Focus

Sometimes it's fun to leave the big picture behind and focus on the details. Like this gros plan (close-up) of a column on the Château de Valençay.

The base of a column. April 2004.

The weather forecasters were right about the spring-like weather we'd be having now. While the mornings are still chilly, by late afternoon it's quite pleasant outside. So much so, that there are way too many people out enjoying it. Usually we have free reign on the vineyard road to walk Tasha, but lately we've had to contend with other people and their pooches coming and going. Too much traffic! It's because this is the time of winter vacation and people are enjoying their time off. Now, however, rain is predicted toward the end of the week. We'll see if they're right about that.

Zen

Keeping those gravel walkways, not to mention the courtyard, at Valençay looking so pristine must be a difficult job. But I'm sure that the gardeners have a few secrets, like little tractors that pull machines that vacuum up leaves and/or rake the gravel smooth.

Zen patterns at Valençay. April 2004.

Thanks to all of you for your well-wishes. I can report that I'm starting to feel better. I hope it continues.

Columns

This is another view of the snack bar on the grounds of the Château de Valençay. Very columnar.

A pretty place for an ice cream. September 2003.

Nothing much going on here right now. Ken and I are both under the weather. We're using a lot of kleenex.

Duchesse

I really don't remember, but I think the woman arriving by coach is supposed to be the Duchess de Dino, wife of Talleyrand's nephew and, after her divorce, companion to Talleyrand himself. She spent some years at Valençay.

I wish I had included the horse in the photo. September 2003.

The women as coachmen seem a little out of place, but what the heck. There were other players as well, some of whom leaned out upstairs windows the greet the duchesse.

Barrier

I think this barrier had something to do with the costume drama they put on in Valençay's courtyard the day we were there. As spectators, we sat on the steps you see below the windows. When the "play" started, a horse-drawn coach pulled into the courtyard carrying one of the principle players.

Cross this line and you risk being run over by a horse. September2003.

If I remember correctly, the play itself was kind of boring. More of a spoken history lesson than a play. But it didn't go overly long.

Fountain

There's a rather large circular basin in the Château de Valençay's courtyard. There's a modest water jet in the center next to another sculpture of cherubs, I think. Toward the right, behind the basin, you can see the top of the stairs from yesterday's post.

Again with the impeccably clean gravel. Must be nice to have staff. September 2003.

I'm plowing through my paper work, trying to catch up and get current. I'm still behind by two bank statements. Getting and setting up the new smartphone has put a dent in my routine, such as it is.

Stairway

This is the stair that I mentioned yesterday. It connects the castle's courtyard/terrasse with the paths that descend toward the river in Valençay. It's a little on the fancy side, no?

This is half the stair. The other half is out of the photo on the right. September 2003.

High pressure continues to dominate western Europe. That means clear skies, cold mornings, and warm afternoons. Relatively warm, around 14ºC (approaching 60ºF). I haven't been building fires for a couple of days.