Sunday, January 31, 2021

A model abbey

Or, more accurately, a model of an abbey. Still Fontevraud, of course. This is a model of the place they have on display. As a student of architecture and city planning, I love these kinds of things.

A model of the Fontevraud abbey and part of the surrounding town, September 2003.

Last night and this morning are dry, but we're expecting another rain system to come through this afternoon and evening. The pond out back is overflowing, sending its water down the hill to one of the streams that feed the river. Everywhere I step is a muddy mess, except for the paved road. That's just wet.

Tuesday is la Chandeleur (Candlemas). I read that in the US, the traditional Christian holiday has been pretty much supplanted by Groundhog Day, which I see is translated into French as le jour de la marmotte, at least on Wikipedia. We're planning our annual crêpe fest, as is the tradition in France. Savory crêpes for lunch and sweet crêpes for dessert. There may be photos.

13 comments:

  1. I, too, love those kinds of displays. I can get lost in them for hours.

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  2. Enjoy your Candlemas! I think we'll eat waffles tonight and celebrate with you.

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  3. Yeah, even though I'm Catholic (non practicing, these days), I never heard of Candelmas. I only know the name in English because of teaching about La Chandeleur in French class -- ha! Maybe kids who went to Catholic school knew of the holiday by that name?

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  4. "le jour de la marmotte" doesn't have the same ring to it.
    One of my favorite things in Paris is the Musée de Plans-Reliefs. I've taken all my travel companions there.

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    1. Wow! That's a new one for me, Chrissoup! I will now look that musée up!
      I love miniature recreations as well!

      I will be celebrating Chandeleur this year, too! We've been discussing it in both of my french classes and I've been looking at various offered recettes on the internet!



      Mary in Oregon

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    2. chris, mary, I've been a couple of times. Really cool!

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  5. I'm afraid that "le jour de la marmotte" brings to mind Punxsutawney Phil and Tom Hanks. That model of the abbey looks as if it's the winter edition, snow on the trees. Brrr.

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  6. I'm no student of archie-texture, nor of town unplanning.... but, I love this sort of model...possibly down to a love of archie-ology and making train layouts when young.... and we lived near the model village of Beckenscott... a 1/12th, 2 acre model railway layout!!
    My favourite has to be the Bass Brewery one.... now part of Coors, the brewery is now part tourist attraction, museum and experimental brewery... being both a listed set of buildings and too small for Coors to run as a commercial brewery. The model occupies one room of the museum and is an aerial view of the brewery and most of Burton in the 1920s....

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    1. To save you looking it up... https://www.bekonscot.co.uk/

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    2. And images of the Bass model....
      https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk03THWZcDstAbe-yvLcb4a8INymgfg:1612154407326&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=Bass+Museum+model+of+Burton&client=firefox-b-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjf55WW78fuAhUO6RoKHcKIAfQQjJkEegQIAxAB&biw=1150&bih=626

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    3. tim, thanks. I'll enjoy checking those out.

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  7. I did spend about 2 hours on the web-site for the Musée de Plans-Reliefs yesterday! It is really fantastic! Some of their models are from the 1600's and were used by the french military for battle strategies! If you like that sort of thing, I heartily recommend it just like Chrissoup!

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