05 June 2026

04 June 2026

Entering our hamlet from the west


We've been on a weather roller coaster for the past two or three weeks. High temperatures were at or even above 95 degrees Fahrenheit during the month of May. We experienced an unprecedented heat wave, considering it's not even summer yet. Now it's June and it's chilly outside and in the house too — almost cold is how it feels, because it's also very windy. Much of of France is getting rained on. I'm getting weather whiplash. We're under a thunderstorm watch today as well.

02 June 2026

Montpoupon, a hunting lodge.

This is the Château de Montpoupon. It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries
 on the site of a 13th century fortress of which only the tall round towers remain. 
It's only a short drive south of Montrichard, and a slightly longer one from Saint-Aignan.

I don't think I took this photo of Montpoupon; I think our friend Sue from California did when
she was here for a few months in 2006. I found it on my laptop this morning.

31 May 2026

43 is tomorrow's number

No, that's not the predicted temperature. Tomorrow Walt and I will celebrate our 43rd anniversary of life together as a couple. We moved in together on June 1, 1983, in Washington DC. We couldn't get legally married back then, but now we are now. The wedding took place in 2012 in Albany NY. We lived in California for 17+ years before moving to France in 2003. I hope we'll be able to celebrate our 50th here in a few years.