Insights into the French way of life and European travels by an Australian living in the Loire Valley
Header photo: Blois in spring, 2016. All photos on website copyright by Rosemary Kneipp unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved.Sign up for the latest posts below and don’t forget to click the confirmation email link:
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Category Archives: Renovation
Happy New Year 2016 – Bonne année à tous !
It’s New Year’s Eve and there are just the two of us, in front of our fireplace. We’re not having anything complicated to celebrate the New Year. I once spent all day making a special dish that took forever and … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Closerie Falaiseau, Flowers & gardens, Loire Valley, Renovation
Tagged blogging, new year resolutions
13 Comments
I Need a Holiday
At 2 am this morning, we finished the kitchen after exactly 3 months. Jean Michel has done a splendid job but we are both exhausted! The tiles on the left of the window are the 18th century tiles we bought … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, Renovation, Travelling
Tagged cycling on the Danube, Lake Garda, renovations in France
11 Comments
Instagram Favourites This Week #1
Since I don’t have a lot of time to post at the moment I thought I would share my favourite Instagram photos. The format on Instagram is square which is an interesting cropping exercise. What’s your pick?
Posted in Closerie Falaiseau, Country living, Cycling, Photography, Renovation
Tagged cour sur loire, instagram photos
10 Comments
The First Day of Summer & Cycling Itinerary N° 9
It’s the summer solstice – 21st June – which in Europe is officially the first day of summer. We get up very late and have a full breakfast, including tostadas, which we were introduced to in Grenada in January. By … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, Flowers & gardens, Loire Valley châteaux, Renovation, Wine
Tagged châteaux à vélo, gamay grapes
10 Comments
Easter Sunday in Les Grouets
We have just finished breakfast at a very late hour, mainly due to the switchover to daylight saving last Sunday, which is still playing havok with my already terrible sleeping habits, and have decided to go for a walk before … Continue reading
Posted in Country living, Flowers & gardens, Les Grouets, Life in France, Loire Valley, Renovation
Tagged spring in the Loire Valley
18 Comments
Old Bricks, a Cloche and a Priory
While the concrete sill on the practice window (made with our new secondhand concrete mixer) is drying, Jean Michel is planning the logistics for the two large windows in the kitchen. We’ve already bought two stone sills for the rear façade … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Closerie Falaiseau, Renovation
Tagged renovating an old house in France
17 Comments
Invited for Dessert
We haven’t seen Mr and Mrs Previous Owner for quite some time, what with moving, retirement blues, Christmas, New Year, the flu, Granada, getting over the flu and finishing the glass doors and shutters. However, we are now sufficiently en … Continue reading
More Light at Last
Jean Michel’s first retirement project is finished. All five doors on the front façade of Closerie Falaiseau now have glass panels instead of three glass and two solid wood doors. The difference in light is amazing! The first step in … Continue reading
