Mostly Lavoirs

On Saturday we went into Cluny and found a parking space within walking distance of the outdoor market.  Gary was to tour the Abbey which Margery and I had already seen while we were to spend 2 hours roaming the market. We did grocery shopping and Margery also bought a tablecloth. Later we showed off our other purchase...

Once again I tried to get Margery to the miniaturists in Bonnay who are only open on the weekend, but it was Mothers Day in France; no one was at home so we went on to Sigy le Chatel and spent the afternoon with Philippe Dyon, once again fascinated by his philosophy and his tops. At the top of the hill behind his shop are the ruins of an old castle. I've taken those pictures on previous visits, but I couldn't resist another shot of the strangely shaped house on that hill. It has always been boarded up though the yard is cared for.

Gary photographed the castle and then noticed the church on the next hill...

In my photograph it's hard to realize there is a valley with houses between Gary and the church.

On Monday Margery and Gary toured the Grottes d'Aze (nearby caves) and Gary joined the Blanot Bone Builders group. On Tuesday I took them to the medieval fortified town of Brancion where they explored another old castle while I read in the car. We then made a dash for Nicolas Maillet's cave in Verze to taste and purchase good wine. At times I couldn't resist stopping for pictures of lavoirs...

Someone didn't want this one to be totally neglected. I wonder if the roof vines ever bloom?

    Below is a lavoir with niches for soap or laundry to keep things off the floor.

Here is what the outside of this lavoir looks like, complete with garden on the side...

Back in Blanot they were preparing for a weekend festival so Marion was decorating the lavoir with containers of all sorts that would drip water into the water, creating its own music...

And Gary took more pictures around the pottery...

This shrub is across from my front porch, even visible from within my cottage. It seems to have been gorgeously blooming forever.



As far as I can tell, no two lavoirs are identical.


Gary took some really nice pictures of the Blanot lavoir when the decorations were completed.

And here is the poster that inspired the lavoir decoration...again, thanks to Gary!

Unfortunately, none of us were in Blanot for the weekend of the festival.