Nov 9, Wednesday

I played a game with myself today: as the sun came out, I thought, "If I went out on my bike right now, how far would I get until it started raining again?" Sometimes it was, maybe to the end of the road. Sometimes it was longer, maybe to the end of the port. Sometimes it was beforei I could zip  p my coat! So I stayed in and painted instead. But this afternoon we walked around Dinan for a few hours in the sunlight! It was wonderful. We stopped in an artists studio and met the artist's husband. We will meet her next week. We turned up or down new streets and discovered many new views and bought our daily bread and dessert. Here are a few pics of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we saw a rainbow on our way home!

 

Tuesday, Nov 8

Just I expected.... It rained all night and was sunny in the morning before it rained again and got sunny and ..... 

Today we drove to Dinard looking for the Tuesday Market Day. Either we could not find it or the season is over! But we enjoyed sketching and painting on the beach, until it rained! This one is called from Dinard (on left) to St Malo (on right). I'll finish it later.  

 

Then we went to St Malo and had a wonderful crepe lunch overlooking the beach.  We are home now enjoying the smell of chicken noodle soup on the stove. Soup, wine, bread and cheese, then more painting. 

Here are a few more paintings in various stages...

 

We met this cow on the ride home from the Forest. He had lots of friends so I may be painting them too!

 

A work in progress. Started this one while I was still in my comfort zone. Trying to get out of there!!!

Praying for peaceful elections! I guess we will find out tomorrow morning what the results are.

A bientot!

Monday Nov 7

 

Hi Everyone!  I promise I'll post paintings tomorrow. It has rained on and off all day so we spent lots of time painting. Now we are enjoying a cafe au lait and wifi before we paint some more! Yes this is the life!!!!!

Nov 6, Bon Dimanche

It poured all night and was sunny again in the morning, at least off and on!!! Went to the Jardin Anglais while it was sunny. Took many great photos. As soon as we started to paint, the rain came! Not only rain, but hail too!  Headed back to our warm home to continue to paint and viola! it is sunny again!!!! This is what happened yesterday at the Forest. I am starting to see a pattern here. Next time we will wait it out.

 

 

We painted in the Jardin Anglais for a few minutes!

Paintings coming......

Saturday Nov 5

Went to a wonderful forest and saw a gold tree and a 1000 year old tree! Paintings to come. Having trouble posting pics. Hope these come through. 

 

Friday Nov 4

After pouring rain all night, the sun came out after breakfast. PERFECT!!! We rode our bikes along the Rance River for about 3 miles. A beautiful peaceful flat path. The trees are just beginning to turn colors.

 

I may have to paint that later, but today I walked up the cobblestone path to find some half timber homes to draw. Just too many choices to stop and paint. I was by myself because I wore Eileen out with the biking!!! I walked and took photos and walked some more. I was not exactly lost but I had no direction in mind. I just wandered until I saw a sign for an English Garden. You know me and flowers..... There were a few left but the garden led me to the ramparts ABOVE the aqueducts. Nice surprise!  Our little house is near the end of the curve of the river towards the top of the pic on the left. You cannot quite see it here. 

 

 

I eventually found the path down. I still had some energy so I went back and sketched a bit until it started raining. Time to go home before I melted!

 

Eileen is a amazing cook and tonight we're having a French bean casserole dish. It smells great! Last night was salmon and a great veggie that is a combo of broccoli and cauliflower. Almost too pretty to eat! Definitely pretty enough to paint.

 

Here are some pics of the area and the house...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a few sketches started but not ready to post. Here is my first one in my big sketchbook. It is the Grand Vignette, our home for the month.

 

Tomorrow..... Who knows?! Depends on if it rains or not.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEWEL!!!!

In Paris now waiting for the train.

Here we are waiting for our train to Rennes. Can you tell I've been up for 20 hours? Too excited to be tired!