our new home in provence

Here are a few shots of the exterior of our new house in Provence - just a rental - we haven't bought it!

This is where we're staying this week, and yes, it's just as pretty inside as out. Think beams, stone walls, armoires and more. Interior shots to come - stay tuned.

abundance in provence

So much prettiness in Provence. Everywhere you look there's something else to delight your visual senses. I've been relatively restrained with my shopping - although open a bag, any bag, and you'll be assaulted with the sweet scent of lavender...

This busker got a lot of Euros from the kids. And he deserved it, playing with a cat draped over his shoulders. Bless.

I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with these massive sacs of herbs and spices. If it weren't our last day over in that side of provence I would have bought up big.

And oh, the deep purple provencal garlic. Love this stuff. I did bring a head over to this side of provence - and it came in very handy when cooking up some chicken on the bbq last night. We said farewell to our friends last night - and the boys came home in the RV after watching Cadel Evans take out the Tour de France. What an experience to actually be in the same country while this amazing sporting event took place - and as for my husband and his friends - to be within metres as an Aussie took the winner's jersey for the first time ever. They're still on a high. We might be paying off this holiday for some time, but oh, the memories are worth it.

We've now settled into our second house with our family: sister-in-law, brother-in-law and our two nieces. Our new house is gorgeous, with amazing gardens - pics to follow. We're having a lazy day today - after P and I dashed to the supermarché before the 12.30pm Sunday closing - nearly no dinner!

PS: I LOVE French Supermarkets. Wine for 3 to 5 euros - real champagne starting at 12 euros - and serious stuff like Veuve, Mumm, Pommery and Moet for the mid 20s... And I just discovered that the Aussie dollar is even stronger against the Euro than when we left. Best get spending...

the last supper

Oh, how I'll miss Tourtour and Villa Fournier. This has been the perfect holiday home. So quiet, so gorgeous, so well-equipped. You know how often in holiday home you'll want for something? Not here. Nope, you need baking paper to whip up a flourless chocolate cake? It's in the cupboard. Scales to measure? In another. A view to die for? Have a look...

These shutters are closed in the morning when we head out, opened to let in the afternoon breezes while we watch the tour and then closed at night to help us sleep. Bliss.

Kids playing badminton on the driveway? Well, when they're not playing ping pong or pentanque - well that's what they do...

A view across the pool of the hills, framed with lavender and olive trees? Oh yes indeed.

What's that? A teeny little neighbour's house? Again framed with lavender.

More lavender, and olive trees, and apple trees, and fig trees - doesn't get tired, let me tell you.

French chicken is divine. Just divine. Look at these gorgeous legs, 6 of them for 5 euros. Marinated and grilled on the bbq, it was unlike any chicken we've ever tasted - divine.

French salad - oh my.

Of course.

Potato salad with a pesto vinaigrette and crispy, smokey bacon - I know, shut UP! Provence is now my new favourite place. We were so lucky to have found the perfect house, and the perfect friends to share it with. Enduring memories have been made {and many, many photographs taken...}

to market, to market

While the husbands are off in the RV we're trying to have a relaxing holiday, but still sightsee. So what we've been doing is planning our day around a nearby town's market and then just exploring the town afterwards. This morning we went to the nearby Villacrose - the town with that gorgeous café and cake.
Check out these tomatoes - and yes, they're as tasty as they look.

See these melons in the foreground? They look just like rockmelon {cantalope} but oh, they taste ever-so-much sweeter.

I am OBSESSED with these metal signs - could anything be more adorable than this sign outside the butchers? With that building in the background? I know - I can't stop snapping pics.

And look at this gorgeousness framed by a metal gate. My friend C pointed it out to me on the way into town, and I had to stop on the way back to the car to take the shot - took me forever to frame it within the metal...

the beautiful town of tourtour

This is our local village - Tourtour. It's been named one of the most beautiful villages of France, and no wonder. Have a look and see why.

Tourtour's high on the hill, and that leads to some beautiful scenery. Boy, am I inspired when I get home to get into the garden, and do some work on the house.

I also need a Citroen 2CV as our second car - look at this ones cute little face! Bless.

Here's a view from the Marie {town hall} down to the markets we went to yesterday. We picked up some melon, sausages for dinner, breads, tapenade and my gal bought a cute lil dress.

Every window is perfectly styled for a photograph. I need window pots on every window - and boy, could my house use some more shutters. We have some on the french doors from the guest room, but I think I need more...

This is an artist's gallery - not wasting a space. Look at these shutters - parfait!

I squealed when I saw this little owl down an alleyway - how cute is he? And must look perfect at night lit up by that lamp. I'll let you know tonight, we're headed up to Tourtour to dinner tonight.

A shady spot under the oleander - how divine.

Yet another gorgeous window, with greenery and weather-worn shutters...

le tour: up close and personal

Yesterday we hopped in the 7-seater with our friends and their two boys and drove to Serres to watch a spot of the Tour. What an experience. Although it was raining on the way, and drizzling during the stage, it was just perfect. We had a perfectly french lunch of steak and frites before staking a claim by the road. The atmosphere was so unique and typically french. Have a look at the faces on the kids - very happy indeed!

Even le French chien appreciate a baguette for lunch!

At either end of the town of Serres bikes were strung up - just in case we'd forgotten why we were there. It was just lovely how the people of the town seemed to be so into the tour.

Whoo hooo! I can't tell you how exciting it was to see the riders whoosh down the hill - after a massive build up.

Look at this friendly gendarme - honestly, why can't our policeforce wear cool hats like these?

The day started off with loads of sponsors vans driving the route with music, dancing - and people throwing freebies into the crowd. We had a "madeleine cannon" shoot packets of madelienes at us, caught a packet of 'saucisson' {like salami - not lollies as I first thought...} and loads of lollies, caps, and the great big green hands the boys are holding in the first shot.

My fave vehicle with the great big rider. Fabulous isn't he? Really got the crowd in the mood. Then we had helicopters circling overhead, loads of sponsored cars {the gorgeous Skoda} and then gendarmes a-plenty. About an hour after all the festivities the pelotons and riders sped through. 

Wow. Just wow.

My husband and two of his school friends headed off at 6am to go to the Alpes today where they're watching two days of the tour, and then the time trials before we head off to our next holiday house in Provence - I may not return I love it so much.

My crazy husband rode the Aple D'Huez today - in an hour and 28 minutes bless his frosty socks. What an experience.

lavender in provence

After our trip to Verdon Gorge {see previous post} we went to check out the lavender fields. We were a bit worried that we'd be a bit late, as a lot of the lavender is harvested early to mid-july. Luckily we saw quite a few gorgeous sites. Love this doorway with a lavender posy.

Every poster is an item of beauty. Look at this one covering an old mural on the wall. Fabulous isn't it?

Every town seems to have a central fountain - and loads of flowers. Isn't it a lovely idea?

The deep purple fields of lavender against the deep blue mountains and the milky blue provencal skies.

The lines of lavender are so precise, and the mounds so perfect. It's just picture perfect. And oh, the scent! There were also lots of bee hives by the lavender fields, just to help create the delicious lavender honey {I had some on toast this morning, along with the butter with salt crystals...}

Provencal perfection.

gorge du verdon

Provence is managing to do the impossible and be even more beautiful in real life than in photos. This is the Verdon Gorge - a place where we lay on the beach, paddle on boats and swam in the impossibly green water. It was so spectacular - we were all agog. The kids enjoyed swimming and paddling, and we just enjoyed soaking up the beauty.

This is the beach where we popped some towels on the sand, and lay back and soaked up some beautiful provencal sunshine. Oh my.

This is the gorge. Such an incredible colour. The cliffs were just breathtaking. Two families hired a paddle boat each and explored this glorious area. Nine euros for an hour of bliss.

One thing we've all commented on is that not only is Provence so much more gorgeous than we'd expected, but so much cheaper. Our lunch today was purchased at the local markets: tapenade, ham, beefsteak tomatoes and my favourite butter with fleur de sel flakes. I keep buying "one more thing" to pop into my suitcase. Luckily I've only bought four pairs of shoes so far so I have a fair bit of space...