Yesterday morning I completed a 6×8 oil painting. Photos of that will have to await our weekly art show.

In the afternoon I accompanied Sally, our hostess, to a ceremony in a church across the valley. We can see this church from the terrace of our house. The Pestillac Church was in decay for many years, with a tree growing through the roof. However, some time ago the roof was restored to protect the building and recently restoration of the altar piece was completed. The ceremony was the formal dedication of this restored altar piece. A man, joined by several children, rang the church bell to begin the festivities. Over 100 people listened to a priest give a benediction and bless the new altar piece, the mayor discuss the funding and development of this public works project, and a state historian give a detailed account of the restoration. He also answered questions from some in the audience who questioned the authenticity of the restoration because it didn’t match their memories from childhood. The historian patiently explained the documentation of the original work and brought out photographs to show how faithfully they had restored the altar.

After the ceremony there was a reception outside the church with cider, soda, and cookies. I wandered around the adjacent cemetery and vineyard. The view across the valley to Montcabrier was beautiful.

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Late in the afternoon Jean wanted to take a walk so we headed out on one of the many trails. These trails are all part of the St. Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage routes that converge on Santiago, Spain. They have been active trails since the 9th century. We’ve hiked at least three of the trails that cross Montcabrier. These trails lead through forests, farmland, and sometimes along roads. It’s a wonderful way to see the countryside. Here are some photos from today’s hike and another.

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Our day ended with a dinner party with Sally and some of her friends. Amy we had met last week. John and Heidi split their time between New York and the Lot Valley. It was a wonderful evening with great food, fantastic wines, and interesting conversation. I was so engrossed in our conversations I failed to take a single photograph during the four hours we shared.

Paul