In April 2012, Dick and I went on an incredible photography trip to Monet’s Garden in France and Keukenhof Gardens in Holland with the talented photographer, Charles Needle. I processed many of our photos and blogged about some of the places that captured our hearts. Our lives were turned upside down in May 2012 when Dick was diagnosed with glioblastoma. The luxury of processing photos became a memory. This week I have been motivated to look over our France photos as I am getting ready to join the dear friends we made on that trip at a reunion in Callaway Gardens. Back in France,...

While we were in France we visited the town of Vernon, situated on the banks of the River Seine about 70 km from Paris. We spent most of our time in the village of Giverny, so visiting Vernon (population 25,000), was like venturing off to the big city. They hold an outdoor marketplace twice a week which covers a 16 block area in the town center. It was filled with everything from live chickens and parakeets and luscious fruits and vegetables, to brilliant cloth and stylish dresses. There was ready to eat barbecue chicken and raw fish. There were shoppers overflowing onto the streets. The scene...