We are enjoying our time back in La Thébaudière. We have been doing some spring sorting, going through clothes that we just never wear and then donating them to groups that will get them to people who can use them.
It is quite beautiful here. You turn off of a narrow road just barely wide enough for two cars to pass, much closer than is comfortable, then it is 0.4 miles to our home – a 10 minute walk. Here is the view just 3 minutes away from our home, ours is the fork to the right.
We have of course been cooking. Sunday we had salmon, sautéed haricot verts with shallots and garlic, and Tricia’s, always incredible, pommes anna.
Last Thursday I made a spring veggie tart with goat cheese. I have included the recipe straight from my cookbook.
Art is always a priority. One thing I miss here in Normandie are the mountains of the PNW, it is quite flat here. The Alps may be dramatic but the most beautiful mountains are in the PNW of the USA.
When we were in Korčula, on our recent Croatian cruise, I picked a few boya crayons, they were so intriguing I couldn’t resist. My first attempt at using them was with ink on watercolor paper. I have a long way to go to make them useful, the textured paper did not work at all, and the sketchbook did not allow me to press hard enough, but I will keep trying.
Watching the news from the US is quite distressing these days, it seems violence is constantly erupting.
Even though we are back home we never stop gazing at the horizon.
It is probably no surprise that we are already planning our next journey. The Notes app on Apple devices is my go-to for planning and organizing trips. It keeps everything in one place and sure beats searching for train tickets or flight details in email folders. Here is a screen shot of how I set it up, one day I may do a blog with the details and a few tricks that are built-in to the app, like the yellow links.
Do you have any upcoming adventures? Even a trip to a new part of the town we live in can be grand, certainly worth a sketch to capture the moment, and a stop for good food.
I always love to hear from you, and keep on sketching.
theTravelsketcher 
We certainly do live in a lovely place.
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Over the weekend from Friday after I finished work until yesterday, I spent a majority out in nature. Making most of my bank holiday weekend. I spent it local mostly. But one if the days I spent time in nature elsewhere in preparation when back there in jist over fortnight time.
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Time in nature is always a good thing.
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Yes, it definitely is. There is another bank holiday to come towards the end of the month, so I won’t be surprised if I am doing the same thing over that weekend too.
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I have finally acquired a sketch pad and pencils, just need to find time to sketch 😔
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One of the exercises most of us recommend and benefit from is doing a 5-minute sketch. We long time artist as well as those starting out overthink things too often. A five minute sketch doesn’t allow that. And you can find 5 minutes in any day to do something that is right there in front of you. I will do one and send it to you.
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I just sent you a sketch by email.
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Thank you
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We are currently on a road trip to Toronto which will be followed by a road trip around Iceland. Cheers.
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In late June we will travel to Calgary for a trip through the Canadian Rockies.
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Sends fn.
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If/when you decide to return to the PNW you may find travel sketching a bit less interesting with the dearth of older/ancient architecture that you are now used to in Europe (and which I find endlessly fascinating as well).
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You are right about that, but oddly enough I have sketched so many old places that sometimes they all start looking alike. There is never a shortage of things to sketch anyplace I go so I should be fine.
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Oh that looks like a great way to keep trip organized. Please write up how you do that!
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Sorry to have taken so long to respond. First things first, from our vantage point it slo looks like the the US is an erupting volcano–and we’re here. Your veggie tart & potatoes sketch, photo, and recipe made us feel guilty for ordering a pizza tonight. I promise to be more adventurous. And talking of ‘gran aventure’–your itinerary for the next phase looks fabulous. Enjoy every moment of beautiful England–and say hello to all my ancestors in Cornwall. (And as for your sketch of mountains in the PNW—beautiful!)
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No guilt, we have pizza often, though with the wonderful pre made pizza crusts here that you just unroll onto the backing sheet we make them here. Thanks so much,
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Tim and I have had daily grand adventures riding on our bicycle built for two on the 3 mile journey between the house we rent (and still live in) and the house we just purchased (and are doing a bit of minor remodeling on). We take quiet, neighborhood streets, where the trees, bulbs, and rhododendrons are abloom. The air is mild, the sun is shining, and it is perfect PNW springtime weather. These are our current — and much cherished — travels, often ending with a meal at beloved Tabor Tavern. Look forward to seeing you back in the PNW, my friend, although, I sure will miss Normandie.
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Even a three mile journey can be a wonder.
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We took a three mile journey today. The trees were flowering and the grass was as green as it is in Normandie. It was a gift.
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Nice. Good for you guys.
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