The Little Words Mean the Most

The new old house gets a cleaning

Hiking above the Orb, a river so clean...

...wise old dogs drink it (barking and tail wagging build up a thirst)

and locally the grape harvest is in full swing still on Sept. 30

en le hiking route you could measure yourself against floods and eat left-behind grapes

starting in the canyon town of Ceps, where vines grow in schist


the vineyards were autumnal and wild arbousier fruits were a week or two short of ripe

 

Simone checks out her new sun deck, open to the skies of southern France

As it happens, our town is next to a major antiquing center (Pézenas) & a great wine shop run by a Brit & so many worthwhile restaurants to try

Mid-afternoon snack in France

Simone takes a call while burrowing into salted caramel. In my cup: artisanal lavender and honey ice cream, with a side of fresh-squeezed OJ. And their cone selection. Behind us, the big church in town.

First day's shopping in France

The charcuterie selection at the supermarket (in small part). Our favorite bread store.

 

8 AM: the newer old house in France: meeting the contractor

The one with the balcony is ours. The iron S-curves on the side of the house hold it all together.

Landing near our house in France

The blue is the Med and the local beaches. On the right: the straight green line is a canal that runs from the Atlantic across France and to the Rhone. The grim grey lagoon is where flamingo flocks hunt and strain.

The masks on our walls

visible from space: the Great Pumpkin Reef