May 4, 2010 - snow in May - yes, this is southern France

Quite exciting . . . It rained and blew all night so we turned off the alarm and slept until eight o’clock. We woke to a very cold, windy, rainy day. Our new neighbors (Brits from Spain) have three beagles who were in the garden wearing doggie raincoats (matching doggie raincoats). Jane stopped by with our bill which we paid although none of us had correct change so she owes us three euros plus our deposit. She returned our shower mop-up towel and gave us a few extra clothes-pins. We're quite relieved she didn't give the mop-up towel to another guest as a towel.

When the computer was fully charged, we went into the library to see about paying our bills back home. The connection was incredibly slow and we weren’t getting very far paying bills. When the battery hit 18%, Ed went to the room and got our cords and I told Jane we must have an electrical connection. By this time she had several very loud fellow countrymen in the gallery and library taking up most of the space, but I searched and finally found a plug above the cat litter box by the front door. I had to put the laptop on my lap (where I could barely see the screen) but the plug worked and the connection was much better at the front of the gallery. It was slightly quieter there too.

Despite all the disturbance around us, we managed to check Ed’s accounts, pay the Chase bill and check e-mail. It was a relief to get back to our room. Jane’s friends all seem to shout at each other. We’re wondering if they are all hard of hearing. It’s very wearing . . .

We decided to go out for lunch; however, Auberge de l’Arbousier is closed Monday and Tuesday so we asked the ever-present Jane for suggestions. She gave us directions to three places and then told us it was snowing in Carcassonne . . . and sticking! AAAGH . . . snow in May in southern France!

We drove into town and parked by Les Tonneliers by the canal and ran through driving wind and rain to get inside. We were the only customers and were warmly welcomed. Mme. seated us by the wall heater and we appreciated it. Ed got hot tea for an aperitif and I had a kir. We both got the hot goat cheese salad and a very nice steaming hot cassoulet. Perfect day for it! We both got a chocolate dessert and I got a coffee. The wind outside was very strong and branches were falling on the terrace. [Les Tonneliers, Restaurant-Bar-Glacier, 23 Quai des Tonneliers (au bord du Canal du Midi) 11200 Homps, +33 (0)4 6891-1404, fax (0)4 6891-1404, [email protected]; Click here for Les Tonneliers web site]

We paid and struggled back to the car and drove to Utile Supermarché for bread and juice. No problem parking! The poor checkout girl was wearing a winter coat and scarf and was obviously still cold. On the way home we took a side road to check the nearby lake. We didn’t get as far as the lake but we could see snow on the distant mountains. It is very strange weather!

I did get some painting done. It is one of the square towers in Domme with a street light (for my street light series). I used the 7 x 10-inch pad and it’s coming along well except the sky. For some reason the paper absorbed the paint differently in places so there is a polka-dot sky . . . consider it charm.