In the vicinity of Saint-Nicolas de Blois

Winds are howling and rain is blowing every which-a-way in Saint-Aignan this morning. Forecasters are saying the storm will move through slowly and last into the afternoon. There are thunderstorm warnings and we may well get some hail before it's all over. It's downright chilly outside right now, and the high temperature this afternoon will be 21C, reports say. That's not quite 70F.

Meanwhile, our neighbors who live in Blois are throwing a big party tomorrow. They are expecting about 100 guests — including us. If they are awake at this hour, they are probably getting nervous about today's weather. Actually, it's supposed to be much better tomorrow, with sun and warmer temperatures. What are they celebrating? It's their mother's a 90th birthday. "They" are her seven children and her many grandchildren, other relatives, and friends. BTW, it's supposed to be an outdoor party. A hundred guests wouldn't fit in their small maison de campagne.

Meanwhile, here are a few Blois photos that I took years ago. The café you see above right is directly across the street from the main entrance into the Église Saint-Nicolas, above left.