Strings

Changing the string of a baroque lute is not only a expensive stuff but also requires patience, methode and touch. The steps are:
- Remove the 24 strings,
- Remove the 24 pegs,
- Clean the sound board and finger board,
- Clean and lightly grease the pegs
- Mount the pegs back in the right order (they are all different)
- Fasten the strings
- Tune the 24 strings every hour during 2 weeks
- Finally enjoy the wonderfull sound.

Hazel eye

It's a close up of my eye in real colour. Interesting article found on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_color:
"A green-brown human iris displaying a brown center and a green edge. This type of iris, although rare, is often also called hazel."
Interesting isn't it?

crib death

Voici à quoi ressemble la mort subite du nourisson chez les tourterelles. Chûte du nid cet après-midi.
Nous n'aurions pas dû aider ces oiseaux à faire leur nid sur cette lampe. Sans notre intervention ils auraient abandonné l'endroit pour construire le nid à un endroit plus stable. Bonne leçon. Triste quand même.
Les insectes (mouches et fourmis) ont vite repéré l'endroit du drame et viennent se nourrir de la bonne omelette. La vie continue.

turtles

Picture of the 2 eggs taken is a very short time while both birds were away.

Cucina

Diner en tête-à-tête avec Elise ce soir.

Two white eggs

The turtles sit on 2 big white eggs. Although they are afraid of us when we come too close, they bravely stay at their post until the last moment.

Lute Festival in Kassel (Germany) this weekend.

Gabriel Schebor came from Argentina to give a recital on Friday evening. He is now trying my theorbo in the exhibition room, offering us an improvised concert. See also his website.

Nest

I'm afraid a couple of collared turtle doves is going to nest on the spotlight. A fine and safe place but really very close to us. At the left you see the birds working at the construction of their nest, at the right the location of the spotlight on the balcony.
Official name is Eurasian Collared-Dove, Streptopelia decaocto

Elise Présidente !

Second round of the polling for the new French president.
Merde merde 5 ans de Sarkozy !

La mouche du proche

I was taking some sun on the balcony this morning. This fly was doing exactly the same. Click on the picture to see the finest details.

J'ai pris la mouche ce matin.

Concert

Well, it was far from perfect. I played not so good this evening. But the stress is now over.
What's next?
I would like to bury myself in baroque french music on lute and to work further continuo on theorbo.
The first priority for the moment is to prepare our summer trip to Mexico.