It is rare that I do not sketch everyday, but this week has been a busy one which ate up some sketching time. Our friends from the USA are visiting us for a bit. Tim arrived on Wednesday, Lisa arrives Friday, so we were busy getting things ready, really just spring cleaning kind of stuff, but it all takes time.
Then we found we had to go to the Prefecture office in Alençon, which is an hour and ten minutes away. Of course just to make it interesting the appointment was Wednesday morning, thankfully early enough that we could make it back in time to pick Tim up at the train station in Flers. The good news is that I was able to get my Attestation de Prolongation which is a document that basically says that my visa renewal is all OK but they have not made the cards up yet so it is taking longer. But it means we can travel out of France now. Tricia got her’s a few weeks ago so we were frustrated at how long mine was taking. But all is good.
Yet I was able to do a couple of sketches, some quick and small. This is of a stone/concrete object in the garden across from us, not sure if it was a fountain or a planter in its youth, now it just sits among the plants and adds the patina of a bygone era to the place.
I did a couple more postcards and even got them mailed. If you would like a postcard from France let me know.
One cold evening, our spring weather has been all over the place, we were watching “A Place in the Sun” dreaming of warmer weather. The episode was in Malaga, Spain. So I sketched some tile roofs – they are ubiquitous in Europe.
Friends meeting in a Paris park and the Eiffel Tower are always good for a quick croquis.
I hope your week has been good and spring is motivating you to get out your paints, pack your bags, and go exploring.
theTravelsketcher 
It was nice to get the spring cleaning done, and even nicer to have our friends here. Lovely sketches!
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Thanks so much, yes both are nice.
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Glad to hear your “papers” are in order – sometimes it’s frustrating how long these things take, isn’t it? I like your first sketch – the pink flowers definitely show you are in spring. We have just come back from a walk by the sea … it may be autumn, but it still feels like summer. We certainly have a very long summer here on the south east coast of South Africa (I’m not complaining)!
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Oh and France does love paper!
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Bureaucracy can be a total pain. I know why we have it, but … ugh. Your sketches are beautiful. Our spring is progressing well, unusually so. It has been very warm here in the subarctic which is not a good thing at this time of year.
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Yes, I agree. And from what little I know about the subarctic warmth now is not a good thing.
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Busy or not, you still managed to do some lovely sketches! SO glad you are “almost” officially renewed. Patience is a virtue, and it is needed in France. Where the pace is different. That’s why there are so many cafes where you can relax, sip coffee or wine, and just get Zen. Enjoy your visitors! ( P.S. We always love our postcards by Terry!)
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Thank you as always for being so uplifting. Yes it is actually a good place to be. Today I am figuring out French Taxes, I think ours should be pretty simple – famous last words.
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Your sketches are charming. I would love to receive one in the mail. I sent my address to your gmail account. Thanks for offering.
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Great I will get on it.
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Enjoy your friends visit. You’re a great sketcher. The great sketches you posted are all inspiring and worth viewing. They’re all lovely photos. Just keep going and enjoy. Have a great weekend.
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Glad you are enjoying them, and thanks for the kind words.
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You’re welcome. You can visit my blog too if you have extra time. I hope you will like and follow it.
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I am thrilled to have made you and Tricia busy! We love visiting you in Normandy. Also thrilled your visas got renewed, so we can visit again! (Your sketch of the friends meeting at the Eiffel Tower — your treatment of their clothes — is lovely.)
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It seems that the looser I sketch the better it works, sometimes it is hard to shake the obsession with detail. Thank you so much, we enjoyed our time and are sad that it is over.
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