Lions

I think the last time I drove a car was on June 10 — eleven days ago. Walt's been having to do all the shopping and running of errands, because I've avoided getting behind the wheel. That will change today. I'm going to the post office and the supermarket. Exciting, isn't it? It's all because of my eyes. I can't tell if the vision problems are caused by the cataract surgery or pollen allergies. For whatever reason, my eyes have been drowning in tears. Our weather is supposed to change this weekend. Maybe that will help.

I took these photos of lions on the grounds of a château just three miles from the town of Chauvigny, which I blogged about yesterday. The château has existed since the year 1127 and has been modified and enlarged numerous times over the centuries, in different styles. More tomorrow...

Chauvigny: ruins and rooftops

Chauvigny (pop. 7,000) is a very old town just 10 miles west of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe and 15 miles east of the bigger town of Poitiers (pop. 90,000). Chauvigny's old town, built on a rock outcropping, is the site of several châteaux and ruins. Views from the old town over the rooftops of the newer town below are panoramic and picturesque. The church in the old town is dedicated to saint Pierre and was built in the 11th century.

As usual, you can enlarge these photos by clicking on them or touching/tapping them,
depending on what kind of device you are using.

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I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist yesterday day over in Montrichard. He said my right eye, which he operated on on June 11, has healed nicely. Everything looks normal. He predicted that over time my vision will get clearer, especially after I have the cataract surgery done on my left eye. He said I'll still need glasses for reading small type or doing close work, but that I should be able to drive, read my computer screen, and watch television without needing corrective lenses. The surgery on the left eye is now scheduled for early September (at my request). I'm having pollen allergies right now that make my eyes teary and contribute to my blurry vision.

Le château de Boismorand à Antigny

The Château de Boismorand was built in the second half of the 15th century by a local notable who passed away in 1510. It was renovated and updated in the 19th century. One building, the chapel, still has its original decor. Antigny is three miles south of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, which I've been posting about for a week or so. A few years ago, Boismorand was bought by a wealthy Californian who wanted to have it as his vacation home in France.

More Saint-Savin wall paintings

These are photos I took in June 2009, after a major restoration project had been finished in the church at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. Charles-Henry was visiting, and we drove down there with our friends Susan and Simon to see the result and to take some pictures.

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Rumblings of thunder woke me up this morning at about 4 a.m. The distant lightning kept me awake. After nearly an hour of tossing and turning, I realized that Tasha was afraid and wanted to jump up on the bed. That was fine. Then I decided I had to get up even though it wasn't yet five o'clock. I knew I wasn't going back to sleep. Lightning was getting closer and closer. The thunder was much louder. Rain poured down for maybe 20 minutes, and then the storm moved off to the north of us.