Coming back to South of France

The gorgeous Flanders Poppy, growing roadside and in fields at the moment.

Well, it’s been a kinda busy time, but we’re here.
In Australia, Summer is ending and Autumn having it’s turn. And it’s dark by 5.30pm.
We left on a Monday and arrived in our village of Trausse Minervois on a Tuesday. How did that happen! What happened to all those hours on planes and in airports.
Never mind, that’s all part of traveling to the place you can’t wait to get to. Our house. For the next few months.
So lovely to step inside and see everything again. We had such a pleasant afternoon putting things away and it’s sunny till almost 9.00pm.

The Winter has passed in the South of France and Spring is springing. Some of the big trees in the square are just getting tiny first leaves. They look like sculptures rather than trees.
The vineyards are full of newly pruned grape varieties they too have the first tufts of green.

The poppies are out everywhere. The beautiful Flanders poppy. Coming up in fields and ploughed spaces. Sharp red alongside yellow Mustard flowers and purple Wood Violet all blooming together. So beautiful among the grass road edges and fields.

Our pots from last year needed replacing. Not many of those make it through Winter. However roses go mad. They are spilling over stone walls everywhere.
On our outing yesterday we called into the enormous wholesale plant outlet. Flowers shrubs and herbs as far as your eye can see, and for very little cost. Now we have hanging baskets and rows of little carnations ready to be planted outside our front door.

It’s quiet this early as many of the houses are empty till their people come back and fling open their shutters bringing life back to the village once again. We’ve had a lovely wander round the village and a nice chat with David the local sculptor with his very imaginative Bacchus and sea creatures.

Our Sketch classes start next week and and I have lots of lovely spots to sketch around every narrow laneway. I do love the days when I can wander and notice possible sketching locations around the village. Just being here. That’s inspiration in itself in a place with such history in every stone.

More about living our French life soon.

Erin Hill