"to be a window..."*

"Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe..."*

the vitrail above filters in holy light in the beautiful little stone church of "La Vraie-Croix", named for a tiny piece of the real Cross stolen by a magpie from a pilgrim and whose nest was on the tree where this church was eventually built upon...

windows... the eyes of houses to look out upon the world, and sometimes, to let us see the secret life within...
but other times remain firmly closed as in the above weather-worn wood shutter of an old stone "shed" in a farmer's field aging gracefully along with the primitive face carved in stone...

"He is a brittle crazy glass;
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious and transcendent place,
To be a window, through thy grace."*

a narrow wood-slatted window on the side of the most unusually elevated façade of the church of Sainte-Avoye...

in a courtyard in Nantes, we find these wood framed windows guarded by baby lion's heads[??]...

on a large guardhouse across from the most enchanting and undisturbed chappelle [I am not allowed to reveal the name in order to protect its location!] are these two medieval window styles - the above round one with a delicate cruciform grille and the square opening below covered with its cruder and sturdier keep-out iron grate...

and on another ancient barn, this upper-level window/door has its hinged-side opening stopped up with all manner of rags and debris...an indication of what is stuffed and stored inside, or more likely a desperate attempt to keep out pests, wind and even the slightest sliver of light...!

[*verses are from "The Windows" by George Herbert [1593-1633], appropriately written when most of these windows were first opened to let in the light...]