From the Yonne River

I am sitting in our living room in Burgundy's Semur-en-Auxois. It's a beautiful medieval city with the river Yonne flowing through it. Tom is typing away.

I can see 2 of the city's famous towers from the window. The house is small but on the river and punctuated by the Pont Pinard double stone arches (the oldest and probably most narrow bridge in town... Ask Tom the
driver). There is a private orchard and stone wall garden also on the river. We had dinner
there tonight. Enchanting is the word I would
use to describe it here.

We left Guerande and the Viellard and de Buchet families on Saturday. It was such a beautiful time there. As we took our daily lunch in the garden overlooking the Guerande salt marshes, I knew the kids, Tom, and I were building precious memories.

There is so much to say about our time in old Brittany and so many pictures of Clotilde and her family that I can't do it justice on an IPhone. When we finally get wireless, I'll post again!

We went from Guerande to Amaury's aunt's Bed and Breakfast in Avallon, Bourgogne. Breakfast in the garden on the elegant grounds and a fascinating history (a former cement factory and quarters) made this a
unique experience.

We picked up my mom from the train station. She was quickly thrown into our chaos while trying to nurse a hangover from her time in Paris with my cousin Nicole and Aunt Sandy.

My good friend Ellen from Charleston was fresh off a canal boat and was in Auxois for one day with husband, father and son. I had never met Julian her son and was determined to see all of them.

We raced to our house where we planned to meet and all managed to get lost. In the end, we all showed up and it was a happy reunion! Ellen and I both had dreams of the children playing blissfully, but our kids tuckered out and needed sleep.

Sweet and very funny Julian stayed up and made us laugh while George contimplated the ducks and got his shoes soaked.

All and all, we are having a great time. Tom is anxious to write, and we are all ready to be home soon. The kids are happy and amazing. They spend much of their energy seeking the most precious of precious things: being carried by their daddy. I am constantly in awe of Tom's patience and strong back.

Comments

[Ellen]

Funnily touching to be able to envision you where you were when you wrote this - this one time. What a beautiful cool place it was, and how much I missed you afterwards!