It’s a miracle!

I awoke to gray skies and clouds!

I even had the pleasure of feeling a drop of rain on my head as I

left the grocery store. One of life’s great joys these days is rain.

 

And a miracle as we seemed to have lost the clouds and the rains.

I don’t know the statistics, but we are having one of the driest and

Hottest years since they started measuring 150 years ago.

 

I have left my car outside the garage in hopes that there may be

enough to actually wash off some of the dust of the past weeks.

 

Precipitation in my country so far this year is only 40% of normal and

I live in what used to be known as the water capital of Europe so

I can only imagine what it is like elsewhere.

 

Everyone that I have run into this morning is smiling, open and happy.

What a difference a bit of water makes to those parched with thirst.

Village R & R or…

The (boring) story of my past two days vacation: for any of you who are allergic to the “I” or “we” narratives, stop right here.

The Canigou - photo especially for Rick who is probably homesick

Now R&R stands for rest and relaxation – and that was the main reason for coming, however I could also add F&F for Flowers and Food or 80 steps – the amount it takes to go from my housemate’s lodgings to the local cinema where we saw a film on Iceland (fond memories of our trip almost seven years ago).

Although said housemate was no where to be seen upon my arrival – it turns out that she was in the hospital with yet another oesophageal attack (but was getting out shortly according to the landlord who heard me ringing the bell) – we did recuperate the flowers that she had bought to welcome me from the doctor’s office yesterday morning.

beautiful lilies

Once these attacks have been taken care of – she has no lingering side affects (thank goodness) so once we had had our “writing session” when we saw that the chocolate tarte was part of the lunch menu we reserved seats!

Tuna steak with a tarragon sauce, rice, salad and grilled tomato

chocolate tarte - the whole "formula" was EUR 11

Sparkling water makes pretty ring reflections

After lunch in order to somewhat compensate for the calories (note I did say somewhat – I needed to have hiked 50 kms probably) I took a walk around the village and over the bridge to check out the water levels (flooding earlier this year was bad and it had rained heavily again last week). Cloud formation was fascinating as was the view towards the Canigou (local mountain).

The "Massane" river

Yes, this is the "normal" crossing - sometimes one can't.

 Of course coffee time rolled around and it was out to check the new tearoom: I approve.

Afternoon coffee and a cookie

Then we had our own little repast, including champagne as we set down to finally look at Season 5 of “The Good Wife” – I have had the DVDs for months now, but our divergent schedules had not allowed us to start. All in all the perfect holiday day.

Foie gras, cheeses, champagne - what's not to like about "nibbles"

This morning was market day – in a village in Southern France, it is always a big deal and my favourite olive guy was there so life is good. We sensibly ate leftover lentil soup and a fresh green salad from the market before I had a “pause” on the couch.  Then it was 80 steps to the cinema the film on Iceland.

Part of the Saturday market that spreads throughout the village

rain spouts are fascinating in this part of the world

Another unusual cloud formation on today's walk

Tonight we’ll visit another friend so that I can see her new flat then the three of us will go have “tapas” (the Spanish version of cocktail nibbles) in the new Tapas restaurant. I will again sleep splendidly – especially knowing that Sunday is the one day the trash pickup doesn’t take place: at 5:21 both mornings they were just three feet from the foot of my bed!

It’s the clouds that make life interesting…

Not the unspotted blue-azure skies.

Never a sun coming up over the mountains or ocean – never mind a city or man-made spires – is as beautiful as the one coming up amongst the clouds, reflected in a lake, seen through the branches of a tree or from anywhere that gives a different perspective.

So it is in life: those who have suffered no loss can not understand the loveliness of someone’s presence; those who have had no pain can not imagine how wonderful the absence thereof can be; those who have had no sorrow have also probably not known great joy; those whose paths have always been straight and narrow have not known the beauty of the interesting things around the bends or over the rocks; those who have not known love, can not appreciate its absence; those who have not experienced the dessert will not have known the beauty of changing patterns in the sand; those who have not been in the mountains will not be aware of the solidness and energy held therein; those who have not known cold will appreciate less warmth and those who have not known heat will not remember the loveliness of cold.

And it continues: for almost every sight, sound, taste or touch there is a ying and a yang; one without the other is not as interesting.

 

Sunrise December 19