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

[Heather Leal]

Dear Lucy, Ive had a year off from blogging as I discovered Instagram! But I have now restarted with a new laptop and am pleased to be catching up with you! I am also delighted to have you join us crafters on facebook! Just wanted to say well done you for taking a break on your own, this sounds amazing! Please may I ask a bit more? Was this a group of crocheting girls you went with or did you go alone and meet like minded folk as Id love to do that. Heather (The Patchwork Heart)

[ctextiles]

I am glad you enjoyed really provence trip.
It inspired me a post on my blog.
I invite you to come and visit my garden (or what grow on my garden).
Marie in south of france
Ps it is always a gret moment to read your post.

[Eliane Cieplinski]

Hi Lucy,I was looking for some craft images and came across your beautiful posts. Loved all your gorgeous crafts. Something in common, My family and I went to Provence last july and I was amazed by the French country life, the sounds and smells and I had the same feeling while reading your posts describing life in Britain and your beautiful pieces of art.
:) Eliane in Brazil

[Lisa]

Looks beautiful!

[Heather]

lovely to see you Lucy, and so brave I think! we love you Lucy !! Heather x

[heidi]

this good memories will last and keep you going troughout the wet and cold winter...the remembrance of sunny days with all those lovely people doing toghether your most beloved crocheting in the Provence is hartwarming when you think back sitting by the fire on a cold evening. And you know what? It even brightens our autumndays by reading your blog and dreaming away with all these beautiful pictures...thank you for sharing and greetings from a also rainy and cold netherland...
heidi

[idiosyncratic eye]

Lovely, absolutely lovely. :)

[Carrie]

so glad you had a lovely colourful sunny time away! you say you are not a 'people person', and yet you send out your colour filled life enhancing blog into every corner of the blogosphere! enriching our lives! thank you for your blog! xxx

[Thistle]

I loved this post. I could really feel your personality and your love for your work and for the beautiful setting in Provence. I also loved seeing pictures of you! You look very happy and peaceful. I'm so glad you've found a way to make your hobby such an integral part of your life. I began crocheting seriously because of you, and since I did that I realize how much good it has done me to have a hobby and creative outlet. I never looked at color before the way I do now, and I owe that to you. My entire home and way of life has changed for the better. Perhaps the most important thing you did was teach me to wear an apron in the kitchen! You would not believe how many shirts I ruined while cooking before I started following your blog. I even treated myself to a Cath K apron (and matching oven mitt, both on deep discount), which will be part of my birthday gift from my husband in a few weeks. Thank you so much for being you, and for inspiring me to be a better me. :)

[Jeanine]

I have loved and enjoyed your pictures It looked
like a great place to visit!!!

Thank you for sharing them.

Peace,
Jeanine (In MI)

[california sue]

Lucy, can you identify whereabouts or give the town of the little corner shop/inn covered with wisteria? I think it says "rooms"? It is beckoning!! I want to see it IN BLOOM!

[Liz in Missouri (with Lucy)]

I can't begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed rambling through Provence with you this past week. Your photos and descriptions are SO beyond the normal "look-at-my-vacation" pictures. You have such an eye for the interesting details and colors that this region really came alive and it has been well worth the wait (while yu were away) for all that you saw and did and have now shared with us. I find your blog to be both and inspiration and a joy and I want to say Thank You, again, for sharing your lovely life with us all.

[Kari]

It has been a real pleasure to read your Provencal posts. So lovely. It was also a pleasure to see some pictures of you. I know privacy is important and I agree with it, but it's also nice to be able to picture the person I'm reading about. Also, where did you find that polka dot crossbody bag? Love it! Please don't say it's only available in Britain.

[Marilyn]

This trip does sound just wonderful. And I would just love the creativity and laughing people. Oh the colors of Provence sing to my heart.

[Delphine]

Yes indeed !! Provence is a really beautiful place to visit and live ! I live in the North of France and we often go there on holidays for the sun and the beautiful scenery of "le massif des maures" near Bormes les Mimosas (did you see it ?) and the clear blue of the sea ! Nevertheless, I find England has amazing places to see too !! The cotswolds are one of these !! It's a real pleasure to read your posts ! Bye !

[Debby P.]

How I wish I could have been there with you. What a wonderful place and time you had. Thanks for sharing all about it. I can kinda go there through your pictures and words. I have always wanted to go to Provence. Maybe someday.
I also love all your projects. You have inspired my yarn projects - both knitting and crocheting. I use lots of color now.
Debby P.

[Ana from brazil]

Wow Lucy,I loved to see a picture of you with your lovely smile. When I read what you write about your friend Petah, I confess, I felt jealousy (rsrsrs) but I can't avoid. I wanted stay a little bit by your side and see that you're real(rsrsrsr). I'm dreaming here if any day I'll to meet you personaly, I hope that yes, maybe in this trip called provence Temptations. But still is earlier because I don't get yet how to keep positives and good thoughts, still hard to me in some ocasions. I wanna be most strong like you are indeed. I stay happy your husband encourage and help you. It must be nice to get anyone like this and I would like to thank him. Everyday and for some moments in my days I remember your words. I'm realy trying to be most cheerful. I feel that never is too late to trying to be glad.
Thank you for all Lucy.

A big and warm hug to you darling.

Your friend here in Brazil --- Ana .

xxx

[Jill]

What a fabulous trip and the pics you've shared are wonderful! Will you teach again next year? If so, give us a heads up early so we can join you. I would love to see France in the way you've described and I'd love to learn to crochet.
Thanks for the blog that continues to enthrall me.

[gina in al]

I love Sylvie's granny square top in the pic above with the spinning wheel. Was this crocheted with her own angora yarn? Wish I could visit Provence one day, your blog is the next best thing!

[Angela-Southern U.S.A.]

What a wonderful time,such lovely memories for you all,thanks for sharing!OH,the spinning..so fascinating,I'm trying very hard not to start a new hobby!(have WAY too many now)lol.I relate to that "quiet soul" type,if I don't have my "alone" time...well it's not pretty ;))Have a great day!

[Marianne]

I really have to save for a trip to Provence, but it have been almost to be there following your blog.

[clare powell]

oh it just looks so wonderful especially on a grey day like today!

[Wendy]

What a wonderful, wonderful trip. Thank you for sharing it all, Lucy, and thanks for a wonderful blog.
Wendy in New Hampshire

[Lynn]

You've inspired me in so many ways! I always look forward to your posts. I'm glad you had such a wonderful birthday!

[Verity]

Happy Birthday! You look like you had the most wonderful holiday in Provence, and thank you for sharing the whole trip with us. It is lovely of you to share the colours and the sights with us, as we didn't go with you, though, in a sense we did.