Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

A Simple Day in my Provence

provence 

Our guests, a couple from Oklahoma, who would invited to come stay with us, went with French Husband to Cassis.

I stayed home waiting for their suitcases to arrive. 

Unfortunately, twenty four hours later they still do not have their suitcases. Though both were given a 100 Euros, plus a toiletry bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and a tee shirt from the airlines. 

Since I stayed close to home waiting for the suitcases, I went to see Annie. 

I took two of her kitchen chairs and placed them outside her front door. I held her soft warm hand in mine. We watched as the blue sky put on a spectacular show: Big cotton clouds floated by, reminding me of seafoam on waves.

Later I came home and made dinner for our new friends, Roquefort with pears and walnut tarte with roasted brussels sprouts.

A simple day to enjoy. 

 

 

Annie's-hand

(2005: Annie's hand when we went to Lourdes.)

 

What did you do today?

———————-

PS:

My photo card reader is flawed, so still no photos to add of yesterday's event. Boo.

 

Comments

31 responses to “A Simple Day in my Provence”

  1. Toni

    There is so much rushing about right now that i am taking moments here and there to stop, breathe and notice the weather, the sky, whatever.
    Last night, I went for a walk in the backyard with my cat and later we sat together on the front step in the dark.

    Reply
  2. Star

    Too bad about the luggage…but yay for me! That top photo is one of my absolute favorites of yours and I have that post bookmarked on my laptop at home. Whenever I think of you going about your day (when you’re at home in Provence) this is the photo that is in my mind. I can just imagine the birds chirping over head, shoe soles on cobblestones, the mystery of somewhere you’ve never been.
    Hope the luggage shows up soon, but how lovely to view in person that special blue you have photographed of Cassis while they wait.

    Reply
  3. Kathie B

    Several years ago Farmboy Husband and I totally gave up on checking luggage when flying, and only bring what we can pack in one wheelie carry-on bag apiece.

    Reply
  4. Kathie B

    Plus a small item (e.g., camera bag) to store under the seat.

    Reply
  5. Penny

    Could you please post the recipe for the delicious dinner you made. The walnut tarte sounds so good and the roquefort and pears sound heavenly. Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Di

    I woke this morning to my last day with my friends in the Netherlands….helping them chase their 2 oldest out to school and shopping with mum and the baby. Then I had to say goodbye and hop on a plane home…….loved having been invited to be part of their family for a few days….and to the whoops and cries of children and the cute smiles of the baby,

    Reply
  7. Ana

    I saw my daughter off, she is on her way to Switzerland tomorrow morning for a long weekend walking. I am a teeny but envious as I would love to be walking with her, breathing in clean air and enjoying being outdoors. I then came home and baked apple crumble for my son. Spoke to my grandson on the phone who read me a goodnight story. Now I am counting my blessings because I forget to do so. I am so lucky but often when things are less than good I forget what I have. This week I have been reminded in lots of ways.
    You Corey are another blessing. Your posts have often kept me sane as they impart wisdom just when I need it most.

    Reply
  8. martina

    It sounds like a simple but perfect day. Hope your visitors get their suitcases soon.
    Later today a dear friend will come by for a visit with her dog. The humans will have cheese,wine and almonds and chat away. The dogs will undoubtedly beg unsuccessfully for the French cheese and have to be content with dog treats.

    Reply
  9. Becky F

    Finally my order of beads arrived, so I have spent much of the day working on a bracelet I will wear to a wedding in October. Feeling quite guilty about sitting on my derriere most of the day I did manage to make a nice dinner for the family. But now back to the bracelet!
    What a perfect, simple day you shared with Annie. Hope the luggage arrives soon.

    Reply
  10. Marilyn Radzat

    Placed the French treasures found at the many brocantes we went to up on the walls, on the tables, on the shelves…I think this my favorite thing to do. Even more than finding treasures at the brocante, the placing of them so that their story can be seen and heard, makes my heart sing. 🙂

    Reply
  11. g

    today was a business day writing checks phone calls and the like-the weather was beautiful the windows open the breeze cool-fall is on the way-these days are not my favorite but as we all know necessary-nothing much out of the ordinary-I sure hope the luggage shows up-that happened to me and my sister in spain-a series of hurried events and we made the connecting flight,luggage did not it did show up now I write the address of hotel phone number in big letters so as soon as the suitcase is opened that is what you will see-so happy you and annie had the day to chat or just BE in each other’s presence-enjoy whatever the rest of the week brings!

    Reply
  12. Suzanna

    Can’t wait till you get your card, :-))…..I pressure washed the entire fence around my patio, gave my friend some fab cuttings with roots to grow that have little white and purple flowers that look like orchids, require next to zero maintenance rain, drought, snow, they are quite amazing ~ then ran here to see more fab pics, dinner sounds fab for yall ~ wow, lost luggage, yikes…hope that isn’t a normal occurrence in my focus to get to France, hee hee, XO

    Reply
  13. Irina

    How nice 🙂
    My days are simple with a lot of knitting and counting days for my cousin coming from Ukraine to visit.

    Reply
  14. Suz

    Blessings, Corey! God’s blessings on you and your family (all of them, everywhere!!) this day!

    Reply
  15. Linda R.

    A cousin who lives a couple of hours away is visiting and we chose today to visit Glacier Park – it was absolutely beautiful! Photographs are always better on overcast days so the colors are rich and wonderful and and the contrasts (autumn colors, quite a bit of snow on Logan Pass, landscape details sometimes sharp, sometimes foggy/misty, still some green especially after today’s rain & snow) all added up to a photographer’s dream. Now I am falling asleep at the table as I type – all that fresh air and wending our way up hill & down I think.

    Reply
  16. Patti Lloyd

    I made a set of tumblers and glazed and fired a berry bowl in my clay studio today. It’s really a garage, so I had the door wide open so I could hear the birds and feel the beautiful breeze, which swept yellow leaves into my space. A little hint of fall. My grandson wanted me to come watch his fencing lesson, as today he would be allowed to wear the gear for the first time. He was beaming.

    Reply
  17. 24/7 in France

    A simple walk to town, taking in all the Frenchness around me – simply divine!

    Reply
  18. jeanne stone

    Absolutely love the photo of that door ! Will look foe some more posts that you have done of Provence. Your dinner sounds divine

    Reply
  19. JudyO

    I sat on the beach with a friend I’ve had for 60 years (we met in Sunday school). We chatted and took in the clear blue sky and glistening ocean on a beautiful September day in Maine.

    Reply
  20. La Contessa

    I drove the NEW BAY BRIDGE in my FIAT 500.Did Fillmore Street…….nothing there anymore!Then had a watermelon salad…….delicious.With fennel mint salt and pepper and olive oil!Plus a few almonds!YOU WOULD LIKE IT!Then came home to carry the large computer to the APPLE store in Walnut Creek to get it fixed!I was able to snag an appointment at 4;15……….I just started a DETOX a week of no coffee, no wine and NO COMPUTER was TOO MUCH!The young man at the GENIUS BAR FIXED IT!So, no not a simple day like you but plan to have that today!!!!!
    The Lost luggage that happened to me a year ago when I went to BORDEAUX!I should not tell you this but it took SIX DAYS!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  21. La Contessa

    MY comment just vaporized!
    I drove the BAY BRIDGE its new you know in my FIAT 500……did Fillmore Street there is nothing there anymore!Had a Watermelon salad YOU would LOVE!Had fennel,almonds and mint!Came home to take the computer to the APPLE store to be fixed……..not a simple day!TODAY will be simple!
    My luggage was lost too last year in FRANCE!Took SIX days………….to arrive at the HOTEL DEL VILLE?I was out in the middle of BORDEAUX in the country………..

    Reply
  22. Rhonda

    I dream of a day like this, end of summer, enjoying friends. My simple day was spent at my office but I did enjoy a soft guitar player’s music while we ate lunch at sandwich shop. You’ve got to enjoy what is around you.

    Reply
  23. Peggy Braswell

    went to home depot to return some things + in my office the other half of day. i am indeed blessed to have an office to work in. happy thursday. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    Reply
  24. Stubblejumpin Gal

    I too try to travel with only my carry-on luggage, as Kathie B does. When I go on holiday I like to take my favourite clothes, and don’t want to risk losing them!
    We have just finished the grain harvest up here in Saskatchewan; I mean, my husband and his family have. There are others who are still hard at it, but his family only crops 190 acres and the rest of their land is used for hay and pasture.
    I have been out to the field several times to take meals to them when they can’t spare a moment to drive home and eat. Yesterday I drove some machinery. Love being out there. Maybe I should do more of it.
    Photos from yesterday can be seen by following the link I’m leaving.

    Reply
  25. Claire

    I had a frabjous day visiting the art studio of a friend in the Noonan a Building, an old shipyard headquarters straight out of Dashiell Hammett on San Francisco’s Pier 70.

    Reply
  26. monika

    I worked too hard and too long at work; I’m tired, squeezed dry.
    Went for a walk after dinner — it was such a beautiful evening! It smelled so good. Everything was lovely until I was aggressed by a neighbor’s schnauzer. Very loud, very aggressive, very annoying, Schnauzer. I love dogs, pine for dogs, but don’t like that one, not one little bit.
    My 9 year old was home sick today, and my husband stayed home with her. I’m wondering if I am coming down with her cold. Maybe not a bad thing.

    Reply
  27. jeanie

    Sounds like an almost perfect day, Corey — and your dinner, most divine!

    Reply
  28. Mary in MN

    The photo of Annie’s hand is perhaps the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen on your blog. A living antique. Of course it calls to mind (and heart) my own mom, who left this life 5 years ago and would now be approaching her 95th birthday. It also speaks of connection, the great force of life. Merci Corey et bonne continuation Annie!

    Reply
  29. shelley

    I think of Annie often. Why? I wonder. Your stories of her are so poignant and beautiful. Is she well? Is she still cloaked in wisdom…wearing a smile that belies a heart of untold adventure?

    Reply
  30. Brenda, Walker, LA

    I had Brussels sprouts yesterday, yum…and today spent a wonderful day at Kindred Hearts Antiques and Gifts, in Walker, LA

    Reply
  31. Brenda, Walker, LA

    I don’t see my comments posted lately, something is not working, boo!

    Reply

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