The 2016 Concours de Pétanque In Our Village In The Auvergne

oo

On a warm Sunday, when the ducks were splashing in their pool,

the chickens were looking for a shady spot,

the calfs were lazing in the pasture,

the sheep grazing in their pen,

this goat looking for a greener blade of grass,

and little girls busy dipping leaves into water,

people gathered in the church square to take part in our village's  2016 Pétanque tournament

In all, twenty teams registered.

The teams were made up of two players each.

The event, like in years past, was organized by the hunting club.

Though it was a competition, it was more of a social event,

complete with music

and lots of opportunity for catching up.

And then the teams started to play.

Here is friend Jacques starting a game against my husband

and my husband's partner, Denis.

Each player tried to get his three boules closest to the 'cochonnet', the little wooden ball,

which is always easier said than done.

Here are the proud winners of this year's competition.  "We are # 1," they told me.  "Take our picture."

So I did.

Mr. Pardon Me and his partner Denis got 7th place, which was pretty respectable, I say.