Chaveignes, Marché Fermier Marché Gourmet 2014

After lunch we took a leisurely run over to Chaveignes for the annual Marché Fermier Marché Gourmet...

The displays of pumpkins and associated squash and gourds were as amazing as always...

though one or two of those sitting guarding their displays looked decidedly unimpressed..

At least this young chap was doing his bit to look cool in his shades..

 The weather could not have been better and everything looked so colourful, particularly this dance troupe from Tours...

We also enjoyed watching various craftsmen at work..

And we saw a Dremel....

... IN USE!!!

Now that WAS worth seeing!!

Following on from yesterday...

One reason we were short on storage is that we keep attending the twice a year 'Grande Vente Emmaus' in Chatellerault. It was only last week that Elizabeth said "there must be another one due soon"

This morning on our weekly shopping trip, the signs were out!! Surprisingly it was this weekend and we had missed the first day. 'Wot no notice' Elizabeth was on the point of tears. I was reluctant to go but with my arm up my back and my wife in such a state, what could I do...

We entered and were given the requisite plastic bag each...

We managed to get away reasonably with the following...

including a piece of Limoges porcelain...

And with the pocket only €2.50 lighter!

(Unless, of course, we need another cupboard to house it in!!!)

More storage required!!

This is what I have been hearing from Elizabeth when I have to dig to find a piece of kitchen equipment I need...

The solution, buy more kitchen units to fill the gap we have under the window...

and there are plenty of  'used' units, the same design,  for sale on Leboncoin

No No... Too much like hard work.

Our solution, after much thought, was a unit from IKEA... The only trouble with it was the top was too wide for our gap!!! It's a good job I still have the router!!

Did I have the nerve to cut it...  Yes...

and it is a very good fit, perhaps too good, as it may expand and could warp!

So now we have loads of storage and much more work top. So Elizabeth I will be expecting some great creations, after all I blame this on the cake club, with all the equipment necessary to bake...

Another plus side is, if we decide to move we can take it with us!!!

Note:- It will make my problem worse as now rather than dig for it I will not know where to look for it!!!

Overcome by Owls...

Another day... another owl; though this time it's in 3D (or so Elizabeth says!)..

The sad thing is that the poor owl had to go and balance in a tree for a photo shoot. But what am I saying?? It's a piece of stone, for goodness sake!

The hens were even more perplexed... the rat was one thing but this... Well!

Remind me again, what's the collective noun for a number of owls?? Because I think I'm going to need it if Elizabeth carries on at this rate!

On the right side of the road?

We have always thought our road was called Rue de la Croix Blanche as does Google Earth...

However the Commune has now installed two new road signs... The left side going into the village is La Croix Blanche

BUT the right side is La Pallu

So we live on Rue de la Croix Blanche and our neighbours opposite, Max and Pamela, live on La Pallu...

This panoramic photo courtesy of Tim's IPhone shows it completely...

Ohh to be a postie or courier in France...

One for Gaynor!!

This afternoon we went over to Le Petit Pressigny for the annual L'Art and Lard festival. To quote from Trip Advisor (!)

"The 'L'Art et Lard' festival in le Petit Pressigny is an annual event and usually held on the second Sunday in October. The village square offers local produce including crafts such as pottery, jewellery, stone carving, decorative metalwork and local food such as cider, honey, walnut oil, breads, dairy products. But the highlight of this village fair for a visitor to the region is that local artists are invited to display their work for the day thoughout the village in residents gardens, courtyards and barns, a great chance to have a peak behind the usually closed doors & gates! Stone baked pizza is served from an old stone bread oven, a full lunch is available in the village hall."

We thought at first that we were in for a grim afternoon, reminiscent of the one two years ago when river levels rose dangerously high after a deluge. However within half an hour it was fine, though the sky threatened more to come..

Within minutes this black cloud passed and the church looked resplendent in the sunshine...

We had met up with friends, Jean and Nick, and as the sun came out we spent a most enjoyable afternoon

Here are some photos (as promised, Gaynor!) to give you a flavour of the event, from the roadside stalls and displays to the more contemporary entertainment for the youngsters..

The Salle des Fetes looked wonderful, its flowers still very much in bloom...

Plenty of locally produced food on show...

With old and young mixing and sharing knowledge

And even a few unusual fish in the local lavoir!

Then back to Jean and Nick's for a welcome cuppa! A grand afternoon out!

Looking back....

Tomorrow it will be exactly four years to the day since we moved into La Croix Blanche, with two camping chairs, a table top fridge, a small kitchen table, a television and an airbed - which burst!!

We've been looking back at the photos we took back then and comparing them with the same shots today...

The living room....

The front path...

The front garden wall...

The driveway past the garage...

The border across the front of the house...

We loved the place back then and we love it now. I wrote in my diary:

"Exhausted but very happy".... 

Nothing changed there, then!