Trois

Three. I think I took this photo for the contrast between the number plate and the other surfaces around it. I don't believe that I removed any color; the shutter just looks like a black-and-white image. The tiny writing above the mail slot says, "Pas de pub & journeaux, svp (s'il vous plaît). Merci !!!" That means, "No advertising or newspapers, please. Thank you!!!

Window shutter with mail slot, Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

Our current spell of spring-like weather feels good. Tasha is enjoying lying in the sun on the deck. We know, however, that it could change back to winter at any moment.

Treize

Unlucky for some, lucky for others. Thirteen. I'm not particularly superstitious and the number doesn't have any special significance for me. I typed that with my fingers crossed.

A house number in one of the villages on the Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

We're expected to get up to 13ºC (about 55ºF) today, according to my go-to weather web site. Ooh, spooky!

Am I blue?

This gate must have been painted recently. There's not a mark on it.

A garden gate on the Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

I don't have much to say today. The sore throat is lingering, but it feels like it's getting better with each passing day. Patience. Seeing the sun each day helps.

Poubelle

Une poubelle is a trash/garbage can. We've all got 'em. Ours is just like this one except that it's grey with a red lid. The sticker on this one says, "Avec le SIVOM de l'Ile d'Oléron pour une île propre." The SIVOM (Syndicat Intercommunal à Vocation Multiple -- don't ask) is the garbage collection organization. Ours is called the SMIEEOM (Syndicat Mixte Intercommunal d'Enlevement et d'Elimination des Ordures Ménagères). I told you not to ask. Translated, the sticker reads, "With the SIVOM of Oléron Island, for a clean island." Just kind of rolls off your tongue, eh?

Poubelle, Ile d'O'léron, May 2008.

The daytime highs are inching up at the moment. Clear, sunny skies and no wind. It almost makes the daily low tolerable.

Roof tiles

You often see lizards climbing around on stucco walls and tile roofs (although not in this photo). They seek out sunny and, therefore, warm surfaces. You could say there are a lot of reptiles on the roof tiles. Groan!

No reptiles on these roof tiles. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

We had a nice sunny day yesterday. It was cold early in the day, but it warmed up a little as the day went on. I had a fire in the wood stove for most of the day. I may do the same today. The ground is still spongy wet and not pleasant to walk on. We stay mostly on the road surfaces when we walk the dog. No one likes muddy paws!

What made these tracks?

On the near end, it looks like the tracks were washed away by the tide/surf. At the far end, they just seem to stop. Curious.

A boat being put into or brought out of the water? Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

We had a clear night. No clouds to obscure the big, bright, just-past-full moon. But we didn't care. The new shutters on the loft windows were closed and the moonlight didn't bother us a bit.

A tree in black and white

I'm not all certain if this is same tree from yesterday's post or not. It could be.

Tree on the beach. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

Everything went well at the insurance office. They're always very polite and helpful. I haven't tested the access to our account on the internet yet. Our agent said that we should wait about twenty four hours for the systems to update before trying to sign on. I'll know soon..

Trippin' down the streets of the city

Years of constant wind in the same direction can do this. I remember a lot of wind-bent trees from when I lived in northern California. They looked a lot like this. I feel a lot like this.

Everyone knows it's windy. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

I'm beginning to feel insecure about security. Everybody seems to be moving to two-factor authentication for on line transactions, normally involving the smart phone. My insurance company is asking for my smart phone number so I can join the club. All I have to do is to input my phone number on the web site. BUT, I can't get into the web site without the two-factor authentification in place. Conundrum. So... I'll be trekking down to the insurance office today to get that done (and didn't I already do it last year?). I'll pay the bill while I'm at it. If the staff is not otherwise occupied that is, in which case I'll make an appointment.

Escargot

I saw a lot of seashells (down by the seashore) while strolling on the beach at Oléron. Nothing unexpected there. Most were broken, but this snail stood out. Of course it did... it once had a foot.

Snail shell on seaweed. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

Yesterday felt almost balmy as the temperature rose to the high single digits. Still, the ground and everything else outdoors is still quite cold, so it didn't feel as good as it might have. This morning, the thermometer reads just over 6ºC, about 43ºF.

Poisson confiture

Just kidding Confiture is jam or preserves; gelée is jelly. This is une méduse (jellyfish) that I saw on the beach at the Ile d'Oléron during our visit in 2008. I assume it was dead. I don't remember Callie being interested in it at all.

A jellyfish on the beach. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

I'm seriously tired of this cold weather. I know it's February and this is kind of normal. But it doesn't feel normal. Our lows hover around zero (freezing) most mornings and struggle to rise through the day. We've had no snow (except once back in December (I think), but otherwise it's been rain and fog. I'll be happy to see it go.

Atlantic

Sorry if this series of photos is a little on the samey side. I have some new photos in the phone to share, but I've been too lazy to actually transfer them to the PC. It'll get done. Eventually.

Looking toward North America. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

On the weather front, it's not as frigid has it has been in recent days. I still bundle up to walk Tasha in the mornings. That means long johns and sweat shirts under the coat, with scarf, knit cap, and gloves. I don't remember ever being such a weather wimp. Brrr.

On the rocks

Here's Ken and Cheryl sitting on one of the rock jetties, still at the beach near the house we rented. I don't know who the walking people are.

More rocks on the Atlantic side of the island, May 2008.

I had my every-six-months medical checkup yesterday. Prescriptions are renewed, vitals look good, and the blood work I had done in January shows all more or less normal. Yippee!

Rock and roll

Part of an aniti-erosion jetty, I think.

That's the Atlantic O(cean beyo9nd the rocks. Oléron, May 2008.

Our weather continues cold and foggy. The fog is stuck right on the ground. It's so bright that it's almost oppressive, and almost painful. I can hardly stand  to look out the windows..

Callie à la plage

It's nice to see Callie as a pup. She's just over a year old in these photos. She died young at ten years and we miss her. She was a touch neurotic and hated riding in the car. Still, she was a lovable dog.

Callie the red border collie at the beach in Oléron, May 2008.

We enjoyed a sunny Sunday yesterday, but it stayed cold all day. We made crêpes for lunch as is the tradition in France for la chandeleur. They were the buckwheat variety stuffed with ham, cheese, and mushrooms. They were tasty and quite filling. I took photos, but I haven't looked at them yet.

On the beach

Our rental house was not far from the dunes and the beach on the ocean side of the island. We walked Callie down to the sand and she had a good romp around. I think that this was her first time at a beach.

I don't know who those people are. They're not us. Oléron, May 2008.

Do you remember the Big Bang Theory? The television show, I mean. I remember Bob Newhart had a recurring role as Professor Proton. He told Sheldon one evening that he had to get to bed early so he could get up in a few hours and wander around the house. That's me.

Shapes and colors

We saw this place not far from our gîte on the Ile d'Oléron back in 2008. I liked the geometry and the colors. I don't remember going inside for a peek. Maybe I should have.

Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

I'm so glad to see January go. It's been a miserable month. February will bring longer days, if nothing else. I'm planning to venture into town this morning for the market. I need a couple of watch batteries replaced and I've got a hankerin' for some egg rolls from the Asian vendors. I had another fire in the stove yesterday. It made the living room all nice and cozy.

By the way, I just want to let all of you who comment on my posts know that I appreciate your words. I haven't had much energy to reply to comments these past weeks, but please know that I'm reading and enjoying them.

The hills are alive

I don't remember what the heck was going on here. Our friend Cheryl was having a Broadway moment, I guess. There's Ken in the background taking a photo of someone's courtyard.

Don't rain on my parade! Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

I was able to split some logs yesterday. I built a fire in the wood burner which burned for most of the day. It felt nice, and it also gave our central heating plant a rest. I need to check the tank soon to see how much fuel is left. It's been a chilly winter and we've been using the heat more than usual, especially while we've been sick.

This is not the house that Jacques built

Er... this is not the house we stayed in. But doesn't it look inviting?

A home on the Ile d'Oléron. May 2008.

My cold is getting better. There's still a lingering cough, but it's no longer vioulent, nor does my throat burn when I do cough. You can read about Ken's doctor visit on his blog. All good news.

Somebody's garage door

One of the first things we did after checking into our gîte on the Ile d'Oléron was to take a long walk around the neighborhood. It was very quiet with little vehicular traffic.

Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

Knock on wood. I'm feeling better this morning. The night was a little bumpy, but that's normal for me. The cough has calmed down and the muscle aches are easing a bit. I hope that this is a good sign. Ken's a few days behind me, so I hope he'll start to feel some improvement, too. He's seeing his doctor this morning; we'll see what he has to say.

Looking back

Toward the parking lot. There are souvenir shops and a hotel in this photo. And, of course, the lot where we parked our car. Toward the background is a field of globe artichokes, a specialty of the region.

View from the Chassiron light. Ile d'Oléron, May 2008.

I'm really getting tired of this weather we've been having. It's depressingly cold, damp, and windy. I can't build a fire in the wood stove until I regain enough strength to split logs.