July 4th at Chateau du Petit Thouars, Waterlogue

Independence Day at the Chateau du Petit Thouars is a 2-day affair in the Loire valley.

I get down on the ground to capture all the turrets.

The castle in Waterlogue app. Have you tried  painting photos with it?

We make an early morning run for the fabulous Mara des Bois berries.

You will have to search far and wide in Paris to find these upper crust strawbs. Maybe at a super fine Primeur at super prices if you're lucky.

They never seem to go off like supermarket berries. No sugar required btw.

My berries are a long way from looking like Waterlogue's.

Strawberries are so hard to capture unlike cherries, July's Paris Sketch Letter subject.

Raspberries are easier - all nice bumps. These were hand-picked by the goat cheese lady in her garden.

You can taste her 3 kinds of chevre - frais, semi-sec, sec.

Finding the  chevre frais in the city is hard. The Summer is when its best.

Cupcake hunting during the day from British Teresa's Tearoom.

Grasshopper hunting in the evening instead of fireworks.

Dimitri keeps watch in the cool tasting room, guarding berries, goat cheese and watercolors. And chateau wines of course. Temperatures reach 35-36!

Marche runs to the village of Montsoreau.

I get blueberries and raspberries. Gather ye berries whilst ye can.

Breakfast is outside under the lime trees. I stay on an extra day. Hard to leave the country. Life is one big picnic in the Loire Vallee. You Must Go!

Taking the Intercity train from Gare l'Austerlitz to Tours takes an hour longer but you get a taste of the Loire while waiting.

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. 

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Back to my own river Seine. Back to reality...not so easy to make the switch.

Picnic in the vines - Chateau du Petit Thouars

The Summer Solstice is the perfect time for a picnic lunch at a chateau.

Especially if is Chateau du Petit Thouars (pronounce that '2 Rs') in the Loire Valley. And so easy to get to from Paris. Simply take the TGV train from Gare Montparnasse direction Tours for Chinon or Porte Boulet. In a mere hour or so you're in a lush, bucolic paradise.

The chateau was bought by winemaker, Sebastien's ancestor in 1634.

Wonderful architectural details to gaze at...

But we're here for a vineyard tour and picnic!
Our guide, Monsieur Dimitri awaits.

Off we go wearing straw hats lent by the chateau...

To inspect the vineyards.

15 hectors growing Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes.

It's that very important time when the vines flower (la fete de la fleur). All looks well for the next vintage.

Next a cooling tour of the caves to see the aged oak vats.

The bottling facilities

Yves du Petit Thouars gives us a tasting of the range of wines from the chateau.

My picnic partner, Solli approves.

Enfin Sebastien arrives with our bottles for the lunch.

The weather could not be more perfect for a picnic in the vines.

Chateau staff Mademoiselle E. sets our elegant table with goodies:

Light salads, paté, charcuterie, a selection of cheeses, baguette

And of course chateau du Petit Thouars' lovely Chenin Blanc.

Bear is best pleased tasting TWO tartes; poire et fruits rouges.

Later on, after a perfectly relaxing afternoon we feel like Alice in Wonderland wandering back to the castle after our scrumptious picnic.

If you're coming to the Loire, what better way to celebrate a special occasion or just the beautuful countryside than an elegant picnic at the chateau plus wine tasting. Chateau DPT wines have won many awards. 

For the fourth of July on Saturday/Sunday there will be an outdoor celebration and I'll be there painting strawberry watercolors onsite and selling prints.

DO COME to Chateau du Petit Thouars !

Play Misty For Me

 Friday in Rockland, Maine starts off misty and atmospheric and I couldn't be more delighted. Blobs + blur. Yay.

 David's misty painting viewpoint. He says it will burn off and it does.

 The morning demo begins.

 A work in progress

 I decide to paint another misty view, listening to David's words in the background

 But my efforts are too spotty

 Nevermind. I shall paint Chateau du Petit Thouars and make it misty a la Paul Rickert + a touch of Turner!

Et voila

 At afternoon crit David likes my paint dispursal but suggests perhaps I'd like to paint some Rockland chateaux?

Hmmm...

A nice Blurb book workshop student, Tina Raver put together - you can view it here.

 No, I have no plans to try a Maine Whoopee Pie, even if it does look a tad like a French Tropezienne. And here's GRACIE, Jackie's better half - the tail never stops wagging.