Paradise Leaks!

Well, days have passed eventfully, with many visits from helpful Bob to fix the leaky sink (failed grout in the wall tile and bad washer in the faucet connection) and help me fire up the century old feul chaffage (oil heater). Lots of idle chatter as we examined and eventually repaired the sink whose mysterious leaking of huge quantities of water onto the kitchen floor had grown boring to say the least. We ate lunch, he left after another hour of story telling and chomping on the fine bread from the new boulangerie in town and great spooning of the beef and cabbage soup Kelly had cooked in the morning. (4 cups Chicken stock, 1 lb stew beef, 4 medium carrots and 1 large cabbage, cook til beef falls apart with a fork, couldn't be easier)
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On Monday it was The Donkey Faire in Lignieres, a HUGE annual event featuring the Black Donkey of the Berry as the main attraction. This is a buying, selling and extensive gawking festival. Many vendors of leather goods (mostly for donkeys but there were huge neck BELLS for husbands and boyfriends), food vendors, the town Cave was open pouring copious amounts of the local red and white. Only one thing blemished this sparkling, slightly drunken occassion...the damned weather! Dark, brooding storm clouds, buckets of cold rain and wind blasting us and the donkeys this way and that, people hiding in groups under any cover trying to stay dry (failing) and warm (failing). What a terrible thing to have happen on this glorious old event. Here are some pictures for you...and a movie too!>
Two old friends, another...

Donkeys under the clouds,