Pascale, Jacky and I have been taking advantage of every moment. We returned Sunday afternoon from our five-day adventure in southern Brittany, (the part that sticks out on the northwestern corner of France). I will tell you all about it, but I’m not even going to begin that yet!
To keep it chronological . . .
Monday, the 20th, Jacky drove us forty-five minutes or so southeast of La Rochelle to visit the Château de la Roche Courbon. Click on the link (then on the Union Jack flag for English) for more about it. If you’re not that interested in reading more of the history, you can just trust me it was interesting and gorgeous.
Here are a few photos, a little gift of beauty for you. Enjoy! (Remember you can click on any photo to make it larger.)
The family that has owned this amazing place for several generations still lives here and opens it to the public for all kinds of events, in addition to the regular tours.
The story of this château and its gardens inspired me by its history of determination. It was built, improved, then abandoned, then suffered various reverses, then was restored. At some point over the centuries the gardens were amazingly built on marshland. What?!?No worries for drought, but of course various complicated drainage issues had to be expensively addressed in the 1930s and again in the nineties. The gardens are actually now supported on deep piles driven through the marshland down to bedrock.
I love this image of driving a pile down through the muck to bedrock and the resulting beauty that is possible. Makes me think of the encouragement of the psalms.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:2 NIV
I patiently waited, Lord, for you to hear my prayer. You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Psalm 40: 1-3a CEV
Wishing you abundant beauty to share, anchored on bedrock to see you safely through the mud and mire!
Movable Assets 
Beautiful photos Sunny!!! I really love the description you gave of the gardens and the analogy… So true! Enjoy every moment! Sending you a hug and admiration for your adventurous and resilient spirit. Our God’s strength in you is so clear
Thanks, Diane, for your kind words! I am certainly enjoying it so far!
Beautiful!! Reminds me of our back yard… a little. Hoping to see more of your photos over time!
Hahaha! Yes, as I recall there is some green, maybe even a few flowers in your backyard. Definitely a few trees and blue sky. In other words, almost identical!