Jennifer Warnes, the singer, not Jennifer Lawrence the young actress. But still, for sure, Leonard Cohen is a North American treasure.

The wheel in my town isn't turning anymore either. The quaint flour mill from the past has been turned into a gigantic, ultra-modern operation that pours flour into a neverending stream of trucks.

Amazing thing history is.

Also evidently the founder of a chain of flooring stores that are spread all over the country. Holy carpets! Who knew?

A 'Ham'-Sandwich?

Hi,
In the law passed in 1905, the French Republic severed all direct support to the church. But, having paid for them for centuries, the state retained ownership of all the churches, cathedrals, abbeys, etc. Thus the building belongs to the local government, or commune, and the local government is responsible for upkeep. The church can use the building, but not in exclusivity ( which is why you can gawk at an ongoing mass) but they must pay rent to the commune. Currently , the buildings are also used for concerts, plays, and other cultural events, not of a religious nature and there is an ongoing debate about enlarging the number and type of events that can be held there. (Anyone for Bridge?).
As a side note there are churches which have been built since 1905, and those belong to the church, who must pay property tax on them. Sacré Cœur on Montmartre in Paris is one such as is the basilica of Fourviere in Lyon.
OK, that’s a long winded explanation of how the Soissons cathedral qualifies for government funding. Hope you are having a fun time now the heat wave is over.
Cheers,
Keith

Interesting stuff!!

Google translate says "You will win".

Oh. Well, I guess you wouldn’t need these at a grain silo.

Are you sure? Could be grain silos.

Maybe I need to read ahead before making uninformed attempts at photo identifications. Had I seen the close-ups first, I might have guessed yams. All the beets I've seen are purpley-red.

Oops, not sunflowers. Too oblong to be rutabagas ("Swede" to much of the rest of the world.)

I'll defer to Bill, but I thought it was a gigantic pile of sunflowers drying in the sun so that people throughout the world can toss a handful into their mouths, break open the shells with their teeth, spit out the shells, and enjoy the tasty nuts inside.

I've had a lot of cycling experience in farmland. As you said, "quiet and pleasant."

Let's get our current tours wrapped up and then we can monitor each others' whereabouts on the next ones. Keeping our fingers crossed for a grand reunion.....somewhere.