“I am definitely wandering, not only these streets of Arles that I have come to love so much since moving here in 2005, but also looking for that next step, that sign of the direction of what is next for me. A good a day as any, then to start a blog and share my experiences of living in Provence that I find along the way…”
My hands trembled with excitement as I hit “publish post” then “view blog”. There it was! What a difference from the world of the press where it would take months to see an article be published. Such immediacy was stunning. Now the only question was whether I would enjoy it enough to continue…and would anyone be interested?
It is incredible to think that a year has gone by. On this, my first blog anniversary, I want to thank Remi, my love, for encouraging me to start and to those of you that have inspired me to keep going. I am so very, very grateful for everyone who stops by to read and for those of you that have become friends. I am well aware of how extremely fortunate I am. Both my Mom and my friend Sonny have made the same remark: “Your readers are so amazing! So intelligent and well-spoken.” Yes, they are. Not to mention generous, talented and funny to boot.
I hope that you will stick around for the ride. It has been an adventure, coming at blogging from the quite formal world of French travel writing with nary a moi in sight. Yes, I am still learning and as I wrote yesterday, still finding my way as I go but happily, doing so in excellent company.
Merci encore, mes amis et bisous!
PS. Yes, I have decided to change the look of my blog. I originally chose the red, gold and purple as I felt, as I still do, that those colors are the essence of Arles, a land that is both baroque and farouche, as described by native son Christian Lacroix. Well, they have recently begun to annoy me. I need less noise in my life and that includes on my blog! I certainly would never have thought that I would be moving again when I launched this and those colors also reflected an “olé!” that doesn’t feel appropriate to where I am right now. I had a lot of fun last night with Remi at my side to help decide on colors. Merci, coeur. I might do some tinkering still in the next few days but nothing fancy. The words and photos will have to do all the work!
Thanks Dash, you know how happy I am to have discovered you too! And yeah, a second vote in favor of the new look–it's a miracle!
Belated Happy Blogaversary Heather, so lovely to have discovered you. Am loving the new look
X
Oooh copine, you can try and boss me if you want but I am a Leo! So I will do what I want! And if I have the need to trade in tellines for backyard fed by hand (on strictly non-harmed grains) canette so be it! Heeheehee.
Happy, happy blogiversary, mon amie! Here's to many more happy fun years of blogging! And by the way, if you even think about leaving Arles for Portland, I will come over there to knock some sense into you. Portland is lovely but there's no way you should trade in Arles for it! (You didn't know I was so bossy, did you?) 😉
Thank you for your kind comments PSING and Brooke! I should have anniversary's more often. 🙂
And Virginia, heehee, proof of why I don't have anything fancier–I fixed it by copping out for simple ivory. Thank you so much for the heads up!
Happy Bloggy-versary! I'm so glad you decided to become part of the blogging community. I can't believe it has only been a year!
Thank you for sharing you life with all of us.
I look forward to being able to thank you in person…
xo
Brooke
Hey Heather – just letting you know that the lovely pale maroonish colour you have selected for your links is disappearing against the same block colour at the bottom of your posts. So I have to scroll around madly to find the comment link. Virginia xx
grateful for your blog- love it happy anniversary
Hello Pam! Any girl that likes Charlie Brown is a o-k by me! I imagine that you follow Veronique's blog? If not here is the link!
http://frenchgirlinseattle.blogspot.com/
Great having you here!
Thank you so much Virginia about the feedback, it certainly as insanely glamorous and snappy as your blog–but then you are one of a kind! And I really absolutely agree one hundred percent that it truly helps to not be from a place to appreciate it. Oh my, there are so many folks here that I have met that have no idea what the history is of the monuments that they grew up with. But hey, I also will take any justification to travel too–I have mega wanderlust right now!
Q, I am so happy to have you here too–and I think you know how much I appreciate how much I get out of your blog–I am practically a vampire over there! And yes, I am so stunned that a year has passed. I truly don't understand how it could have gone by and know that makes me sound ooold! 🙂
congratulations heather… i am so fortunate to have found you on your anniversary! i have been to arles.. we had such a lovely time there and surrounding areas… stayed near st remy… will be back and wouldnt it be fun to meet??? xx pam
Happy Blogiversary Heather!! While I loved your old look, I totally understand the need for change, for less intensity and color, for a cleaner, leaner, pared down aesthetic. Isn't it amazing how fast that first year went? But it's also amazing to think how many new friends there are, places we've visited (even if virtual), and meals we've consumed – the zero calorie kind. I'm happy to count you as a wonderful addition!!
Loving the new fresher, lighter colour scheme – a reflection of how you feel about life which can only be a good thing, methinks! And yes, congratulations too on clocking up a year in putting your adventures and thoughts out there for all the world to see. For it is, indeed, a window into your own world in Provence and that is what keeps your readers coming back to see how your interpret things, especially the simple little beautiful things around you which sometimes other people just do not even see. I often ponder that one can only see the beauty of a place when one is not originally from that spot. Or maybe that just justifies the actions of those of us who like to travel! Virginia xx
Happy anniversary, Heather. Reading your post has become a lovely addition to my morning routine. Thank you for that.
Best…Victoria
Bonne Anniversaire dear Heather! Thank you for making us a part of your life. Always happy to hear from you. Lots in common so it's like speaking to a friend. Last August we spent a day in Arles on our way to Avignon and wandering the streets of this lovely town I was thinking of you. And because I don't part with my camera I caught myself thinking that I was looking with your eyes and what pics would you have taken.
Love your new look very much. So sophisticated. Keep going and the best wishes.
Natalie
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nataliedesigns
Merci tellement Janine. I am extremely flattered that you are interested in reading backwards a bit–I wish you would, if only to realize that my life is not at all a dream life, it is just my life. As I have said before, everything sounds more glamorous when you tack on "in Provence" at the end of it –i.e. Today, I did the laundry…in Provence. I try to straddle the atom thin wire here of not breaking bubbles while being truthful!
Bonne Anniversaire Heather! I thought you had been here longer than that as it goes…but that's because your blog is so well written and accomplished-i like reading it a lot. The pictures are just wonderful and it's as if you're living the life I wish for myself 🙂 and I've promised myself that when I have more time, I'm going to read through the whole blog from the beginning…it's a real pleasure and a delight to read your adventure…
Best wishes anyway and here's to reading for the next twelve months 🙂
Janine
xoxoox
Oh my lovely Contessa, of course you preferred the red!
CHANGE IS GOOD!Although, I loved the red!I cannot believe its only been a year!I think I found you about 6 months ago so I didnt miss toooo much!YOur words are wonderful and your PHOTOS……….well,just keep clicking away!
xoxoxox
Thank you so much ladies, so nice to wake up to such sweet words. I love you Sister and what you wrote means the world to me…
Well I'm certainly glad you kept on blogging. I adore hearing about life in your part of the world. So very different to Australia. So much more history among other things…
~ Clare x
Congratulations, Sister!! How proud I am of you – not only baring your soul to us all, but growing into an amazing writer in the process! We are so happy to see Provence through your eyes, and I imagine you benefit as well – from the friendships you've made and the conclusions you've come to. I look forward to many more blog posts – you are a beautiful writer and a beautiful person.
Hello Heather
I, too, like your new look. Looking forward to keeping up with your blog as your enter Year Two.
Congratulations
Helen
Thank you everyone for these well wishes. I am heading off to sleep now but with a full heart with these kind words. A good sleep most certainly lies ahead. Bon nuit et merci!
Hello Heather:
Bonne Anniversaire!!! [We always knew that our schoolday French would come in handy one day!!]
Many, many happy returns. Blogland would certainly be a poorer, unhappier, less colourful,less informative, less cheery place without you. Bisous!!
Joyeux anniversaire.
Your beautifully written bog with its lovely photos gives me much pleasure.
Warm regards.
Happy Blogaversary Heather! It's always a surprise when a year goes by I had my anniversary in June and coming up on my 100th post…who would have thought? I love your new look and while I don't actually know you it seems more you, the other it seemed to loud. Thank you for sharing your beautiful part of the world and for many more to come.
Happy blogging anniversary! [Mine is coming up fast.] I like the new blog look by the way and I am so glad I found you a few weeks ago. You live in a beautiful part of France. Keep blogging! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Nothing like a tinker.Like your dog.