Winter storms are forecast but the day dawns bright and sunny. Bob arrives in the bedroom at six to inform me it's a beautiful morning. We head off to the departmental capital. A pretty little town with a wonderful medieval bridge and a castle built by the Black Prince. When we first arrived the centre was full of small boutiques and esoteric shops including a Harmonia Mundi CD store. The town council, in their wisdom, gave planning permission for two out of town shopping malls. The streets around the cathedral now a sea of empty store fronts. Others are barely hanging on. This is known as the doughnut effect. The centre empty and everything moved out to the edge.
It is also the home of the cheese monger. This by dint of its excellence not only survives but thrives.
Today, we buy some Mothais, some Langres and some Chaource. Bob gets a little Brie de Melun. His tail does its physically impossible up and down movement while simultaneously rotating. Perhaps he has a double jointed tail ?
Off to the garden shop for a dozen red hyacinth bulbs ...
... and some bees wax from the Droguerie. Bob and his master like the Droguerie. It smells of lavender , eucalyptus and stale sunshine and is the sort of everything piled on top of everything else type of store that disappeared in the UK twenty years ago.
Sophie remains blissfully ignorant of tomorrows appointment. She walks round the garden four times unaided. Her brother is keen to have a game of savage my sister but one look from Sophie tells him this isn't a good idea.
20 comments:
Best wishes to Sophie.
Stale sunshine. How wonderful !
Luv Trish and Trixie.
Paradise is a French cheese shop !
We're keeping everything firmly crossed for Sophie tomorrow, and hope that all goes well - for you all.
Big hugs.
It's a joy to see some calm winter sunshine - just as Britain is currently being battered by Hurricane Angus!
Bless little Sophie..big cyber hugs heading her way ready for tomorrow - you'd better save some for yourself, the 'Font' and Bob too...in anticipation for the recuperating period ahead.
We like the cheese shop.
Gail and Bertie.
We'll all be thinking of you all, and worrying until we hear Sophie is through the surgery. Best of luck
Wishing you all the very best for tomorrow and the following weeks.
x
Not only do the shops move to the "zoning commercial" but as the politicians' friends buy plots of agricultural land beyond the current shopping centers, new zonings get approved and the shops decamp, leaving empty strip malls and parking lots on what used to be the edge of town and making it harder to do anything without a car.
Good loving thoughts and best wishes for everything to go smoothly for dear SOPHIE........fingers crossed all-round in this household on
the Westcoast of Canada! For all four of you.
I thought the Black Prince was better at 'scorched earth' than building in his French campaigning but he appears to have done a grand job with the bridge
We will have Sophie in our thoughts and prayers tomorrow. So happy she's on the home stretch.
PS... Edward can do the same thing with his tail. Rather amazing.
Sending tender, prayerful thoughts for the diva as she goes through her second surgery... and for her loving owners who suffer even more than she during these travails! xxxx
Oh dear, I'd hoped the French might learn from the horrible US experience where huge shopping malls have trashed town centers, with resulting long-term financial dislocation and environmental damage. sigh.
Paws crossed for Sophie tomorrow. For her family, too.
Everything looks so full of color and cheer in these pictures. Love and prayers for Sophie tomorrow. Perhaps a bit of cheese for her?
Love those old shops that carry everything....so much nicer than mirrors and blaring music.
Prayers for Sophie, her physician and surgical team. We will be with her in spirit during those frightening hours she is on the table and throughout her recovery as well. She's a magnificent dog. Those of us who have had surgeries will attest to this. Please kiss her for us and let her know friends from around the world
have her in their thoughts and prayers.
Love the scent of bees wax. Are you polishing or is Font making cannelés the old school way (what a purist!).
We will be sending good thoughts and prayers that all goes well for Sophie tomorrow. You and the Font are 1/2 through this!
Keep smiling ... I agree, "both" dogs deserve extra love tonight and perhaps a tiny slice of yummy cheese.
Brownie and I send lots of love and prayers to our friend Sophie....may the surgery go well.
We can't wait to have her back again.
I am amazed at Sophie's solo strolls around the garden! Also happy she had a peaceful day before her surgery tomorrow. We will be thinking of you all.
Good luck tomorrow Sophie dear. I will be anxiously awaiting good news. xxoo to you and your parents.
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