Yesterday morning we bid adieu to JP, picked up our rental car (a Nissan diesel!) and spent the day driving south to the Lot River valley. It’s a beautiful drive through the breadbasket of France into the hills and river valleys. Along the way we passed a long Roman aqueduct, still standing after all these years. At 5:00 PM we pulled into Montcabrier, usual population maybe 75.

Sally was waiting the courtyard and had reserved a parking place for us in front of her gate. Parking is scarce in the village this weekend because it’s the annual fete. The population swells in the evenings for bands, dancing, and tonight, fireworks. Last night’s band was hard rock, loud and played until after midnight. The partying continued in the village’s four streets until it began to rain about 4:00 AM. Nothing like rain to spoil a party! Tonight promises dancing and fireworks.

This morning Jean and I set about to unpack art supplies and set up the studio. Soon we were painting in our respective corners.

Jean completed a wonderful charcoal drawing.

I am working on more studies of the paintings I did in London. Today I did one with silver pencil on black paper and began another watercolor version. Here’s the silver and black version.

When it stopped raining (it had rained steadily all morning and into the afternoon) we took a walk around the village. There have been a few changes, but this walk was like revisiting an old friend.

This evening we will enjoy dinner on the terrace with Sally and maybe do some dancing. The fireworks aren’t until 11:00 PM, so we will undoubtedly miss those.

Paul