Provence Temptations

I have to say I have really, really enjoyed sharing my Provence travels with you all, it's been a pleasure. I love the whole process of writing blog posts like these. I love taking a heap load of colourful images, then stringing together memories, thoughts and emotions with a sprinkling of descriptive writing to produce an inspiring record of life. My week in Provence was just a teeny tiny small slice of my life, just a mere fraction, yet it felt so important to capture and record as much of it as I could. I find that the act of putting words together with pictures is a very therapeutic thing to do, and quite simply I LoVe to do it. And then when I share it with you too, well, it somehow intensifies it and makes it all the more special.

After six lengthy rambling posts, I haven't really got a huge amount left to say about my week in Provence. But there remained a niggling feeling that I hadn't quite finished putting all my thoughts in place.

One of the things I have most missed since coming home is the sunshine. Oh the delicious warmth of the Provence sunshine is such a beautiful memory! I just adored the feeling of spending all day outdoors, returning home in the late afternoon feeling sun-warmed right through to my bones, and I miss it. It doesn't happen often enough in my part of the world, we are sadly very short of hot days even in our summer months. To be in the south of France in October experiencing a week of true warmth was such a luxury.

Looking back on my blog posts, I realise that a lot of what I have recorded is to do with my visual experience of Provence. Because I am an extremely visual person and am constantly tuned in to the colours, patterns and light in my surroundings, I guess this is what inspires me the most and makes up my the majority of my memories. The landscape, the buildings, the market, the villages, the food, the weather, the sun and the stars. But there is another element to the week I spent in France, and that is the people.

So to round up my Provence Journal, I would like to share a couple of things that we did during the week that were extra special because of the people involved.

This lovely lady is Sylvie. Sylvie and her husband keep angora rabbits, and they came to visit us at the villa to demonstrate how they spin, dye, knit and crochet the angora fibres.

It was a really special morning. It was lovely to meet people who are so passionate about their vocation and who demonstrate such talent. Sylvie's spinning was absolutely mesmerising, and although she made it look easy, I know for sure it is nothing of the sort.

Her yarns and textile pieces were very beautiful, and well, they were just really lovely, warm, friendly people.

It made me realise how great it was being in France with Provence Temptations, because it enabled us to have a very lovely and personal insight into French life. Away from the tourist trail, and into the lives of some lovely French people.....

....this amazing house and garden belongs to a beautiful French family, friends of Petah who runs Provence Temptations. We were invited here for lunch on the last day of the tour, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole week. The house and garden were absolutely stunning, as was the weather, gosh, it was seriously hot on this afternoon! We were instantly made to feel  welcome here, invited to sit, chat, drink an aperitif, nibble on some delicious appetisers while we waited for lunch to cook.

Lunch (lamb chops) was expertly cooked on the outdoor barbecue, and the six course meal (six!) with various accompanying wines was really incredible. I wish you could've heard the noise though. It looks so peaceful and serene in these pictures, but honestly, lunch was a very lengthy and loud affair. SO much laughter around this table! So many jokes, anecdotes and lively spirit! It was a truly wonderful experience, made even more memorable by the generosity and warmth of our hosts.

After coffee and the most beautiful, pastel coloured macarons (why didn't I photograph them? they were exquisite), we were invited to try a pomegranate from the tree right beside where we were seated. For us English people, the sight of these rather exotic fruits actually growing on a tree is really amazing. Unreal almost. We are used to apples and pears here, but sun ripened pomegranates, well what a luxury!

I have the most incredible memory of the taste and texture of these juicy red seeds bursting in my mouth, it was absolutely lovely. And it was my birthday too.

Here I am look, smiling at the thought of all that luscious wine maturing nicely inside these oak barrels! We were lucky enough to enjoy a visit to Chateaux Pesquie, a large vineyard and winery on the edge of the village where we stayed. I didn't think I would enjoy this tour as much as I did, it was really interesting to learn about the whole wine making process from the grape vine to the bottle. And of course we got to taste some very top notch wines, as well as some delicious local olive oil.

This is Petah and I one morning, supping coffee and eating the most delicious honey cake. I really, really liked Petah. As she lives in Australia, it was not possible for us to meet before the tour took place, although we did email a lot and chat on the phone. But as soon as we met, I already felt like I knew her and I also knew instinctively that we would be good friends.

She and I are the same age, she is a Mum to two children who are older than my brood, and we share a love of the outdoors, the landscape, the beauty in our surroundings, and of course the yarn thing. Petah is a fantastic knitter and hooker. Every time I saw her wearing her hand knitted socks in the evenings when we were relaxing back at the villa I wanted to steal them from her, they were so beautiful. But what I like most about Petah is her absolute love of life. She has so much energy, so much joy for living and getting the most out of life. And she is most definitely a People-person. I am quite a quiet soul really, in real life I am happy pootling about by myself and am very happy within my own little colourful bubble. But Petah, well, she seems happiest when she is surrounded by good people and lots of chatter and laughter. And boy, did we laugh! It was a very happy, fun filled week, full to the brim with lovely people, good things and happy times.

I have come home from Provence full of gratitude. Grateful to my gorgeous husband for encouraging me to take time out from my family and go Have Fun. Grateful to Petah for offering me the chance to go to a place I have always dreamed about. And I am grateful to you all for stopping by the Attic each day to read about my scatty, colourful life. Thank you. Very, very much ♥

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ps Provence Temptations is a fledgling tour company with great heart and soul. Petah is knowledgeable and passionate about this area of Provence and the people who live there which really comes across in the creative way she plans the itineraries. Her unique insight comes from the year she spent living there with her husband and two children, and she shares this experience with great enthusiasm and zest....her love of all things Provençal is infectious!

Tours are already being planned for next year, so do keep in touch with Provence Temptations if you are interested in being "lured away from your every day"

www.provencetemptations.com

www.facebook.com/ProvenceTemptations

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[maggie]

It looks so wonderful Lucy, it looks like you had a really lovely time. Such lovely colours and lovely peaceful surroundings. Thank you for sharing your time and photos
xxMaggie

[Emily]

It all looks beautiful. What a lovely holiday/rest it must have been

[maypole]

Your blog is so interesting and full of colour, it is very cheering. I am not really a people person, I like pottering in my own little world too, but we do need people like Petah to bring us out of it from time to time.

Your trip looks amazing and it is nice to see a photo of you, you look lovely,

[Hannah]

Hi Lucy, I havnt commented before But i have spent the last few years reading your blogs. I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful posts! They really brighten my day when I see you have posted a new craft/adventure/ whatever it is that has inspired you. Seeing your beautiful photographs makes me want to visit that side of the world (I am in Australia). So a big thank you for your wonderful blog!

[Irene Porter]

I have so enjoyed your Provance posts, they were definitely the next best thing to being there. I even had a walk in one of the villages on Google maps street view, Your photos are really lovely. Nice to see some photos of you as well. Happy birthday to you, one you won't forget I'm sure

[Paula Hope]

I think you're great!!
There is def something about Aussies ... they are just so positive and friendly.

[Louise ♥]

Thank you Lucy - you have a gift for sharing your experiences in a very evocative, wonderful way! From an Aussie who would have loved to experienced it all with you :)

[Mellie]

Oh I think Provence Temptations could surely one day tempt me away from my every day for a week or two. It has been fabulous to share your trip and the memories you have brought home with you.

Thank you,

Mel
xxx

[Marion Handsley]

Thank you so much Lucy for sharing your holiday with us the colours are beautiful in the photos. I always look forward to reading your blogs . Love Marion xx

[Jenny]

Hi Lucy, I couldn't see a way to contact you by email so I will ask here. I remember reading on your blog about the coffee maker that you have and love. I want to get one for my husband for Christmas but I can't find the link and I want to make sure I get the right one. Thanks so much for your help.
Jenny

[Lisa]

Time to start saving for next year then !

[Janet]

It's really pathetic how I check my Blogger dashboard several times a day to see if you've made a recent post. And how excited I am when you do! Thanks so much for sharing your special trip. I've enjoyed it immensely.

[Bari Jo]

Thank YOU, Lucy! Love the way you weave color through every post as you post about life, crochet, family, travels. Your blog is very warm and welcoming! Loved reading it!

[Colleen]

I have really enjoyed hearing about your trip. I just have to tell you that I have ordered a set of 6 of those flexi hoops in order to make some of your little bird decorations. I just fell in love with them and have them planned for christmas presents for next year (I'm not fast enough at crocheting to get them done for this year lol). I have my fingers crossed that you will be sharing the pattern :)

[patti]

As always I enjoy reading your adventures! thank you for taking the time to share them with us!
Patti in Pa

[Alison]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful journey. Your photos are just gorgeous and your blog is such a wonderful place to visit.
Ali x

[Kerryn Corner]

It's been absolutely wonderful of you to share your holiday with us all.
The pics are fabulous! I loved the bower bird wreath!
Love from
Kerryn in australia
xxxx

[Trudy]

What a wonderful time away in such a glorious part of the work. Thanks for sharing all the special moments with us. Happy Birthday!!

[Rose]

Lucy it's been an exceptionally great series of posts, thank you.

"One of the things I have most missed since coming home is the sunshine"

When we visited the UK in 2005 on a driving holiday I very much missed the sunlight even though it was May. When we drove into the northern part of Cornwall I felt like I had come home (to Australia), I totally got why it has been a mecca for artists. The Provencal light looks even more like our Australian light.

Since 2005 I have had many moments of really noticing our light in all it's forms. I'd love to show it to you one day -- I think our winter light would blow you away!

[Jane S.]

I'm so glad you had a wonderful time! Being able to share your memories and photos with others is almost like getting to live the holiday all over again, isn't it? Thank you for telling us all about it. :)

[JoDee Costello]

Will you do another "hooky" tour? I would love to be part of that next year!

[Louise]

Loveliest of posts. You have such a beautiful way of putting photos and together. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and day to day life, it is such a joy to read about.

[Angy Braine]

There is something so special about seeing through the eyes of person who TRULY appreciates life and it's blessings. You are most certainly one of those people Lucy. Truly you are. Thank you for sharing. Some of us may never make it to all these stunning spots and even if we do, every experience is unique is it not? For some your posts have surely added to their bucket list and for others it may even have been a trip down memory lane. Awesome. Just awesome. :-) ♥♥♥

[Alessandra]

it's a real pleasure to read your posts!!! I love to read your crochet news or holiday news: in both the occasions I have the occasion to know you a little more! Thank you,
xxx Alessandra

[Donna S.]

Oh so awesome!! Thank you for your beautiful sharing posts!! I would love to visit someplace like that some day but very very doubtful!! So you "took me with you"!!