all the ingredients

Ominous clouds behind and a bright summer sunset in front were just the needed ingredients for this dramatic high contrast scene.

the chorus line

Brocantes are the perfect place to find those old household items you've been looking for.  And for me, they're the perfect source of photo ops.

a parting shot

Here's one last shot of the poppies as their season is coming to an end.  This is one of the most concentrated collections I've seen.  And right in the middle of a wheat field.  I wonder if the result was some red bread.

l'émouvantail

Today's post requires some explanation. A local youth organization sponsors art projects that permit (typically young) participants to express their creative skills in various sites around town.  Here, we have an exhibition of 12 hand-made émouvantails.  This word is itself a clever invention created by combining two French words, épouvantail (scarecrow) and émouvant (moving, touching).  The épouvantail pictured caught my eye because it reminds me of a Native American dreamcatcher.

l'église Saint Nicolas de Chaumont-sur-Loire

After yesterday's post, it's time to go back to church.  This one is located just in between Château Chaumont and the Loire.

la samba arrive à Amboise

The final installment of my report on the music festival on Tuesday.  Needless to say this is not a common scene on Place Debré.  May this kick off a festive weekend for you.

the chorus

In part 3 of my coverage of the music festival on Monday, we find this choir performing underneath the bell tower on rue Nationale.

Salsa !

One of the dancing demonstrations during the music festival on Monday.  Dancers and viewers alike had a wonderful time.

la fête de la musique 2016

Yesterday was not only the summer solstice but also the annual music festival throughout France.  As usual Amboise celebrated in fine style with music ranging from country (yes, American), to folk, to rock, to jazz, and more.  And there was also plenty of dancing by both entertainers and audience alike.

the summer solstice

A couple watches the setting sun from the downstream point of the Ile d'Or.  This shot was actually taken awhile back as recently this spot has been underwater due to all the rain this spring.  Hopefully, summer will bring us some nicer weather than we've had lately.

ready for summer

poppy's day 2016

floating above the music

With these very thin supports, this bandstand roof appears to be hovering above the musical show below.

metallic dreams

I spied this polished metal sheet nearby the bike path and quickly screeched to a stop to snap it.

catchin' some rays

Another beauty found in one of the many town planters.

yin and yang in the street

Here is a preview of Theme Day for July.  I was very pleased to be asked to suggest this theme that the City Daily Photo bloggers will interpret on July 1.  Here is a link to the CDP page that announces it and tells my story.

the rose arbor

One of the rose arbors that line the levee in the center of Amboise.

at the vegetable shop

Peddling to buy vegetables.  This person is really setting the example.

the poppy field

Earlier this week I came upon this wonderful field of poppies although I'm sure the farmer's intent was to grow wheat.  But poppies can be determined (note Friday's post), and plentiful.

flying a fine line

Another Saturday sunset.  This time punctuated by a well-timed jet.

the pump

One can find lots of pumps like this around Amboise.  In fact, we even have one as do our neighbors.  Ours doesn't work anymore and I'm guessing most of them don't but they are such interesting reminders of bygone days.  For this pump, I was pleased to see it's little friend standing nearby to add some needed additional color to this shot.

the little vineyard

It's not unusual in this area to see enormous vineyards reaching to the horizon.  What is unusual is to see a little vineyard of this modest size.  It's surrounded by fields of other crops and so I wonder if it's perhaps a family vineyard. The quantities of wine that could be produced must be small, but to the family I'm sure it's more precious than any store-bought wine.

at last

For a wide variety of reasons, I made my first real bike of the year ride yesterday.  I was struck by the huge number and variety of wildflowers along my route.  Perhaps all the rain we've had this spring has contributed to all this beauty.

fête de la rose 2016

Every year there is a celebration of the rose in a village that seems to be dedicated to the rose.  On the main street, every home is lush with not only roses but all kinds of beautiful flowers.  Throw in some street music, art exhibitions, and food and you have a charming afternoon of sights and smells.

snow drifts in June

Around certain trees in Amboise now, one can see what looks like feathery snow falling and collecting into drifts by the wind.   In the States, I would call these cottonwoods (a type of poplar).  I wish I could have captured this drift in the sun, but that is in short supply here these days.

the Brass Band Festival 2016

In spite of the gloomy weather, this annual festival brightened up at least the hearts of all who listened this weekend.  There are concert stages setup on the town's main square as well as bands strolling all around though the streets.  The bands are from all over Europe so one can hear conversations (and reveling) on the streets in almost any language.

keeping it in perspective

This water level (crue) gauge is under the bridge Leclerc. We're a long way from the level of 1856 which probably would have flooded our current home which was built in 1850. Alas, forecasts are calling for small amounts of rain for the next two days.

hunkering down

You may have seen on the news that France is undergoing some significant flooding.  So far, Amboise has mostly avoided any serious problems.  Some nearby roads are closed due to local flooding and the Loire itself is as high as I have seen it (of course that's only since 2011).  Today, I was walking around the river banks capturing it from many angles when I discovered my beloved flat bottom boats hunkering down in a relatively protected spot behind some large trees. I think they will be safe and will return soon to one of my sunset shots.

name that tune

In a bright midday sun, the lights hanging in this window of a closed shop seemed to be playing me a tune.

CDP Theme Day - "highlights and shadows"

The first day of the month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers from around the world.  Click here to see how they interpreted this theme.