We did it! We reached $10,000! (Patreon)

Thank you SO MUCH to all of our fairy godmothers - my mother and I are delighted (and amazed!) and Lalande is a hive of activity as work is starting on many different fronts because of your extraordinary generosity. As you know, the chapel work will start in the summer, and the lake survey in the autumn, the new garden beds are nearly finished, Dan the Gardener is achieving miracles, and we've just started work to redecorate the entrance hall. Now that lockdown has eased in France, next week Mummy and I are going to town to choose the new mower!

And now, because of this new target, work will begin in the courtyard!!! We're hoping to start next week! I truly can't believe this, it's a dream come true. You're all seeing these things happening very quickly, but imagine what it's like for us, who have been here for 15 years! It's nothing short of a miracle, brought about by all of you.

Once again, I want to make a pledge that all of the money that we receive from this Patreon account will be spent on the restoration and decoration of this chateau and its garden. Every year, around Christmas, I will make an annual newsletter, listing everything that we've achieved during the year.

I wanted to give you something that means a lot to us in return for this momentous milestone, so here is a downloadable version of my father's painting, 'The Game of Life'. It's my mother's favourite painting by my father. We are retaining copyright, so please don't use it for any commercial reasons, but feel free to use it for any personal projects! This version is not very high res, so I've asked Michael Potts to send me a better image, and I'll attach it here as soon as he does. I hope to give you many more of my father's paintings in future!

Lots and lots of love from Lalande,

Stephanie xxx