Mimilee takes great interest in what comes out of my kiln. The black sheep is still warm...and sets off her own fine white coat to great effect. They sit companionably on the old stone wall and commune. Mimilee and the black sheep

Great excitement in our tiny hamlet last Wednesday when the Tour de France came through. Preparations started early: the road surface was redone, verges were cut, campervans parked, tricolors unfurled and tensions mounted as contradictory road-closure notices were posted at each end of our col. (The mairie was unable to clarify...) Flashing gendarmes [...]