Many of you have been harvesting, tasting and preserving the gifts of Summer (oh salads, peaches, berries!) while singing a wistful goodbye to its timeless appeal (oh swimming, reading, carefree schedule!) Unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, and you are welcoming Spring ;o)
But I have been wondering.
Where did it come from, this deep Summer happiness that often kept me awake late into the night?
After all, as much as I love growing things and picking fruit, I don't have a garden, so my own harvest is a handful of warm cherry tomatoes from the balcony, plus basil and rosemary. In August Pierre came for a wonderful visit, but I didn't get any vacation this year, nor a chance to see my family. From mid-July, in fact, I worked almost every day at the yoga centre.
Yet every night of this late Summer, when I heard the peaceful, meditative choir of the crickets, I felt rich and grateful, almost giddy with a joy resonating within the crickets' song, the starry sky, and my own heart - a wordless song that keeps words at bay.
Reading or writing were out of place, somehow. Translating? A hazardous exercise. Even the need to draw or paint eluded me, as if it was more important to be simply attuned to the generous, sensual mood of the day, so that I wherever I was, it was a part of me.
I would be swept away by the clear light filling up the bedroom balcony at any hour; I would be walking down the street, biking to work, biking home, working at the yoga centre, talking with people about practical or less practical matters, and it was there: Summer's secret joy.
Countless tasks and many activities were left in limbo. My agenda is almost blank, from June to now. I did manage to organize a few things with good friends, and it was just as lovely as these pictures suggest.
|
Mango & green melon soup. Any votes for the recipe? |
|
Biking to Chambly & Saint-Jean sur Richelieu with Solenne. And back. (62 miles...) |
|
Sushi picnic with Anne |
Deep down, I knew that my main mission for the season was to
be, to drift into, the texture of life itself.
In every moment, one day at a time. Without any plans.
You see, it was calling me all the time, waving, taking my hand, stroking my cheeks, murmuring, teasing me…
Pierre was persuaded to join us with the same playful invite.
|
We had picnics in the cemetery (and various parks) |
|
This is the *perfect summer dress* I was talking about, Milla :o) The pendant is a labradorite gemstone. |
|
Heart-shaped Hydrangea inflorescence. |
|
We let the peace of the place settle inside our merry hearts |
|
till sunset |
|
and moonrise. |
|
Or we strolled around the Mile-End |
|
and talked about the vicissitudes of this world |
|
to which Lola's own philosophy |
|
is a good antidote. |
|
We enjoyed a delicious brunch |
|
visited a dear friend's urban garden |
|
wishing she was there |
|
with her tender smile. |
|
We had a salad at the Moineau Masqué |
|
in its quiet, sail-shadowed yard |
|
we found strange words |
|
translated from portunhol and guarani |
|
and we met a friendly pair |
|
in happy company. |
|
À suivre... |
Then when my birthday came, in September, my heart and my soul were already full of gifts.
As if Summer had planted daily seeds of joy inside me, and I had been harvesting and enjoying its fruits...
I hope you have, too :o)
La version française est ici (avec quelques photos supplémentaires.)
Petite fée...
RépondreSupprimerTa délicatesse est enchanteresse.
Merci chère lutine des montagnes… Je suis heureuse qu'elle te rejoigne :o)
Supprimermerci pour ce délicieux petit voyage
RépondreSupprimerContente que tu puisses nous accompagner par la pensée :o) et il faudra revenir nous voir pour de vrai !
Supprimeremma & lola
xx
Oh how I love to peek through these little windows into your world!
RépondreSupprimerMerci de m'avoir encore fait voyager!
Oh well, it's funny because I was thinking just that when perusing your latest posts: what a wonderful window into your dedicated crafting life in the green mountains of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques! I'll leave a more detailed answer on your blog then (as I originally intended, except I could not decide which post I liked best ;o)
SupprimerI was beginning to wonder where the lovely Emmanuelle had disappeared to & then I realised that the fading season & the beginning of the next [as well as the visit of your love :) ] always leaves me suspended for a moment in another place, drawn away from the routine & rhythm of the passing season, regenerating me for the new one at hand. Your summer looks magical & peaceful, Lola soaking it all in. I love these visual glimpses into the other side of the world.
RépondreSupprimer...and that wildflower meadow....there are no words.
RépondreSupprimerOh yes, this Summer has truly been about soaking it all in, which is a blessing - even though it really doesn't help when I'm trying to explain or describe something. I'm still having trouble getting back to words! Even writing this simple post was puzzling (and it took me forever). I've just started reading again, so it's probably going to help ;o)
SupprimerThank you for being there all the while, and for faithfully sharing your own adventures out there :o)
Oh summer. Your summertime looks so full, it's transporting. I love that image of you in the dress, I love the tomatoes stretching to the sun. It's time to say goodbye, but the warmth lingers yet. Thanks for these memories.
RépondreSupprimerThank you for this friendly visit, Milla :o)
SupprimerTomorrow begins a second Indian Summer here, which is lovely (though all these transitions make me feel so sleepy). May the warmth and peace stay with you for a while, too.
xo