03 October 2016

Our house and garden

We got a little bit of rain over the weekend. Now the mornings are not just chilly but cold — only about 8ºC, or upper 40s ºF, right now. Walt adjusted the thermostat yesterday so that the heat won't come on just yet. The afternoons are still warmish. Before long, though, it will be winter again. You can feel it in the air.


Above is a photo of the house we've lived in for the past 13 years, outside Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher in the Loire Valley. It's hard to believe it's been so long. We worked and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 17+ years before coming to live here. We spent nearly all our vacations in France from 1988 until 2003, and then decided to make it our permanent residence. Walt and I are both retired, and we both speak good French. I've been blogging since October 2005.


One of the things that attracted us to this house was its yard, which at half an acre is big enough and flat enough that we can have a nice vegetable garden every summer. We arrived here in June 2003, and in 2004 we planted our garden for the first time. We grow tomatoes, peppers, green beans, eggplant, and greens including chard, collards, and kale.


We live up on a hill at the edge of a large vineyard, and at the end of the paved road. We have a dog, Callie, and we can go on long walks through the vines every day without having to put a leash on her. The little neighborhood or hamlet we live in is made up of nine houses, but only 5 of them are occupied year-round. We have all the advantages of being out in the country, but we're only a couple of miles from town, and there are two big supermarkets and many other businesses within 5 miles of the house.

12 comments:

  1. Your garden looks lovely.... especially with that slight touch of Autumn colour.
    We are down to the "Oooo...better get the pumpkins in!" temperatures here....
    I watched it dip to 1.3 Centipedes just now....somewhere around 34/35 Farkinells.
    So it looks like it is best to get them off the ground.... they can harden off in the polytunnel.
    Yup... the Autumnals are certainly with us now!

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  2. You sound really content. Enjoy!

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  3. So Ken ... you have just made everyone who reads this, consider the possibilities of doing just what you did .
    You had better be careful, you might start hearing more English spoken in the village shops ! :)
    It looks like a slice of heaven to me , actually the whole story is heavenly .. exploring, finding a home, the beauty and adventure of it all, with the one you love .. perfecto.

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  4. I made your poulet basquaise last night for dinner. My husband raved about it!

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  5. It is a beautiful piece of property and I love your home. Just idyllic! You were very fortunate to find it. I am envious of your garden. I think your thumb is greener than mine, which reminds me I have some collard plants to plant!

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  6. Your home and its grounds looks lovely. They sure gave the big hedge a good trimming.

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  7. definitely great place to live so peaceful

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  8. I love your contentment and the pleasure in the little things. That is the good life!

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  9. I know it was a great choice for you two, moving to France, and especially to that house, that yard, and that area of France :)
    Upper 40s F at night! Wow, that's getting chilly.

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  10. Thanks all, for the nice comments.

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  11. I remember when Walt told me you would be moving to France. I was green with envy. I still am.... Wonderful to have a peek into your lives each day.

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  12. It's been fun to see how your dream has come to life.

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