My new pal Liz

Today, as I ran out the door to lunch at the big house this little rascal was sunning himself on the rock and stucco staircase. I ran back in, left the door open, grabbed the cammera, left the door open and grabbed a few shots...

Once the 14 inch long lil' bugger, got his portrait taken, he jumped up and ran inside thru the open door Of course, I jumped up a little too, to try to keep him out of the house but to no avail. ...I tried to get around and past him to encourage his exit... but, then he ran back into the guest kitchen and under the mini-frig. So I just opened the back door and closed the door to the hall. (yeah like he's going to let himself out the back door).

Perhpas he is still inthere under the frig... I am not planning to check til Saturday.

and today is Thursday... why freak him out any more... or me!

The 'mill" has a name and it was used to ...

The place in the painting is just up the stream from " Moulin du Pont" and little stream is le Arc. It is just between Coudoux and Velaux. And yes, Gary the mill was used to mill grains for the making of bread.

You can even "Google Map it" at Moulin du Pont, Coudoux, France. If you zoom in you will see the river, the dam, the canal, and the mill.

Moulin (Mill) Dam on the little soon to be named river.

Tomorrow I must go back to get the name of the river (read creek) and the mill, and try to figure out exactly what they used to mill at the mill (moulin en Francais). The river is dammed-up about 100 meters up stream, and the water is still directed into a canal.

This would have driven the wheel at the mill. I just liked the way that the dam looked with a very small leak of a waterfall cascading over the edge of the dam.

Most of the water was flowing toward me and into the canal to my right (not shown in the photo or the painting).

After a bout with set up and tools and a broken chair the spot opened up and found its way into a composition. I was able to stop and take a little break and a snapshot after most of the underpainting was completed.




I really like the under-painting and the compostion and its contrast. That is likely where one should stop, however, trying to complete a fully finished work, one encounters many decisions. So I took out my artistic license and used it. The final painting is acceptable to me, but over worked.

After it dries I may get bold enough to do a bit of touch up...or maybe get smart and leave it.


Tom

Make due with little

Painted "plein-air" again on Saturday.

I have been driving over the bridge nearly every day, but could not see a place to get out and side to overlook the river below. Plus which too many cars. But, Saturday, I just stopped and walked all around the area. In fact there was no place to set up the easel etc., etc., gave up.

Returning to the highway, turning right to go elsewhere, I noticed that the next driveway to my right lead back to the river. Also it seems that he building ( a cave cooperative) was burned out and deserted.

So drove back to the rear of the property. (no signs posted and lots of trash dumped near the rear) So, just drove quite nearly into the little river. Parked the 1989 Renault "106" nearly tipping its nose in the river and got out all of the stuff.










Please note that all of the "professional equipment" is items found eith in or near the trash and in the old garage shed. Old corrugated boxes and 1 x 1" sticks held together with wire, a couple of screws and a bit of hot melt. The little plastic bucket holds rocks from the local scene and a bit of my drinking water. All of the toolss fit into the old backpack except the chair,the "easel" sticks and the flat box that I found that was used for shipping a toilet seat...could just as well be a medium large pizza box ... just the right size.

Please also note (look a photo carefully) that I did not notice the rear support brace on the folding chair was not attached until it was too late. Not to be thwarted, though, I knocked it back together with a good-sized rock, and kept painting.

Tom

What is a Velux?

All is well in Ventabren FR today, L’Eau Vive
is a wonder place to work with very kind people.

Work is very physical.. and that is good!

Before beginning to unroof the roof.

here are photos of the recent project…
Installing a Velux (skylight) at L’Eau Vive Provence.
The Velux was installed in the Third Story. It is the attic “volunteer hang-out”
Above the main offices. It was a dark cave with two very small non-vented
Non-insulated glass-brick “windows” in the roof..

The new velux is approx 1 Meter H x ¾ Meter Wide….double glazed and Flips open and seals well ...
And even has a shade…very cool. It will make the virtually unusable attic space very workable and even inviting (for an attic room).
Got a wee bit little wiser today and allowed the younger guys to do much of work.

Tim (the young man with great smile from UK) was on the roof, tethered with ropes most of the day.

Ian lent a hand (light blue shirt ..red hair from Belfast) a few times too.

We worked from 7:00AM til about 5:00PM and nearly finished.

Everyone pressed to finish in one day because we are having Intermittent weather.
PTL no injury or trouble of any kind! Just tired … good tired.
Tomorrow we will cement the top course and ridge cap of roof tiles,
cut /trim the right column of tiles and fit them and then glue down the left
column of tiles and voila! Fins! Lotsa Work …. but fun with a great team.

Blessings,
Tom

A "wee" bit of work.

Ian's Parents came the next day after my arrival. They are from Belfast and Ian's Mom is constantly saying "a wee bit" of this or that...
I might just pick up more Irish-English than French whilst they are here...

So, I am staying at "Le Mas"
That's a smaller house (still very large) out across the way from the main house and have my own flat. It is nicer than any of the places when I was single! And of course that is because it is here in South of France

If you look at the big house (see photo below…the one with the house and flowers), looks from the street like it might be an 8 person house. The reality is that it goes way up and back like an old villa. ... And back, and back ..and has so many little rooms, cubbies and corners.
Most of the rooms are sort of camp-style two and three beds, but all very cute and cozy.
All are painted with the colors used here in Provence…absolutely look new and fresh and clean.


The main house probably houses about 35 ~40+/- It has a major sized kitchen, Laundry, Library, seversal offices and vey large dining room.
The other, the “mas” where I live, has about room for 10~15+/-. In and about the mas are another large flat, and many moresigle, double and triple rooms and the altalier/workshop.

Been working, already,on some projects. Enough tools to keep this large facility running and maintained weell. We are starting to build a safety fence for the compressed gas to keep “younger visitors” away, out and safe.
Work was a bit limited for 2 days, because of the rain so today, worked inside hanging a glass shower enclosure
… had to do this one myself.
… lifted it and set it down and prayed out loud for strength. At first …could not do it.

Above photo is the "Garage" ...the lower workshop

the one up top is called the atelier.

The Lord gave me super human strength just to get the huge 45” x 80” monster fully-assembled frame out of the shipping box and lift it into position…
I found out quickly that at now, nearly 60… my strength just ain’t the same…but for that short moment, it was sufficient. T

First Days - Ian

Greetings!
I was coming out at Marseilles Aeroport
And I could not believe it!!

The guy who was sent to meet me at the aeroport … Ian.
He has a sign “L’Eau Vive”.

Now this is unbelievable…
He was the Irish guy that Leslie and I met in the street on the “Cour”
in Aix ..Last Spring!! Turns out he was telling us about L’Eau Vive
when we first met him…but of course, I immediately forgot the name
as it really meant nothing at the time.

Anyway.. Ian has been working at L’Eau Vive for last 3 years
Doing “man-work” and leading Bible Studies for the college students
Who come here to intern.

So here is this guy with a sign at the Aeroport
He says “I know you!!! Why do I know you??
“I was standing here with the sign looking at this guy
coming out that door”

“And thinking … why does that guy look familiar?.. And was thinking … out of maybe 300,000,000 Americans, the one guy coming off that plane, who greets me…and I actually
know him?”

I tell you that he immediately made me feel at home!

Amazing!

6 days and Counting

This last Saturday was very fine. Friends food and prs.
busy enough not to take any photos..

In preparation ... on the way back from the grocery store, planning, scurring, etc., etc., there was minute or so where I was just sitting there. A new vision of the trip was placed on my heart. No, Tom you are not going to solve all of this. Skylight in the roof by yourself? Hum. You know there just might be a few young folks in Aix that could come out to help. What an idea... you mean this is not about me being a hero?

Oh. I get it. An outreach for youth in Aix?? Perhaps someone might want to do so of the work for the fun of it? An Adventure ..

Tom

Departing April 15th for Ventabren FR

So, I will leave for L'Eau Vive Provence for a month, on Tuesday April 15th.

The question comes. Tom? Why are you doing this?

Well that's kind of a tough call. So many "coincidences" and everything going well so far. We'll see what He brings in the morning. I have studied this question and suppose we do have to wait to really know.

I have been drawn to the South part of France since first visiting in 1970. I have returned many times. Even since my step-daughter went to work with others in Aix, there has been a whisper to go.

Departing April 15th

Well, how does one end up returning to the place he loves over and over? Suppose its on the heart. And, how do we keep returning to that place in the heart? It seems that He places some kinds of longings in us and they just don't go away.