PARFUM DE LAVANDE

DISTILLATION

2011-10-06T01:02:00.001+02:00

Beneath you can read the excellent text of my host blogger Deborah Lawrenson on the lavendar distillation of the olden times. Today we went to visit some modern day installations.

First we saw The Rosan cooperative distillery. They distill mostly lavender and some salvia, the major productions of the region. The proportions are quite impressive.

Today it is possible to distill the lavender directly in the ben where it is put in the fields and brought to the distillery.

After the cooperative we went to a more traditional farm (if interested, you can find them here on the net) where they produce plants, gather wild plants and distill them.

They have two alembics, one in copper, the other in stainless steel. It depends on the material to distill which one they use. They have a large range of essential oils and floral waters.

The alembics were made of second hand material and artistically assembled by a local artisan.

ps. Don't forget to enter the giveaway beneath if you haven't yet!

SOME NEWS AND A GREAT GIVEAWAY

2011-09-29T23:33:00.001+02:00

I have great news today, « super nouvelles ». In plural !

To begin with I think I’ve located a piece of land I could start my little farm on. It’s not big but the most lovely, lushious prairie, allmost too pretty to be turned and made into an ordered nursery garden. Pity my phone wouldn’t cooperate to get at least a little picture of it. The photo above is from the little village nearby, Rivières.

And secondly, I received (some time ago allready but I’ve been a bit busy with my school project) the new book by the British author Deborah Lawrenson. Her book had allready appeared in the UK but the US launch was a few weeks ago and her American editor, HarperCollins, very generously not only sent me a copy but wants to give two of them away to my lovely readers ! How great is that, my first ever giveaway !

To wet your appetite I wrote a little review of the book that you find below. To try your chance and win a copy of the book send me a commentary with an adjective that best evokes Provence to you. The innocent hand of one of my neighbour’s children will draw the two lucky winners. Good luck to all !

ps. You have a week, hurry up!

THE LANTERN by DEBORAH LAWRENSON

2011-09-29T23:23:00.000+02:00

In her new novel Deborah Lawrenson tells us two histories entwining, taking place on the same old farmhouse in the Luberon region, but decades apart. There is a young, foreign couple that just met and bought the crumbling farmhouse. They spend a long, hot summer trying to fix the place while the young girl starts to wonder if they really know each other that well. And there is a French family, trying to make a living on the farmstead in the beginning of the 20th century.

Critics praise and rightly so Deborah Lawrenson’s way of conveying colours and sounds, flavours and smells of Provence. She also gets behind the scene, past the « touristy » stuff, the cliché images of Provence and shows the life after the visitors who only know it’s summery face are gone but which I know so well. The quietness of the streets after the summer’s buzz, the mistral howling on the hills and the old houses creaking, the frosty mornings the sun tries to warm with its hesitant rays.

But I must admit that what touched me most personally reading her book is the research Deborah has done about life and labour, history, customs, hardships and poverty of the country in early 20th century, before it became the playground of the rich and famous, the Parisians and the foreigners.

If you like a good thriller that keeps you awake the whole night you will do well with this book. Or if you like to immerse yourself in other cultures and know about other countries, it will do the trick too. In any case it’s a good read and gives a good image of Provence.

AUTUMN IS (REALLY) HERE

2011-09-25T22:49:00.000+02:00

Waiting for a little surprise this week I wanted to give you a faint glimse of my summer and schooldays.

En attendant une petite surprise je voulais vous donner une petite aperçue de mon été et de ma formation.

One of my working experience farms, Jardin de Mazet in Monoblet, the Gard département

The autumn has officially started and of course the temperatures have fallen though it seems next week will be fine. The nights are chilly but the afternoons can still be hot, though not the days it's raining.

The farm of Mazet is terassed: all plots are small and they cascade from the top of the hill down in multitude of terasses. They grow many medicinal plants. On the background you can see their séchoir, the plant dryer house.

Thyme and cornflower drying inside the dryer .

It's the time of year there hovers in the air a smell of the "day after a good night of wining" as stated one of my collegues. The roads are filled with tractors getting their cargo of grapes to the wine cellar. We at the agricultural school have the "gos fortune" of having a cave coopérative, cooperative cellar just behind the school house, so that we really find ourselves in a constant atmosphere of grapes becoming wine...

The other day we made a visit at the organic agriculture fair in Valence and saw a lot of lovely tractors.

I've also been working in a plant nursery, the Pépinière du Grand Plantier at St. Ambroix, also in Gard.

One wednesday we were at the producers' market in Uzès where I saw this alembic for distillation of rose water.

We've also been a lot outside, doing botany lessons with our professors.

Now we have essentially exams and the finishing of the professional project in store 'till mid-october. At the same time I'm looking for a piece of land to start farming allready next spring. I'll keep you up to date.

Have a nice autumn - or spring if you happen to be Down Under, where the Rygby World Cup has just kicked off. And no, I'm not backing the French team, les Bleus, I'm All Blacks all the way.

Bon début de l'automne officielle à tous mes lecteurs!

GUEST POST

2011-08-31T09:38:00.000+02:00

I’m so very proud and excited about this, the first ever guest post on my blog ! It is true, a new post here has been long time coming but now it is even better than normally.

My guest is the very talented British writer, Deborah Lawrenson. She has a new book out, The Lantern, and on this occasion she has graciously given me a glimse of her writing and some nice photos. I’ll be writing more about her book here later but for now let us immerse ourselves in the world of lavender perfume.

Thank you so much, Deborah ! You can find Deborah’s creative posts on Provence here : deborah-lawrenson.blogspot.com.

En attendant de reprendre le cours normal de mes messages ici je vous propose un délice inhabituel : un message d’une collegue bloggeuse très talentueuse, l’autheure britannique Deborah Lawrenson. Elle a sorti un livre de fiction, The Lantern, qui se déroule en Provence et à cette occasion elle me fait cadeau du message qui suit, malheureusement seulement en anglais.

Vous trouverez plus sur le livre de Deborah et son univers provençal ici : deborah-lawrenson.blogspot.com.

The Lavender Distillery

2011-08-31T09:29:00.001+02:00

A guest post by Deborah Lawrenson

Small lavender fields are woven into the landscape all the through the hills around the town of Apt. These are not the huge commercial concerns of Sault and Valensole, but smallholdings tended in the traditional way. When the sheaves of mauve flowers are picked in July, the distilling begins, sometimes in the field itself, and a heavenly scent is carried on warm evening breezes.

It was this perfume in the wild that provided the first, tentative descriptions in the notebook that evolved into my novel set in Provence, The Lantern. The book tells two interweaving stories, one in the present and one in the past, of the inhabitants of a crumbling farm hamlet in the Luberon. At its heart is a mysterious fragrance, Lavande de Nuit, created by a blind perfumer.

I tried to imagine what it would have been like to work the lavender fields seventy years ago, when the process of picking and extracting the essence would have changed very little for centuries. Then I discovered the Distillerie Les Coulets, near the village of Rustrel. As you arrive down a narrow country track, time stands still, and you enter the world of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. Although Pagnol’s enduring stories were set further south towards the coast at Marseille, the same rural idyll really does seem to linger in every stone and corner.

An old still, once used to extract the essence from the lavender flowers, stands proudly outside the farm. This is a tiny, family-run business: Christian Borde & Fils. The lavender is grown in the surrounding fields and brought to an unassuming barn for the magic of scent distillation to begin.

The water in the still was bubbling merrily. At the table, one of the much older women known to us simply, namelessly, as Madame, was thrashing the head of a sheath against a box to break off and collect the flowers. Then with one deft sifting motion she showered the ground with any remaining remnants of stalk and leaf and an even more intense cloud of lavender scent exploded into the warm air.

From The Lantern

The alembic still is heated. Then, when steam has risen through the lavender flowers it is pushed up through the pipe that comes out of the top, and then down through the cooling cylinder full of cold water that coils round and round. At the end of the process, the liquid contains the essence of the flower, its oil and scent.

With this essential oil, the Distillerie les Coulets makes different strengths of lavender preparations, from the pure essence which must be diluted – with almond oil, perhaps – before it comes into contact with the skin, to soothing massage oils that Madame Borde makes up and labels in her workshop, which is barely larger than a garden shed.

It’s a truly charming enterprise, and the resultant natural oils have a deep and sweet, almost honeyed aroma, a world away from synthetic mass-produced fragrances.

In the lavender fields…

Men with pitchforks were throwing the stalks and flowers up like hay. Another stood on top of the shaggy load, shouting. Then, when it seemed not another petal could possibly cling on, and the mauve tassles were dripping in every direction, the order was given to sway off to the corner where the alembic had been pulled in by a donkey.

From The Lantern

More lavender, and a glimpse further into the past, can be found in the crossroads village of Coustellet, best known for its Sunday morning market, stands the Musée de la Lavande, the lavender museum, where these evocative old photographs from the 1920s and 30s hang on the walls.

It was back-breaking work, on an arid landscape and under an unforgiving sun at harvest time at the end of July. There were no mechanical aids for the cutting and gathering of the stems, just a hand scythe and a cloth bag worn over the shoulder. Here’s the kind of clothes the women would have worn:

I was given a bag, a small sickle and a starting place. Although he asked my name and nodded, he did not introduce himself. For several days afterwards, until I got to know some of the other girls and exchange information, he would remain simply the man in the waistcoat.

‘Watch out for the bees, and the vipers,’ he said.

‘Vipers?’

‘They hide under the flowers.’

I put on my apron and pulled my cotton scarf up over my head. My eyes were already hurting from the relentless sun.

Nervously, I began. It was tiring work but I was keen to prove myself. The bag grew heavier and bumped against my legs. The scent was heavenly, all around in heavy fumes, so intense that after a while it seemed to pulse.

from The Lantern

Musée de la Lavande: Route de Gordes (D2), 84220 Coustellet
For their website click here: http://www.museedelalavande.com/

WOW

2011-07-15T15:05:00.000+02:00

I am amazed and gratified. This must be the first time my English Speaking blog has got an award! How is that for a summery surprise and I fear, a little unmerited, seen how little I have written lately. Sorry, will mend my manners after my working holidays in Finland.

I owe this pleasure and honor to Karon from So easy life. Karon is my idol and inspiration, as well as a blogger and a person and for her work with herbs, my favorite subject and hopefully soon my field of action, too.

As allways there are conditions with this award. The first is of course, naming seven other blogs that inspire me. If it had been somebody else naming me, Karon's blog would have been the first on my list. Still, there are many other inspiring blogs to choose from. Here you have a few of my favorite English language blogs:

Vicky Archer from French Essence speaks about the life in Provence and her lovely house near St. Rémy

Corey Amaro writes, Tongue in Cheek, and ads lovely photos (I would sell mother and father to take photos like hers)

Carla Coulson, another great (and professional) photographer shows her work in Carla loves photography

Liivia is a Finnish artist that publishes her photos from the road on Via

I don't allways understand everything that goes on in Ariane's blog but fortunately images are an international language and I do love Die Rose!

As to creativity Artemis Russell from Junkaholique has loads of it

and last but not least, Deborah Lawrenson, of whom I will be speaking more later...

And then seven little things you might not yet know about me:

I love Jane Austen (it didn't say it had to be original!) !

I love flowers but I prefer the jasmine - at least today.

I would like to rise early, as a good gardener, but unfortunately I was born a bat.

I'm fighting the urge for sugar but can't resist the spell of chocolate.

I don't hold my liquor, two small glasses of wine are almost too much for me.

And the wine is almost allways a rosé - or champagne.

I used to wear a lot of black but lately I feel the need of lots of colour. I especially love bright rose, shocking pink as Schiaparelli called it.

14 JUILLET

2011-07-14T12:28:00.002+02:00

Good Bastille Day! Joyeuse Fête Nationale!

This blog will continue quiet for some time more because of holidays. If you are interested in Finland see my other blog.

Ce blog va continuer silencieux un peu plus à cause des vacances. Pour des photos de Finlande voyez mon autre blog.

SOME NEWS

2011-05-08T12:31:00.001+02:00

I know, I know, I’ve been long gone and I appologise. The fact is my agricultural course plus all the other littlle and even bigger things in life are totally consuming my time and energy.

Fortunately spring - no, summer is here ! And with the warm days my hay fever which I’m treating the old fashioned way with antihistamine pills; I’m not far enough in my studies yet to believe only in natural remedies for this. The down side of the pills is I’m feeling a little weary.

But I need those precious little pills because I spend a lot of time outside, with the school, working experience periods and my own garden. And without the hay fever what could be better ? Lovely sunshine, everything around us green and lush, flowers everywhere…

Some quick glimses of what has been going on…

I've been to Die in Drôme, to a course on Biodynamic agriculture with a happy binch of my collueges from Nyons agricultural school. We had a lovely week, sleeping over in a country gîte, a farm accomodation, and visiting various biodynamic farms.

I've allready done two work experience periods at the Mazet farm in Monoblet, in the Gard département.

They have lovely terrassed fields growing with nearly thirty different plants, mainly medicinal. It's been hard work, weeding by hand (they cultivate organically, thus using no pesticides) but such a wonderful weather and marvellous surroundings.

The house you see at the background is a natural dyer, séchoir. They do tisanes, herbal teas and homeopathic remedies based on their plant production.

We also had three savioury days with a lady who specialises in cuisine sauvage, cooking with ingredients found in the nature, wild salads, flowers etc. Very inspiring - and cheap: food straight from the nature!

I must admit that every time we do something new I'm captivated. I found biodynamic methods very interesting but little hard to follow, so I'm still thinking about implementing it. On the other hand I adopted right away the wild cooking, it's been wild salads ever since.

And then I've been working on our little green patch where we are planting little by little vegetables, aromatics, as well as flowers and some medicinal plants for this winter's herb teas.

Above the aromatics, below tomatoes etc.

Must fly, hope to be here sooner. Have a good springtime, wherever you are!

SPRING

2011-03-07T22:51:00.001+01:00

Today I started a one week course in olive tree growing. We started nicely by having a walk above Nyons, in a lovely olive grove. The weather was nice and we had a good guide with us. And of course this was the day my hay feaver decided that the spring is here...

More of the olive tree and the olives when I have found some antihistamine tablets.

Aujourd'hui j'ai commencé un cours d'une semaine sur l'oléïculture. Le cours a commencé agréablement avec une promenade cet après-midi dans les oliveraies au-dessus de Nyons. Le temps était magnifique, notre guide était très prolixe et intéressant et c'est exactement cet après-midi que mon rhume des foins a décidé que le printemps était arrivé.

Plus sur les oliviers dès que j'ai trouvé des comprimés contre le rhume des foins.

ANDUZE

2011-02-20T22:15:00.000+01:00

A sunny morning in Anduze this sunday. A lot of people had been loured out by the warm rays. Many of them walked by the local puces where vendors, lots of non-professionals, had brought their treasures.

I will have to return and take lots of more photos in spring. After all, we live very near to Anduze. I hope the works on the main square will be finished by the tourist season.

Matin ensoleillé à Anduze. Beaucoup de monde au vide grenier local. Je repartirai faire des photos au printemps. Esperons que les travaux sur la place principale soient finis avant la saison touristique.

CREST

2011-02-13T14:11:00.000+01:00

After the visit a pizza in the town of Crest. The old town looks pretty but so empty in this winter day. Have to go back later in the spring to a better visit.

I bought red and pink felted wool flowers in a handycraft shop. They will accessorise a hat or a scarf.

Après la visite une pizza dans la petite ville de Crest. La vieille ville est jolie mais vide en hiver.

COUNTRYSIDE IN DROME

2011-02-13T14:04:00.000+01:00

Countryside near Crest. The extensive fields of the farm we visited.

Campagne crestoise. Les vastes champs de l'exploitation visitée.

A SCHOOL VISIT

2011-02-13T14:01:00.000+01:00

On a visit to a farm near Crest. Observing enormous agricultural machines - not really a future for me...

En visit sur une exploitation près de Crest, dans la Drôme.

A TREE FOR FEBRUARY

2011-02-06T15:37:00.000+01:00

This month's tree is inevitably the pretty mimosa. Since it comes fron Down Under it's flowers appear in winter, very early spring. It's beautiful yellow flowers herald spring and warm our hearts. Right now the markets and florists are full of them.

Pour le mois de février l'arbre du mois est inévitablement le mimosa. Ses fleurs jaune d'or nous annoncent le Printemps et rechauffent les coeurs.

A TREE FOR JANUARY

2011-01-29T09:42:00.001+01:00

Jardin des Arômes, Nyons

For January I chose the cypress, one of the rare trees to retain their green colour in winter or "sempervirens". It is of the Cupressaceae family and is a common sight in all the Mediterranean world. You find them very frequently in the cemeteries which is sometimes explained by them reaching to the sky, guiding the souls of the departed.

Pour figurer l'hiver j'ai choisi le cyprès qui reste vert tout l'hiver, "sempervirens", de la famille des Cupressacées.

Shoes

2011-01-24T19:42:00.000+01:00

Le cloître des Visitandines, Romans sur Isère, Musée International de la Chaussure

For the shoe freaks!

PALAIS IDEAL DU FACTEUR CHEVAL

2011-01-20T08:39:00.001+01:00

Last weekend we had a thing to do up Valence. So, we took the occasion to visit this wonder near by.

It is the Palais Idéal, Ideal Palace, constructed stone by stone by a postman named Joseph Ferdinand Cheval. He took 33 years to finish his work of art, "the only example of naive architecture", said André Malraux. You can find it a few steps from Romans, in the village of Hauterives in the departement of Drôme.

Si vous avez le temps en passant par Valence et Romans de vous arrêtez dans le village de Hauterives dans la Drôme, visitez le Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval. "Le seul représentant de l'architecture naïf", disait André Malraux.

MEILLEURS VOEUX

2011-01-16T23:05:00.001+01:00

I wish to present to you all my best wishes for the year 2011. My year has started well with the beginning of the medicinal plant studies I've been waiting for. Above you can see our first field day in the school's fields planted with olive trees, grape vine and other fruit trees. A glorious sunny day.

Je voudrais présenter mes meilleurs voeux à tous ceux qui lisent ces lignes. J'espère que votre année aura commencé aussi bien que la mienne, avec la formation sur les plantes médicinales que j'ai tellement attendue. En haut une aperçue de notre première journée dans les champs de l'école, une journée magnifique au soleil.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XXIV

2010-12-24T00:16:00.000+01:00

With these few photos from Nyons

My home street.

I send you Season's Greetings!

Last weekend we had a medieval Christmas in Nyons.

I will be away from Provence a few days. If you want to follow my peregrinations, look for me on Fleur de lavande.

A real troll?

Je vous souhaite des bonnes fêtes de fin d'année et à la nouvelle année! Je serai partie de Provence pour quelques jour: Si vous voulez suivre mes voyages, cherchez-moi sur Fleur de lavande.

And Santa was of course there, too, but instead of Rudolf the rednosed reindeer he had a horse.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XXIII

2010-12-23T14:55:00.000+01:00

My hometown: Nyons in the Drôme département.

Ma ville, Nyons dans la Drôme.

The old porch / le vieux portail.

Place des Arcades.

A Virgin / La Vièrge.

The newly restored Church in Nyons.

l'Eglise nouvellement restorée de Nyons.

A wintry shop window / une vitrine de Noël.

Pretty houses / des jolies maisons.

Some old houses / des maisons typique.

Nyons countryside / la campagne de Nyons.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XXII

2010-12-22T20:36:00.000+01:00

Some more images from Paris and it's Christmas buzzle.

Chalets sur les Champs Elysées

Marrons chauds

Champs Elysées the night / la nuit

Seine

Tour Eiffel

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XXI

2010-12-21T19:40:00.000+01:00

Christmas tree on the Place des Arcades / sapin de Noël sur la place des Arcades, Nyons (26)

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XX

2010-12-20T11:38:00.001+01:00

Guichet de charcuterie, Alès

A funny picture for today. This is the first time I have seen these sausages: the pure porc sausage of Lozère called Jesus and the Jesus of Ardèche.

Yesterday was a pre-Christmas sunday and all the supermarkets were open and packed with people searching for their Christmas gifts and more importantly Christmas meals.

Un petit clin d'oeil pour aujourd'hui. Un comptoir de charcuterie d'un supermarché à Alès, plein de monde pour ce dimanche de décembre. C'est la première fois que j'ai fait connaissance avec le Jésus de Lozère et le Jésus d'Ardèche.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XIX

2010-12-19T10:11:00.000+01:00

No snow in Paris but today we had some in Ribaute-les-Tavernes!

Pas de neige à Paris mais maintenant de la neige à Ribaute-les-Tavernes!

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XVIII

2010-12-18T16:00:00.000+01:00

A Saint's image from a friend's home.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XVII

2010-12-17T13:43:00.000+01:00

The trend this year in Christmas decorations were the red tinted Christmas trees...

La tendance de l'année sont les sapins colorés en rouge...

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XV & XVI

2010-12-16T07:12:00.000+01:00

Synagogue de Carpentras

Since my Paris photos are not available for the moment here you have two phone pictures for the 15th and 16th calendar pictures. Above the oldest synagogue in the Southern France, the synagogue of Carpentras and below december roses and allmost mature, black, olives in Nyons four days ago.

Roses et olives en décembre, Nyons

Pas de photos de Paris encore, donc pour le calendrier hier et aujourd'hui, deux photos de mon téléphone.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XIV

2010-12-14T20:31:00.001+01:00

Pyramide du Louvre

No luck with the Paris photos. No battery left in the camera. So, no photos from Paris, at least for now. In the meanwhile a picture of the Pyramide of the Louvre, taken this summer. Anyhow, no snow in view.

Pas de chance avec les photos de Paris, plus de batterie. Pour vous faire patienter, une photo du Pyramide de Louvre faite cet été. De toute manière, pas de neige en vue pour le moment.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XIII

2010-12-13T08:51:00.000+01:00

Grande Mosquée, Paris

Today I travel and to celebrate it a photo from my destination: Paris. Hope to have nice, wintry photos here soon.

Aujourd'hui je prend le train, en direction de Paris, d'où cette photo. Donc, binetôt des photos bien plus hivernales.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XII

2010-12-12T18:54:00.000+01:00

Today we went as last year to a little cabaret in the town of Sommière for the traditional Christmas lunch with a community that is important to us. It was quaint and quite fun. The town was still as pretty but deserted because of the cold wind. On this occasion in today's calendar three photos from Sommières.

Aujourd'hui le déjeuner traditionnel de Noël en compagnie des bons compagnons - pour la deuxième fois dans un petit cabaret à Sommières. Le Theâtre est artisanal mais rigolo, cela fait un bon spectacle pour entreprises et collectivités avec un repas tout à fait honorable.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT XI

2010-12-11T00:14:00.000+01:00

Arènes de Fourques

Today I am thinking about the nice summer afternoons spent in the Fourques Arena watching the course camarguaise.

Aujourd'hui je me rappelle des doux après-midi d'été aux Arènes de Fourques en train de regarder la course camarguaise.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT X

2010-12-10T09:32:00.001+01:00

Piemanson, Camargue

Today pink flamingos in Camargue. Flamands roses à Camargue.

I was to talk about the common trees in Provence this autumn but of course I have forgotten to do it last month. So, today two for the price of one: above a very common tree in Camargue, the Tamarix or tamarisk or salt cedar. It is a small, bushy tree that thrives in the salty conditions of Camargue.

And below the strawberry tree, Arbutus unedoor or l'arbusier in french. It gets it's name from these strawberry-like berries that appear in late autumn.

Deux arbres communs en Provence, le tamaris à l'aise dans les conditions salées de Camargue et l'arbousier avec ces jolies baies similaires aux fraises, d'où son nom en anglais, l'arbre aux fraises.

CALENDRIER D'AVENT IX

2010-12-09T11:19:00.000+01:00

Foire des Santonniers, Arles

The doorway above leads you to the Cloître Trophime in Arles where every Christmas the local santonniers hold an exposition of santons from all over the world plus a market. It is worth a visit if you are there in December.

It's odd but today I could only add one, not two photos on the blog. So, if you want to see also a provençal crèche, please click on my other blog, here.

Bizarrement aujourd'hui je n'arrive pas à ajouter une deuxième photo sur le blog. Donc, si vous voulez voir, en plus de cette entrée du Cloître Trophime à Arles où les santonniers tiennent leur expo-vente chaque Noël, une vraie crèche provençale, visitez mon autre blog, ici.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT VIII

2010-12-08T09:33:00.001+01:00

Goult, Luberon

This time a picture from Luberon, from the village of Goult that didn't make it in the blog after our visit to Goult this autumn. This is the castle, a funny view taken on a very small alley but I love these windows and doors.

Une photo de notre escapade au Luberon cet automne. Le château de Goult.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT VII

2010-12-07T10:06:00.000+01:00

Maio 2010, Fourques

As a nod to this ending year and the house and the village we left this autumn, two photos of last May in the calendar today. These adorable bambins all dressed up as little provencaux to celebrate the choosing of the young girl of May, the Maio, in Fourques.

And as it is the last year of reign of the queen of Arles, Caroline Serre, a photo of her, clothed as a country girl to honour the village, mingling with the festive crowd in front of the village church.

Aujourd'hui pour le calendrier un clin d'oeil au village qu'on a quitté cet automne, Fourques: des adorables bambins habillés en petits provecaux et Caroline Serre, la reine d'Arles encore jusqu'à Juin prochain. A Fourques il est de coutume de choisir une jeune fille pour symboliser le mois de Mai et le retour des beaux jours: le Maio.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT VI

2010-12-06T14:34:00.000+01:00

Olive tree and cross, Fourques / olivier et croix, village de Fourques

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT V

2010-12-05T08:31:00.000+01:00

A stone Virgin Mary or a saint in a street corner, Arles

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT IV

2010-12-04T19:13:00.000+01:00

Tarasque, Tarascon

Today I was helping to move some dear friends from Beaucaire to Nîmes. That's why I chose as the calendar picture today in the town right over thr Rhône -river, Tarascon. Every summer since the Middle ages there is a feast to remember the monster that terrorised Tarascon, the Tarasque.

Aujourd'hui j'étais au Beaucaire pour aider des chers amis à déménager de Beaucaire à Nîmes. C'est pourquoi j'ai choisi l'image de la ville à côté, Tarascon. Chaque été depuis le Moyen Age on fête là-bas le Tarasque, le monstre mythique de la ville.

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT III

2010-12-03T09:21:00.000+01:00

Vierge, Cathédrale Notre-Dames des Doms, Avignon

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT II

2010-12-02T10:26:00.000+01:00

Vierge et l'enfant, Avignon

CALENDRIER DE L'AVENT

2010-12-01T22:54:00.001+01:00

I had a funny idea: a Provençal Christmas Calendar or a picture a day untill Christmas Eve. We'll see if I can keep it up...

J'ai subitement eu une idée bizarre: un calendrier d'Avent provençal ou un image par jour jusqu'à la veille de Noël. On verra si j'arrive au bout...

LA CAMPAGNE AIXOISE

2010-11-28T11:02:00.000+01:00

These past two weeks I've been near Aix-en-Provence. It is hard to believe that so near to a buzzling town you can find a true French countryside. We've had mostly a gloriously sunny autumn weather and I've been to wonderful long walks in these shaded lanes.

There still are pastures and fields less than a half an hour from the town center. And old manor houses complete with pretty gardens, though more and more new houses are making their appearance in this very sought after residencial area.

J'ai passé ces deux dernières semaines près d'Aix-en-Provence. J'ai profité du superbe temps d'automne pour faire des longues promenades sur les petites routes qui traversent la campagne. Quel plaisir et l'étonnement de trouver une vraie campagne, des prairies et des champs, tout près du coeur de la ville.

FRIDAY FLOWERS

2010-11-12T18:50:00.000+01:00

Another bouquet from the garden to wish you a happy weekend!

Bon weekend tout le monde!

THIS TIME OF YEAR...

2010-11-10T15:36:00.000+01:00

...I need to attach a bell on the band of my dog because the hunters are out there. They seem to like exceedingly the vines where we love to roam in the sunny days.

C'est la saison pour attacher une clochette au cou de ma petite Nina parce que les chasseurs affectionnent tout particulièrement les vignes où nous aimons nous promener les journées ensoleillées.

FRIDAY FLOWERS

2010-11-05T11:22:00.000+01:00

With these roses I gathered from our yard and put into a vase we found beside the glass recyckling container I wish you a good weekend!

Bon weekend avec ces roses du jardin!

INDIAN SUMMER

2010-10-28T17:58:00.000+02:00

Mornings are already frosty but daytime is still very warm and lovely and the golden sun lightens up the atmosphere. I am a daughter of the Autumn, I was born in September. And I do love to walk my dog in the vineyards that are slowly turning red.

Je suis une fille de l'Automne, j'adore me promener dans les vignes rougissantes avec le chien.

NATURE IN PROVENCE: THE OLIVE TREE

2010-10-27T10:04:00.003+02:00

What could be more symbolique of Provence than the olive tree, Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea? Of course it grows all over the Mediterranean region, but for me what the cypress is for Toscana the olive tree is for Provence.

I don't much care for the olive fruit on it's own but I use a lot of olive oil, so important to the Mediterranean diet, and I love to spread a true recipe from Provence, tapenade, a paste that is a mix of olives, anchovis and capers, on a slice of bread. Delicious for a snack or an apetizer.

Our very young olive tree

Le symbol de la Provence: l'olivier.

SNAPSHOT FROM THE VINES

2010-10-19T14:26:00.000+02:00

Autumn's last roses are still blooming brightly. Isn't this a romantic view over vines and roses?

If you don't know allready you might like to know why does one frequently see rosebushes beside the vine. The roses and the vine suffer from the same diseases. So, if the rosebushes are affected it is time to treat the vines.

Quel paysage magnifique sur les vignobles et les dernières roses de l'automne. Je suppose que tout le monde sait pourquoi les vignerons cultivent les rosiers à côtè des vignes? Les rosiers et les vignes attrapent les mêmes maladies. Donc, si vos rosiers se portent mal, il est temps de traiter vos vignes!

WEEKEND IN THE LUBERON

2010-10-17T21:45:00.000+02:00

This weekend we were on a wineyard...

near the charming village of Goult in the Luberon.

Ce weekend nous avons été sur un vignoble, près du charmant village de Goult dans le Luberon.

PHONE SNAPSHOTS

2010-10-06T14:36:00.001+02:00

First walk with the dog in new surroundings. It's much hillier than the flatness of Camargue. I only had my phone with me, the pictures aren't great.

Première ballade dans le nouveau paysage. Beaucoup plus de collines que dans la très plate Camargue. Je n'avais que mon téléphone dans la poche, donc les images ne sont pas extraordinaires.

PARADIS

2010-09-26T19:34:00.000+02:00

I'm in Heaven, we have A GARDEN!

Je suis au paradis, nous avons un jardin!

There are roses...

Il y a des roses...

and more to come...

et plus à venir...

and oleanders (exactly the shade of red I love)...

et des lauriers, exactement le couleur de rouge que j'adore...

and everywhere these yellow ones.

et partout ces fleurs jaunes.

I'm dreaming of a vegetable patch behind that olive tree.

Je rêve d'un potager derrière cet olivier.

SAYING FAREWELL

2010-09-22T23:21:00.003+02:00

Plage de Piémanson, Salin de Giraud, Camargue

Today, as the weather was magnificent, a real Indian Summer day, I went to my favorite beach, Plage de Piémanson near Arles to say goodbye to the sea. Tomorrow it is officially the first day of Autumn and I believe that the weather is accordingly becoming cooler. So the days spent at the sea will become few. And anyhow this weekend we will be moving farther from the sea. Maybe I'll find a new beach, easier to reach from the new village.

A farewell to the Camargue and its flamingos too.

J'ai profité de la journée magnifique d'aujourd'hui, le dernier jour avant le début officiel de l'automne, pour aller à la plage et dire au revoir à la mer. Je n'aurais surement pas l'occasion d'y retourner cette année puisque le temps se rafraichit et en même temps nous déménageons plus loin de la mer. Au revoir le sable, au revoir les flamants roses.

MOVIN'

2010-09-21T09:23:00.000+02:00

Autumn is here. These are the last roses our Papa Meilland rosebushes gave us. We are moving house this week and I think I'll prune the roses hoping they will revive in the new garden. Have been too busy to take a look at all the photos I've been taking, I hope I'll get some time to put some on line after the big circus.

Earliet this summer I got this lovely old bicycle, soon I'll be discovering the new region on this beauty.

L'automne est arrivé mais je ne suis pas nostalgique. J'ai atteint une nouvelle décennie, à partir de cette semaine j'aurais une nouvelle région à découvrir, cet hiver j'entamerai une nouvelle formation et derrière une nouvelle carrière. La vie est belle!

AFTER THE RAIN

2010-09-10T01:08:00.000+02:00

Yesterday morning I saw our new village in the tv news. It has been rainig heavily and they were talking about flooding in the village. Nice. I'm impatient to move there!

The petanque field in Fourques was a swimming pool the next morning.

But in fact the house, a new, modern pavillon was fine, dry and clean. It is going to be a new life and I suppose I'm going to miss Arles, Camargue, the sea...

But we have a car and can get around. And there are a lot of nice little towns to discover nearby.

So, a few more pictures from Fourques, to say good bye. In two weeks' time we will be gone.

It is a start of a new life for us, a new region to discover. And I will be taking a new step toward fullfilling my dream this winter since I have been accepted in agricultural school, learning medicinal plants. So, I'm afraid there will be a lot more pictures of plants here.

Fourques church.

Puisque nous allons bientôt partir du village de Fourques je mets encore quelques photos en ligne. Dans quelques semaines nous serons des habitants d'un petit village près d'Alés. Une nouvelle maison, une nouvelle région à découvrir, une nouvelle vie. Pour moi aussi, j'ai été admise en formation des plantes médicinales. Il y aura surement encore plus de photos de plantes ici.

WHEN IN ARLES DO AS THE ROMANS DO

2010-09-03T10:27:00.001+02:00

These Roman legionaries were a part of the Roman Week a week ago. It's a fun occasion, especially to children where there is lots to see, to do and to taste. It goes on every August in the old Roman city of Arles and is highly recommended by me to the child in every one of you!

I had the chance to take some pictures of the military doing their drill in the Espace Van Gogh, freshly painted in the colours seen in a picture by Vincent Van Gogh of this former hospital building.

Ces legionnaires faisaient des manoeuvres pendant la Semaine romaine à Arles il y a une semaine. Il y a beaucoup à voir, à faire et à experimenter tous les ans au mois d'Août. Ces photos sont prises à l'Espace Van Gogh, peint aux couleurs du tableau que le peintre Vincent Van Gogh a fait de cette ancienne batisse de l'hôpital.

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-08-31T22:19:00.001+02:00

La grande Mosquée de Paris

SNAPSHOTS FROM VERSAILLES

2010-08-31T00:51:00.000+02:00

When in Versailles I wanted to see something I discovered only recently: le Potager du Roy. It was the fruit and vegetable garden that produced all the good things on king's table. It was created in the 17th century and was located right beside the castle garden. But today, if you want to visit it, you need to enter on the other side, in front of the Cathdral (below, behind the garden wall).

The garden reproduces different methods of fruit culture. What I liked about this garden is the way the vegetables and the flowers are mixed together. It' s a really enchanting place to visit.

J'ai profité de mon passage à Versailles pour visiter un endroit dont j'ai entendu parler seulement récemment: le Potager du Roy. Le Potager servait à produire les fruits et les légumes pour la table du roi . C'est un endroit enchanteur et mérite bien la visite.

SNAPSHOTS FROM VERSAILLES

2010-08-30T09:31:00.000+02:00

I've been having some technical and other problems and now I'm running late with the photos I took in Paris. To tell the truth I didn't spend much time in the ordinary tourist haunts, except at the English bookstore on Rue de Rivoli and the night out with my daughter at the Louvre (see below) and the Tour Eiffel (no good pictures of the sparkling Tour).

Instead I spent my two own days allmost in the country: I really have become a country girl. Whenever I can I flee to be among the flowers and the bees.

So the first day off I went to Versailles. And in Versailles I didn't visit the castle but took a little tour of the gardens and went to another place...

J'ai eu quelques problèmes qui font que je suis très en retard avec les photos de Paris. D'ailleurs, j'ai guerre des photos de Paris. Je me suis rendue compte que je suis devenue une vraie fille des campagnes et dès que j'arrive dans une ville je cherche tout de suite les fleurs. Ici les jardins de Versailles.

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-08-19T11:25:00.001+02:00

PARIS BY NIGHT :

Pyramide du Louvre

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-08-18T10:30:00.001+02:00

Foire du Trône, le jardin des Tuileries

I'm in Paris again for a few days, staying with a dear old friend. Hoping to have some time to visit some of the lovely gardens and parcs here.

For this time I only have my old pocket camera with me. And it's raining. So the pictures won't be wonderfull. But still, it's Paris!

Pour quelques jours à Paris de nouveau, chez une chère "vieille" amie. Munie seulement de mon ancien appareil photographique. En plus, il pleut. Les images ne seront donc pas extraordinaires. Par contre, je les aurais sur le blog très vite. Contrairement à tous les jolies photos que j'ai prises ces dernières semaines avec mon nouvel appareil et qui sommeillent toujours sur la carte mémoire...

AVIGNON THEATRE FESTIVAL

2010-07-20T17:43:00.001+02:00

The annual Avignon theatre festival has begun. Days and nights of spectacular representations in the theatres, cinemas, churches, all kinds of venues and in the street.

A lot of noise, colour and inventive marketing in the mids of enormous crowds of turists and locals. A must see if you are in the neighbourhood.

ROSY WATER

2010-07-09T08:05:00.000+02:00

Salins de Giraud, Arles

A LA MER

2010-07-07T12:05:00.001+02:00

Plage de Salins, Arles, Juillet 2010

LAST POSTCARD FROM PARIS (FOR THE MOMENT)

2010-06-23T13:57:00.000+02:00

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-06-22T19:07:00.000+02:00

And suddenly I remember I'm in Paris...

Subitement je me rappelle que je suis à Paris...

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-06-21T21:25:00.000+02:00

I saw this wonderfull exhibition of Yves Saint Laurent's work at the Petit Palais in Paris.

Une exposition magnifique du travail d' Yves Saint Laurent au Petit Palais à Paris.

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-06-19T14:14:00.002+02:00

Sweet macaroons...

POSTCARDS FROM PARIS

2010-06-18T22:32:00.000+02:00

Charles de Gaulle

Seventy years ago general Charles de Gaulle gave a great speech on BBC to call the French to resistance against the German invador. Today France is celebrating the Appeal of the 18th of June.

Il y a soixante dix ans général de Gaulle a lancé son fameux appel du 18 Juin sur les ondes de BBC.

CLICHE

2010-06-18T09:00:00.000+02:00

Leaving behind Avignon lounging in the midday warmth I flew on the back of the fast TGV train, cutting through green pastures and fog to Paris where it is raining - what a cliché!

Partie d'Avignon se prélassant dans la chaleur du midi j'ai coupé sur le dos d'un TGV à travers les pâturages verdoyants et les nappes de brouillard pour arriver à Paris où il pleut - quel cliché!

A DILEMMA

2010-06-18T08:52:00.000+02:00

A word in vogue at the moment in France - because of a new tv reality show. But no, I'm won't be talking about the tv show: I'm really not into the reality tv and not even that much into tv. Give me a book any day (or internet). My dilemma for some time has been this blog. What to do with it? I find I haven't got enought time to keep up with both blogs of mine. So I have been reflecting on the fate of this one.

Not working this summer, for various reasons, I have more time to think about it and to do something about it, too. I think I need to streamline this blog and instead of trying to translate all of my Finnish blog I'll concentrate on photos with just a little commentary. This means that a lot of my texts on life in France in general and in Provence particularly won't feature here. As won't appear all the texts on plants and other topics of interest to me.

I'll be putting links to my other blogs on the right side bar where you can see the nex topics as they appear on other blogs. I know most of you won't understand the texts in Finnish but you might like to see the photos none the less. By the way, I find that is the transmission of photos on the blogger that takes the largest part of the time of publishing the messages. If I need to choose between putting up images or translating texts I think the photos might be more interesting than my blah blah.

So, from hereafter, it will be more like "postcards from France" over here. And I prove my point at once, starting a series of Postcards from Paris where I am to see my daughter this weekend. And by the way, if you have an idea about where my beautiful daughter, a student of fashion and fluent in three languages, French, English and Finnish could find work for two months this summer, don't hesitate to tip me in the commentaries!

Un mot en vogue en ce moment en France, le dilemme. Mais rassurez-vous, je ne vous parlerai pas de la télé-réalité. Pour moi, c'est ce blog le dilemme depuis un certain temps. Je n'ai pas assez de temps pour écrire mes deux blogs, en finnois et celui-ci, le bilingue. Traduire tout ce que j'écris en trois langue s'est revelé impossible.

Donc, après réflexion je vais simplifier ce blog et ne traiterai plus de beaucoup de sujets apparaissant sur mon blog en finnois. Je mettrai un lien dans la barre à droite pour signaler les nouveautés dans l'autre blog - car même je sais que la majorité d'entre vous ne comprendra pas le texte, peut-être que quelques photos vous intéresseront. En ce qui concerne ce blog-ci, je vais me concentrer ici plus sur les photos refletant la vie en France. Dans un style "cartes postales de la France". Et je commence de suite avec quelques cartes postales de Paris où je suis pour quelques jours voir ma fille.

ALTERAROSA

2010-05-14T21:30:00.004+02:00

This weekend you can admire the queen of flowers, the rose, in all it's forms in Avignon. The roses are to be seen in the majestic surroundings of the Papal Palace. A must see to all lovers of roses.

Ce weekend on peut admirer la reine des fleurs, la rose, dans tous ses états à Avignon. Elles se présentent dans le cadre magnifique du Palais des Papes. Une exposition qui vaut le coup d'oeil.

PREMIER MAI

2010-05-01T12:39:00.002+02:00

The first of May it is customary in France to offer lilies of the valley as a token of good luck, so here they are: good luck to all the readers!

Comme en France nous avons la coutume d'offrir des muguets porte-bonheur le premier mai j'offre à tous mes lecteurs ces quelques brins virtuels.

FIRST SEABATH OF THE YEAR

2010-04-27T22:23:00.001+02:00

As usual the cold winter months have suddenly turned summery. There has been a flower explotion in the nature. To a Finn temperatures of 25 degrees celsius and more are summer and it would seem we will be getting even more in a day or two.

The beautiful afternoon had us wondering on to the beach. We found a new beach between Sambuc and Salin de Giraud, in Camargue, at the end of a veeery bumpy road. My dog loved the little creatures in the water. My feet loved the invigorating salt water.

Première bain d'eau de mer de la saison. On a trouvé un nouveau plage entre Sambuc et Salin de Giraud, en Camargue, après une route trèeees défoncée. Mon chien a adoré les créatures marines. Mes pieds ont trouvé delicieux le massage par les vagues.

RED WINE

2010-03-25T21:37:00.001+01:00

After more than twenty years passed in France I’m still a pretty bad “Frenchwoman”: I don’t much care for wine. At least I don’t know a lot about it and I have a pretty “bad” taste in wine, I mainly drink rosé wine – and champagne, of course.

Last Saturday I found a red wine that suited my taste buds. It is light, fruity and “womanly”, a good wine for summer evenings, to be drunk chilled as a rosé. It might not suite a proper wine lover but I liked it a lot. I found this treasure at the Domaine de La Brillane, near Aix-en-Provence. This vineyard was bought by a British gentleman who made his first career in the City before becoming a French vigneron in 2000.

They produce four different wines of which the lightest and my favorite is Le B - Cuvée de Printemps. Those who like richer red wines find them as well. And the best of it is that they are produced organically. They don’t produce a lot, so you can find the wines at their cave in Coutheron, near Aix or in some restaurants and wine merchants in some English speaking countries.

I had the chance to tour the Domaine last Saturday as a kick off of a lovely day spent among some lovely ladies, all Finnish bloggers living in the Southern France. After a copious picnic at the Domaine we headed to town and strolled in the streets of Aix. I get allways nostalgic when in Aix since it is a town I love and know well since I have lived in it or near it for twenty years.

Unfortunately I forgot my camera in my “weekend cottage”, so the photos hear come from the web pages of the Domaine de La Brillane. And they do a bed and breakfast, too. To wake up in this scenery!

On the other hand I didn’t forget the camera two weeks ago. For once we spent the weekend in my current home town and we had a marvelous weather. Since I’m feeling lazy I won’t put the photos here but you can see them here and here. I realize you might not understand the Finnish texts but there isn’t much to be said about these pretty, little towns. Vaison-la-Romaine has both Roman and Medieval heritage and a very famous Roman bridge over the Ouvèze. Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux doesn’t have three castles, not even one, but it has a pretty little Medieval and Renaissance old town. Suze-la-Rousse has a medieval castle with a spectacular Renaissance court yard. The castle houses a Wine university, after all we are totally surrounded by vineyards.

UNE VRAI IMMORTELLE

2010-03-17T20:45:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow, Thursday, the sixth woman ever becomes a member of the Académie française or as they are called an immortal. Simone Veil is a French politician, minister, chairman of the European Parliament and one of the favorite persons of the French. She drove courageously an abortion law while health minister but above all she is known to be a witness of the Shoah since she was deported to Auschwitch when she was only 16 and was the only one of her family to survive. She told her story in 2007 in her book Une vie.

MORNING PROMENADE

2010-03-08T15:59:00.001+01:00

Saturday morning was the sort of beautiful winter day, windy and cold but sunny and with a wonderfull blue sky that one would wish all the winter days in Provence to be like. To celebrate the good weather I took a walk to Arles.

Le matin de samedi le temps était magnifique, un temps froid et venteux mais ensoleillé et avec un ciel d'un bleu éclatant. J'en ai profité pour faire une promenade dans Arles. Pour une fois j'ai pris mon appareil photo avec moi et je peux donc vous convier avec moi pour cette promenade.

Arles is a town I like a lot. It has a sort of faded, provincial charm, especially in winter when the tourists are rare. I love to walk in it's allies, looking at the pretty little details one finds everywhere. And for once I thought about taking my camera with me, so I can share the experience with you.

J'aime beaucoup Arles. La ville a un charme un peu vieillot et passé, surtout en hiver, quand la plupart des touristes l'a abandonné.

In summer, Arles has a lot of visitors but in winter it is nicely calm. It still has a lot to offer, especially for those who can see. The Japanese tourists are drawn to Arles for the fame of the painter Van Gogh.

Pendant l'été les touristes remplissent ses rues mais tout le long de l'année elle attire surtout des touristes Japonais, intéressés par le mémoire du peintre Van Gogh.

On Sunday we had a surprise coming:

Mais dimanche une surprise nous attendais:

A new snowfall, more than 20 centimeters of snow in Arles. It is very rare this late in the year, it must be some twenty years we haven't seen it.

Une nouvelle chute de neige, très rare si tard dans l'année.

TEASER PHOTOS

2010-02-21T19:00:00.005+01:00

I'm finally loading photos I've been meaning to show for some time allready, on an exhibition that you can still see in Arles until next September. And it is an exhibition worth visiting if ever you have the occasion to go to Arles: Ceasar, Rhône for memoryat the Arles Antique Museum.

Je mets finalement en ligne quelques photos sur une exposition qu'on pourra voir à Arles jusqu'en Septembre prochain. C'est une exposition qui vaut le coup d'oeil si vous avez la possibilité de visiter Arles: César, le Rhône pour mémoire au Musée d'Arles Antique.

It shows pieces found in the bottom of the Rhône River, at the height of the town of Arles. You can see everyday objects brought by barges to the citizens of Arles, then Arelate and magnificent pieces of art, of which the one bust of Ceasar supposed to be contemporary and the most like of all his busts.

On peut y voir des pièces trouvées au fond de la rivière Rhône à la hauteur de la ville d'Arles. Il s'agit des objects de tous les jours ammenées par bateaux pour les citoyens d'Arelate romaine et aussi des grandes pièces d'art dont le plus fameux, une buste de César, apparemment contemporaine du grand homme et la plus resemblante.

A statue of a slave.

Une statue d'esclave.

A young woman's head.

La tête d'une jeune femme.

The great Ceasar.

Le grand César.

FEBRUARY AND IT’S VEGETATION

2010-02-21T15:18:00.006+01:00

The winter goes on and on, we are starting to be tired of it. The first bouquets of mimosa are sold in the shops and the markets but the cloudy skies and rain doesn’t give the impression of spring beeing close at hand.

The other weekend we made a little tour and found this lovely little shop in Mouriès. They sell amongst coffee, tea and other gift articles, dried plants for infusions, la tisane. They have a very large selection and they are very knowledgeable whence the name of the place, l’Herbier des Alpilles.

For this February’s vegetable I have chosen the Jerusalem artichoke, helianthus tuberosus in latin or topinambour in French. It is a near relation to the sunflower and has pretty yellow flowers too. But it is the root part that is eaten. It is one of those veggies used before and during the wars but forgotten afterwards but fashionable again today.

And this month’s herb is thyme because it is antiseptic and good against flus and colds. Yes, I’ve catched a throat virus. So, I am trying thyme’s properties to clear the throat and calm the coughs. I think it is working. The thyme is good also for digestive pains. It can be used in infusions, steaming, compresses etc. And it is a good spice, too. Of course, the best is the provençal thyme !

ON A RAINY DAY

2010-02-17T17:42:00.004+01:00

I washed my windows.... J'ai lavé mes fenêtres un jour de pluie...

to hang my new curtains found at Emmaus.

pour mettre mes nouveaux rideaux trouvés chez Emmaüs.

NEIGE !

2010-01-10T05:36:00.008+01:00

So, I just came back from my native Finland to find this:

Je suis revenue de ma Finlande natale pour trouver ceci:

Snow had covered large portions of Provence in a wintry cloak.

La neige a couvert une bonne partie de la Provence sous un duvet blanc.

We don't really think about snow when we talk of Provence but it happens almost every year that we have a day or two of snow. But of course it never lasts long since most of the time the temperatures are above zero in the day time, at least in the southern parts of Provence. Snow is more frequent and stays longer in the mountains. In Aix, Arles or Avignon, however, it is rare and causes a lot of perturbations since there is no equipment to deal with it. The children love it, since it gives them a whole new playground to play in and an excuse for not going to school.

On ne pense pas à la neige quand on pense à la Provence. Et pourtant cela arrive presque chaque année qu'il y ait une chute de neige, même dans nos latitudes. Et chaque fois quand cela arrive, c'est la bagaille puisqu'il n'y a pas assez d'equipement pour s'en débarasser. Au moins les enfants l'adorent, cela leur donne une nouvelle attraction pour jouer et une excuse pour ne pas aller à l'école!

For comparison, here you have a photo of Finland (if you want to see more, go and have a look behind the window at the right side of this blog).

Pour comparer, voici une image de la Finlande (si vous voulez en voir plus, voyez derrière la fenêtre à la droite de ce blog).

RUNNING LATE

2010-01-04T19:50:00.003+01:00

December has allready given way to January and to a new year, we are in 2010. I have taken a little leave from this blog and from France, visiting my family and my winter-clad home country. I have some photos waiting of a few exhibitions I visited before my winter vacation and I will be posting them soon. In the mean while I wish all a happy new year. If you want to see where I am at the moment do visit my other blog at http://fleurdelavande.blogspot.com/

Le décembre a déjà cédé la place au janvier et nous sommes en 2010. J'ai pris un petit conges de ce blog et de la France, en visitant mon pays d'origine et ma famille. Il me reste des photos à poster des expos que j'ai visité avant mon départ et je le ferai bientôt. En attendant, je souhaite à tous une bonne nouvelle année. Si vous souhaitez suivre mes pérégrinations veuillez visiter mon autre blog à http://fleurdelavande.blogspot.com/

HALLOWEEN VS TOUSSAINT

2009-11-01T09:31:00.003+01:00

In France too, Halloween is gaining in popularity. Specially in families with little children it has become the custom to buy some Halloween –stuff that the supermarkets gorge in late October and the night of the 31st the children do the rounds in the village to collect some bonbons, just like in the US.

But the traditional French jour férié, holiday, is of course Toussaint, the All Saints Day. It is a day to remember the passed loved ones. All families take chrysanthemums to graveyards. In France this magnificent flower is totally identified with the dead. It is extremely rare to see it used as a decorative plant.

Fortunately I am not French and I can shock passers-by with my beautiful chrysanthemum on my windowsill. Chrysanthemum originates from China and was considered there the emperor’s flower. The people couln’t have them in their homes. It’s golden hews reminded the people the emperor’s status. How nice to be able to admire my favorite golden pompoms not fearing the emperor’s anger!

En France aussi la Halloween devient chaque fois plus populaire, surtout dans les familles avec enfants. Fin octobre les magasins dégoulinent des marchandises Halloween et le soir du 31 les enfants font les rondes dans le village pour réclamer des bonbons.

Mais le vrai jour férié traditionnel français est la Toussaint, le premier novembre. Cette une journée pour se rappeler les morts. On amène des chrysanthèmes aux cimetières pour fleurir les tombes des êtres aimés. Ici le chrysanthème est considéré une plante des morts qu’il est très rare de voir utilisée en décoration. Je vais quand même choquer mes voisins en plaçant mon chrysanthème favorit, aux grand pompons dorés, sur ma fenêtre.

Le chrysanthème est originaire de la Chine. Là-bas il était considéré comme une fleur dédiée aux empereurs. Il était interdit au peuple d’en avoir chez soi. Ces couleurs dorées rappellait bien sûr la grandeur de l’empereur. Qu’il est bon de pouvoir l’admirer sur ma fenêtre sans avoir peur de la colère de l’empereur!

STILL ALIVE

2009-10-31T12:03:00.002+01:00

I know, I know, I haven’t been very productive these last weeks – on the blog-front, at least. When writing comes after work, administrative problems, family and friends, it is sure to be neglected.

The weather has been magnificent untill now. As the Canadians say, we have had un été indien, an Indian Summer. Which makes it so much nicer to work outside, in the countryside, thought it might be bad for the nature which doesn’t know anymore if it is spring or autumn. Some plants have started to flower anew and will be fragile when the frost sets in.

Still, the autumn has finally creeped on us and has coloured the nature with it’s lovely, vibrant colours. It makes it heavenly to work in this decor.

But it seems there is a saying that if the weather is good in october it will certainly be awfull in November. We shall see very quickly !

A minister has launched a discussion in France to know what it is to be French. I could write him to give one point of view: A few days ago I was sitting in the minibus that takes us to and from the fields where we are working, silently laughing. What do you think was the discussion between tired workmen? Food ! I can’t imagine Finnish workmen after their workday sitting in a minibus exchanging food recipes. Isn’t good food and art of cooking one of the cornerstones of French identity?

Cela fait encore un bon moment que je n’ai pas écrit sur ce blog, je sais. Quand l’écriture passe après le travail (fatiguant mais enrichissant, en connaissances, pas en argent !), les problèmes administratifs, la famille, les amis etc. c’est sûr qu’elle est négligée.

Le temps a été très beau jusqu’à présent, un vrai été indien. L’automne s’approche quand même silencieusement et colorie la nature de ses belles couleurs. Mais ne dit-on pas par ici que si octobre est beau, novembre sera pourri ? On verra bien vite !

Pour apporter ma contribution à la reflexion sur l’identité nationale je vous raconte cette petite anecdote: j’étais assise dans le camion qui nous emmène aux et ramène des champs tous les jours et j’écoutais la dicussion des jardiniers fatigués de leur journée de travail. D’après vous quel était le sujet de conversation? La bouffe! Dans quel autre pays des ouvriers fatigués echanges des recettes de cuisine à la fin de la journée? Pas en Finlande, c’est sûr. La cuisine et la nourriture, voilà un fondement de la francitude!

EMMAUS

2009-10-31T11:13:00.003+01:00

Yesterday it was 60 years since l’Abbé Pierre founded the first Emmaus-community near Paris. It was destined to help men living in the streets, providing them shelter and work. Since I have been in close contact with one Emmaus-community I could’t let pass this date without a little note.

Depuis quelques années je regarde de près la vie d’une communauté Emmaüs. Pour cette raison je n’ai pas pu passer à côté du 60ème anniversaire de la première communauté Emmaüs en France sans un mot.

L’Abbé Pierre who died two years ago founded the communities in a time France was (allready) suffering from a lack of housing for the poor. « Unfortunately » the organisation is thriving today, because the need for help and housing is still enormous. L’Abbé Pierre is one the most loved persons in France and his life work has acquired new forms and has spread internationally. Is there an Emmaus shop near you that you could visit ? "Ne pas subir, toujours agir", don’t accept, act, is Emmaus’ latest leading idea.

"Ne pas subir, toujours agir", tel est le mot d’ordre d’Emmaüs aujourd’hui. Malheureusement » Emmaüs se porte toujours très bien, c'est-à-dire que la manque des logements et la pauvreté sont toujours actuelles en France. Y a-t’il un magasin Emmaüs près de vous pour porter votre contribution à l’œuvre de l’Abbé Pierre ?

NOSTALGIE

2009-08-30T21:12:00.003+02:00

Ce samedi j’ai fait un voyage nostalgique à Aix-en-Provence, la ville de résidence d’antant. J’ai dû passer presque la moitié de ma vie dans cette ville. Alors, chaque fois que j’y retourne, c’est comme si je rentrais chez moi, malgré que j’aie déménagé depuis plus d’un an et que je n’ai certainement été à Aix plus de deux fois depuis.

Cette fois je suis allée à Aix pour voir des anciens et des nouveaux amis. En même temps j’en ai profité d’être en ville pour voir la nouvelle exposition du Musée Granet : Picasso – Cézanne. Il y a deux ans le Musée Granet était réformé pour accueillir l’exposition Cézanne, pour fêter le grand homme de la ville. L’expo a attiré beaucoup de monde et a établi la réputation du Musée Granet comme établissement culturel.

Cette année l’homme du moment s’appelle Picasso. Il y a plusieures expositions Picasso dans diverses villes et d’autres établissements ayant des œuvres de Picasso profitent de la mode pour attirer du monde avec son nom. Personellement je suis artistiquement incorrecte et pas un grand fan de Picasso mais j’ai trouvé l’exposition assez intéressante. Elle met bien en parallèle le travail de Cézanne et de Picasso et montre l’influence de Cézanne sur Picasso.

En plus de ces agapes, je me suis promener dans les rues de la vieille ville et visité ma librairie anglaise favorite, le Book in Bar. Je ne peux jamais en sortir sans au moins un nouveau livre. Pour finir une dernière tradition : un smoothie sur le Cours Mirabeau. Quelle journée agréable!

This saturday I went for a nostalgic journey to my old hometown, Aix-en-Provence. I have lived almost half of my life in that town, so every time I go back I feel like coming home, even if I have moved away for over a year ago and I haven’t been back for more than two times.

This time I went to see old and new friends. But since I was there I also went to see the must exhibition : Cézanne – Picasso at Musée Granet. Two years ago the Museum was redone to house the magnificent exhibition on Cézanne, the great son of Aix. It was a big success and established the Museum in the art world.

This year the big name is Picasso. Several cities house exhibitions on him and establishments that have Picasso’s works profit from the trend to market themselves with his name. Personally I must be artistically incorrect because I don’t really care for Picasso. But I must say the exhibition was rather interesting, establishing parallels between the work of Cézanne and Picasso and showing the influence Cézanne had on Picasso.

After all this I went for a stroll in the old town and visited my favorite bookshop, Book in Bar, a place I can never leave without buying at least one book. And before leaving I sacrificed to an old tradition : a smoothie at Cours Mirabeau. A lovely day.

WEEK END IS HERE !

2009-08-08T18:11:00.009+02:00

My first week of work after my leg injury is over. It went better than I expected, but it must be said the overseers were cool with me. I got only light work to do and my legs didn’t hurt much.
I had allready been missing the work, early mornings smelling the mist, toiling in the soil – gardening must be addictive.
Still, it’s lovely to come to our quite, little village and get my feet up on the bench under the cool vine. Nothing much to do this ween-end, saturday a stroll on the Arles market, sunday morning a walk on the coast, my feet need hydrotherapy. A quiet and relaxing week-end in sight.

Ma première semaine de travail après mon entorse de pied est derrière moi. J’avais un peu peur mais tout s’est très bien passé. Il faut dire que les jardiniers en chef ont été très cool et mon travail assez leger.
En plus, le travail, l’odeur de la rosée du matin et le grattage du terreau m’avait déjà beaucoup manqués. Cela a tout l’air d’être addictif.
Cependant il est divin de pouvoir me rendre à ma petite villégiature de week-end après le brouhaha de la ville et les fatigues de la semaine et mettre mes pieds sur un banc sous la fraicheur de la tonnelle. Ce sera un week-end calme et tranquil, samedi matin un petit tour au marché d’Arles et dimanche une promenade à la plage. Mes pieds ont besoin d’hydrothérapie.

Or at least that was the plan. But after the afternoon siesta we got up to cars everywhere in the center of our little village. What IS going on here ?
The unmistakable sound of the boules gave me a clue: un concours de boules.
It goes on at les Lices, the straight boulodrome, in the middle of the village, right in front of our house. It is shaded by platanes, plane trees, symbolic of Southern France.
On the street lining the boulodrome there are two bars. The first one has allready installed the ox-red buvette, bar table in front of it in view of next week-ends’ village fete. It will be a very « toro affair » again.

En tout cas, c’était le plan. Mais samedi après-midi, après la sieste on s’est révéillé à un boucan pas possible et des voitures partout dans le petit centre de notre village. MAIS QUE SE PASSE-T-IL ? Les sons familiers des boules m’ont renseigné : c’est un concours de boules. Les Lices se trouvant juste en face de notre maison on ne rate jamais rien de ce qui se passe dans le village. Le boulodrome se trouve sur les Lices, sous les platanes qui produisent un ombre bienfaisant au-dessus des joueurs pendant les chauds après-midi d’été. A côtè du boulodrome se trouve les deux bars du village, le centre névralgique du village. Devant le premier bar on voit déjà les buvettes rouge-sang de toro qui ont été sorties pour la fête du week-end suivant. Cela sera une affaire « très toro » encore.

JONAH LOMU IN MARSEILLES

2009-07-11T15:28:00.005+02:00

Jonah Lomu is the man that introduced me to rugby. Rugby is not a sport we Finnish know and though before the last World Cup a Finnish Team did play the qualification plays, most Finnish have never heard of it or know what it's about.

I still remember the day I first saw Jonah Lomu touring France with the All Blacks running, five French players holding his jersey like there was no problem. Nobody seemed to be able to stop him. But illness did and he hasn't been playing for many years since his kidney transplantation.

It all came back to me when I read in La Provence that Jonah Lomu is going to play with Marseilles-Vitrolles rugby team next winter. Of course he is not anymore in his youthfull best but his legendary name still attracts public - and advertisers. He explains his coming to Marseilles-Vitrolles by saying that it is the only club to ask him. Marseilles-Vitrolles plays in the 3rd division, meaning that it is not a first rate club but they will be making a bid to get to second division with the impact of Lomu's coming.

Jonah Lomu est l'homme qui m'a emmené à suivre le rugby. En Finlande on ne connaît pas du tout le rugby et donc c'etait un sport complètement etranger pour moi. Je me rappelle encore vividement le jour où j'ai vu Jonah Lomu jouer pour la première fois. Il etait en tournée en France avec les All Blacks et je l'ai vu emmener le ballon, avec cinq joueurs Franç ais pendus à son maillot comme si de rien etait. RIen ne semblait pouvoir l'arrêter mais la maladie a pu. Il a disparu des terrains et a subi une transplantation de rein.

Aujourd'hui il veut reprendre sa carrière sportive et à partir de septembre il jouera à Marseille-Vitrolles. Il explique son choix de club par le fait que Marseille-Vitrolles, qui joue dans la 3eme division, etait le seul club à croire en lui. Certes, il n'a plus sa forme d'antan mais son nom légendaire attire toujours le public - et les annonceurs.

CHRISTIAN LACROIX

2009-07-10T17:23:00.002+02:00

As an allmost inhabitant of Arles and a lover of beauty I was appalled and surprised when I heard that the famous couturier Christian Lacroix is bankrupted. Lacroix who was born in Arles and has done a lot to his native town just showed his 45. and maybe last collection to a supportive public.
I don’t know if the economical crisis is to be blamed or if some bad decisions have been taken at the Maison Lacroix. It is true there are only about 200 women in the world that buy haute couture. But these days no couture house lives from the haute couture. Haute couture collections are the show case that attracts people to buy bags, scarfs, sunglasses and perfumes bearing the couturier’s name.
Personally, I don’t know if I would, had I the means, buy Lacroix clothes. But I admire his unique, bold and highly creative style. He is no couturier for the bling bling –searching nouveau riche (hello, Karl), his clothes are for the women with strong personality and daring. Even more importantly, Lacroix wanted to give a living to the small hands in all the specialised ateliers dealing with lace, sequins, embroidery, ferthers and skins that France has to offer to luxury industry and which are today in danger of disappearing.
To France luxury business is an important part of its economy and it should take care not to loose that specialised know how. The new French cultural minister, Mr. Frédéric Mitterrand (who happens to be former socialist president François Mitterrand’s nephew and the latest socialist addition to Sarkozy government) has allready promised to help to find a solution to Lacroix’s predicament. Fingers crossed !

En tant que presque habitant d’Arles et amoureuse de la beauté j’ai été surprise et choquée d’entendre que la Maison Lacroix a déposé le bilan. Lacroix qui est né à Arles et a beaucoup fait pour sa ville natale vient de montrer son 45eme et peut-être dernière collection avec le soutient de son public.
Je ne sais pas si c’est la crise économique qui est en cause ou s’il y a eu des erreurs faits dans l’administration de la maison. Il est vrai qu’il n’y a guère 200 femmes au monde qui s’achètent des robes haute couture. Mais cela fait bien longtemps que les maisons de haute couture ne vivent plus de la haute couture mais des parfums, sacs et écharpes griffés. Les défilés ne sont que des vitrines qui attirent ces clientes moins fortunées mais beaucoup plus nombreuses.
Personellement, je n’ai pas vraiment le style Lacroix. Mais j’admire son style personnel, unique, fort et très créatif. Il n’est pas un couturier pour les nouveaux riches en manque de reconnaissance et du bling bling (salut, Karl). Il fait des vêtements pour les femmes ayant une forte personnalité. En plus il tient à faire vivre tous ces ateliers spécialisés en broderies et autres artisanats sans lesquels il n’y aura plus d’industrie de luxe en France et qui sont en danger de disparaître.
Dans le monde entier la France est la patrie de l’industrie de luxe, elle n’a pas les moyens de la voir disparaître. Le nouveau ministre de la culture, Frédéric Mitterrand a déjà promis de chercher une solution pour sauver la Maison Lacroix. Croisons les doigts.

PAYSAGES

2009-07-07T22:46:00.006+02:00

Still glued to my sofa. I am looking at the Tour de France at tv and going through old photos.

Toujours clouée sur mon canapé. Je regarde le Tour à la télé et je regarde mes vieux photos.

This is a photo from tv, yesterday the Tour was in Arles. It's nice to see the landscape one knows so well in tv and from up high since the tv puts a lot of resources like two helicopters in covering the Tour.

Cette photo vient de la télé. Le Tour était hier à Arles.

Next photo is from Nyons. This beautiful little olive grove is just next to the old town center.

La photo suivante de Nyons, une oliverai juste à côté de la vieille ville.

Soon it will replaced by ... this:

Bientôt à la place il y aura ceci:

I know towns grow and everybody needs to get a roof over their heads. But I would like to see cities take bigger care of leaving more green spaces in towns, specially in old town centers which are cruelly lacking in greenery.
Je sais que les villes grandissent et tout le monde doit s'abriter. Mais j'aimerais qu'on cherche plus à maintenir des espaces verts dans les villes, surtout les vieilles villes qui en manquent cruellement.

RED SPOTS

2009-07-05T19:05:00.000+02:00

Second day of the Tour de France and we Finnish can allready be happy: Jussi Veikkanen, a Finnish contestant has won the maillot blanc aux pois rouges, the red-spotted white shirt of the best climber, the first Finnish in the history of the competition.

La Finlande peut être contente: pour la première fois dans l'histoire de la Tour de France, un Finlandais, Jussi Veikkanen, a gagné le maillot blanc aux pois rouges.

TOUR DE FRANCE

2009-07-04T15:15:00.001+02:00

Today begins le Tour de France, the big bicycle race. This every year phenomena is a big event here in France. This year we have again American interest in the game too, since Lance Armstrong is back in the competition.
In France cyckling is not considered a leasure activity like we do, for instance in Finland. Here most bikers have serious competition sportswear and good bikes. The few bikers with leasure wear must be foreign tourists.
The big buckle, le grand boucle, is a very popular race. Some specialistist explained its succes by the fact that it is the last of professional sports competitions free for the public. And the public loves it, the race of course but also the events accompanying the race.
I would have a good opportunity this year to see it in real since the buckle is going to pass from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux, very near my hometown the 25 of July. The next day it will end in Paris, at the Champs Elysées.

MY NEW FRIENDS

2009-07-01T13:54:00.005+02:00

We are inseparable. They are called cannes anglaises or English canes in French

- I wonder what is so English about them?

It's a long time since I've been around here. I came back from Finland a month ago. I then took a part-time job on an organic vegetable farm. The combination of commencing heat and a rather bad physical condition have left me worn out every afternoon, taking long naps in bed with my dog that shamefully profits from my tiredness to do things that are normally forbidden...

Still, I like my work a lot and love the smells of early morning, the flowers (vegetables have some amazingly beautiful flowers too, have you ever seen the pretty mauve of the aubergine plant?), and working with plants and soil. Moreover, I am learning every day. I've done a course in growing flowers but vegetable growing has never been my forte. I am very concerned by environement issues too and love to learn the tricks of the trade of organic gardening with specialists. The other day we installed what is called in French auxiliares, the little bugs that will eat the naughty bugs that try to spoil our crops. We shall be seeing the results through this summer.

And then guess what? Last weekend we went to visit Daudet's windmill near Fontvieille with some new friends and I made a little, silly slip and now I am stuck in the sofa. One week forced holiday I could have done without but am trying to console myself by updating my blogs.

Un long silence. Je suis rentrée de Finlande il y a un mois. Depuis j'ai pris un travail comme jardinier dans un jardin maraicher biologique. Le travail est intéressant mais fatiguant car les chaleurs sont déjà là et ma condition physique de départ n'était pas excellente. J'ai passé les après-midi faisant le sieste avec Nina.

Mais je m'accroche car j'apprend énormement de choses tous les jours. En plus, j'adore l'ambiance, les odeurs de la nature du petit matin, les fleurs. J'aime avoir mes mains dans la terre et travailler avec des plantes. Comme je suis aussi très "verte" je veux apprendre tout ce que je peux de la lutte biologique.

Et puis, le weekend dernier nous sommes aller visiter le moulin de Daudet près de Fontvieille en compagnie de nouveaux amis et j'ai fait une chute stupide et maintenant je suis clouée sur le canapé - entorse de pied gauche. Une semaine de congès forcé; dans les champs avec les beguilles, ça le fait pas, comme disent les jeunes.

IT IS AN OUTRAGE!

2009-05-22T20:56:00.003+02:00

source: google

The European Commission has once again had one of those crazy ideas it is well known for. It has proposed to authorise accepting the blending of red and white wine to produce rosé. A cry of outrage has been sounded in France against this initiative, to be ratified (or not) in mid June. The rosé producers and the French government are lobbying heavily against such a horrid measure.
The French argue that making rosé is a whole technique on its own and the blending result will never be anywhere near the real thing. It is regarded as pure deceaving of clients. The French of course are afraid for their strategic place in wine producing. Indeed, France is the foremost producer of the rosé wine in the world. And more than 80 % of all French rosé wines come from Provence region. Up to three quarters of the wine produced in Provence is rosé. The Var is specially reputed for its rosé wines but there are some good wine coming from every part of Provence and the neighbouring Languedoc-Roussillon.
Rosé is also growing fast in French exports and doing well compared to other wines. Specially appreciated in summer it has become lately more a cult wine and less the cheap summer beveridge it used to be regarded. It is best chilled which suites the summer and goes with everything.
Personally I love rosé. I know the wine connoisseurs still regard rosé less sophisticated than the red or white but I like the light flavour and prefer it the whole year round. I know I haven't, during these 25 years passed in France, really acquired a wine culture. I am happy to drink, with moderation, what gives me pleasure. Like my food, my wine usually comes from my neighbourhood. I like the idea of locally produced food and drink. I hate those apples coming from Chile, pears from Brazil, strawberries from South Africa or what not. And though I am sure the antipodean wine is as good as any I prefer the one growing in my back yard. The only thing coming from the antipodes I appreciate are the rugby players - or what, ladies?

Vous, les lecteurs français connaissez sûrement déjà tous la dernière idée bizarre de la Commission Européenne: laisser appeler un melange de vin rouge et de vin blanc "rosé", comme si le rosé était un vulgaire mélange. Le rosé connaît un renouveau dans le monde et la France étant le pays leader sur ce marché il est évident qu'elle ne veut pas entendre parlé d'une telle déception des clients sur cette marchandise-phare.
Personellement je préfère de loin le rosé aux autres vins. Je sais que je manque de sophistication en vous l'avouant mais je reconnais gaiement manquer de la culture du vin - même après ces 25 années passées en France. Ainsi je bois le rosé tout au long de l'année et avec tout. De même je préfère de loin ceux de notre région. En effet, je ne comprend pas toutes ces pommes venant de Chili, poires du Brésil ou fraises d'Afrique du Sud. Je veux manger les produits du terroir et de même je préfère le vin qui pousse dans la proximité. La seule chose que j'apprecie venant des antipodes sont les joueurs de rugby, n'est-ce pas, les amies?

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

2009-05-20T20:17:00.008+02:00

Some time ago Vicky Archer, Australian author and blogger of this wonderful and provençal blog, spoke about the new ways of buying and consuming books. I have been confronted with these questions since my farther passed away last november. My farther, a great lover of books and reading, had constituted during his whole lifetime a magnificent and very varying library. His tastes were ecclectic and he never missed a chance to look at, consult and buy books, wherever he went. His library is not an investment though he had some old books, but a passion reflecting all his interests.

In my family's present conditions I might not be able to keep the appartement in Finland housing the collection and living abroad I don't think I can take all the books with me. So, though it brakes my heart to give the books away, in preparation for it I contacted a nice, young guy from the Finnish Bibliophiles' Society. He kindly offered to survey the collection and take to their yearly auction those books he felt would arrouse most interest. At least in that way they will go on living their lives, loved in somebody else's library. But for that reason I need now to take a look myself of the collection first to put aside those I want absolutely to keep. Quel chantier!

Talking with this young man we came to discuss the multiplicity of books in our lives. He told me his bold opinion that some books were better burned than kept since we had all the time more and more books, but less and less of them were really of value. An idea that first horrified me since I have been brought up in the love, nay, the adoration of books and have started a kind of collection myself, in a small way. I have been living for a long time in suitcases, moving here and there which has held back my collecting, since now and then I have been forced to give books away.

But this conversation and later Vicky's post started me thinking this dilemma and the new ways we have of acquering and reading books: e-books, internet bookshops and such. I have to admit that in the books we all posses, me, my parents and my daughter there are many of those which in some time will have no interest: travel books with old data and no beauty values, cheap paperbacks of more perishable literary value, school books and such. Thinking about the weight of all those books I would like to keep for informative reasons but without any artistic merit I started to think that in the end having such books that one reads just once or needs for their information only would be so much better in a digital form. But there will allways be - at least I hope - a lot of books that we love to look at, browse, smell the pages, wonder at their images and keep to return to them over and over again.

It is evident that these new developpements will have a profound impact on the book industry and the bookshops. I am one of those who love to spend my time in bookshops and leave much too often - considering my purse, my reading time and my frustration caused by all those not yet read books - with a few more new books in the bag. I really hope that the bookshops find a way of not only surviving this bend but better yet finding a new way of flourishing, nursing our curiosity, quest for knowledge and love of books. I wouldn't want to loose the pleasure of visiting old favorite bookshops and discovering new ones.

Some of my favorite bookshops:
the name of the one in London, the oldest I think, I can't remember but I loved its stairs and old woodwork and when visiting I kept thinking that my farther had preceded me there;
in Helsinki : Akateeminen kirjakauppa, the biggest and housing also a nice cafe in the second floor, called after the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto;
in Aix-en-Provence: the English bookshop, Book in Bar, for the books of course but also for their tea corner;
in Arles: La librairie Actes Sud, they are also publishers, but they keep a very well stocked bookshop,
and Harmonia Mundi, who also sell music.
in Nyons: Librairie de L'Olivier, a good stock of regional books.

In memory of my farther, Armas Aarre Savelius,
an eternal book lover

J'ai écrit ce petit texte en mémoire de mon père, Armas Aarre Savelius, un amourex des livres, décédé en novembre dernier.

J'ai hérité de mon père une collection magnifique de livres. Malheureusement, puisque je ne pourrais peut-être pas garder l'appartement finlandais qui abrite ses livres, je dois me resoudre à me séparer d'une partie. En vue de trouver à ses livres une nouvelle maison et des nouveaux amoureux de livres j'ai rencontré un gentil jeune homme de la Société finlandaise des bibliophiles qui s'est chargé de revoir la bibliothèque de mon père et d'emmener aux enchères annuelles de la Sociéte les livres qui attireront le plus des intéressés. Je dois donc passer du temps maintenant à voir les livres de mon père pour me décider lesquels je veux absolument garder. Quel chantier!

C'est en discutant avec ce jeune homme et plus tard en lisant ce blog de la fameuse auteure et bloggeuse australiènne, Vicky Archer, sur les nouvelles formes d'acquerir et de consommer les livres que j'ai commencé moi-même à réflechir sur la question. Le jeune homme s'est déclaré pour des bûchers de livres, une idée au départ révoltante pour qui, comme moi, a été élevée dans l'adoration des livres. Mais en y réflechissant je reconnaîs que ma famille - moi, ma fille, mes parents - possède beaucoup de livres dont l'intérêt à long terme est minime. Et tous ces livres que je ne lis qu'une fois où que je veux garder uniquement pour leur contenu informatif, ce serait tellement moins lourd de les avoir en format digital!

En même temps je me confesse d'être une amoureuse des librairies. J'adore regarder, toucher, sentir les livres, m'émerveiller devant les belles illustrations et je pars bien trop souvent - vue les limites de ma bourse, mon temps et ma frustration devant les livres toujours pas lus - avec encore de nouveaux bouquins. J'espère donc que les librairies trouveront de nouvelles façons de survivre ce changement radical de l'industrie de livres et surtout de cultiver notre amour des livres. La visite des librairies est un plaisir que je ne voudrais pas perdre.

FRIDAY FLOWERS

2009-05-15T16:58:00.003+02:00

I stole this lovely idea from this absolutely beautiful blog I read all the time. I don't intend to make this a weekly item like Anna Spiro does but her pretty photos encouraged me to take some of my own. Have a nice week-end!

Bon weekend à tous avec ces quelques fleurs!

CHANGE OF SCENE

2009-05-15T16:04:00.009+02:00

I have dislocated for some weeks in my native country, Finland. I have been so busy organising family affairs and receiving a dear visitor from France that I haven’t had time to think about writing for a while.

We had a lovely time, visiting Helsinki, made a trip to the sea and even took a ship as far as the capital of our neighbouring country, Estonia. Tallinn is a smaller and more compact town than Helsinki but has a lovely, medieval flavour that the empire-style Helsinki lacks. Helsinki is of course much younger than Tallinn which history goes back to the 13th century.

It's old town makes a nice day trip, a two-hour cruise to Tallinn, walking the cobble stoned streets the afternoon, pausing in restaurants and cafes and shopping for antiques, artefacts and handycrafts still cheeper than in Helsinki. You cover nicely the old town in an afternoon and leave exhausted for Helsinki the same evening.

Some Soviet touches still remain: this is a travel agency's special tour bus.

Still, I do love my native city. Especially when, as last week, the weather is sunny and no bitter winds cool your blood. The city is full of parks and woods and surrounded by the sea. And it's nice to rediscover one's own home town with visitors, seeing the city through other eyes and discovering things one doesn't see anymore because too used to them. Spending summers in Helsinki would be all right by me. But come autumn I am in a hurry to get back to my sunny Provence: I really have a sort of love-hate realtionship with Finland.

Greetings from Finland.
Bons baisers de Finlande.

FETE AU VILLAGE

2009-04-25T09:12:00.006+02:00

There is a little town named Fourques, growing right on the other side of the Rhone river from Arles. Last weekend after the Feria in Arles, it was the turn of Fourques to have its fête. All the elements of the traditional village merry making were there : a miniature amusement park, lots of noise and loud music, chichis and folksy dancing. And our house is of course right in the middle of all this, oh joy !

And since we are in the toro region : wild bulls in the streets (and on the cars whose owners’ forgot to park them far away) and much ado in the arena. But no tragic Spanish corrida here, just lovely, acrobatic course camarguaise. For those who don’t know about it my larger half made a lovely mix of the videos he made on his new, shiny telephone. I think it speaks better than a lot of words or photos so I include it here.

Just two words of explanation : the reason why the boys are reaching between the horns is that they are supposed to catch the cords and tassels fixed there. Every item represents money they’ll collect in the end. The course camarguaise bulls are smaller than the corrida bulls, they live a long life, are appreciated and are known by their names by the afficionados. Some even die of old age and are burried standing in the manade’s grounds. And now, enjoy the lightness of these youngsters !

Un video pour illustrer mieux que milles mots la course camarguaise, la spécialité toromachique de la région de Camargue.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

2009-04-22T19:25:00.002+02:00

Today is our Mother Earth's day. Let's think about the giver of all life and let's try to be good to her.

Aujourd'hui c'est le jour de notre Mère la Terre. Pensons à celle qui nous a donné la vie et essayons d'être bon pour elle.

THIS WEEKEND

2009-04-18T19:07:00.000+02:00

Enough said.