Eiffel Tower At Night

On the hour in the evenings at dark the tower lights up and blinks-please check out video it's amazing!

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is so much larger in person-it's huge! And beautiful surrounded by Fall trees. This is looking out our window.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel's was unanimously chosen. However it was not accepted by all at first, and a petition of 300 names - including those of Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier), and Dumas the Younger - protested its construction.

Of the 7.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity used annually, 580 thousand are used exclusively to illuminate the tower. The tower's annual operation also requires the use of 2 tons of paper for tickets, 4 tons of rag or paper wipes, 10,000 applications of detergents, 400 liters of metal cleansers and 25,000 garbage bags.

The tower was almost torn down in 1909, but was saved because of its antenna used both for military and other purposes, and the city let it stand after the permit expired. When the tower played an important role in capturing the infamous spy Mata Hari during World War I, it gained such importance to the French people that there was no more thought of demolishing it.- used for telegraphy at that time.

From 1910 and on the Eiffel Tower became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature.

During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has also witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and parachuted off of in 1984 by two Englishmen. In 1923 a journalist rode a bicycle down from the first level. Some accounts say he rode down the stairs, other accounts suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward.

French Countryside

Here is a pasture of Charlet cattle which originated from this part of France and are still bred and raised here. What a wonderful green pasture they have!

This was an old horse cart in the barn at Chateau Comatin-what stories this place could tell!

This tree looked so old and was so beautiful!

An alley of Fall trees and green grass...

Happy Halloween from Bonnes Amies!

More market pics in Tournon

Such a beautiful display of cheeses. France has nearly 500 different types of cheeses. You can eat a different cheese every day of the year and still not try them all!

Venita Faye eats French cheese like it's going out of style but I guess I cannot aquire the taste for these cheeses!

Sausages wrapped in pigs stomach...hungry? Baskets are used from displaying market goods to carrying your groceries home.

This mix of bright and colorful Fall mums is so pretty!

To market to market...

Here is a beautiful bike parked in front of a bakery early this morning to pick up baguettes and bread.

French chickens! Don't fret too much we were told they are usually just bought for eggs.

This French rooster could go home with me and meet "the girls". He might say "Bonjour Mademoiselle!"

Beautiful fruits and vegetables...

La Cure Gourmande

These candies are called "Artisan Sucrecuitier" and I think this is very close to what a candy store in heaven would be? Yes? You buy different kinds of cookies by the gram and fill your sacks...heavenly!

These are candied fruits-here are mandarin oranges, figs, apricots, strawberries, and peaches. 'Ol Dusty boy keeps telling me these are made to look like fruit but the strawberries I purchased have sugared green leaves on them.

Their website is http://www.la-cure-gourmande.com/ they sell the most beautiful candy tins and chocolates. You purchase it by the euro...

The Market

So here we are at an antique market in Arles. So many beautiful things-I think I now love Limouge fish plates and platters(although they are way out of my budget!) Love these old stows/fur wraps from the 1910's-odd little critters! Looking forward to more antiques!!!

Olives In The Countryside

This was an olive tree in the countryside in Arles at an olive orchard. The orchard was owned by a family for nearly twenty years but the location and buildings grew olives since the 17th century. They use rakes and nets to get the olives off of the treees when they are ready.

Here are the olives gathered and mixed together. The green and black olives are from the same trees-the black olives are just more ripe. For the best olive oil they press olives from different trees from around the region.

Here is a mixture-People that bring their olives to the press mill ask for oil in return. This mill produces some of the best olive oil in this region of France.

Here is the press squeezing out the fresh olive oil. Their website is www.masdesbarres.com. The mill is called Mas des Barres-a wonderful place!

Here is a view of the lines of olive trees-now we can appreciate delicious olives and the oil. What a process!

Vines Crawling in Arles

Loved this old stone building in Arles with frosted ivy crawling up it. The white shutters popped on the grey stone.

Arles, Frances

On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of Provence and was once known as the "Little Rome of Gaul". Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles.

Overlooking the countryside in Arles.

This small cart in the church below carries a lamb at Christmas throughout the church. Each three bleets represents the father, the son, and the holy ghost.

The light and stain glass inside the church was beautiful...

Southern-Style Caramel Apples

Branch out and get creative with some of our favorite caramel apple toppings. Please note: We used Southern magnolia twigs; other branches may render the apples inedible. When in doubt, use craft sticks or large pretzel sticks.

• Recipe: Southern-Style Caramel Apples

More Creepy Crawly Desserts