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The Daily Cure for me is trying to smell taste touch—really experience— something, each day, that reminds me that I'm alive and, mostly, happy to be here. A small moment that should go a long way, at least in theory.-
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Category Archives: FRANCE
Serious Cirrus and the Cloud Appreciation Society
Last week before the heatwave hit, I ventured out on the bike to clear out the cobwebs and was stunned by the artistic activity on display in the sky. Someone, something, had taken out the giant paint brushes and dabbled … Continue reading
Posted in AROUND US, FRANCE
Tagged brush strokes, ciel, cirrus, clouds, magritte, sky, The Cloud Collector's Handbook
4 Comments
The more things change…
Last week at the vide-grenier of Nitry, I was immediately attracted by these four issues (dating from 1949-1950) of “Rustica: Journal universel de la campagne,” a magazine devoted, as the title suggests, to country living. I thought I was buying … Continue reading
Posted in FRANCE, SO NOTED
3 Comments
Tomorrow, in tiny packages
We’re in the midst of a heat wave here in France. Canicule. The temperature doesn’t even drop sufficiently at night for the house to catch a breather. Fortunately, the old walls are thick and well-insulated and, yes, we make it … Continue reading
Posted in AROUND US, FRANCE
Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, canicule, coquelicot, France, heatwave, pods, poppies, seeds, wild flowers
2 Comments
Thoughts on gender and two watering cans
I’ve been searching assiduously for an old watering can. The galvanized kind. The kind that’s already lasted forever and still has life in it. New at the gardening store here, they are 60 euros. That’s a pretty strong case to … Continue reading
Posted in FRANCE, ITALY, THEY SAY
Tagged anaffiatoio, gender, inaffiatoio, rossoir, watering cans
12 Comments
Child’s-play chocolate cake
When the skies are blue and the days are long and the sun is hot, our sweet tooth needs attention that doesn’t require much time in the kitchen. Something that whisks together quickly, needs little time in the oven and … Continue reading
Of creeping, clinging and climbing things
My parents were both professors at a university whose oldest buildings were clad in thick ivy. I loved entering these buildings with their gothic-arched windows and their swags of green leaves, as much a part of them as brick and … Continue reading
Posted in AROUND US, FRANCE
Tagged academia, fairytales, gardens, ivy, vigne vierge, vignes, vines
5 Comments
Object beauty and elbow grease
It’s no secret that I like old things. But I’m not an indiscriminate lover of antiquity or junk. I like old things I can use with a little effort and no electricity. I keep some of these objects in my … Continue reading
Posted in FRANCE, IN THE HOUSE
Tagged cheese grater, ecological, egg beater, kitchen appliances, manual, mouli, sifter, vegetable mill, whisk
5 Comments
The gentlest architecture
The weekend passed with little excitement, lots of work, and variable weather. Nothing major happened, which, as we all know is a sort of blessing in disguise. I took long walks with the (younger) dog when time permitted; the old … Continue reading
What sign are you?
I’m not sure anything is more iconic, here, than the street signs. Blue. Usually ornate. Most commonly with a sans-serif font enhanced by a slight, clean, white linear drop shadow. When I take my walks, I invent stories for the … Continue reading
Posted in AROUND US, FRANCE
Tagged alphabet, Blue, names, rue, rue des dames, rue des soeurs, street signs, your sign
6 Comments
“Habituating” myself, Jefferson-style
I know it’s dreadfully tacky to begin articles, essays and thoughts in general with quotes, but indulge me. Being in the country makes me think about other people for whom country living is or was important. And so, sometimes, I … Continue reading
Posted in FRANCE, WHAT TO DO
Tagged country, lone tree, philosophy, Thomas Jefferson, walking
8 Comments
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