My neighbour's driveway - beautiful proud irises lining the way home. Inspiration for our new driveway!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Van Gogh's Year in Provence 1889 - 1890
Vincent Van Gogh spent a year in an asylum in St Remy, Provence which is 10 ks from my place.
Living in this area is awe inspiring just as it is ..but to understand and to see what some of the world's greatest artists saw is a double whammy. Poor Vincent, he was stuck in a room and within the walls of the asylum and he just painted what he saw .. amazing. I visited early in the morning this week as the irises in Provence are in bloom to see if I could work out the angle of where he sat etc ..think I did. Crazy!!
above - Irises by VVG
above - 3 pics from the garden at the asylum of St. Paul de Mausole; St Remy de Provence.
Living in this area is awe inspiring just as it is ..but to understand and to see what some of the world's greatest artists saw is a double whammy. Poor Vincent, he was stuck in a room and within the walls of the asylum and he just painted what he saw .. amazing. I visited early in the morning this week as the irises in Provence are in bloom to see if I could work out the angle of where he sat etc ..think I did. Crazy!!
above - Irises by VVG
above - 3 pics from the garden at the asylum of St. Paul de Mausole; St Remy de Provence.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
a good find at the 'vide grenier' (garage sale) in the village today
A really beautiful old jam jar with tapered sides, a base ..gorgeous for jam, for flowers or as a votive.
Such an exciting find.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
moules frites - Saturday lunch in Arles
It doesn't get any better than this.
Moules Frites and glass of chilled rose' followed by a wander around the centre of what once was Roman Gaul.
The bistro is situated in the area that was the ancient Roman Forum. Okay - so Caesar hung out there with a jug of pink too!
Moules Frites and glass of chilled rose' followed by a wander around the centre of what once was Roman Gaul.
The bistro is situated in the area that was the ancient Roman Forum. Okay - so Caesar hung out there with a jug of pink too!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Baby it's warm inside
My favourite cafe has it all worked out. Positioned perfectly to capture the gentle Spring rays of sunshine whist relaxing with a 'noisette' (small coffee) on a typical French bistro chair. When it is just not quite enough to stay out then inside to the comfy leather club chairs where the fire is quietly keeping the room warm and the sun beats on the glass doors. On Friday's when it's market day this prime spot is often the best place to watch the colour and movement of it all and perhaps take home a small olive tree or some freshly shucked oysters!
Blossom time
Wow - totally pretty. Pics below from my walk into my village today via the 'old village'.
12th Century. Can't think of a better afternoon.
12th Century. Can't think of a better afternoon.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Our Olive Grove!
Today is the day! Finally, after a year of negotiating, documentations, designs and approvals we have started work on our land. Existing on our little piece of paradise was a disorderly but 'ancien' bunch of olive trees (oliviers) and 2 'parasol pins' (pines).
As the trees have struggled to stay alive over years, with no bore water or clipping, they must be as excited as we are to sort them into proper lines, 6 metres apart from each other , and to install the watering system (arrosage).
This will be a third lease on life for these trees - they had a good start in the earlier part of the last century only to 'die' (literally chopped off at the roots - ground level) after a severe winter, apparently the coldest yet ( - 27C) in 1956.
Determined, the trees grew new shoots around the old sawn off stump - hence they look a bit strange with 3 or 4 smaller trunks in stead of one. There are many olive groves in our area that were affected that year and discussion about our trees never fails to include much gesturing, puffing and eye-rolling about 1956.
As the trees have struggled to stay alive over years, with no bore water or clipping, they must be as excited as we are to sort them into proper lines, 6 metres apart from each other , and to install the watering system (arrosage).
This will be a third lease on life for these trees - they had a good start in the earlier part of the last century only to 'die' (literally chopped off at the roots - ground level) after a severe winter, apparently the coldest yet ( - 27C) in 1956.
Determined, the trees grew new shoots around the old sawn off stump - hence they look a bit strange with 3 or 4 smaller trunks in stead of one. There are many olive groves in our area that were affected that year and discussion about our trees never fails to include much gesturing, puffing and eye-rolling about 1956.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Almond Blossom is out in force and so so beautiful
Spending my days leaping out of the car or from off my bike to capture arguably the prettiest sight of the year. Heralding the coming of Spring after one of the coldest winters on record the almond blossom has randomly burst out of fields, olive groves and along roadsides. Truly breathtaking. Here is my friend Jon's house on a cool and windy but sunny day with the first blossom looking gorgeous.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Surrounded by ancient stone
Once the 'door decision' has been made the next step is to work out how it will present itself.
What better way than an 300 year old door to be surrounded by 'pierre ancien' - ancient stone.
All over Provence are yards that stockpile old staircases, stones, oak and pine floorboards and terracotta tiles of all shapes and sizes.
Hours can be spent just gaping in awe at the sometimes acres of options. Huge beams ('poutres') lie side by side waiting for a makeover - often ear marked for serious renovation jobs at a local chateaux, bastides, wineries or public buildings - it's often hard to decide which way to turn.
However, this stone surround will make its way to our place and perfectly surround our door - not for a while yet - it will take 12 months to build our 'old mas' ('mas' - French farmhouse). It will be worth worth the wait! (and the work ...)
What better way than an 300 year old door to be surrounded by 'pierre ancien' - ancient stone.
All over Provence are yards that stockpile old staircases, stones, oak and pine floorboards and terracotta tiles of all shapes and sizes.
Hours can be spent just gaping in awe at the sometimes acres of options. Huge beams ('poutres') lie side by side waiting for a makeover - often ear marked for serious renovation jobs at a local chateaux, bastides, wineries or public buildings - it's often hard to decide which way to turn.
However, this stone surround will make its way to our place and perfectly surround our door - not for a while yet - it will take 12 months to build our 'old mas' ('mas' - French farmhouse). It will be worth worth the wait! (and the work ...)
Monday, February 27, 2012
It starts with a door
A 'porte d'entre' or entry door can set the tone to the whole house.
We found a very run down and damaged door made of 'noyer' (walnut) with hundreds
of years of wear and tear and flaky paint. This wonderful 'porte ancien' is dated from
the 18th Century and was salvaged from an old farm in Cadenet, Provence.
The top of the door has been shaved off, probably to discard rotten bits and over the
years the three iron bars (very decorative with a heart shape at one end ) have ended up on
the wrong side of the door. They are meant to be at the back. What a story this door
could tell of past eras in the 'collines' beyond Aix-en-Provence.
We have commissioned a local artisan to restore the door and look forward to giving
it a new life as the front door of our home in Provence.
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