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

 

mushroom season begins

 

get busy

 

for mom

 

the drought of 2022

 

As with the entire world, we too are suffering from the results of climate change.  We are having one of the hottest and driest Augusts ever.  This photo is underneath the bridge over the Loire river.  Normally, there would be water flowing through this section closest to the shore.  Other sections still have a trickle of water but you'd be hard pressed to pass through in a small boat or even a canoe. Businesses and private residences are under water use restrictions.  Agriculture, including the wine making industry, is taking a huge hit.  Fortunately, our region has not yet been hit with fires as have other regions in France. 

the Amboise blues

 

summer surprise

A few weeks ago, a neighbor brought over a big basket of mushrooms that he had harvested from the local forest of Amboise.  Had it been fall, it would not have been a surprise.  However, given our current drought situation, I don't expect we'll see any more until the fall. If then.

quartorze juillet continued

 

quatorze juillet 2022

 

lavender season

 

quiz answer: wildflowers

 

and what do June flowers bring ?

 

Dad gets a six pack for Father's Day

 

it's snowing cotton balls !

 

clouds in the sky, clouds on the ground

 

Unity

 

At the Hôtel de Ville.

naked !

but not for long. 

sandscape

An unusual phenomenon of sand from the Sahara desert being blown north to France has resulted in some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  In addition, everything is covered in a fine layer of yellowish dust that will hopefully be washed away with the next rain.