Summertime in Provence

Flower market

Photos and Text by Corey Amaro

Undoubtedly, this time of year in Provence is beautiful. Though usually this time of year I am back in California visiting my family. I have missed many of summers in Provence, and forgot how mouth dropping, in your face, taste bud's bursting, sea breeze through your hair beautiful it was. 

Isn't each season a surprise? It feels like spring will never come, and then pow it explodes seemingly overnight, and summer how it slowly sneaks in, catching you white as a ghost on the beach hoping for a St Tropez tan, and not a shade of lobster!

Lavender and olive

Open market flowersWhite flowers

Because Sacha has the first part, of a two year, high school exam this year, we will not leave for California until July. That means I will see the French fields of lavender in bloom, the open markets explode with colorful perfume, watch Rose wine replace red, hear the cicadas clicking away, sit aimlessly under a sun that refuses to set, and amongst a million other summertime moments; as simple as kicking off one's espadrilles just to feel the blue sea wrap its arms around one's feet, and see the sun smack a kiss on the skin of everyone around….

Melonsespadrilles

The beginning of summer in Provence reminds me that someone up there knew what they were doing. The balance of light and dark, night and day, season by season, ebb and flow, give and take, unfolds with such a mysterious grace that undoubtedly life was meant as a gift to indulge in. For no matter what happens, the dirt, the rain, the wind, the blistering sun, the thorns and bugs, do yield a harvest, one that nurtures and offers life, abundantly.

The sense of wonder and awe, that is a gift I never want to lose.

What do you like best about summer?

As for me… the best blessing without a doubt, Sacha's Birthday is today,

Happy 17th dear Boy Boy, and fun fun fun with California girls on the beach!



Comments

45 responses to “Summertime in Provence”

  1. Happy Birthday Sacha! What is today’s cake? and what does the birthday dinner feature? What fun!

  2. Sacha, Happy 17th Birthday from Texas (and birthday wishes from Texas are bigger and better than from any other place on earth.)

  3. I might sound mean, but the best part of summer is ……….vacation!
    And lots of fresh, colorful and juicy fruits.
    Happy birthday to Sacha from Italy

  4. Summer’s Embrace:
    The scent of roses
    The shadow of the moon
    Oh how glorious the month of June
    The first day of summer
    Salute to grads and Dad’s and brides
    All of us are smiling wide!~
    Barbecued dinners
    served upon the deck with windchimes softly heard
    They play a melody so sweet
    and yes I embrace that casual feeling
    It can wait until tomorrow.
    The pace is divine.
    On a pale moonlit night
    We are serenaded by a crickets orchestra
    We define our destiny under the stars
    I bid you hello sweet summer
    And if God is willing I will welcome you again
    Next year at this time.
    ~Written by me Jeanne
    Beautiful post
    Birthday blessings to your precious son
    Well I was just 17 if you know what I mean
    The Beatles

  5. Happy Birthday Sacha! : )

  6. My favorite thing about summer is the sultry nights. Eating outside at restaurants and cafes, dancing or listening to music in the park ….beautiful flowers all around, and everyone seems to have sunshine spirits. I live in the city, but would love to have a garden of my own like I did once upon a time.

  7. To Sacha … Happy Birthday and good luck on your exam.
    As for summer … the ground is free of the many feet of snow we get in Maine, the birds are singing, flowers in bloom, veggies growing and a Mount Gay and ginger with a twist of lime tastes delightful.

  8. Happy Birthday, Sacha! Enjoy your day and your 17th year ahead. Best of luck on your exam, too.

  9. Oh how I miss the feel of rope soled espadrilles under my feet! They would be the perfect summer shoe here in Australia and I can’t fnd any anywhere!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DARLING BOY!

  10. As today is the first day of summer break for my four boys, I think what I love most are lazy, sun-filled, warm breeze summer days. I love the sounds of the bees, and the birds, and sleepy afternoons on the hammock after enjoying lunch outdoors. And I love rainy mornings like this – the change in the weather, and being able to enjoy a cozy day, knowing the sun will return very soon.
    Happy birthday Sacha! Isn’t each birthday shocking – the realization that your baby is becoming an adult? My oldest is 15 and while I am thoroughly enjoying him the older he gets, I can still remember him at 2 like it was yesterday~
    xo

  11. happy birthday sacha!!!!!!!
    nancyxx

  12. Happy Birthday Sacha – what a great combination of places to grow up – California and Provence – it doesn’t get much better than that!
    Gorgeous images of summer Corey – I can feel it all from our Midwinter bright sunny chill.

  13. Happy Birthday Sacha! Enjoy the sunshine.
    Summer is nestling into the warm sand and soaking in the heat of the day. Going barefoot, eating juicy fruit that runs down the arms, fresh corn on the cob, sunflowers, and laughing outdoors.
    Marilyn
    Portland, Oregon

  14. Jeanette M.

    Ah, 17 is magical. Happy Birthday Sacha. My favorite thing about summer is not very romantic but there you have it, it’s the fruit. The bounty thrills my tastebuds. I live in Phoenix, AZ so summer is our “down time”, trapped inside with the air conditioning but you can enjoy fruit inside!

  15. Happy 17th Birthday to Sacha!

  16. Happy Birthday Sacha! My favorite part of summer is NO schedules!

  17. Corey, you torture me with your words! How I love summer and the beach. I live in East Texas with no beautiful beach around, but do have plenty of trees.
    Happy Birthday, Sasha, you handsome young man!

  18. happy….happy day sacha….& a year of non-stop fun ahead.!!

  19. martina

    Happy birthday Sacha! Something tells me he’ll always get lots of attention from young ladies in Provence and Willows.

  20. wish him the happiest of happy days!
    xo

  21. Happy Birthday to Sacha!
    My favorite thing about summer is the early sunrise. Even though I’m not awake that early (usually) I love waking to daylight. This morning I woke at 4:00 a.m. and lay there watching the light creep across the bedroom wall until 5:30. It was perfect.

  22. Lizbeth

    Happy Birthday, Sacha from Cape Cod, Mass.

  23. Happy Birthday Sacha, and good luck on your exams.
    Thank you for this post today Corey. I love pretty much everything about summer – sunshine, warm weather, green grass, flowers, garden tomatoes, corn on the cob, fresh fruit, hearing the call of the meadowlark again to name a few things.
    Please tell more about rose wine replacing red wine during summer.

  24. Rosemary

    Happy, happy birthday, Sacha! From Washington state. Enjoy your special day.
    My favorite part of summer is the respite from the rain here!! It’s so lovely here in summer.

  25. Birthday wishes to Sacha from Colorado!

  26. Happy Birthday Sacha!!!! From Shelbyville,Kentucky.

  27. Happy Birthday, Sacha! How lucky to have a summer birthday.

  28. Gail Sullivan

    Hi, Sacha,
    Several years ago I went to get out the plastic happy birthday letters that I used over and over on everyones birthday cake. Unfortunately from the last birthday to this one, some of the letters mysteriously disappeared. So, ever since, the cake and message have been “Happ Birdy”. So, today I say to you, “Happ Birdy, Sacha!”
    Gail from San Diego
    Corey,
    As always a lovely post.
    xoxo
    Gail

  29. Happy Birthday Dear Sasha!

  30. Happy Birthday Sacha and good luck on your exams. Summer in Arizona means swimming, flip flops and plenty of sun, sun, sun.
    Beautiful post as usual. Takes me back to our trip to France last year.

  31. Ah, so sweet…
    enjoy it all a little more for me too, please.

  32. Julie Ann Evins

    Beautiful text & pics, reminds me of everything I love about Provence and Summer – 2 of my absolute favourite things.
    Many Happy Returns Sacha & Corey – hope to see you Saturday week ! jx

  33. Happy B-day Sacha!!! and good luck on your exams…
    Corey, summer in Provence is beautiful!

  34. Happy Birthday to Sacha! Growing up way too fast. I’m so glad that you are unable to leave for CA until July! For if you had left earlier I would have not seen the beauty of Provence! Thank you for such sweet beauty!

  35. Kimberly

    Happy Birthday Sacha from North Idaho! Corey beautiful post today. Thank you for sharing. P.S. What do I like about summer? Hmmmm…..took me awhile to think about it and then I thought what do I NOT like about summer. Nothing, I love it! Blessings, Kimberly

  36. Happy Birthday to Sacha!

  37. Happy birthday, Sacha! 17! Wow!!
    Now, Corey, I’ve said this before – YOU need to photograph for a magazine!!! My god, woman, you are GOOD. I can imagine your photographs in Conde Naste Traveller. Or foodwise, maybe in Gourmet. Really. I mean it. I would love to spend a day photographing things with you.

  38. Cathy J.

    Happy Birthday Sacha! Hope you had the best birthday ever!
    Summer in So. CA. to me means the best of fruit, garden tomatoes and backyard parties with family and friends. It doesn’t get better than this.

  39. Hope you enjoyed your birthday surrounded by California girls Sacha! Good luck with your exams – isn’t it mean that they make you sit them in the lovely Summertime!!!!
    Corey, I know you are loving this early Summer in Provence – bet the markets are bustling and bountiful – I’m off to our little local one shortly for farm eggs and fresh vegs., but it’s nothing like the fabulous French ones! Speaking of cooking – when will we see your kitchen, please?
    100 stifling degrees due here today – Summer, you can have it – I’m a cool weather gal!
    Hugs – Mary.
    P.S. Any chance Nathalie can add the translator to her blog?

  40. Ellen Cassilly

    Working in the garden and then taking an outdoor shower!!!!
    Happy birthday Sasha.

  41. Happy Birthday Sasha from Oregon’s wine country (they say it resembles Prov. France), enjoy your day.
    Corey, your photos are amazing as always! In my imagination “my dream France” looks exactly like your photos. Wonderful post!

  42. Happy birthday Sacha!
    My favourite part of summer? Probably the farmer’s market, and early morning or sunset walks on the beach when the heat of the day is yet to come, or well past.
    This summer I’m excited because I’m going to see my family! Like you I live a long way away from my peeps, instead of meeting them at my home (CA) or theirs (Australia) we’re meeting at my brother’s in Switzerland for some precious time together. I don’t leave until late July, so if you’re coming through Los Angeles and want to walk along the beach before you head up to Willows let me know 🙂

  43. This is a beautiful post and brings to my mind the writings of M.F.K. Fischer about her own Provence years.

  44. Happy Birthday to your wonderful 17 year old son! =)

  45. MY birthday is June 25 (oh to be 17 again. I’ll be 60).
    Our anniversary is June 29 (35 years.
    Our daughter’s birthday is July 9 (27 years).
    Dan’s birthday is Aug. 5 (61 years).
    So I guess what I like best about summer is that it is a season of celebrations.

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