The Big Bash

Our first major party in France.  It all began with the invitation penned beautifully by our friend Lotte

We had 55 people attend.  One Frenchman in Amboise contacted us to say he had heard we were having a 4th of July party and wondered if he could attend even though we were strangers to one another.

All week we watched the weather reports, and they were not good at all.  So we spent an entire day practically renting tents for our backyard.  To find the proper tent size took stops at more than one vendor, and our language skill level made the task fairly difficult.

Just as people began to arrive, we had the biggest downpour we have ever seen here.  It was dreadful. People delayed coming as many walk and do not have autos.  Another unexpected problem was the final French match with Germany for the World Cup was at the exact same time as our party.  We told people they could watch it on our TV, but we lost all electricity in the storm.  That made food preparation so very difficult without a stove or frig.

The menu card was almost complete.  The Barbecue was wing dings and there were two more salads, fruit and garden, plus dessert.

Our sister-in-law, Sara, spent 2 days preparing the food with Barbara.  Sara really pitched in helping in every way possible.  Her energy level is indefatigable.

Additionally, there were plenty of hors d'oeuvres

Michael, Peter, Janet, Allison

Casey, Catherine and Kim

Monique, Christiane, Annick, Franco, Casey and Philippe

Elizabeth chatting

Ron set up the bar on the lower level - Stuart, Jack and Joan met up there

Philippe and Christine - the parents of Angéline, the bride from an earlier post

Red, white and blue cupcakes for dessert as well as many other treats Christiane Bigot Mason brought

Lastly, we ended the evening with musical offerings from Bebey Anderson.  Ron built a platform in the backyard under a tent for him and his equipment.

In the end, everything worked out decently, but between the storm, football match, and electrical outage, it was definitely touch and go.

Les Visiteurs

Lynda Ronie and Tom DeCorte came to Amboise to visit us in the Spring.  They were blessed with lovely weather.

Lynda at our favorite bakery

At the labyrinth

Ron getting his bearings in the labyrinth

Nancy and Jon Green were our next travelers

They sampled some of our Amboisienne fare

Judy and Richard Kepes made a whirlwind tour of Amboise.  Poised on the wall outside our front door.

Dinner in a troglodyte

Barbara's brother Howard and his wife Sara spent a week in Amboise after taking their grandchildren to Provence

Lola claimed Sara's side

They saw all the highlights of the Loire Valley

In addition to Chenenceau, Chambord, and Clos Lucé, we went to Chateau Ussé, the castle of Sleeping Beauty

There was an exhibit of Belle Epoque apparel.

Four fantastic visits from family and friends

The Wedding

Our first wedding invitation in France was to the nuptials of Angéline and Mathieu.  In France, a civil ceremony at the Mayor's Office is mandatory - a church ceremony afterward is optional.  Below is the  office of the Mayor in St. Martin Le Beau, the bride's hometown.

As guests began to collect in the parking lot at 2pm, the groom's parents greeted us.

Then a procession came walking down the road from the bride's parents' residence, and there she was with her father Philippe ! !

Next everyone proceeded inside the Mayor's Office for the ceremony, which took all of 10 minutes.

Then the gauntlet of guests outside tossing petals.

This is followed by an entire cortege of cars all decorated and honking throughout the town for quite a while.

The brooms crossed are on the last car.  Not quite certain of its significance, but someone said it was to sweep all the guests on to the reception.  Below is another example.



The new couple's initials served as a focal point for photos.

The reception was in a troglodyte - cave.

Our placecards were made from wood discs by the groom himself.

The wine was made locally in Montlouis with the bride's and groom's names on the label.

Skits and videos about the couple were presented.

We all went outside into the garden for a midnight violin romantic interlude performed by a friend.

Next the cutting of the two cakes.

For us the evening ended with everyone launching floating candles in small parachutes at 1am, but we are told that was when the dancing began and went all night long.

The following day, we all gathered at the bride's parents home for an informal lunch.

The ever smiling mother of the bride is Christine in back of the picture below

Then it was off for an afternoon of canoeing

Ron was in the bow

Pascale was in the stern and Barbara relaxing in the middle

We all canoed under the chateau at Chenonceau

The bride looks a bit different than the night before - then don't we all.

After the canoe trip, there was one last treat from Christine - champagne and cake

A joyous occasion with many new experiences for us.  We are so appreciative for allowing us to participate in all aspects.