Where else can you drive down little roads like this…
Where else do you come across a field of sheep or a field of
bulls like this…
Where else do you have houses like this…
Or farmers market like this…
Or cars like this...
Where else are your neighbors the ghosts of Vincent van
Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Pierre
Bonnard, Yves Klein… And of course, Paul Cézanne.
Saturday morning we woke up with the sun and began a 40
minute ride to the town of Aix-en-Provence which, if you recall, is where my
friends Romy and the Apricot live. You can read all about them HERE. However,
Aix-en-Provence is also where Paul Cézanne was born, lived, died and painted
most of his masterpieces. I made a €6 reservation to have a guided tour of his
family home, Jas du Bouffan. This is my idea of a perfect day. Take a look…
Our way home I asked my husband to take the street near our
house where there was a little patch of “unclaimed” white irises that needed to
be picked and lo and behold, we found another little surprise… A teeny tiny
little lonely scared abandoned kitten. Obviously, I named her Iris. Never a
dull moment in Provence.
Stay tuned for the next blog about our upcoming Saturday
adventure! And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram HERE to get first dibs on
my antiques before I put them on the blog! Today I have 2 charming petite gilt
mirrors!
What a wonderful find! White irises and a kitten, too! The daffodils were just starting to peek out from under the ground in Central Illinois, but are now under 8" of snow. Oh well, that's life here. Spring is on it's way!
ReplyDeleteWhen I see the tall tree lined roads, I think of driving through rural France - memorable. And a kitty pal for the dogs. Have an enjoyable weekend. Hugs.
DeleteOh Iris will be such a joyful and loving addition to your family xxx
DeleteBeautiful flowers in that antique pot and how lovely to have found a kitten...Iris seems like a perfect name.
ReplyDeleteSpring is budding forth here too...
Perfection. Absolute perfection. And welcome Iris.
ReplyDeleteLove Iris! I need a cat here. How is the book coming? I can't wait!! I am battling with a chronic illness and have commented a couple of times. I love my fellow chronic illness gang - but let's face it, we can be downers. You are not a downer, and I want to know how you do it? Is the secret in Provence? In antiques? In cats? Bunny? Can we clone him? I am so strung out with this weight, the weight of my children and being dropped by family like a lead elephant when everything went down. It truly makes you feel like you are from outer space. You question everything. Hurry! Write!! Write!!
ReplyDeleteHow is it that being dropped by family "like a lead elephant" is such a common thing for those of us with chronic illness? My doctors call it "empathy fatigue" - but I think it's just acting like a phony jerk (if you ask me - which you didn't). I think that is why David is so interesting to read about. He is strong - and sooo unusual. I wish I had the guts to write everything I think, like Ellie.
DeleteAt any rate, Ellie: I miss your "Something you might not know about me" tidbits at the end of your posts. Those are always a favorite of mine. Can you start that up again?
Bon Courage et Bisous,
Michelle from Santa Barbara
So happy you are feeling well and enjoying Provence. The kitten is lovely, so black and named Iris! Only you!
ReplyDeleteme want to live in Provence forever ~ I just planted white Iris....agapanthus, and Cleveland flowering pear trees with all white flowers in spring. They are shaped like a tulip....next stop, Provence....XOXO
ReplyDeleteThese are some of the reasons why we love Provence too. A few years ago we also visited Cezanne's atelier and see some of the things he included in his still life compositions. Last year we walked around the Bibemus quarry area where he painted many of his picture, but the ground might be a bit rough for you. It really is artist country - the same day we visited Vauvenargues (sp?) where Picasso lived with his last wife. On the same day we drove all around Mont Saint Victoire, magical from all angles. You can see why Cezanne loved it and Picasso must have too. Had lunch at a lovely rustic restaurant on one of its slopes, on a terrace under the vines. Also visited our friend's mother's bio vineyard and their adorable restored cabanon nearby. You'll soon get over missing guacamole when you have all this!
ReplyDeletePammie
That kitten was destined to be rescued by YOU Ellie! what a magnificent thing! I love it! And I love you!
ReplyDeleteThe irises were just fulfilling something meant to happen! They were the path to that kitten! Shivers.
Dear Ellie, thank you for reminding me of the beauty that is out there. Teddy and Valentin's new sister is adorable, how did they like her?
ReplyDeleteAmidst all the ugliness in this world, which I have unfortunately experienced first hand lately, it is so comforting to always be able to count on your kindness and spirit. Thank you for always letting us see the beauty of our world through your eyes and reminding us that there is kindness out there!
Stunning! And iris! How sweet. How picturesque for a black cat to hide in white irises. I think I could easily adjust to Provence since I hate guacamole so much anyway. It's lovely to see country vistas that don't include above ground pools and Budweiser cans as those are never far from the verdant country fields around here.
ReplyDeleteEllie, you always find the beauty! Thank you for your insights and thoughts. Kind regards, Vicki
ReplyDeleteStopping to pick beautiful unclaimed irises, and then picking up tiny beautiful Iris... Just two reasons I love you so much, beautiful Ellie !!! Judy Rizzo.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this little armchair tour -- just what I needed this morning. And, aww, a kitten!
ReplyDeleteA kitty! You now have a kitty? Fabulous... 2 dogs and a kitty!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Iris! Adorable and in need, very lucky kitty. I read somewhere that hybrid iris revert to white, but I don't know if that's correct. Visiting the Jas, you just jump right into everything, wonderful. Glad you are making Provence home ....
ReplyDeletebonnie
There is nothing like Provence--be still my longing!! And a kitten as a cherry-on-top!! And a black kitten--black kitties are so smart and loving.Have a super week-end. xoxo Mary
ReplyDeleteI think I need to start buying lottery tickets.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, beautiful kitten and photos!
ReplyDeleteEllie, I love you and your heart for animals. Happy tears.
ReplyDeleteIt is all so beautiful, Ellie! I, personally, would be swooning over the farmers markets, lovely homes, and the beyond wonderous rural landscape....who needs guacamole! And you were so meant to find that adorable little black kitten!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Lily
OH MY GOSH.................THANK YOU for giving the black kitty a HOME!
ReplyDeletePS.Working on a POST can you easily send me the link to your NAPOLEAN BIT you landed at auction so I can direct people there?!!!Otherwise, I can just name your blog!THAT WILL DO TOO!
XO
Lovely photos.......i too had a few upsets at moving from a northern cityto the country
ReplyDeleteI miss nice shops, cinema on tap and nice card shops!
I'll tell you where else....in Languedoc! Not so far, no so famous.
ReplyDeleteI, too, had a very hard time adjusting, not to France, because I'd lived overseas for much of my adult life, but to the change from urban to rural. I think I'm still a city girl at heart--I feel full of electricity when I'm in a crowd, whereas most of my friends here feel sick--but I have learned to appreciate the country's charms.
I left a comment YESTERDAY and it isNOT here!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for taking the KITTY and POP over to me as I mentioned YOU on MY BLOG TODAY........if you can give me the link to NAPOLEAN AUCTION BUY I can stick it in!!!!!!!
XO
It feels like you redeemed yourself with the Provence PC crowd with this piece now. Not that you needed to, from my point of view. We all knew that you have always loved the area and you were always talking about wanting to move there. Your post that bitched about the drawbacks was humorous; you can complain about the drawbacks of a place and still love it. I found it amusing, and tongue in cheek to a certain extent. If everyone wrote sweet pretty stuff all the time, where would the fun be?
ReplyDeleteLove the new kitty. Is should be interesting with the dogs. Thanks for saving her.
Sheila
THAT KITTY IS BLESSED.....AND SO IS ELLIE! A GIFT FROM ABOBE SOMEWHERE! PERHAPS MY MOMMY! (I HAVE ASKED HER TO HELP!)
DeleteReally beautiful country! I adore the Irises and of course Iris. Happy she found a good home. Thank you for sharing Ellie.
ReplyDeleteBonnie shares our spirit, Ellie! As do so many others who follow your blog!
ReplyDeleteWe adore you!!
Penny
I forgot to say...Iris Apfel * my hero for years) lost her husband Carl last year. He was over 100
ReplyDeleteShe is my favorite. I met her. Please tell her you named your kitten (found among the iris) "Iris"!!! It will be her favorite story! she is 86 or something!!!
I love you!!
Penny
Ellie! It is me Penny!
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled that you have two dogs and a rescued (literally a kitten!!)
Animals have kept me alive.....and thriving..my entire life!!..they will help you in every way they can...I bet you will feel improvement! I pray really hard every single day!
ALL OF US......AND THEIRE ARE MILLIONS.....ARE SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT KITTY AND THOSE TWO DOGGIES! WE KNOW. WE DO.
ReplyDeleteProvence looks charming! We must have flowers, always flowers! Someone famous said something similar, I forget who it was. You rescued those irises, just like you rescued the kitten. Poor little thing looks scared. You have a kind heart.
ReplyDeleteEllie has the kindest heart. I knew that the first time I met her.....in Santa Barbara...by looking into her eyes!
ReplyDelete