October is written in orange, scrawled loopily with a fat crayon. This much we know and I have the photos to prove it. But not the golden glow of Jack O’Lanterns grinning in the night but the warm rust of ochre warming my fingertips, a lasting stain and bright.
Millions of years ago, my part of the world, Provence, was just one long sad sea. When the continents leaned into one another, conspiratorially, limestone and sandstone built up over time, leaving us with the surprise of ochre.
Ochre has been mined for pigments since the dawn of humanity. It traces out the animals dancing across the caves of Lascaux, the Egyptians dabbed it tenderly across their lips and cheeks…
Such earth equalled wealth for those who mined it and such was the family practice along a certain stretch of the Luberon for over one hundred years. And while the natural has long been supplanted by the synthetic, the land here is still thriving.
It seems to me to be that now is a month of abundance, despite an/our American predilection for Thanksgiving in November. And the varying terrain along these former ochre mines is rife…with life.
So lets hear it for the shift and sway of earth giving us the goods over and over.
Let us use them wisely.
For we are indeed rich, when we take in all that we have. Around us and in who we are.
I know, I know how often I say that but right now, as we dive towards the winter sleep on this top of the planet while friends are awakening to spring below on the other, it bares repeating.
Listen to the scribble of the undertow.
What is in your heart during this month?
What are you hoping for that lies ahead?
It is October, a perfect time to do a bit of (gentle!) digging…
…is there anything just below the surface that is calling for attention?
…for while we all learn our lessons and endure our scars…
…all the more reason to welcome a whopping batch of joy when that is what life throws us, to roll around in it gleefully, creating moments to carry us through the months ahead…
For yes, our lives are inscribed indelibly in a lasting ochre. Let us try to write it well.
Today’s post is my October contribution to the “By Invitation Only” series. To see what the talented bloggers from the around the world have concocted for “Thoughts on October” please visit Splenderosa here.
Wishing you all a wonderful month ahead…
Very moved by this post, Heather — thank you for such a beautiful and indelible reminder to honor our own ochre (despite our own ogres! 🙂
Were some of these photos taken in Roussillon? I loved the ochre path there, though I walked in sandals and I think it took me two weeks to scrub the color off my bare feet!
Ochre … so beautiful, so deep, so rich – the colour of life itself. How strange, or perhaps not, I have felt the need to surround myself with this colour lately. I read a post before yours which resonated with this one. Coincidence? Hardly. We are, after all, all pilgrims on the same journey. My favourite image (apart from Ben) is the fifth from last. That colour is just so very me.
Oh my word Heather!! I am gasping in delight here!!! For Ochre is my favourite colour!! Your images are a warm oh so vibrant. Fired earth…beautiful… Lots to ponder as well. Love the pooch to bits!
Thank you for your kind words and virtual hug! Giggles for the hair and eye colour….
So sorry to hear that you have also had a tough time as well. Feels like I have been a hamster on the London eye, but onward and upward we go! Wishing you lots of strenght and loads of energy and love to deal with life's lil curved balls.
Sending hugs from Cape Town
V
xx
Stunning images but my fave is the last one….being a fellow golden retriever owner and I featured my little lovebutton in my post today too…..the ochre pictures are simply stunning. Nature at its most beautful.
What do I want to do? What will October hold? I hope a lot of smiles, more laughter than I think I can handle, some yummy comfort foods, forgiving roomy sweaters and the gift of family and friends. Thats all I can ask for:)
So glad you saw that, Sanda!! He was one happy boy, I can tell you. I know how much you appreciate your puppers as well…
Oh thank you Helen. Are you sure I can't come over for tea in your kitchen? 😉 It is always so surprising to me that there is so much that is so strong in Provence that it actually reflects! Like the red, orange, magenta earth. But please don't give me too much credit, I just saw something that pleased me (that the branch was lit up like it was on Broadway), I don't have any understanding of these things!!
And I know that you feel the same as I do about this beautiful world, it is one of the things that connects us…
xo,
H
Looking forward to seeing you again!
Suze, this post was kind of for you! Well, the second part as I was thinking about what you had written–I had no idea that orange was your favorite color although sheesh, I should have guessed. I had meant to send you an email today to tell you so but you beat me to the punch. 🙂 As I said to Judith (who is one smart cookie), I am also really, really talking to myself right now!!
PS. Boon is a mighty fine word…
Really beautiful photos of the ochre earth. You post interesting questions to ponder, which I'm off to do. Smiled at the "oche" on Ben's nose. Very nice ending to a very nice post!
Sanda
Hello Heather
You capture both in words and your photography the beauty of Provence. I am particularly captivated and mesmerized by the image of the tree (5 images above Ben)- the reflected light beneath the branch is so brilliant and how your keen eye saw this.
I join you in gratitude of the beautiful world we live in and the friends who live here
Helen xx