Pentecôte concours de petanque

This is the one day a year that there is a petanque competion in the village held in the school playground. Gary found a partner and took part. He didn't win - the 30 degree heat and very stange terrain could be to blame!

They did beat this team of very talented little players, who contested every point.

It was very useful for me as one of my friends from the flower making was there along with our new Maire and we got permision to hold a 'World wide knit in public day' on the 12th June in the gardens at the back of the Mairie.

ecobaby

The last few colours of Debbie Bliss ecobaby fairtrade cotton arrived today (there were a few missing colours in the original order). I love the muted colours. My cousin's daughter is expecting a little girl in September, and I will need to decide what to knit for her. If I make a larger size in the cotton, it will be useful for next summer. I may do the teddy bear jacket from the Baby Cashmerino book one, but use ecobaby, which knits to the same tension.

Back to work

After our away day, we returned to find we had missed my delivery of Debbie Bliss yarns. However, I managed to get them to return the next day. All the new stock needed re-photographing and putting on the website. However, it lovely to have the cupboards all full again, and the range of colours of Baby Cashmerino is impressive. The new range of ecobaby fairtrade cotton and book has also arrived.

I also managed one afternoon helping the ladies with the flower making and hope to get along again this afternoon.

Marie Antoinette's farm

This pretty little cottage formed part of Marie Antoinette's

'play farm'; it reminded me of the Cotswolds.

Yes, it was a bit cold!

Versailles gardens

This vista gives some idea of the scale of the gardens - they extend as far as the eye can see.

Nearly there!

Versailles

This time last week, we were whizzing to Paris on the TGV and then on to Versailles. The rain was lashing down when we left Libourne, but things gradually brightened up as we sped northwards, and the sun came out, although the wind was still cold.

The queue to get in the Chateau was quite astounding, but it is well worth the wait. Although we were surprised how little protection is given to the fabric of the building from the thousands of visitors. The gardens too, were on a scale hard to describe, and we would have loved more time to explore further.

Already it seems a bit like a dream...

Some progress on the ultimate challenge!

Since starting this project, it has been up and down like a yo-yo. I have discovered a further reason for my troubles with the pattern. I was working from the single pattern, which has the pattern chart printed in black and white, whereas in the magazine the chart is printed in colour - quite a bit of the code, printed in colour has disappeared when reprinted in black and white. So it has turned out to be a bit like doing a crossword puzzle while knitting.

Determination has set in and this picture shows one complete pattern repeat. Not for the faint hearted this one! Although it is gorgeous and the yarn is lovely to work with.

Cari finished picture

I am very pleased with this one! The Sirdar Flirt is lovely to work with, and the bamboo/wool mix gives a lovely sheen and drape. It was 'launched' on an an outing to our Notaire on Thursday.