All the details I never told my mother...

I'm making up for it in this one post!

This posting is for my mother, and anyone else who likes "all the details" as much as she does (at least she says she likes the details, and she patiently listens to them!!)

Ansouis is a small village in Provence, in the Luberon Forest.  Here is a small map, because my brother-in-law asked for more maps...

Agrandir le plan

Here are some pics of our temporary home.   Our house is about 2/3 of the way to the chateau at the top.  If you squint, you can see it...

The first floor has a combined living/dining area, with a great fireplace, and a nice big eat in kitchen. The kitchen has big windows that open to the street, narrow as it is. We usually eat breakfast in the kitchen and dinner in the living area or on the terrace. At night, Jeff cooks dinner and I build a fire (it's cold!). We have to go outside to get to the "cave" where the firewood is. It is a wonderful space under the house with vaulted ceilings, but you have to access it through a "hobbit door" which is hard when carrying a basket full of wood!

Up the steep stairs on the right to the second floor ... a nice big office space with a balcony looking down into the dining area. This also works well as a laundry chute! Jeff and I work at the desks and practice yoga in here- the only space big enough for the both of us, and that has carpeted floors. The rest of the house has tiled floors which are cold this time of year. The second floor also has a guest bedroom in it. So far unused (We missed you EGFT and RBT), but JAdR will be visiting us next weekend, if the planes fly from Eindhoven. Yahoo!

Up the steeper stairs to the third floor which we believe must be a converted attic. The first and second floors have ~17ft ceilings, whereas the third floor is so low that there is only a narrow stretch of the bedroom where we can stand up to our full height. We have to remember to stay bent over or risk bumping our heads on the exposed beams. We have forgotten many times, particularly in the middle of the night! The only way that Jeff can stand up to his full height in the bathroom is to put his head through the skylight! Also on the third floor is the BEST part of the house- the terrace. The view is of the verdant valley and opposite hills, and the afternoon light and sunsets are unforgettable

There is a washing machine in the kitchen. We have to carry the clothes (in the wonderful market baskets!) to the third floor terrace where we have opened the drying racks. We need to plan our laundry according to the weather. I don't think many people have dryers. Everyone has some sort of rack they can attach to their upstairs windows and hang their laundry from there to dry.

The set of directions that came with our rented house warned us to lock the front door even if we were home; and if we were going out, we should lock the front door, shutter the door and lock BOTH locks on the shutter.  If we didn't, the insurance policy would not cover any damage.  When we go for a walk at night, all the houses, and the 4 businesses in the village are tightly shuttered (windows AND doors!), and the narrow streets and stair cases are so brightly lit you can barely see the stars.  Maybe that is why people shutter their windows- to block out the light from the street lamps!  There isn't a local police force.  I don't know where the closest one is, but today we noticed a sign at the outskirts of town that said the town is under video surveillance.

The house is nicely appointed!  It has a wonderful book collection, a nice stereo that is easily heard throughout the house, wifi, a printer, comfortable chairs and couches to enjoy every area and a kitchen and spice rack that are keeping Jeff happy!  We are really lucky, and are appreciating every minute!! 

Blue skies!