Friday 29 March 2024

Week 13 2024

 Hello!

This weekend we celebrate Easter. Pâques (Easter) is celebrated with a plethora of chocolate, including eggs, bunnies, chickens, ducks, fish and bells. 

Hmmm… fish and bells?  Well, apparently, the fish are carried over from the 1 April which often falls on or around Easter weekend and tradition dictates that mischievous children stick paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting adults – who reward them with chocolate fish!
The bells - Cloche volants – Flying Bells have a religious significance, because on Good Friday all the bells in France fly off to the Vatican in Rome taking with them the grief of those mourning Christ’s Crucifixion.  The church bells in France are then silent until Easter Sunday when they return and ring out to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.  They also spread chocolate and decorated eggs over the gardens of France which the children collect when they hear the bells.
So, chocolate fish and bells – who knew? 
 
 
Whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne regions over the Easter week, fingers crossed for good weather and have a great time.
 
Best wishes,
Helen
 

Week 13

 


 





 
It's also the giant Easter fun Fair in Castillon - most notable (to me!) for the fabulous nougat stand that appears for the duration.


31 March - Easter Sunday



1 April - Lundi de Pâques - jour férié


In France, April Fool’s Day is simply known as the ‘1er avril’ but it is a day when people, mostly children, try to hook paper fish on the back of unwary victims which will then walk around with a paper fish on their backs without their knowledge. It is a day for pranks and jokes. When a prank is discovered, the prankster shouts out ‘poisson d’avril!’

I'll be making fish like these in my pottery workshop on 6th April.

Contact me if you'd like to make one too - 🕿 06 30 89 85 36

Coming up...







And finally...

On top of everything else going on, the clocks change this weekend too (I think the last time this happened at Easter weekend was 2016).  So don't forget to set your clocks forward and hour on Saturday night.  An hour less in bed in the morning, but those outside apéros can commence... 🍷



Thursday 21 March 2024

Week 12 2024

 Hello!

Wow, all of a sudden spring is here and the garden has burst into life.  Mine is carpeted with these  beautiful miniature purple anemones, sure to bring a smile to your face.

 


The grass has shot up, so time to dust off the mower, but I try and always leave an area for the wild life to flourish.  Though I don't mind if you can't really decide where that area is...

Whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne, have a great week and if you're out in the garden, enjoy the fabulous weather.

Best wishes,
Helen

Week 12


https://www.cinema-pays-foyen.com/

22 March


23 March 






24 March



Coming up...




 And finally...

Birds and animals are popular in the studio, but so are houses...

Fancy giving clay a go?  Contact me ☏ 06 30 89 85 36, or drop in for a visit to the studio in Sauveterre-de-Guyenne.







Thursday 14 March 2024

Week 11 2024

 Hello!

After a soggy start, Monsieur Carnaval was successfully set alight in Sauveterre last weekend.


If you're wondering why... Monsieur Carnaval… is responsible for all the wrongdoing people do throughout the year. At Carnival time in France, Monsieur Carnaval is judged for his behavior throughout the preceding year. Usually he’s found guilty and an effigy of him is burned at the Carnival. He is generally blamed for the terrible weather and poor crops too.

Seems that the burning of Monsieur has brought about the lovely weather, so whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a great week.

Best wishes,
Helen

Week 11


https://www.cinema-pays-foyen.com/


16 March 






17 March




Coming up...







And finally...

Birds and animals are popular makes in the pottery studio.  What would you like to try your hand at?


There are so many different techniques to try, and skills to explore.  Give me a call if you'd like to give clay a go! 📞0630898536