The First Chenev'Art week-end took place on 6th and 7th April 2019

A couple of months ago Mark thought he would invite some artists we know to come and exhibit their work here.  We chose the week-end of 6th and 7th April as he was already taking part in an international open studios event. 

The Gang of Six!

Mark kept his studio for his own work and the others agreed that their creations would be fine under our open barn or outside - so the barn had to be cleared of wood and all of the other clutter.

The barn hasn't been as tidy as this since we moved here in 2005!

The artists set up on Friday and Saturday morning, in the rain, but it cleared up later in the day and Sunday was beautiful so we had a really good number of visitors.

On the grass - Sam's tumbleweed seed capsules

Robert chose to put his sculptural pieces outside where they created a great display.

The Director said - all point at Robert!

One of Robert's pieces

As I said, Mark was in his studio where he did demonstrations on the wheel on both days. He threw a couple of dozen pieces which will help to re-stock as he had a successful selling week-end.

A very small bowl

 We also set up a display upstairs in the studio, after giving it all a good spring clean.

These pieces are by Emmanuel who incorporates pieces of furniture and metal in his sculptures, some of which have moving parts.  They are intended for indoor display.

And these were created by moi!  The porcelain pieces ring when they are blown by the breeze.

Fox brought along his paintings and the ceramics in the photo below.

And last ( but not least ) Francois created his display of conceptual furniture in our barbeque palace.

All in all the week-end was "yaaay"!

Summer time!

The pompiers organised a "mechui" at the village green.  We weren't expecting such a feast!

Chef is also a plumber!

This was a special order!  What a loaf!

Mark at the bar!

We had a lovely day at the garden festival at Chaumont sur Loire

Easter Greetings

Happy Easter!

 As you can see, the Easter bunny has already visited us - along with the chicks and a rather bizarre pink unicorn and a couple of frogs that are just hanging around!  The little chicks in the basket are hand-knitted and when you pick them up you find a creme egg tucked underneath.  They are so cute.

The word on the calendar this month is Iktsuarpok.  It is the Inuit word for the feeling of anticipation you get when waiting for someone to turn up at your house and you keep checking to see if they've arrived.  I wonder if the same word could be used for the anticipation of the arrival of Spring?  We've had a cold, wet month here and altough it has warmed up a bit we are really looking forward to some dry, warm weather and being able to go out without needing coats, and having the windows and doors open.

This is the river at Angles sur l'Anglin, with the water well over part of the island in the middle.

At the beginning of the month we went to the annual " Fete de Laboureurs". This year the weather was so cold that the vin d'honneur was hosted indoors in the salle de fete at St Pierre rather than on the terrace outside the cafe.  So, in turn the meal was moved to the salle de fete at Angles sur l'Anglin, meaning that our plans to walk both ways were scuppered!  In the end we took the car up to Angles and when it was time to come home we started to walk and then were offered a lift.  Mark then cycled to collect the car the following day.   

The parade was exceptional this year:

And lucky for Mark we have new facilities in the village, we just love the sign!

Whilst mentioning Mark - if you are in Burnham Market, Norfolk, you can see a selection of his ceramics at the Burnham Grapevine Gallery, along with paintings, prints sculptures and ceramics by other artists.

2017 - a year in the life of a tree at Chenevaux

January 2018, the rain came down and the pond filled up.

Grey skies were pretty much the order of the month, although a few times the sun came out at the end of the day lighting up the bark and branches on these oak trees.

The "pond" started the month like this ...

and ended it like this.  If it gets as cold as forecast we will have a skating rink for the first time in years.

We spotted this fungus ( we think ) on a piece of fallen, dead, branch under an oak tree.  We have no idea what it is.

And these appeared overnight, again under some younger oak trees.

These look like another fungus, but again we're not sure.

Some early spring action encouraged by the mild temperatures.  The warmest day of the month was 14C! 

Even the frogs came out for a bask.  

 A new cherry tree in our back garden to replace one that died.

A big haircut for this yucca which will probably pay us back by sending out new branches.

The word of the month is Tartle.  You know that panicky sensation when you have to introduce someone whose name you can't quite remember?  The Scots use this word.  Must remember it!