.  Not much to show I'm afraid.

Seem to have come to a grinding halt on the quilting front,

But I have been sitting at the kitchen table sewing these.

I'm drawing away from quilting at the moment and amateur photography seems to have taken over my life.  With such a fantastic camera it is hardly surprising.

Anyway, I didn't want to turn this quilting blog into a photography one (cos it's not about that!).  So I've started a photography blog (click on the link at the top of the sidebar - where the camera is).  I've even surprised myself with some of the shots I've taken recently.

 Now I really must start on that pink quilt.

See ya!