A Typical Sunday and a Short Trip to La Gacilly

We had a couple of stale croissants sitting in a bag on the counter, so I hatched a plan (somewhere in my half asleep hours) to make French toast, using them. We had bought another couple to supplement the meal, and I cut those up also and added them to the egg batter to soak up all the goodness.
In the meantime we had a cup of coffee, answered our mail and around 9am,  I added some demi-sel butter to the pan and placed the now soaked croissants and their eggy mixture in it. The result wasn't quite what I had anticipated, but it was tasty, albeit without the vanilla that it really needed. Some banana slices, a little Maple syrup and a little whipped cream out of a bag, and voila! Petite Dejeuner!
The steam from the food clouded my camera lens!!

Waz attacked the task of fixing the kitchen table (it was one of the jobs the owners wanted done). He needed those metal straps purchased at the hardware store, yesterday, to keep the table from breaking again.

 I was finishing the vacuuming and window cleaning.
After spending the rest of the morning working, we had a late lunch and decided to visit the outdoor Photographic Exhibition in La Gacilly (Ga see yee) not far from here. Last years exhibition was much enjoyed, as was the small hillside town above the River Aff. The Centre Ville (town center) had been barred to traffic, and have become a pedestrian mall, as it were. Excellent, given the crowds that had turned out to see the outdoor photos.
However, we decided to get there by taking a less ordinary route...as we do. Instead of the usual turn right at the bottom of the road, we turned left, knowing we could get to the same place...eventually, as long as we continued in the same direction.
We saw a signpost pointing towards a Chateau. Curious to see what this one looked like, we followed the directions At first, this is all we saw....A pheasant farm! and a long driveway. Having taken the requisite photos, we continued down the road until we found a sign that said PARKING! Of course we figured this was Chateau Parking, and therefore this one must be open to the public.

 Rounding the corner in the parking lot, Voila! This is the Chateau Villequeno, surrounded by high walls. Plenty of cars in the lot, but we had other places to go, and this place looks similar in many ways to where we are currently living. Not a very old Chateau, by the look of it. 19th Century, probably.

Having satisfied that curiosity, we went on our way down country roads....and one of the reasons we love Brittany... This area is known as  Le Pays de Broceliande. (Bro say lee onde). King Arthur's Forest.There is a magical quality to these forests. Tall trees underpinned by ferns, with a lush but at the same time 'open' quality.

After much twisting and turning, through small Hameau (Hamlets) and Villages, we came to La Gacilly.
Parking was at a premium, but patience always wins, and we found a parking space, along with all the other small cars. Hardly a large one amongst them! Some RV's also parked, so tourists are obviously still on the road, after the August holiday rush.
La Gacilly is inundated with flowers. Typical of towns in France, there are red Geraniums everywhere. Window boxes, quirky artworks everywhere and wall to wall people enjoying the outdoor exhibition. Gacilly is a town of Artisans. Their atelier line the streets .

 The exhibition this year is about Places and People.

I found this tiny flower in amongst so many others, but found it enchanting.

 The light wasn't great, and it stayed like that all day.

 This is a very old building. You can tell by the timber over the window.

 As you can see, these photos are huge. they are printed onto metal to withstand the elements, being here from June 4th through the end of September. Those are Baobab Trees.

 This area last year, was all vegetable gardens. The exhibition is much larger this time around, and they obviously had to use all available space. This area is below the town center.

 At the bottom of the town is a large parking lot. You have to cross the weir via the foot bridge to get to the town, from this side. these large photos are by a Japanese Photographer (I wonder how you could tell??? :) )

 The crowds entering the village via the footbridge.

 Some folks took advantage of the chairs laid out by the town organizers.

 The main street going up the hill to the Centre Ville.

 The Aff River.

 Metal birds

 I loved these wall sculptures.

 ...and I'm a sucker for wrought Iron. I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that our father made things like this.

 I know, it seems odd to take a photo of a dead bird in the gutter, but it looked so peaceful, don't you think?

 I have never seen a Dahlia like this one. Look at that gorgeous center!

 Art everywhere you look. Fantastic!

It as now after 5pm, so we hot-footed it back home. I had meant to take some shears with me to cut some roses that are at the front gate, but forgot them...so I was lazy and drove down the driveway to cut the flowers. It was worth it. They smell glorious, and liven the kitchen , and therefore our meals.

I put a bought spinach and Feta 'pie' in the oven to heat and made a cole slaw with sweet tasting cabbage, for dinner. While the pie cooked, I cleaned more windows. So satisfying! We can see out without obstruction, now!

More watering of thirsty plants as the sun went down, and the mozzies started to come out, so Waz hotfooted it back inside. I put away the hose for another evening. When I first went outside, I got a little waylaid scrubbing (with my new brush) the front entry steps...mold and moss!!! and enjoyed having a clean entry, in return.

Slept like a log! Good to have all these things to do, each day, and to keep our brains busy.

Au Revoir.