Perhaps the time of year we most associate with this part of France. Dry earth, abundant green, fields of wheat, maize growing taller than people, sunflowers, their yellow faces turned toward the sun in unison. Long, hot days that turn into balmy nights. Pink and red sunsets, a slow, languid feel in the towns and villages. Birds singing sweet songs.
Having spent a year in the South of France, thereās certain things Iāve noticedā¦
Thereās a lot of mosquitoes. And bugs and worms longer than a meter, and snakes, and frogs that insist on coming into the house. But thereās also beautiful families of deer that graze in the field across from the house, and even wild boar that sprint across the countryside.
Hardly anyone speaks English. I guess this is a France thing in general, so I was forced to pull out the dusty high school French, and learned to gesture almost as much as everyone here to get my point across (thereās google translate, for emergencies). However, everyone is patient with my painfully slow speaking, and most people here are friendly, anyway.
Almost every town is cute and will make you want to buy a house there. No joke, each town is cuter than the next, with views that make you want to give up everything and spend the rest of your life right there.
You need to carry a stick at all times. There are feral dogs in almost every town. Iām warning you.
Youāll get burnt/ leave several shades darker. It really is sunny and warm most of the year. There are some cold days and nights though, and when it rains, it pours, but mostly, itās Summer time.
Youāll get to know people fast. Everyone knows me now, probably as the strange foreign person, but still. And even the cats are our friends (Spud and Celery, Iām talking to you).
Youāll need a car to explore. Thereās not much connectivity here, but the surrounding towns and villages and countryside are full of beauty and just need to be explored. From the Mountain views in winter to the fields of sunflowers in summer, and the cute villages of cottages and crumbling churches.
You wonāt want to leave. Hotel California has nothing on this place.
There’s a lot of talk these days about routines for the day that lead to an outcome; like to be more productive, to be healthier, or to sleep better, for example. I’m no expert in any of those, but I am very good (probably too good) at making routines that I stick with. Lots of people fell into routines during the last few months, but maybe they are no longer working for you, or you want to see a different outcome. Maybe you planned to add new habits at New year, but never made the changes. Well, it is spring, so why not start fresh now? Continue Reading
So I turn 25 in about a week, and it feels like it was so recently my 24th birthday. Where did this year go? Ā I don’t feel that I really accomplished as much as I did in previous years, but I did get to spend a LOT of time with the hounds and the family, which is precious. And, I had a lot more time to think, and reflect, on well, just about everything. Continue Reading
Right now, less is more when it comes to travel.Ā Luckily, Bruinisse and Zeeland in general is a pretty place to call home, and of course, with Prune and Suzi, there is never a dull moment. So I thought I’d share some photos and what we’ve been up to (since staying around home was my plan, anyway)… Continue Reading
During the summer holidays I finally had a bit of free time. Time to read, to watch clouds pass languidly across the sky, to watch the dogs sniff about the garden, as butterflies buzzed around them. To draw. Maya gave me a very helpful book with lots of tips to draw animals. I always struggle with their eyes and by making them more cartoonish, as the book suggests, you can avoid that problem, and make them very cute.
July 1st. The middle of the summer, the midst of the heatwave. A gorgeous morning, the sun already up. I laced up my running shoes, took a deep breath of fresh morning air, and set of down the driveway, starting my run. So ordinary, something I’ve done like clockwork for the last four years. No matter where I’ve been, put on my shoes, the day barely underway, jogged off for an hour. Birds were singing, the sky was azure, little rabbits hopped across my path. This was the life, I was so happy to be out there, free. Continue Reading
16 degrees. Perfectly clear, not a breeze, not a cloud. A little robin flitting about, pecking at the feeder. Sunshine yellow butterflies tangling with my hair. Prune and Suzi, sprawled on the deck in the shade. Not really a surprising scene in summer, or late spring. But this was February, in North Norfolk. And we had a whole week of this amazingly unexpected weather during my mid-term break in both Bruinisse and Fleggburgh. Continue Reading
I know that there is some polar vortex right now in the US, bringing insanely cold temperatures. So I should not complain, but it is cold here. Most days don’t get above 5 degrees, and most nights go below -1. Its snowed a lot too. But there are mornings that fill you with hope. The sky is clear, turning from indigo to pale blue, a large golden moon between the rooftops.Ā Slowly, the sun butters the world in a mellow light, and its just so beautiful. Freezing, but beautiful. Continue Reading
Christmas morning. The moon wasĀ still visible, a large pale silhouette. The sky was lilac, and seemed to fill the windscreen. Dark coated horses ran underneath, their long manes flowing, hooves flying. Slowly a powder-pale blue seeped through the sky, the moon faded. Bare trees lined the roads, we were the only car around.Ā There aren’t really many places left in the world that are truly peaceful. I love chaos and colour and buzz, but after a tiring first half-year teaching, peace was just what I was looking for. Peace, with a little side of adventure. And you can find both in winter in Zeeland. Continue Reading