There are days that begin early: Earlier than they typically do, earlier than they otherwise would need to, and earlier than is enjoyable… but you endure them because they’ll make someone else’s life easier.

That’s why I have a picture of my eyeglasses as today’s feature image.

Soph had to be in Poitiers for an 8:00am class, and mine didn’t start until 9:00am. To avoid the heavy morning traffic on the main road to Poitiers, or the cost of the highway, we take some winding little country roads which, during the daylight hours, take you through cozy villages and across swaths of arable fields. The earlier the departure, however, the more those same winding little country roads are a source of mild anxiety.

They wouldn’t be if I was driving them alone, but I’m not. I have to share them with a number of French Mario Andrettis. You remember the name Mario Andretti don’t you? He was a Formula 1 race-car driver. Enough said!

We did arrive safely, and I’d set my glasses on the armrest while enjoying my coffee and a few minutes of quiet before facing the day!

I’m sure the calendar still says it’s officially winter, but nature says otherwise. The rivers are beginning to swell, leafbuds on the roses have already burst forth and there’s even a daffodil that will soon open it’s petals like throwing it’s arms open wide to welcome the new season.

This picture is of the Loire River, coming into Angers. While you can see a bit of sand bank on the right, that same picture, in July would show mostly sand, with only a small channel of water in the middle.

Travelers

This is the season where the nomadic Traveling People (most in North America would use the terms ‘roma’ or ‘gypsy’, though they can be considered a bit of a pejorative & aren’t well appreciated by them.) energetically make the rounds offering to trim hedges, trees, clean roofing tiles, or walls that show traces of moss or micro-cracks.

They are Jacks of all trades it would seem, and since it’s the tree-trimming season, we’ve already had several knocks at our door. They almost seem a bit disappointed when I tell them that my sons & I usually do it, but thank you for offering. In other words… “Thanks, but no thanks.”

With the energy crisis, the cost of everything has gone up – not just electricity & gas, but all of the basic food items as well. What I don’t say, though maybe I should, is that we’re not awash with cash and try to be very careful with what we do have.

Balance & Plans

I spend an awful amount of time on my computer.

Part of the reason is that increasingly, schools are not using textbooks, but electronic workspaces, and while it presents undoubtedly some advantages, there are a number of dis-advantages as well: Probably chief among them… increased ‘eyes-on-screen’ time.

Because it’s winter, and tougher to get out into the garden to both disconnect and feel productive (this is not the productive season for gardens & gardeners), I’m itching to do something else… so I’ve been scouring Pinterest for some nice tatting patterns.

If you’re not familiar with tatting, it’s a shuttle lace technique that produces something like what you see above. I’ve spoken about it before on the blog. So… I’ll keep you posted as to what I end up doing to get away from my screens.

Church Life

This is a Bordeaux weekend meaning that we’ll be hitting the road early tomorrow morning to make the 2.5hr trek to the capital of the southwestern Nouvelle Aquitaine region. Some of our young people will be joining us as well.

In our Vision Vienne initiative we were able to post 6 new cities last week… meaning that folks from our church had spent 15 minutes praying in & over 6 communities. There’s a saying that goes:

Teamwork divides the labour and multiplies the impact.

That’s what we’re trying to accomplish… involving everyone in seeing God’s will be done in our neck of the French woods.

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That’s it for today.
Thanks for stopping by.

God bless you this week!