What a Lark!: A French Flit and a new baby

So then, a little French interlude.

What could be nicer?

I had joined an Art Club a few years ago now and to my surprise David wanted to join too after a year and him missing out on interesting speakers.

The first trip we did was to Italy, I was nervous of course as I expected him to be bored silly by the churches, the paintings and the company. (We were the youngest by far of the group travelling) but not a bit of it. Him and Jean hit it off immediately (Jean was 87) and after that he made friends with all my friends.

So this trip was to Normandy, the highlight for David and myself was to Monet's Gardens at Giverny, but after that were visits to Fontainebleau, Barbizon the village that hosted an artists collective Chateau Vaux-Le-Vicomte and another chateau that I can't remember the names of.

Plus a visit to a cider making farm, that had been in the same family for over 400 years producing Calvados, an aperitif, cider and apple juice all were delicious, but I brought three bottles of the aperitif, one of which is in the fridge ready!

So here are a few photos for your pleasure, and annoyingly out of sequence. I hate it when Blogger does this.

Firstly then Fontainebleau Palace. Occupied but many kings of France as a summer palace, it was packed to the rafters of gold leaf, hangings, ornate furniture and frankly Reader it was all a bit much and gave me a headache.

No wonder Queen Marie Antoinette wanted to escape and look after her geese on the streams, I couldn't wait to get out. But the smaller by comparison were the apartments of Napoleon. I had to wait ages for these photos Reader, a French Guide was taken the whole weekend to talk in this small ante room and his group took up all the space. David had long gone but I waited so appreciate them.

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Napoleon's tent when off in battle, I think anyway my French was a bit below the standard required.

His travelling washbag, (needed a polish)

His famous great coat and chapeau, the guide went on and on about how these two articles had FINALLY come back to France after he had died and they had been in Canada at one point.

Here is the chappie in happier times.

The incredible Palais is too big to get into one shot. It was also very busy due to an Arts Festival being held here with speakers and classes and free entrance.

This is the back view. Its absolutely VAST.

Chateau Beauregard. Much more to my liking, comfy and homely.

Here is Giverny. A rented farmhouse in which Monet lived with wife and children for well over 40 years. He invited fellow artists to paint, he brought paintings from them that hung in his studio and painted the interior of the farmhouse in a very modern way which reminded me of Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex famous home of Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell lived, they also painted freely on walls and doors.

The dining room, a gorgeous yellow.

Yellow dresser with blue and white china.

I absolutely adored this

The kitchen.

Although copies today hang here, the originals are far too valuable. Works that Monet brought form other painters of the times.

The gardens from the house.

The family in their very Sunday Best on the steps of Giverny.

Works of his and other artists on the walls of his studio.

Boats on the water, famous paintings of them in the house with his daughters.

His famous waterlilies.

The water garden with the famous Japanese bridge in the distance.

We got home late on the Monday evening. Early to bed, at 02:20 I got a phone call from my son-in-law to say that our eldest daughter had started labour, I dressed once I had remembered which country I was in and drove over to care for the boys and baby Camille arrived a few hours later.