...that afternoon.....

Before taking Di to the airport in Bergerac,

we took turns taking photos of US together.

 Di, Oolie and Becky

 me, Di and Becky

 me, Oolie and Becky

click here for the other one....

 Oolie found this little "fastenater" (sp??!)

in Paris and Becky thought Oolie's pose was FAB!

We drove to the airport and there was a little drizzle going on. 

It was raining when we got there, but Di got all checked in

and then we three sat down for a quick coffee before

Di got on the plane and we hopped back in the car.

THIS is what we came home to.....

 so incredibly luscious

Di's Last Day

On Sunday morning, we awoke and went down to Verteillac for the Market, which is now just once a month. There was a threat of rain, but it made things even more exciting and we did a little bit of snooping around and bought a few goodies before the skies opened up and we hopped back in the car and toodled home.

 a box filled with good stuff

though it was more interesting from afar...

..... not so great up close.

 Becky's new hat that was MADE for her!

Isn't it great with what she had on?

...and there is Katie in the background

on her own search for something fab.

 Becky's haul, with Oolie's little tin teaset

(see here for some close-ups)
Honestly, though, the blue & white polkadots
to

Di found a book that I almost tucked into my pocket before she packed it up.

The illustrations are so simple and absolutely delightful.

I did snap a few photos, though, before she hid it from me (ha!)

Oolie wants to stitch them on something....

...but I just want to LOOK at them!

They are just what I would like for my own drawings to look like.

I will need to study them and practice and adopt the style

that is so inviting and full of charm.

More later...

SAT....4 August, 2012

 A smiling, sunny Becky with a table full of great inspiration!

 On Friday, we went to visit Billie and Dean Spille..

and on Saturday, I drove myself (only got a little lost)

back over to visit with them.

THIS is what I drove through to get there

......sigh........

 Truly, the sunflowers are even taller than they are at home

Maybe it is just the fact that the fields are enormous.

Driving along and seeing patches of yellow...

...and realizing that it is the 12' tall sunflowers ..

 I love the big "snail" rolls of hay, too.

We watched the farmer next to Briancon drive his machines

around the fields, picking up the hay and rolling it up...

..then spitting it out the back end!

Noisy, but sooooo cool to watch.

 Here is Dean in front of their charming home

in Lusignac, not far from Briancon.

 I really enjoyed spending some time with Billie and Dean.

They are wonderful and talented and I feel quite close.

American ex-patriots in France who have made such a lovely life.

Click here for a show of Billie's work

Katie and Mike came for drinks in the evening.

We sat out and chatted and then Mike had to get back

to the Olympics down at the Maison Maitre.

 I wove a nest for Katie from lavender....

 ..and we all four did some stitching on a linen piece

that Oolie had found somewhere - perfect!

 We tucked it in a book of Katie's and she found it accidentally.

It was quite exciting!

 above:  Becky's plate of delicious delights

next to Di'd donkey and Skating Monkey

below:  Di's window and charms and treasures.

 Oolie saw the Dutch Bunny (below) that Becky bought

from an artist and shared with us.

She was inspired to create her very own Bunny Doll (above)

The arms and legs are paper clay with papier-mache and

the rest is stitched, stuffed fabric

 I feel like I didn't get much done, but had a magnificent time thinking about things to make and the whole process of getting together with others who also enjoy the process.

A few of my creations are below... and I must say that I am pleased with what I made.

On the plane home, I stitched up a few more things that I'll share next time.

I have tried for the past two days to post this and have had a rough time with the computer - grrrrr. I want to hit the button quickly so as not to lost this one again. Best to everyone....
... and exciting news in the next post.  xoxo

As promised.....here is Jack with 

BOTH of his "babies" in his mouth.

...usually, there is a stick in there, too.

Every morning he goes to get the paper...

We walk out to the gate together... and then,

I open the gate and he dashes out to get the paper.

IF the baby is in his mouth, he knows to drop the baby,

pick up the paper and then pick up the baby again.

It makes me laugh every, single day!

....simple joys.....

Day Two (31 July)

We drove to Bergerac to pick up Diane!

We were an hour late.....

Katie had lent us her "tom-tom" (GPS) to get us there

It took us on a wild goose chase (!) through the countryside.

At least Di was okay - and had only just got out from customs.

 We spent a little time in Bergerac in the old part.

All the half-timber buildings are spectacular,

and the window box gardens so beautiful.

 We found a little brocantes first thing
("..within half an hour of getting off the plane" said Di)
and then stopped for a quick bite
(what is it called, Becky?)
and a cup of coffee.

After that, we hopped back in the car...
and used the MAP instead of the tom-tom
to get back home.
We stopped at the grocery in Riberac on the way
and bought LOTS of goodies for the week.
It was a simple drive back - no problem.

Katie joined us in the late afternoon.
She was stitching on her own project.

We were so happy to have her with us.

It is something she never gets to do during

the workshops and seemed to be such a treat for all.

We laughed and talked and caught up with 

one another -

We brought out "show-and-tell" and 

"ooohed and ahhhhed" a LOT

Becky worked on a little something that was inspired by 

things that Di brought from her workshop with Viv (Hen's Teeth)

We all ended up making things 

 inspired by Viv

(photos still to come)

After moving the table out to the porch and 

pouring the wine, we soaked up the day

and, honestly, could hardly wait to wake up the next.

a votre sante....

Day One at Briancon (July 30th)

I met Oolie and Becky at Montparnasse in Paris

on Monday, 30 July 

They had already been in Paris for a few days before I arrived,

and Oolie had been in Sweden for the week before that.

The three of us hopped on the train to Angouleme.

We were all about to POP with excitement....

...though I did manage to sleep most of the way there.

We rented a car at the train station and I was the 

Designated Driver, due to the fact that I can drive 

a standard shift car. It was really FUN.

We arrived in Verteillac around 7:30?

hmmm, I don't remember...

We drove down to Mike and Katie's and they came out

to give and receive big hugs!

Katie had left us a few groceries, since we arrived too late to shop.

It was nice to just heat up the water for the pasta, add yummy sauce

and tear up a little salad .... oh, and pour a glass of wine!

We toasted our successful arrival and the start of the 

adventure to come.

I forgot that it stays light until almost 10 pm (sunset around 9:15)

I was pretty pooped out by the time we chose our rooms, took baths

and hopped into bed.

What a lovely place to be and with very special people.

...sweet, sweet dreams....