Tag Archives: Provence

Class prep

16 Oct

This Saturday, I will attend my first real photography class (well, since high school anyway), and in anticipation of the class, I have been looking through photos from our summer trip to determine how I can better define and improve my style.  I decided to share some that I personally enjoy; I hope you like them as well.

Cafe du Centre is in the village of Villedieu, not far from Vaison la Romaine.  On Sunday evenings, grab a table under the sycamore trees; then order drinks from the cafe and dinner from the pizza truck parked across the street.  Si charmant/so charming!

Still in Villedieu, the sun came out just as we were sitting down to enjoy some local wine; the contrast was awesome.

Cherry picking across the road from our rented mas/farmhouse.

THE cheese shop in Vaison.  In 2004, cheesemonger Josiane Déal was awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) or Best Craftsman in France, a medal earned through rigorous exams and practicals.  Over 180 categories are included, but aside from cheese, no other women hold the MOF title.  ”King’s of Pastry” is a great cinematic peek into the pastry competition.

There will be no sandcastle-building on the beach in Nice…rock-skipping, maybe.

Ahhh, lavender in Provence.  Not much else to say.

This smart-looking couple was on a photo shoot, presumably for an anniversary; or maybe an engagement?  I guess we never outgrow our love of carousels.

I couldn’t help but notice that this amazing Metro entrance was going completely unnoticed.

As you know, I love, love, love the clock window in the Orsay museum.  The people in the shot provide some perspective.

Place your own lock on the Pont des Artes to insure ever-lasting love.

A note among hundreds tacked to the bulletin board on the second floor of the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore.

“Never miss an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful.”–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rainy day visitors

30 Aug

As I watched our 8-year-old son amass a pile of snails from my flower bed this morning, I was suddenly transported back to our first day in Provence this summer and the snails there.  These were not the pansy-eating variety, but the can-be-eaten variety gracing tables all over France, and the critters had come out in mass that rainy morning.  I once watched a television segment about snail farming (I know what you’re thinking and you’re right) and the conditions outside were quite similar: a moist ground and stuff to climb on.

A daydream of moving to Provence and starting my own mollusk farm quickly gave way to the realization that, while I find them delicious when bathed in garlic and parsley butter, their sliminess makes them incompatible as a livelihood.

Plus, some of the buggers were huge!

The kids, naturally, were fascinated by them.  In fact, the boys took such a liking to a couple of them, they named them Steve and Bob.  Even the girls enjoyed the slime fest; they, however, resisted the urge to form any long-lasting bonds with their Gastropoda.

Turns out, the little critter tickled as it inched across my hand. Go figure.  Thanks, but I think I’ll just stick with the delectable Burgundy specialty and try not to think too much about Steve and Bob.

Our outdoor escapades were rewarded with another revelation! The scene from our patio provided a stunning start to our Provençal adventure.

Is escargot an item on your list of favorite French dishes?  Leave a comment below and share what else is on your list!

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