Fruit of the Vine

Drive through countryside

Photographs and text by Corey Amaro.

 

A drive through the countryside is the way to and from our home.

We see the seasons change, the grapes vines that render wine, the pumpkins bursting orange, the golden wheat, fields of lettuce and at this moment the frozen toiled ground.

"…fruit of the vine and work of human hands" the Eucharistic prayer is evident.

 

 

Statue on street corner

 

Between our home and Marseille, or our home and the sea we must drive through the country side. The road winds around the foot hills, between patchwork fields, stone houses and old villages. I never grow tire of the French soul that reveals itself along the way.

 

 

Bread and wine

 

It has become my spiritual drink, and I would be telling half the truth if I didn't say the brocante does too.

I asked my daughter Chelsea what she missed about France… She said, "The depth of soul in the old things, the stones that talk. And cheese."

You can be sure that tomorrow the fridge will be full of all good things, Camembert for Chelsea, Coca Cola for Mr. Espresso. Because in the end she misses him the most.

(A side note: (Because those of you who know me well know that I have side notes… or in other words go off the subject many times in the course of a conversation.) Did you know that in France they dip their Camembert in coffee? I have ordered coffee too.)

 

Pont du gard

Getting back to the subject….

 

What feeds your soul?



Comments

38 responses to “Fruit of the Vine”

  1. Caring souls, places and people I feel at peace with.
    “The depth of soul in the old things, the stones that talk.”
    What a wise soul your Chelsea is!

  2. Massilianana

    Deeping camembert in coffee ???? Beurk ! I never did that in my whole life . Have you actually seen someone do it in front of you ? I am curious !
    Feeding my soul ? My son’s mischievious and sparkling eyes, my daughter’s soft look and gorgeous beauty spot just off her upper lip,their laughter,their funny ideas,opinions,imagination,….my cat’s progresses ( he can open a door now, good boy!)and crazy eyes,…spices,art,a good sunny day,a swim the Meditarranean sea,fresh oysters,chocolate fondant,a meal shared with freinds or family with a nice Bordeaux,….so many things ! Take care!

  3. Marie-Noëlle

    Have you put piles of cheese in your fridge by now ??? And have you settled piles of old stones in your garden ???
    Corey, from my corner (of France), and through my long French life I have never ever come across one single country-fellow who dips camembert nor any other cheese into his/her coffee…
    Does Chelsea do ???

  4. Travel feeds my soul and then coming home and being so glad to be with my animals, my garden,my soil, my corner of the world and my simple every day life.

  5. Obviously, Chelsea is cut from the same cloth as mom. There is a quote from “As you like it” by Wm. Shakespeare:
    “And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
    Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything…”
    It is part of the Duke’s speech (he’s in exile in the deep forest, with his followers.) The speech is a discourse on the benefits of life in the forest vs life at the royal court. The Duke is gaining spiritual growth and connecting to God by being part of the ebb and flow of the seasons. They “find” sermons in stones, they “hear” the trees telling the story of life and death and rebirth, they “read” enlightened and sophisticated books by watching water running through brooks.
    Methinks Corey and Chelsea are cut from the same cloth as Bill (a very old cloth I might add, probably from the brocante;)
    jackie
    bliss farm antiques

  6. Simple things, genuine people, kindness, my creative side, the beauty in faith, passion for life in general.
    What Chelsea said is so true, those of us who feel that the stones talk, those of us that love the old, for they tell a sstory, if you only listen with your heart and soul.

  7. Travel, food and wine, my family, my dogs, reading (in no particular order). Chelsea has her priorities so right! I wish you a wonderful reunion with her.
    And that photo of bread and wine is absolutely sublime. I do hope that book is still in the pipeline?
    Best wishes

  8. RebeccaNYC

    The choral music of Francis Poulenc. When I am particularly low I put the headphones on and drown myself in the complex harmonies and crystalline resolutions. Fills me up everytime.
    Stones that talk. Love that.

  9. Family, friends, and food in that order. I love coffee and camembert, but I can’t imagine combining the two, is it to make the cheese gooier?

  10. “…stones that talk” ~ what a lovely thought! Wouldn’t that make a great title for a book of “stones” in France like the bridge in your picture or the quaint villages? And I just can’t get enough of the pictures of the shutters on the buildings….love that robin’s egg blue color!!!
    What feeds my soul….friends like YOU that I have never met but feel as though we could sit by a fire, sipping wine and chatting for hours on end!

  11. The look of wonder and excitment on my 8 year son’s face. He is loving his National Geographic Kids Almanac, Christmas present.

  12. The simple things in life feed my soul. Driving into the city, past farmer’s fields full in the summer and bales in the fall and winter. The sound of children playing at recess, animals, hot chocolate and believe it or not, a steam room. When I come out of a steam room after 10 minutes, my bones have melted along with whatever unpleasantness has happened during the day and I feel such peace.
    Currently, the thing that feeds my soul is a sweet little hummingbird called, Phoebe. She has just finished building a nest and will be laying her eggs in a day or two. Just sitting and watching her makes me feel good. If any of you are interested in seeing this little jewel, you can find her at phoebeallens.com

  13. Travel, reading, working on an art project regardless of the medium.
    Reading your blog daily makes me think.
    Happy Reunion with your daughter.
    xo

  14. I have dunked TOAST in coffee my whole life (my grandpa used to spoon-feed me coffee when I was an infant and weaned me on coffee-dunked toast) but I have never dunked CHEESE. I can’t wait to try it.
    What feeds my soul? Many, many things that I do daily, weekly, seasonally – right now, it’s watching that blue-pink light of winter set on the unmarred snow through the window every night. With cats on my lap (yes, all three, it’s crowded) and tea in my hand and silence all around.

  15. Being alone, outside. And mostly in the very early morning before anyone is about, or late at night when I can see the stars. If I am back in the Yukon (where I am from) when that happens, it not only feeds my soul, it fills it up.
    I’ve never heard of dipping cheese in coffee – sounds odd but must be wonderful!

  16. No question, my son and daughter feed my soul. I’m so grateful that I found your blog this year, it has opened my eyes to a more beautiful world. No more rushing this way or that. No more hurry up, get there, we’re late. This post is exactly what you have brought into my life which translates over to my children’s life. For this I’m grateful.

  17. I am with Marie-Noelle…my French Husband was scandalized when I asked him about dunking camembert in coffee…oh my!

  18. I started to say music or art. But really, I have these 4 good girlfriends…Renee, Grace, Becky and Terry, they listen to all my problems, and I listen to theirs. We go out for each others birthdays (which is a miracle considering mine is Christmas Eve). We laugh together, we cry together. They feed my soul!

  19. That’s pretty! Do a lot of houses in France have those kind of shutters?

  20. Like Cindy, the simple things feed my soul, especially nature (the sounds of birds and water, the beauty of flowers and trees, the myriads of texture that surround us). I find more and more that I need a bit of “alone” time for renewal also. And of course we couldn’t bypass the actual food that feeds me! 🙂

  21. why do your words always hit a place in my soul – always.. making me feel a yearning. thanks tons xo
    this post has me wanting to run outside, jump in the car and see my home area from your eyes !!

  22. joanne nixon

    my family feeds my soul….our family is large…six adult children and their mates….ten grandchildren, and extensions…their laughter lifts me up…and even though the work prior to a family gathering gets tougher to accomplish, i wouldn’t have it any other way…crazy…

  23. Delphine Payne

    Soul Food.
    The feel of warm earth – ready for planting.
    Red silk embroidery thread – wondering about those who have lived before me sewn.
    Rolling out fresh, silky pastry.
    My inquisitve puppy.

  24. My children’s smiles and being around those I love, reading, prayer, a belly laugh with a girlfriend . . . . yes, an occasional glass of wine too!

  25. You have tears running down my cheeks…
    I feel bound to you and all who read a write on your blog.
    I read the words
    sometimes
    I read days of
    written dialogy
    I donot always have time
    but in my days
    I look forwards to
    each and alls
    written stories
    Thank you
    I love to giggle
    my partner, my love makes me giggle
    my grandaughter – Milan makes me giggle
    Gabirelle – 24 today – makes me giggle
    Brigham – 19
    and blessed Talbot -15 makes me giggle
    Silva 10 – giggles and makes me giggle
    I am truely greatful
    blessings to you all
    My thoughts a with you Corey – Chelsea and dad.
    opps
    and Mr Expresso.

  26. You have tears running down my cheeks…
    I feel bound to you and all who read a write on your blog.
    I read the words
    sometimes
    I read days of
    written dialogy
    I donot always have time
    but in my days
    I look forwards to
    each and alls
    written stories
    Thank you
    I love to giggle
    my partner, my love makes me giggle
    my grandaughter – Milan makes me giggle
    Gabirelle – 24 today – makes me giggle
    Brigham – 19
    and blessed Talbot -15 makes me giggle
    Silva 10 – giggles and makes me giggle
    I am truely greatful
    blessings to you all
    My thoughts a with you Corey – Chelsea and dad.
    opps
    and Mr Expresso.

  27. Your essays feed my soul. Thank you.

  28. life…………..

  29. dancing kitchen

    The ocean feeds my soul. I hear it’s gentle lull out my window. Having terrific women in my life feeds my soul…and Corey you are decidedly one of them. Enjoy the new year!

  30. Betty Katsura

    Walking to the top of the hill where I live and seeing the Pacific Ocean sparkle and the Channel Islands on a clear day feeds my soul and makes me happy to be alive!

  31. My family, my friends and the foothills of the Sierra feed my soul.

  32. Travel and exploring new areas. Also being out in nature always seems a calming experience-soulful.

  33. Beauty seen in the tiniest things, encouraging people…and most definitely…bread and cheese!
    : )
    Julie M.

  34. jend’isère

    details which connect people with events. In the whirl of the season I dunked a chunk of ripe camembert in my coffee this morning. I savoured the melange of its age into the black brew was rich in flavor as well as sentiment for a mother/daughter reunion.

  35. Family. Family always feeds my soul – even more so if I am feeding them and they are enjoying the meal.

  36. I love your photos

  37. God feeds my soul with so much bounty and blessing! My son’s, and every phase of their growth! Things of old speak and feed my soul! Things that time has passed, but has deposited into it’s character. My Family and friends! My Shop, where all that come, leave with something old and cherished! Enjoy your daughters return!

  38. Rebecca from the pacific northwest but in Texas for the moment

    Photos that glow like that glowing fork with the bread and wine bottle, for one.
    Also, returning from fun with a friend because my sick husband feels better when I’m there, useless as I am for him.
    Those things feed my soul.

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