Living in France

Living in France

A village in the south of France. Typical "maison de village" or town houses, three floors high, wall to wall structures three feet of stone per wall, six foot of stone separates neighbor from neighbor… nevertheless, I still can hear the neighbor's dog bark if it is outside under my window.

Most of the houses in our village are over four hundred years old.

The walls do talk.

Living in France French-doorway

A green doorway with the original iron lock leads one into a courtyard or an imaginative place of dreaming:
What is behind the door?
Who entered last?
Did the wife pick the color, did she argue with her husband when he preferred blue?
Do vegetables grow on the otherside… or are lovers stealing a kiss?

Hand-doorknocker

The door knocker has not been replaced by a doorbell. When someone knocks on the door let me tell you … you hear it… you nearly jumping out of your skin when you hear the, "Boom BOOM Boom."

French-shutter

The classic blue grey French shutter with the hardware that keeps on working hundreds of years later.

 

French-rooftop

Two doves taking a break on the tile roof top.

Red clay tiles in France are typic in the south of France. They are called "Tuiles".

French-country-house

A house of my dreams.
Amongst olive trees and lavender.

 

Clasp-key

 

I wonder if they do not mind to move out and give me the keys.

I am a good housekeeper.

Bell-tower

Where church bells tell you the time.
Where the cobblestones bear your journey.
Where the the soul of the place nestles above your heart…

French antique jupon

Where the baker's bread's aroma wakens your taste buds,
Where the only thing that changes are the faces and the style of clothes,
Ah the famous perfume remains the same, transporting you in and out of time.
Where were you going?
What do you learn?

What says French to you? What photo can I show you next?



Comments

19 responses to “Living in France”

  1. Sounds like a great day to get bundled up and walk with a friend, I wonder if Annie is available.

  2. there are so many things-but not all visible-that say french to me- the shades of grey- the shades of blue -of the sky over various parts of france- the flower stalls/shops/gardens, the stone houses, the lavender, the wine-the churches, the menues, but what most says french to me is the relationship-love – romance-typical i guess but true! france is a feeling for me in my gut- that i find hard to define-it is like i have known her all my life and yet still i chase after her…i hope i am making a little sense-

  3. Cheri Hansen

    Dear Corey, There are days when you totally mesmorize me behind the lens of your camera..and today is one of those…Cheri H.

  4. French food :-)))

  5. Chris Wittmann

    So much of what you photograph in France reminds me of England. The cottage where I lived was over 400 years old too, as were all the old stone cottages with their slate roofs in the Lake District. But I didn’t see those colorful shutters 🙂 Last night I dreamt I went to France, and all I kept doing was looking for those colorful shutters! I think they say “French” to me more than anything. I would love to see photos of the kitchen gardens I’ve seen in some of my gardening books. One in particular appropriately entitled “Kitchen Gardens of France” makes me wish I was there!

  6. A hunk of cheese, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine. I took a cheese/wine class eons ago and the French won the cheese category hands down. Goat, sheep, triple cream, blue, whatever – I would die happy with French cheese. (The colors of France are so beautiful. I greatly dislike the “beigeness” of new sub-divisions. My house is butter yellow with a deep blue door and trim, then a little deep burgundy for some punch. ;D)

  7. When I see my embroidered sheets each night I think of my visit to France. French linens just make my heart sing. Just imagining my little quarter French grandson and how he will learn to say French words one day. Oh I hope I can travel to France with my little guy one day.

  8. Seeing photos of you and your family at the brocante or on your adventures. The smell of lavender. A really yummy glass of rose. The smell of fresh baked baguettes-and devouring them.
    Friend laughed at me when I pronounced the color mauve moah v. She said it is maw-v. I countered with, yes it is in common English, but in Europe it is pronounced the way I did. She still laughed….

  9. I wondered if the French have tea…you know afternoon tea with teacups and pots and dessert of course…and chocolate..that is how I do tea…I think it would be fun to have tea at your house.

  10. Have you been to Ile de Re? If so, would love to see your photos!

  11. Jenna and I seem to be on the same wave length, as I was just thinking we’re due for and Annie post.
    Really anything at all from daily life in France is so beautiful!

  12. Nancy Cannabis

    cherchait exactement ce blog où je vais get update à propos de cette information. et enfin j’ai trouvé votre blog qui est vraiment remplir pleinement mes besoins!

  13. danasparkle

    I was reading a book about the Il de Re and the idea that shutters tell the story of class. Whether they are painted and what colour. Do you know if this is true? Is there a status about the paint of shutters. Or is just random? I am shutter obsessed, thanks to your pics, Corey!!! <3 *

  14. these pictures are so lovely. I have so many pictures of doors, shutters, window boxes and door hardware from our trip to Paris. I just love the rich worn colors, the attention to detail and the old-world charm of it all.
    we are surrounded by new “Mc Mansions”, so the elegance of fine old craftsmanship is so appealing.

  15. I could swear I have read this entry and viewed the pictures before.
    I guess Corey deserves some time off once in awhile. 🙂
    Still nice to see the pictures again.

  16. When I think French, I think of the market on the square in Aix–the freshness of the produce, the flowers, the fish… And I love how that market magically turns into outdoor dining as the day progresses.

  17. peggy braswell

    So many things, lilac + wine + Paris + everything. Wonderful photos. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

  18. labergerebasque

    The way the French dress their small babies as angels and not yet children or adults, in white hand knitted sweaters and blankets and bonnets, in lace and embroidery and bows…be it girls or boys.

  19. Ben@Hammary

    These photos are wonderful!French food..

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