WINTER OF OUR CONTENT
February 28 2013So, here we are, at the halfway mark: 2 months we’ve been here, two more to go. But who’s measuring?We just returned from a sweet walk down the country lanes below our house, the day having finally made up its mind to stay on the sunny side. It’s that time of year when the temperature veers between comfortable and chilly and for a while it had us in and out of the house like cuckoos; sitting in the sun on the deck for 2 minutes and then, cloud obliteration, and off we scurry back indoors. Shall we light the fire this early, we ask, after a late lunch? Oh, why not, isn’t comfort to be had when it can be had? Besides, my pastels are calling…I’ve had an image in my mind for a few weeks, something in the landscape that took my breath away. I’ve learned to wait when this happens, to wait long enough for the image to retain its form in such a way that I’ll be able to let go of its literalness. Then I begin, and can trust that the creative process will take me beyond the image to the energy that was pulsing in the landscape, energy that could be felt but not actually seen, so that now, the visual energy can marry with the mystical energy. And so it was that I spent some time playing with my pastels.
And then, voila, the sun came out strong and we could see that the only clouds in sight were now in the far distance and not overhead and so we took our walk in the heat of the sun. And this walk was something of a celebration, partly because Joel is now well enough to venture out and partly because even though we are officially still in winter, nonetheless spring’s arrival is announcing itself both visually and energetically. The tiniest of flowers are poking through the earth.
Maggie's PhotoWhile whole orchards of cherry trees now bear clusters of buds that will soon be blossoms. The vineyards are lined up in sturdy stumps, each of which already has a single shoot secured to a wire line. The air is busy with birds and neighborhood cats are on the prowl. This morning when I walked into the village to buy our daily baguette, tables and chairs had been put outside and were already occupied by locals. I love these moments between seasons when you can feel the qualities of both. And how happy we are to be in a place where winter has been so enjoyable that we are not yet ready for it to end.
On the way back from our walk we stop at the edge of the village to check out a ceramic shop that we haven’t yet explored. We made a commitment when we came here that we would, during the course of our stay, visit every shop and buy some small thing in each one. Of course, many of the shops closed for the season, right after Christmas, but so far we have bought honey and truffè up the hill, old linen and a jug from the antique store, a tiny ring for our granddaughter at a little boutique, a camisole for me at another. And of course we have made regular purchases at the Tabac, the mini superette, the boulangerie, charcuterie, florist and pharmacy. All of these places are small and basic…you will not find a Styrofoam ice chest in this pharmacy! In the ceramic store we find 2 sweet little bowl/cups, perfect for tea or cappuccino, a dollop of ice cream or some olives.We bid the potter au revoir and continue home. By the little school an elderly man is pruning an olive tree. I bid him Bonjour and he stops to chat and gesticulate. I apologize for my French and he kindly says pas problem, he can understand me perfectly and I wish I could say the same to him. But we agree that the day is good and that Bonnieux is paradise. We have everything we need here, he says, and he lists all the places I just mentioned, plus the library and the boules court.
Next week a street circus is coming to town. Tomorrow we go to the Lourmarin market. Yesterday we spent hours up the hill at Paul and Sharon’s sunny dining table, eating, talking, and laughing. Now we’re sitting by the fire christening our new little cups with ginger green tea. The fire is chuckling in the hearth. Soon I shall light the candles.
Maggie's Photo