Biff Tout Soul

 Darling Biff and Tout Sweet author Karen Wheeler were there to meet me at the gare de Poitiers on Monday.

 We went for a grand tour around town starting at the Hotel de Ville.

 I suggested to Biff we visit le Palais de Justice so he could divorce Karen and marry me. But lucky for Karen they would not let Biff inside without a complete pat-down and a prance through the metal detector. He refused on principle.

 On to Romanesque Église Notre-Dame-la-Grande de Poitiers.

Here Biff could enter as long as he was carried and no one saw...

 Biff shows me Poitiers famous artisanal parapluie shop where you can still get your broken umbrellas repaired - a charming must-see. Who knew?

 And the best patisserie in Poitiers - Claude Lafond. I could not resist trying a regional Broye galette - a big flattened scalloped cookie made of mostly butter from the Charante and a bit flour. Another must-do in Poitiers.

 At midi/noon we went off for lunch to another town. Biff says we must be a table at 12 sharp or we lose the chance to eat at all in France. Ohhhh

A lovely 3-course formule(for a mere 12.50 euros) at the Hotel de France - Saint-Savin. Leave Paris for lunch if you want a delish bargain.

 Darling Biff, who has been tres bien-eleve/well behaved up to this point, decides to steals cheese from my bag (thoughtlessly left on the floor by moi) and then has a go at Bear. Mais non!

 Back at chez Karen Biff repents...

 And dreams a bit.

 Like all good French children Biff knows how to attend/wait for his supper patiently without whining or complaining.

 Unfortunately à table Biff loses it and makes noises regarding the Claude Lafond dessert box. Fortunately Maire Martine is present to put a stop to this rare bad behavior, ahem.

 Have you read Karen Wheeler's adventures with Biff in the Poitou-Charante? You'll be enthralled I promise.

 Her latest, Tout Soul is gripping tales.

You can read a chapter here.

Bonne nuit et au revoir Biff and Karen.

La Cite de L'Ecrit et des Metiers du Livre

 September is the time of the French la rentree - pommes for the teacher, pens/plumes, notebooks/cahiers, schoolbooks, you name it...

 Darling Biff insisted on taking myself and Karen Wheeler(his mum) to La Cite de L'Ecrit et des Metiers du Livre - sort of a prep trip for La Rentree.

 It's in the vielle ville of Montmorillon so a pedestrian steep walk up hill and down cobblestone allies was on the menu.

 With Biff leading the way our first stop was La Plume

 An adorable hole-in-the-wall calligraphie shop

 A plethora of plumes/pen points on offer

 And even plume-feather earings!

 Biff is rather bookish you know since his mom is an author of three books so he was in seventh heaven in this old bookish town

 Book shops right and left

 Everything very artsie

 Especially the cobalt bleu art shop

 In the street nearby a mini puce/flea

 What should you wear when visiting a small town in the Poitou-Charente? A flowered chinzt pinafore of course accompanied by a floppy straw hat.

 Biff and Karen take in the view on the vieux pont...

 Quite enchanting...

4:30 pm

C'est l'heure de gouter (snack time!)

Painting Biff

 Painting darling Biff was no piece of cake it turns out. It took all day to get him right.

 You'd think hanging around Biff for a bit it would make it a cinch.

 NO WAY!

 My 1st go at Biff flopped miserably

 Too many teeth and lacking in oumph perhaps?

 Back to sketching thumbnails (4" x 5 1/2"). Somehow I'm never ready for Prime Time if I skip the 'thumbnail' step. It happens every time.

 Jane's Kumquat and Persimmon were a tad easier. Aren't they adorb?

 They required an Eiffel Tower background, ahem.

 Dempsey looks very regal.

 He deserves to go to Paris bien sur.

 As do Dianne's sweet pups.

 Whether I'm painting Corky in Paris...

 Or Tippy in Hawaii, I like to know your dog's name. It just works that way, don't ask me why. Getting on first-name basis helps the painting for some reason...

Biff is waiting for his watercolor I guess...

Tout Biff Deux

 There have been many requests for more Biff.

 Biff is an ex-pat British dog, though he was rescued from a French pound of sorts. Still he has a British passport (he really does). Who knew?

 He lives in rural central western France not too far from Poitiers.

 Biff can look very patient when waiting for dinner.

 He only eats off a British pub placemat and only British dog food. A dog of most discerning tastes is Biff.

 One of his finer attributes is he blends in with any decor and even adds a little something to the mix.

 Unlike his cousins, Parisian pampered pets

 Biff carries his own leash

 He's made quite a name for himself around town amongst the locals, astonished at his independence, though he speaks not one word of French. Charm will get you everywhere.

 I must admit I've yet to do Biff's portrait. This is criminal on my part.

 I did paint Isaboo at the Gelateria so why not Biff at the boulangerie?

 Biff is reknown for his social skills around town and where ever he goes.

 Though you wouldn't know it from looking at this cat.

 Nevermind. Biff wouldn't hurt a flea.

If you want to read more about Biff, do pick up one of his mum, Karen Wheeler's three books in the Tout Sweet series - loaded with juicy tales of darling Biff. And I must get painting a tout a suite!