So finally this summer (after a challenging couple of months health-wise) I managed to relax and kick back.....in France.
My parents bought a property in south-west France in the late eighties to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary and their love of all things French. When I say 'a property' it was more like a stone cattle shed with a new roof. There were no stairs or sanitary wear but there was running water and electricity, what more could you want?! My father was a structural engineer and my mother fluent in French (having lived and worked there in her early twenties) a perfect combination for the job in hand. With 3 children in their twenties, they were looking for something that was both inexpensive and easy to maintain - a project that they could put their energies into and be used by friends and family alike.
Now, some thirty years later, the 'cottage' as we refer to it (I'm really not sure why) has 2 flushing toilets, a shower, kitchen area and 2 staircases! It is still very rustic and not for everyone but if you can cope with giving it an airing and thorough clean on arrival and you have a love of nature then it is perfect!
There are some beautiful views.
There is also an old bread oven building at the end of the garden which is rather charming.
Hazlenuts, walnuts and figs are on offer in the surrounding bushes too.
And lots of wildlife such as bats, red squirrels, frogs, hedgehogs, snakes, tree frogs (tiny green ones), pine martins and this wonderful Praying Mantis.
My parents collected artworks from various local artists over the years, some of which are displayed in the cottage.
I'm amazed these personalised bowls have managed to survive over the years!
The weather was in the early 30s for much of the time which was great.
The local town is Aubeterre-sur-Dronne which is very picturesque and has a lovely central square where you can sit and have a croissant and café crème
.
There was a vacant shop just off the square.......I thought it would make a perfect gallery for someone.......!
I do love the way the French use flowers to brighten up the exteriors of their properties - obviously the sunshine helps too!
The sunshine certainly helped with some cyanotype prints that I thought I'd give a go. This print is from a sprig of tamerisk that is growing at the front of the cottage.
I love the blues the cyanotype technique produces, I'll certainly be playing with this more in the future and also using some french inspiration in my work no doubt but for now I'll say "Au revoir".
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