Even tho it’s going to be 90 degrees this week, it feels like fall has arrived. The sunflowers fields are brown and ready to harvest. I get asked a lot from the La Cascade workshops participants what the endless sunflower fields are harvested for. The best that I have found out is seeds, sunflower oil (used extensively here like we use canola) and then finally, animal feed.

The fields are glorious while they last- usually from mid July til the end of August.

Most of the summer people have left the village but there is still much fun to be had. And many workshops still to come this fall at La Cascade.

Last weekend was the first annual Country Western Days here in the village. Strange but true! The Red Riders dance club came for two days and danced ceaselessly from 4 PM Sat til 1 AM (with live music at night (great) and all day Sunday. This group specialized in line dancing and was so amazing it made me want to join them next year. It’s a little disconcerting at first to hear country music sung with a French accent and also to see the sea of cowboy hats and boots. But ya gotta admire their passion for the genre.

Just a few more days here so this will be my last post from France for this year. As soon as I get home I’m off to the John C. Campbell Folk School for a week long class- please come join the fun- it’s a week making Polymer Clay Books! And then to Boston to the New England Polymer Artist guild.