Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

What Place Draws You Happy?

Archway

 

Alongside the Palais de Popes in Avignon,

walking hand in hand

no plan,

sipping in the afternoon

stone path underfoot.

under the archway.

 

 

La miranda

 

La Miranda for tea.

Antique heaven interior gives a romantic old time feel.

Cozy when cold outside.

 

 

Silverware and napkins

 

Elegance made simple.

Silverware and white linen,

Tea cups and dessert,

Late afternoon sun glistens in his eyes.

 

Courtyard avignon

(Courtyard of the Natural History, Requien Museum in Avignon.)

 

 

Facade Avignon

 

Avignon draws me in with its

balconies, street lamps, architecture that is grand and understated.

Inviting, small enough to enjoy without being overwhelmed.

 

Vox populi studio

 

Pascale Palun's studio

that alone

is all I need to go to Avignon.

Or I should say the diamond in the crown.

 

Avignon

 

Memories of Avignon…

Lovely old carousel in the middle,

memories of Chelsea on my lap when she was a baby.

We rode the elephant.

More made, more to come I hope.

 

____

 

What place draws you happy?

 

Comments

29 responses to “What Place Draws You Happy?”

  1. martina

    Lots of places. Right this minute it is on the couch,reading your blog, puppy napping next to me. Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday is on and very inspiring.

    Reply
  2. Jeannie

    The Oregon Coast. I feel more alive, almost giddy. I feel that anything is possible, that I can be whomever I choose to be. It sets my heart free like a kite.

    Reply
  3. Gatheringjunque

    Christmas in February! Dear Corey, thank you for the wonderful package of Dresses, Turtle Neck & Scarf. They are really cute and everything fit! I am so jealous that you are in Paris! I love you bye… Mom

    Reply
  4. carol

    A road trip with my children. Really, anything with my children. Also, dining at my favorite: Bottega’s http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/52504349.jpg

    Reply
  5. Tongue in Cheek

    OOOOOOO Mom you wrote a comment! Yahoo! Glad you like the gifts! Send a picture! And hey YOU can COME to PARIS!!!!

    Reply
  6. Chris Wittmann

    First…the answer to that glass gadget guessing game 🙂 I can’t believe they would make special objects just to keep gravy out of other foods on the plate! Now that’s gotta be the height of silliness 🙂 The “upper crust” must never have the pleasure of mixing ones foods like I do :):)
    A “happy place” ?? The ocean, of course. In my case, usually the coast of Maine 🙂

    Reply
  7. Tammy

    In my special room in my grandma’s rocking chair having afternoon tea and watching the sunset…quiet and soul resting…my cup of tea

    Reply
  8. Debra

    Oh, I love my home . . . although right now everything is upside down as I try to par down, get rid of everything, paint, and freshen up with the anticipation of spring. Corey, can you believe I still have baby clothes & toys from when my kids were young, guess I’m nutty. Other than home, I have never been as happy as every single second I spent in France last October – trying to find a way back now.

    Reply
  9. RebeccaNYC

    Love love Palais des Papes! One of the first places I visited during my first visit to France. Avignon has had a special place in my heart ever since.

    Reply
  10. vicki perkins

    I was at a place that you love today…Willows, Calif. I was on my way from Palm Springs home to Portland. It was 61 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. I passed farms with baby lambs and goats. The air smelled of newly turned soil, the smell of fruit tree blossoms and a faint whiff of smoke from field burning a town away. A great blue heron was in one of the fields high stepping his way through the standing water. A statuesque great white egret was walking along the highway, his eyes on the water in the ditch. Two turkey vultures were cleaning up some carion. There was a red tail hawk drifting lazily on wind currents. The mountains to the east across the valley are covered with snow. There are bee hives set out in the orchards.
    And as I drove by the Willows exit I passed a woman who was carrying a minature horse in her SUV.
    Hope you enjoyed a little bit of home.

    Reply
  11. Marilyn

    Walking on a sandy beach with the sounds of the waves and a slight breeze blowing through my hair.

    Reply
  12. Cara

    When I was very young, my Grandparents had a woods on their farm in Southern Michigan. It was a place of pure enchantment and many natural wonders and treats. Wild flowers, fruits, birds, squirrels, nuts, great tall trees. My Aunt would take me there to learn of wildlife, wildflowers, and natural streams. The farm was sold years ago, but in times of great emotion, happy, sad, weary, or despair, my mind wanders back. A feeling of peace and rejuvenation settles about me. I wish you each such a place.

    Reply
  13. Chico Sue

    The place that draws me happy is wherever my grandcsons are: ages eighteen years and eight months. Also, any beach, anywhere. Except for the Saltin Sea. UGH!

    Reply
  14. Merisi in Vienna

    Thank you, Vicki Perkins,
    for these poetic notes from Corey’s family home!
    I have never been to California, but you describe it so vividly, I feel as if I were actually there. And my heart with pleasure filled, in Wordsworth’s words.

    Reply
  15. Merisi in Vienna

    Corey, your words and pictures describe your feelings so beautifully, I felt as if I were drawn into one of my favorite French poems, Baudelair’s “L’Invitation au Voyage”:
    “Mon enfant, ma soeur,
    Songe à la douceur
    D’aller là-bas vivre ensemble!
    Aimer à loisir,
    Aimer et mourir
    Au pays qui te ressemble!
    Les soleils mouillés
    De ces ciels brouillés
    Pour mon esprit ont les charmes
    Si mystérieux
    De tes traîtres yeux,
    Brillant à travers leurs larmes.
    Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté,
    Luxe, calme et volupté.”
    Places of the heart that draw me in, I have more than one. Italy for one, and many places along the American East Coast, from the Chesapeake Bay down to Savannah, Georgia.

    Reply
  16. Zosia

    Warsaw, the Polish seaside, London, Scotland, English countryside, Canadian East Cost (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia).

    Reply
  17. Evelyn

    I’m in my ‘happy place’ right this minute…I’ve never lived any place that I’ve been happier than here. But when I feel a tug in my heart for other ‘happy places,’ there are two: Montana where my grandchildren live and the ocean. Has to be the ocean…the Mediterranean just doesn’t do it. I need crashing waves, salty air, seaweed, sand crabs…you know what I mean!

    Reply
  18. 24/7 in France

    I am living in my “happy (sun-filled near the sea) place” where my soul belongs and feels at peace! (I do also love being in Paris and Versailles)

    Reply
  19. Tongue in Cheek

    A perfect description of what I call home. Beautiful visual of what I know to be true.

    Reply
  20. Sinem

    It is definitely Cremona. The place of Stradivari, Amati violins… The music, history, beauty all packed in such a small wonderful place.

    Reply
  21. Meg Mitchell

    I too love Avignon but there is nothing like Uzes on a Saturday market day. Of course, Paris still ranks number 1 in the large city category. Love your photos of Avignon.

    Reply
  22. Kit

    Happy places: swimming across the Breede River, the top of Table Mountain wiht views for ever adn beautiful fynbos, walking to our veggie garden and looking over to the mountains on a beautiful sunny day when it’s not too hot!

    Reply
  23. Patti Lloyd

    A place on the coast called Mendocino, California never fails to paint my heart happy. Quaint town of small, pastel colored Victorians huddle against the sea breeze on rocky cliffs. Voluptuous flowers crowd the yards and winding paths, strokes of the paintbrush from a multi- color palette. Wood fences, aged a soft gray by salty breezes, and trees bent the direction of the wind frame this masterpiece. Summer art workshops, organic food market, outdoor hot tubs, bed and breakfasts with fabulous foods… It never fails to satisfy my innermost longings whenever I respond to it’s call and travel there.

    Reply
  24. Irina

    I’m happy anywhere in France!

    Reply
  25. g

    all my life i have loved the summer and the beach, more specifically the jersey shore-even more to the point, wildwood new jersey -vacations with my family and friends- then houses rented for the summer by me and my friends to finally owning a small 2 bedroom house in wildwood crest-the beach ANY TIME of year is a delight- in the winter the quiet serene beauty -in fall water still warm enough to swim/walk in- in spring it all coming back to life and the crowning glory the summer-we have celebrated new year’s there with lovers and friends and family-easter dinner birthdays everything oh and how can i forget the 4th ALWAYS the 4th-we are equal distance from beach and bay so the sea air fills the porch and house-gosh just thinking about it makes me long for long days and hot nights-always the shore….

    Reply
  26. Peggy Braswell

    taking a walk on a white sand beach-NW Fla.listening to the sound of the water + the salty smell. Watching the seagulls swope down for a tasty bite + hearing their voices + seeing the sun sparkle on the Gulf, thats my Happy place. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    Reply
  27. Carole

    My favorite place that makes me happy because of the years of memories at this cabin on the Mendocino coast that I took my girls and Mother to every summer for 10 years — just our memories. The private alcove beach and beautiful vistas and beautiful gardens and gazebo surrounding the cottage all bring back so many memories of good times, especially when my youngest daughter decided to be married on the same beach where she spent many summers. So special. And the little quaint town of Mendocino to explore at leisure………and the art work. Hmmmmmmmmmm……..

    Reply
  28. WR

    I would have to say that our little place in Provence draws me happy but it’s not just a question of place, it’s also because I’m with my loved-one there, almost without a care in the world. It’s beautiful, there is something charming to discover around every corner and the friends are the best!

    Reply
  29. Kathie B

    The Azores, in general, and the small city of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in particular. The cafés, botanical garden, museum, library, marina, restored buildings, just wandering alone or with Farmboy Husband through the streets snapping photos, with no fear of crime.
    I love the tiny villages in the Azores as well, where everyone’s so friendly to strangers who’ve paid them the compliment of taking the trouble to come see them and learn about their way of life.

    Reply

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