We left Luxembourg early, by way of the A31, and headed south, ten hours later we were in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. We went there first some 24 years ago. It is one of the best places in France; for me there are personal and spiritual connections that make it even more moving to be there than just its status as a Plus Beaux Village.

After the long drive we were ready to drop our things at our hotel and head out for food. In Luxembourg we were at a 5 Star hotel, this one was a far cry from that hotel, in fact it was a bit of a dump, but it did have the redeeming quality of an amazing view of the valley.

Across the valley are homes nestled in the trees.

As the sun was setting we found a terrace cafe where we could relax and, to our delight, there was a saxophonist getting ready to play, it was a perfect way to end the day after the long drive.

The next morning we went out for café and tea while it was still cool. When we arrived the night before it was 98F which was forecast again, we wanted to be able to be inactive when it got hot. While we waited for the cafe to open I sketched.

That afternoon we sat in the shade and watched the people, a favorite occupation here in France.

Thursday morning we drove to Avignon to turn in the rental car, after a couple of loops around the big train station, due to missing the right entrance, we were once again walking. Our apartment for the next two months is on a narrow street just inside the ramparts of Avignon. The taxi driver was amazing, getting us as close as possible since the thermometer was once again in the high 90s.

Friday afternoon Tricia was working on her blog so I went out in the heat to sit and sketch.

Saturday we went to lunch at a Brasserie just a block or so away on the rue des Teinturiers, an ancient street along a canal. Our table was right over the water, and we even had a visit from a beautiful Banded Demoiselle.

It is pleasant to be settled for a couple of months, good to rise early and make coffee. I got a new cafeteria, found some fair trade Ethiopian beans, and used the grinder I brought along.

While sipping coffee and doing Wordle Tricia called out my name from the bedroom, we had a visitor. The neighbor cat had jumped from the roof and through the open window. She hung out for a long time, even gazing out the window at her rooftop.

Our apartment is just right. We can cook, hangout, write, I am playing some music, and the Palace of the Popes is just 15 minutes away.

I hope you are enjoying Fall – for years I have followed the Druids pattern of the season, which makes August the first month of Fall. This is my favorite time of the year, and it helps that August is my birthday. The colors will change and the days will start to cool. It is one of the best times for sketching and painting as the colors are intense, so I hope you are giving it a try.

Tuesday I am starting something new – Tuesday Tips. Just quick little tips for sketching that I have used over the years, I will look forward to what you think about it.

As always, thanks for following and commenting. And Keep sketching. Thanks to all who have shared my blog with those not already following, it means a lot.