Day 2 and 3

So our first evening at Haut Baran, we had an amazing dinner and wine, and then we all crashed! The next day jet lag was hitting most of us pretty hard, so it was an "ease into it" kind of day. We just hung around the Baran and learned to set up the french easels, and everyone broke out their paints. 

My dad handed me a bag that had some paper, some brushes, and a ready to go palette and said GO PAINT! lol

gee

how?

lol

what am i supposed to do? 

how do i do it?

felt very stupid!

and then told myself even 4 year olds know what to do with paint! just start!

So... I set up the easel, and proceeded to try my hand at painting. hahaha. It didn't go very well. 

It was so very hot. And veryyy humid. And we were all pretty sluggish. We went out to dinner that night, and that pretty much solidified the group! We laughed until we cried!!

***

The next day we were up bright and early eating breakfast at 8, and hitting the road by 9. We were taken to Cahors, on the bank of the Lot river to paint Pont Valantre, the most well preserved fortified bridge from the 14th century. We were given 90 minutes to find a spot, sketch out the bridge and paint it. That's it. 90 minutes. Be done or be left behind! lol

Well I sat and sketched it, while sweating profusely, and then tried to paint it on my lap. lol

By the time I started painting we were given the ten minute warning - time to go! haha!

So... needless to say that painting didn't go very well :)

People were stopping to talk, and i was just in awe at my surroundings!

We packed up and went to Cahors central shopping district, where there was a flea market going on. A true flea market, not a normal "french market". We had fun roaming around, shopping the antiques and not so old stuff. The heat was brutal that day... maybe around 98*?  (and like 95% humidity?)

We were told the first rule of painting en plein aire - you must must must have a big floppy hat with a large brim to shade your eyes and the glare, since you can't wear sunglasses! And if we didn't have one, get one! lol

So... I bought a hat at the flea market :)

We had lunch there... a humongous bowl of baby mussels... oh my gosh, so delicious! A small salad, some wine, and a basket of fresh bread. 

My legs had swollen up on the plane... and still hadn't come down yet. I looked like I had elephant legs! Very uncomfortable!

But like I cared? I hobbled around, went in a few shops to cool down here and there. Had some lovely (very short) conversations with the shop keepers :)   Went off looking for the post office, and bought a cute little butter dish :)

All the while, forgetting I owned a camera!

While waiting to meet back up with the group, and asking strangers what time it was, and trying to remember my numbers in french (ugh, i am still no good at that!) I took a couple pics.

Cahors is a much larger "little city" than most that we visited. Newer. More modern. And yet... still older than most in the states :)  They just felt very modern in comparison to everything else. 

They had a very rainy spring, that kept raining up until the end of May... so most of their crops were running late since they didn't get planted until early June! But, it was hay time. Every where you looked, there were these fun round bales of hay sitting in the fields. Have just been baled, and then sitting for a week before being hauled off.

And another amazing 4 course dinner at the Baran! Their chef Kate- who I sadly didn't get a picture of :( was just amazing! That girl can cook! Ugh... and I felt so bad for her being in that hot hot kitchen on such hot hot days! She's working on a cook book -yay!!- and I will be first in line when it comes out!!

We were all over the top on her meals. I can't even remember what we ate on which days. And did I think to take pictures of our meals? Oh heck no! The before dinner drinks were already flowing, and the laughter had already started by the time we got to the table! LOL! 

But we had duck breast, gorgeous salmons, cheese tarts, goat cheese drizzled in honey, camemberts and bries, fruits and delicious salads, other fishes in creamy sauces, gespacho, pates, pastries... oh my word.. and  the desserts!!! 

I ate with abandon. lol  

I tried whatever came my way!

And gained 6 pounds in three weeks (feels more like 15!)

And let me just say... it was well worth it!!!!! :D

xo

Warning - tons of pictures and very long post!

Yay!! I got my pictures transferred over!! Michelle, you had the perfect answer! lol Don't know why I didn't think of that?! I guess we get stuck in the "wireless" mentality, and don't always remember that we can still do things with cords! :) 

Ok, soooo.... 

after sorting through 1500 pictures (no, i'm not joking) about 200 of them are of signs :)  And many of the people that I spent ten wonderful days with... and many that are not usable, since they were taken in the car, going 70mph! LOL! 

So I figure I'm probably down to about 700 usable photos :) 

How many do you want to see?

I know if it were me... wanting to live vicariously through you on a trip, my answer would be ALL OF THEM!! :)  I am always hungry to see sights I've not seen before!  But I don't know if you all are the same way? 

I figure the best way to do this is to just blog one day at a time. Each day is packed with pictures. I'll try to be choosy and keep them under 30 a day... how's that?

I could talk for days on end about all that we saw and experienced. Literally. I really could! It was soo fabulous!! But I'll try to keep my chatting down to a bare minimum as well, and just give you quick over views of where and what.  hmmm... no promises on that though. lol  It's so tough no to tell you all kinds of things and wax poetic about every little thing!

 If you have any questions, or if I haven't told you enough, just ask! :) 

This set of shots is from our first day at the Baran. A place that is now near and dear to my heart!! It was our home away from home for 10 glorious days. Nestled in the southwest country side of France, right outside a little town called Puy L'eveque.  Everything about this area is just breathtaking. And by day three I was trying to figure out a way to move here!! 

We stayed at Domaine du Haut Baran, a wonderful chalet B&B that is relatively young for the area... only 300 years old. The couple that run it are amazing. William and Rosalie bought it 15 years ago, and set about renovating it. Every year, they upgrade a different portion of the estate. Adding on special amenities - like the swimming pool, and a year ago they added an art studio! 

And even though it's been renovated, they kept it authentic. All the rooms are decorated differently, with period antiques. A large dining room surrounded in cozyness, and food galore. We only had breakfast in there, as we mostly we ate out on the patio.

It is heaven on earth

I lost track of what day it was. I found a point of relaxation that I haven't found in ... oh... 23 years?  There is something so serene, so peaceful, and undenyable beauty here... 

 The big lavender bushes were alive with activity.

View from the patio... sitting and drinking your coffee in the morning... this is what you look out on...

I love the texture of these roofs, and the stone work!

 This dog was hilarious. There were a couple big fish in the pond... and he would come every day and swim a few times to cool off.. and then start scouting the fish!

 A nice view of the Baran

 Isn't it gorgeous?

 Flowers everywhere! William takes care of the grounds himself... and these little poppies... i love poppies!! They would bloom each day until noon, and then close up and come back the next day

 The new art studio, on the edge of the property

It kind of makes me sad seeing this pictures. I miss it already!!

But... that's the only sadness from this trip!

We were surrounded by 10 other artists, that came on the retreat. We had the BEST group of people ever!!

They were so wonderful! And funny. OMG. All we did was laugh! And eat! And laugh! And drink wine! And laugh! Oh and eat some more! :) 

And did I mention laughter? :)

Seriously, the best people!!

Now... on a note aside.. (I know.. I'm talking a lot. Sorry! I'm trying not to! lol But you kind of need to know this to understand the upcoming week)

This was a water color artist's retreat - put on by my father - Mike Bailey (check out his blog) - water color artist extraordinaire! He teaches all over the country, and once a year does an international retreat. 

Last year he called me in July... he had just gotten back from France - (third year there, but his first time at Haut Baran) and the conversation went something like this...

 "Hey!! How'd you like to go to France with me next year?"

me: "haha! I wish!!"

him: "Well wish no more! You're goin!"

me: "riiighht"

him: "no - I'm serious! I'm giving you a year to get ready. lol Think your family can live without you for three weeks?"

me: "no. I don't think so. LOL"

him: "well they better figure it out!!"

me: "Dad, as much as I wish I could say yes... it doesn't make much sense to take me, I don't even paint!"

he starts giggling

him: "I had a feeling you might say that... so... you wanna learn to paint?" 

I start laughing. 

"No. Not really. lol

I have my hands in too many other art forms at the moment, that keep me plenty busy!"

him:  "OK. But you're comin to France with me next year! Get your passport in order!"

**

Ayup. and that's how it went. LOL

ok, there were many conversations after that initial one. haha... and tons of excitement! But I still didn't think I was ready to embrace painting. I mean how could I ever be as good as he is? I can't paint! I paint like a kindergartner! lolol (not kidding!!)

So on this trip I was surrounded by other artists. People that I fell in love with. A country I fell in love with. A way of life that I fell in love with. 

And guess what?

I started painting :) 

Until tomorrow... Au revoir!

Home from France

I am back! 

What an absolutely fabulous time we had!!!

Words cannot accurately describe!

I was hopeful to be able to blog each day while we were there... But alas, blogger wouldn't let me :(

So now... I have over 1500 photos... So many I want to share with you!

But... They are on my iPad.  And good ole blogger won't let me access them from here! 

Ideas?

Help?

Please?

LOL

I am new to the i - world and how to access things that are on here, from my computer! 

Looking forward to any tips you all might have! 

:)

Xo

Bren