Hi Elise and Les -- I'm so glad you're back in your beloved French home!! Here's to a fantastic summer!!

Please keep posting. You are such a talented writer and photographer. It's a joy to follow your blog

Hello Elise,
Can you add me back to the email list? I enjoy the updates and photos. Thank you.

I really enjoy the photos from Buster Brown's
brithday party.

Hi Elise
I love your Picasso Album. Thanks.
Ruth

Hello Sabine,
Laurens is a lovely little town, as you know. There are 3 different "channels" to accomodate the heavy rains that happen from time to time, one of which happened in the summer during the 2 years we owned a house along one of the "canals" (the Naubine). We had absolutely no problems with the adequacy of the "canal" at that time. Later in November, while the house was under contract for sale (& we were back in the US), that area had a very large storm, & the canal overflowed. Water came into our garage, & swept out what was in it. We got it repaired, through help from people in the area, & the house sale proceeded.

These kind of rainfalls are part of living in the south of France, where water runs down the mountains towards the Mediterranean. We have learned to respect the way towns have tried to channel the water safely.

We did not decide to sell the house because of the flooding. We were interested in moving farther east because we had friends there, & wanted to be closer to them.

Because we were "summer" people, & were not there when the "Crue" happened that destroyed our garage door (late November, 2014 or 2015), we don't know what happened to the other people who lived along the "Naubine".

We did like the town & the people in it very much. Maybe your realtor can help you communicate with the neighbors in your area.

We wish you luck with your purchase.

Elise Detterbeck

Hello Louise and Les

Have enjoyed reading your lovely blog.

My husband and I are interested in buying a house in the centre of Laurens, however have just seen photos of those terrible floods as well as your comments.

Naturally, we are concerned. We were told it was in a low flood risk area?!

It would be really kind and helpful, if you could comment on this issue ( do you know if anyone’s house was flooded?) and any other comments about the village in general.

Thank you so much.

Kind regards

Sabine Aspinall

Elise,
My name is Tara (Johnson) Kinder. I graduated from Wheeling HS in 1990 and you were my French teacher for a couple years. I became a teacher for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing. I want you to know that I have thought of you often over the years. I still have ( and treasure) the book you signed for me, "The Little Prince", and always think of you when I visit Chicago's Art Institute, or when I find myself confidently able to identify and appreciate the French art impressionists. You truly were a great teacher who I will always remember fondly! I hope you are enjoying life and your apparent travels abroad! So wonderful to find you on a Google search after all these years! Bien amicalement!:)

Dear Ms. Detterbeck,

My name is Ann Murphy and your were my French teacher at Lyons Township High School. I found your blog because I just googled you! In the past few years, I have been working on my french by taking classes and spending as much time as possible in France.

Recently, a friend asked me why I love the language and culture of France so much. I explained that I had an amazing teacher 40 years ago at LT and that I always remembered your classes and your name.

Today I am an artist and I live in Oakland, CA and I just spent the summer in Montpellier studying at the Alliance Francaise. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration so long ago. My email is attached if you feel like writing.

Have a great trip!

Ann

Loved revising Dordogne. We missed the hanging gardens but lots of other photos were of familiar places. The cave experience way surpassed ours because none of that was built when we were there. At least our weather in Santa Fe has been better than yours! Looking forward to catching up this fall when we are all back in SC

Dear Elise,

Your photos of Arles reminded us how much we enjoyed our visit to the Arles area and the croissants!!!!

Dear Elise and Les
Thank you so much for the wonderful days you spent with us and all the interesting places you showed us. We falled in love with Southern France and hope to see you next year again. Much love