Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

A Taste of Provence

Taste provence

 

A taste of Provence:

Lipstick on an afternoon aperitif glass,

Black chalk, board scrawled menu:

Aubergine, d'ail, courgette, poivron rouge…

Polka dotted cloth,

A golden glazed pot with herbs.

 

 

Lavender shutters

 

Strong hints of lavender,

Rough stones made smooth with wear,

Wisteria begging to bloom,

Bench waiting for conversation.

 

French cannisters

 

French cannisters:

Farine (flour) for the croissants,

Cafe… au lait!

Poivre (pepper) Pepper? Pas Herb de Provence? Mais non.

 

Provence blue shutters

 

Blue shutters with a street lantern.

Not opened, not closed might mean one or two things…

Someone is taking a nap,

or keeping cool from the sun.

 

Escargot

 

Escargot.

Outside.

Collected after the rain.

 

 

Standing by the window

 

Annie opening her window after a long 91st winter.

Neighbor bringing strawberries from Carpentras.

 

 

  Saint victoire aix en provence

 

Cezanne's muse.

St. Victoire under a Provencal sky,

with the Mistral chasing the clouds on by.

 

 

What is a taste of where you live?

Comments

37 responses to “A Taste of Provence”

  1. meredith

    Chez moi tastes pretty much like chez toi 🙂

    Reply
  2. Marilyn

    Grey skies and rain with spring flowers beginning to show their beautiful faces.

    Reply
  3. Marie-Noëlle

    Mallards and Canada geese flying in couples.
    Off the flocks.
    Lunch (and sometimes breakfast)out.
    On the terrace.
    Garden chairs and table springing out.
    BBQ stuff following.
    Lawn mowers roaring now and then.
    Always outclassed by the birds’ endless singing.
    Young neighbours cycling around.
    Stopping by to say “bonjour”.
    Or waving to me
    – and so keeping me updated:
    Easter holiday is on… Already!
    Miss Dog lying flat in the sun,
    or rolling over in the grass.
    Mr Cat watching a bug.
    Work always beckoning me in,
    soon followed by Starving Son
    who turns out into a chatterbox after first mouthful.
    Later, when home, Babbling daughter will take over
    feeding us on her news of the day…

    Reply
  4. Merisi and April in Vienna

    That’s a hard question to contemplate, I’d rather enjoy and dream your song of Provence!
    Right now Vienna is resplendent in spring greens, fading cherry blossoms, tulips everywhere, bird song, lilacs bursting into bloom, their fragrance all over town, turning up in the most unexpected corners, Viennese and visitors alike enjoying a place in the sun, April making fun of us and turning up with a cloud or two raining April showers, the sun pushing aside the clouds and lightening up the young leaves in the most brilliant chartreuse, carpets of flower petals everywhere. Always enough people hiding away in a coffeehouse, working the daily news or savouring a novel along with a cup of coffee melange and a glass of water (glass made in France). So much going on and pages to fill …..

    Reply
  5. Paulita

    Mmmmm. I felt like I was there. Just for a moment. The sky is unbelievable.

    Reply
  6. Kathie B

    So-called Western Pennsylvania “cuisine” consists chiefly of Americanized versions of Italian, Greek, German and Slavic foods, deriving from the many immigrants who settled here two to four generations ago in order to work especially in the coal mines and steel mills.
    The one indigenous food product of Western Pennsylvania that I can think of is maple sap, which is tapped from the abundant maple trees up in the mountains, then cooked down into maple syrup and maple sugar, or made into candy. Yummmmm…
    (Of course, the variety of tastes of my native Northern California is something I always miss).

    Reply
  7. Kathie B

    P.S. Snails are something I most definitely do NOT miss from Northern California!!!

    Reply
  8. julieannevins@googlemail.com

    Oh wow Corey, is it not just wonderful to be home ? Jx

    Reply
  9. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    I am SOOOO happy that you are back in France and your village. How I love “walking” around with you 😉

    Reply
  10. patty

    California coastal wildflowers and poppies poking there noses out the green grass. Little brown bunnies with short ears in the brush and just off of the trail. The vast ocean ahead and endless sky above.

    Reply
  11. Jillayne

    The taste of where I live?
    Asparagus comes first, and then 6 months of blissfull local food! Cherries, peaches and apples are all grown in large and small orchards up and down the valley. Happy Valley Goat Cheese (love the name), a flour mill in one neighbouring town and a wonderful dairy in the next, famous for ice cream. And here and there, small vineyards growing grapes for wine.
    But no worn stones, no blackboard signs, no check tablecloths…

    Reply
  12. splendid

    So glad you are home i missed seeing your village as much as you you enjoyed China!
    Love LOve LOVe LOVE seeing Annie.
    my wisteria is greening and the lilacs are budding!!!
    blue skies but not like yours
    YET!!!
    xoxxooxoxxoxoxoxoxoxo

    Reply
  13. Paula S In New Mexico

    Brilliant Georgia O’Keefe blue sky and stark landscape.
    The smell of hot red chili simmering on the stove.
    Mom and Day finches making the nest ready.
    Splashes of red tulip here and there.

    Reply
  14. martina

    Grape hyacinth blooming, the veggie garden starting to wake up. Pesto the cat running outside when it is dry and sitting in a sunbeam. Seeing neighbors again after a cold/wet winter and spring. The neighbor boy, mowing the lawn for me and the smell of that fresh cut grass. Best? Me not having to mow the lawn myself!

    Reply
  15. Amy Kortuem

    This dull, damp, grey, muddy, cold, rainy Minnesota spring is NOTHING compared to those photos you took – like jewels lined up in a jewel box, they are.
    Although I did see one poor, frail, pale, timid little daffodil blossom shivering in my windy garden this morning. After work I think I’ll go out and cut it and bring it inside and put it in a nice vase with some warm water – and create spring for it.

    Reply
  16. Patt

    Home at last. I am so glad to be home at last. I have missed France. AND I live in Northern California. I am glad you had a most wonderful trip but I missed france so much. This is a compliment to your wonderful writings of France. I felt like it was me gone for so long.
    Things are moving along quite nicely here in Northern CA. I am leaving for New York to bring my daughter home. She has been gone so long and has now a DVM position here in Yuba City. No more waiting months and months to visit her. She will be a day Dr. at Northpoint Vet Clinic. I am the happiest mother in America. Have you made your decision on re-visiting China with Chelsea?

    Reply
  17. Just Plain Jane

    You do such a beautiful job, between photographs and your words. It’s appreciated more than you can possibly know.

    Reply
  18. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Occasional flashes of blue sky amid solid grey skies give us hope that spring and summer — oh! summer! hard to even imagine at this point — might be in the offing. The sun’s brilliance is concentrated in masses of daffodils. Crocus are over, and tulips are just starting to consider blooming so it’s purely daffodil time here now.
    I loved the China photos yet am SO glad to get to see Provence again. Ahhhh.

    Reply
  19. Erin Perry

    Ah, back in Provence! Travel is nice, but there’s no place like home – especially when you live in paradise.
    Erin in Morro Bay

    Reply
  20. Helene

    On the Central California Coast: Daffodils are finished; followed close behind by California poppies and Ceanothus (Calif. Lilac). Fruit trees are bursting with blossoms. All the vegetable seeds are sprouting in the garden (having waited 2 months in the ground for the warmed soil). Roses, roses, roses.
    Thank you so much for your words and images. They always make a wonderful start to my day.

    Reply
  21. Maria

    In Gilroy the mustard is putting on a glorious show.

    Reply
  22. Rhonda P.

    Here in the warm Phoenix valley we are eating hot spicy food. Warm tortillas and grilled veggies spiced with hot peppers.
    I know your mouth is watering my friend.

    Reply
  23. Ana María

    In Miami, Florida – “Spring” (or what passes for it) is almost over and it’s beginning to feel like Summer. There’s been a convention of birds in my back yard all month – heavenly!
    The impatiens are beginning to wilt so it’s up to the bougainvillea (and they are spectacular all around my home this year. They love our dry winters!) and the bromeliads to provide tropical color.
    There have been so many cultural events to attend, outdoor art shows, gallery nights every first and last Friday of the month, (park your car and walk around or hop on a free trolley that takes you everywhere).
    And of course, there is always the beach! Not the South Beach that tourists flock to, the secret little coves that locals frequent: Key Biscayne, Matheson Hammock. I may not go to the beach every week, but it’s so wonderful knowing that it’s there! Sometimes I’ll just drive over to Miami Beach, just to cross the bridges and breathe in the ocean.
    This is the best time to be here – the cloudless blue skies, the sunshine! Don’t visit Miami in the Summer, it’s too hot! Come now – I’ll show you around!

    Reply
  24. momof5

    Daffodils, forsythia blooming in the yard and fresh Asian eggplant grilled on the Weber with olive oil and curry powder. Delicious!

    Reply
  25. Karina

    Taste of where I live ummm
    In Pittsburgh, rain, rain and more rain.
    Today we have sunny skies,
    Light winds
    Tulips starting to appear on my back yard.
    Weeping willow tree with tiny pink flowers
    and my doggie starting to have allergies. Poor thing.
    Spring is the worst season for my doggie.
    For me, Spring is the time of the year where I do gardening in my backyard.
    Can’t wait till May where I can start planting for summer.

    Reply
  26. Elaine L.

    Southern CA High Desert:
    Fields of orange poppies and Hummingbirds returning.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  27. Judy B. Texas

    Houston: “we don’t have a problem” today – cool front came in last night and it’s nippy this morning – but clear, bright sunshine welcoming us. Trees are fully leafed now; flowers galore and the bird singing is deafening but wonderful. Life is good!
    Provence pictures are beautiful…I was a lucky soul to visit Provence in 2005…yearn to go back.
    Good picture of Annie, the neighbor and the strawberries.

    Reply
  28. liz

    A NC spring is full of pine pollen and red mud but also pink and white dogwoods.

    Reply
  29. Marie

    The shutters are so pretty! France must be beautiful in France!

    Reply
  30. Carolyn

    Northeastern Oklahoma: azaleas blooming; trees turning green all too soon leaving their flower petals behind; the sound of lawnmowers busy at work; strawberries and angel food cake lining the shelves of the grocery store; crazy warm weather one day and jackets and heaters the next; soccer games; tornadoes; scissortail flycatchers (our state bird) dancing in the air.

    Reply
  31. Gypsy Threads

    There is such a longing under your words and beautiful photos. You are forever changed by your recent experience and I can tell you just are not certain how to listen to the whispers of your heart.
    Here in Chico, the warmth pulls the sleepy leaves skyward toward summer’s blossoms. Easter preparations are demanding planning and completion and there are those whose journey in this life is ending. All this to say it is a busy time for the household of a minister.
    I await your further adventures all the while trying to grateful for where I am, et cetera, but not every day brings me success!

    Reply
  32. Gypsy Threads

    I too live in the area you spoke of. Hopefully we will get to meet sometime and talk about Corey’s adventures, Have you been to Willows to her mom’s store?

    Reply
  33. Shelley Etchepare

    Beautiful photos Corey. I especially like the white and red polka dot table cloth! I am glad you are home safely!

    Reply
  34. ellen cassilly

    I’m glad to hear that you are back safely. The spring trees and flowers are in full bloom. I even saw a jack-in-the-pulpit down by the creek! I loved the walking bicycle! E

    Reply
  35. An Enchanted Cottage

    Corey, you know how much I love your photos and your writing (still waiting for your book to be published!). I think I could live in France happily ever after. So glad my daughter will be able to experience a bit of France, and then she can share it with me. We’d love the name of the hotel in Paris that you mentioned so she can try to make arrangements with them. It sounds ideal!
    All my thanks, Donna
    P.S. I think my favorite photo of all is Annie opening her window. I love Annie. I love her home! Look at those windows and those lace curtains – and the beautiful view! And the sweet neighbor bringing strawberries… Yes, please do hurry with that book so in addition to your Internet blog, I can have something tangible in my hands to flip through whenever I feel the need to escape, or to be inspired!

    Reply
  36. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Carolyn, I”m originally from Stillwater so loved reading all the Okie descriptions: especially the scissortail flycatchers dancing in the air! Lovely, lovely state bird! thanks.

    Reply
  37. Carolyn

    Isn’t it funny how one can live in such a gorgeous place (the pacific northwest)and still miss a taste of home? Saturday was my birthday and I was at my daughter’s soccer game when two scissortails decided to dance above the field. Of course I didn’t have my camera, but it made my day! And as far as the tornadoes, do you ever miss the ominous green sky?

    Reply

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