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…
Lovely, combining beauty with substance as always!! And I didn't know that was how ochre was formed – interesting as well as poetic! I adore October, especially here in New England where the change of seasons is such a beautiful spectacle!
This comment has been removed by the author.
I love ochre color and painted a feature wall this color in our bedroom but the husband wasn't thrilled. I know it's a high energy color but to me it's soothing. I'm hoping to slow down this October with all the outside work, I just need a little bit of a break. Ben is so cute with his bits of orche, give him a big kiss from me!
XXX
Debra~
p.s. I did not see the ochre on Ben's nose (someone here pointed it out) – TOO CUTE! : )
Oh my goodness, you hit this one out of the ballpark!! How does your writing and photography just keep getting better and better? With sooo many beautiful thoughts to ponder. What I am hoping for/what is in my heart is that the chill and shorter days are not so cold/short with my sweetie around; that we can share in fall together. And, hmm, is there anything just below the surface calling for attention? Um, in a word, YES, but I am digging and digging every day!!!
Thank you for this beautiful post!!! : )
Heather, today's post can't be just a coincident. This weekend I was going thru my old copies of "France Magazines" deciding which to keep and those to go in the recycling bin. As I was leafing through a copy from Nov 2007, my eyes were drawn to an article on the Ochre Villages of the Apt Valley. I re-read the article and in an instant thought about you, on the line of – I wonder when Heather will write a post about this area of Provence. My eyes blinked a couple of times to ensure my brain is not playing tricks on me, when I opened your blog for today.
What is in my heart during this month? What am I hoping for that lies ahead? Two very profound questions to mull over, ponder upon and with some gentle digging, be able to fathom the scribble of the undertow.
Merci beaucoup Heather, for an amazing post.
Amelia
Your post for our By Invitation subject this month is absolutely beautiful. Your photographs are stunning and are accompanied by very wise words. It was lovely to read what October means to you. Enjoy the Autumn. XXXX
I loved that the post ended with Ben's smiling face. I'd know that dog anywhere! x
Bravo, Heather…a sublime post. Your photographs and your writing resonate with me every day. Thank you, Leslie in Portland
Tina, I think that is a great list if ever there was one and that we all should hope for "more laughter that I think I can handle" every month!
I rooted for Teddy so much when he was attacked and am so thrilled that he is in good shape now. There are a few of us with goldens that overlap on blogs–certainly Debra's Dylan Dog at Aquired Objects comes to mind but he is not the only one. Aren't they the best?