lucky day

 

This fellow appeared on our terrace this morning.  Some believe it is a sign of good luck.  Works for me.

blast off from the Loire

 

Best snow-op in a long time

 

sunset

 

the cormorant

 

les deux tours

 

April 14th was the first running of a local bicycle tour that ended in Amboise, la Tour de val d'Amboise.  The photo captures the racers as they begin to cross the bridge over the Loire and in front of the Tower of White Gold, la Tour d'or blanc (which celebrates the heritage of wine making in the Loire Valley). 

Of course the French word tour can mean both circuit (as in the Tour de France) and tower (as in the Eiffel Tower) in English.  Had the race ended in the nearby city of Tours, it could have been titled "les trois tours".

the search is on

 

equinox in Amboise

 

Perhaps a little gift from Iceland?

Seize the day with open arms

 

A good year for mushrooms

 

Lots of recent rain + Ile d'Or  =  lotsa mushrooms this November.

See more mushrooms here

blown away, twice

 

In recent months I would look forward to seeing the growth of these fungi during my daily walks around the Ile d'Or.  The biggest were over a foot (30 cm) wide.  They just blew me away with their numbers and size on the same tree.  Well, that came to a crashing end this weekend as high winds blew down the tree and all its sidekicks with it. It was sad to see.

Bridge. Clouds. Any questions?

 

It be October

 

Military exposition 2023

 

August surprise

In the rainy fall it's not surprising to get a basket full of mushrooms from our neighbor who knows well the forest of Amboise. But in August ?! Shows just how much wetter this summer has been than last, when we had a serious drought. 

my three suns

 

With apologies to Fred MacMurry.

quatorze juillet 2023

 

To see past years' fireworks click on the "fireworks" label at right.

Brass Band Festival 2023

 

the flower parade - the end

 

the flower parade

 

It is a long weekend in France (Pentecost) and in Amboise flower festooned vehicles, people, and animals paraded over the bridge to the Ile d'Or.

Spring has arrived in Amboise

 

down by the river

 

March marché

 

The tops of the vendors' trucks of the Sunday marché are just visible behind the levee that protects Amboise from flooding by the Loire.  The post title is an etymologist's playground.  The English word March is the 3rd month of the year.  Uncapitalized, it means to walk in a military manner.  The French word marché is market in English.  It also derives from the verb marcher (pronounced the same) that means to walk in English.  Don't get me started on the word levee.

Christmas 2022

 

November bride

 

A Turkish wedding party celebrates on Place Debré.

vigilance

 

breakfast of champignons

 

(champignons is French for mushrooms)  I'm still searching for the baconrooms.

a good year for mushrooms and fungi

 

About 6 inches (15 cm) across.

home delivery

 

sunset on the château