Provence is home …the place where we grew up and we love going back to visit in June when days seam to never end , nights are warm and everything is in bloom! Not even mentioning that after May-Gray , it is June Gloom in San Diego and we are done with it …we need summer !
We drove from Strasbourg through the Parc National du Vercors …very twisted roads , very very tiny even for our small VW beetle !
No AC , No radio , No wifi ….we are free and connected to nature surrounding us and enjoying each other !
That was quiet a tunnel !
Pitch black , one lane …that went on for ever !
As soon as you come down a bit , the landscape start to change . It is less green and the rolling hills are covered with wheat …
And lavender !
It’s been an unusually hot beginning of June with temperatures soaring in the mid 90’s so by the 3rd week of June we could smell lavender everywhere as they had already started harvesting it . Normally the pick blooming season is July and the lavender Festival in Sault is not until August 15th when they celebrate the new harvest !
Poppies are over already but sunflowers are still around …
Villeudieu is one of those tiny village where all the businesses have closed except for the cafe restaurant and it is keeps the town center alive and well . We love going there for dinner as most of the locals …nothing fancy but a good steak tartare and a crepe ! What else ?!
At home with Mum now 87 …
My grand parents home is like suspended in time , untouched with lots of patina
Sainte Cecile Les Vignes , my home town !
Bustling on Saturday morning Farmer’s Market
Do French people eat anything else than saussissons ?? Seriously 😉
Oh yes ..cheese of course !
It’s funny how some things never change …I’ve seen elder folks wearing these back when I was a little girl but they seams to still be in “fashion” now ! I wonder if I will be considering wearing them in 35 years or so ??
In case you did not get enough saussissons before …
My favorite stall : Monsieur Lafont for fresh sardines, crab , “brandade” or cod creamed with olive oil ….yum !
And of course espadrilles …a must to go play Petanque on a dusty court !
I even found a pretty linen dress for my mum at the market and she loves it!
Early morning drive …the road to Nyons village is just beautiful
Les Genets ( yellow flowers ) sent the whole country side
Unexpected beautiful scene …just out of a Marcel Pagnol movie …
Breakfast time ! Oh yes we eat other things than saussissons …
Lots of bread and pastries !!!! Out the door gluten free/dairy free diet
Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our little vintage car club with childhood friends who have not left . We used to organize a car show in our village that attracted over 100 cars every June …It was the most popular car event in the area . Looking back I am amazed still how great this show was : the formula was different every year : picnic contest , gimmick rally , concours d’elegance , we even gave a car in raffle !
Pascal and his childhood friend Michel in my dad’s old mechanic shop …lots of souvenir here for me too …
“UPS ” ( looks like any delivery truck ) did found our house and finally delivered our passports with new working visas at 2pm the day before we were leaving ….that was close ! Time to go home sweet home in San Diego 🙂