The sun in my arms and the stars at my feet

A true Sunday. Sleeping in late then dipping carefully shredded Italian brioche into my coffee, listening to our friends that had stayed over after a joyful evening as they mused on this and that, their knowing to let me be until I am fully awake. Each paging through picture books with waving lapses of silence filled only with the ping-pong of Baroque. Meanwhile, beyond the window-pane the sun was arm-wrestling with the clouds. It won and was victorious. Out we wandered, working up an appetite for the omelette aux chanterelles that Chef Remi had promised. I took my camera along as the light was singing just to me, I felt that I had the sun in my arms and love in my heart. 

Hungry from looking, we stayed at table until 4 pm, lingering over the St. Marcellin and sweet clementines. After our friends said their goodbyes, it was time for une petite sieste, the kind filled with sleeping without sleeping, the best I know. But I could hear noises outside my window as I dozed and was finally drawn to see what could it be. While I was dreaming, workers from the city had been as busy as bees, stringing up, then testing the lights for the Christmas season. I smiled at the Milky Way just below my feet, as they winked little hellos while lighting up the dark. 

59 comments

  1. Please do and thank him on my behalf for bringing such an absolutely amazing human being to the planet. Kudos.

    And I can't say that self-confidence is something that is working at anything close to full speed at this point in my life. Sometimes I think that I burned through all of it before I was 35!

    xo,
    H

  2. 'You left me speechless with that one, dearest Suze.'

    You don't know your own worth, do you, dear one? Well, let's see what we can do to set that to rights. 🙂

    I'll pass on the image to my excellent Dad.

  4. I agree with everyone here – hard to pick a favorite! First it was the one with the red-leaved vines – made me notice lots of bits of red in these photos! And the window with all of the plants, and kitties, and Ben! I love those twinkle lights – were they there last year?? All beautiful photos, as always. Hope you're bringing your camera on Tuesday – we need to make more of an effort to capture Ann Arbor this time! : )

  6. You had me at the title!

    And you've made me hungry (and yearning) for those incredibly blue skies…

  7. gorgeous pictures!!

    all those delicious sunlight-kisses-on-stone-walls.

    felt like i walked with you to the boulangerie to buy a ficelle and we talked a while.

    divine.

    a moment in france.

    how nice.

    thank you also for visiting us (virtually) in manhattan earlier.

    waving from NYC!

    _teamgloria xx

  8. oh i love that the "light was singing to you"!!! your photos are like poems, so very lovely!!!

    kindest thoughts

  9. TOO MANY! Yes too many gorgeous photographs here to comment on each one so I will just say I love them all. The light in the top one was singing to me as well. The light, it's all about the light for me.

    Now I'm going back up and have another long look at each. WOW,
    Bises,
    V

  12. Ooh, I bet the LPV must look mighty fine…perhaps we need to make a holiday jaunt in that direction???

  13. Ah, please feel free to duplicate my Sunday all weekend long–it isn't copyrighted and it does a person good! Especially one that has been wrangling with munchkins and instilling them with Ye Olde English…

    And yep, it is the same here, Ella. The lights are up but nobody's home. I'll have to wait until I come back from the States to see them shine. Booo!!!

  14. I so should not have read this post right now. I'm at work, and as much as I love my little students, I'd much rather be eating omelettes and taking Sunday siestes!

    I may copy "your" Sunday this weekend. : )

    Speaking of Christmas lights, where you are, are the lights put up but not illuminated for like a month? That's what happens here in Paris. They hold out until the second week of December! It's such a tease!

  15. That does sound like a fantastic Sunday. And I for one am thrilled to see the Christmas lights going up. I love how sparkly and festive they make the villages look 🙂

  17. Loved and enjoyed everything you did on your Sunday from the stunning pictures, the Omellete and your "une petite sieste." I love taking naps on Sundays too. It's just rejuvenating. C'est la vie!

  18. What a perfect Sunday (what I wouldn't give for an omelette aux chanterelles — yum!). I LOVE these photos, especially of the sly little kitties and a happy Benjamin to boot! La vie est belle!

  19. Thank you so very much Sylvia!! You sure know how to arrive with a bang. 🙂
    And of course, any friend of the amazing Ella's is a friend of mine…
    H.

  20. It really was lovely, Debra. We all need that from time to time. And as you can see, Mr. B was happy too!
    Hope all is well there and that you are staying warm. I would love to have another cooking post from you, it has been a while. Just a thought!
    xo,
    H

  22. You write beautifully and your photos are truly lovely.
    Just found your blog on the comment section of Ella's "Tales from the chambre de bonne" and I'm enjoying reading your poetic descriptions of that unique place and your beautiful life.
    You are a very gifted writer and photographer!
    Regards
    Sylvia

  23. Your images are beautiful and so glad you appreciate what's before you it's stunning! Sounds like you had the perfect day!

    XXX
    Debra~

  25. PS. Loree, I forgot to add that I was so pleased with that first photo too but it was just the light giving me a gift–those are the houses across from the Arena! I loved the shadows made by the arches. 🙂

  26. I often look at blogs when I can't sleep, Janey–so glad that mine made you happy. Hope that you are dreaming peacefully now!

  31. Oh what a lovely thing to say, Jackie! I hope that you hit your deadline and can truly relax now!

  33. Wow. Maybe a goddess came down to visit to give me that title? You left me speechless with that one, dearest Suze.

    And Remi had questioned the inclusion of the 19 photo–now I know why I wanted it, for your Father.
    Big hug,
    H

  35. Cheers right back at you, Wyn! And I love the word evocative–one that sound like what it is…

  36. Thank you Jeanne! But as I am going back to the States in one week I am already floating on a cloud!
    Bisous,
    H

  37. I love your photography too, Loree! So few of us get to Malte and yet you share it so generously…

  38. Only you would come up with the Shoemaker and his Elves. How I love the way your mind works!

  40. I love the idea of the sun and the clouds wrestling…and that cat peeking out from the shutters.

    My cordless phone fell from my bed and startled me awake. Couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to stroll through my blogs.Strolling with you was the best!

  41. Stunning, Stunning photos Heather. Your day sounds like perfection.

    PS Your energy worked as I managed to get my blog back.

    XXX

  42. Love the kitty photos so much! They are like little surprises
    within the frame, you have to look twice to enjoy their presence.
    Thanks for sharing

  44. Heather, I couldn't wait to find out why celestial elements were at your disposal this weekend. Why the sun were in your arms and stars were at your feet. Everyone said it brilliantly and won't repeat, but totally agree. Pictures…perfect, musings and subject, other worldly. From now on, when the sun is warming my arms, it's mine. Christmas star(s) aren't specialty of Wise Men from the East. They can be delivered by city public workers. And that, Heather is the beauty of your writing. You make the ordinary becomes extra-ordinary. Merci!

    XO
    Amelia

  45. I've spent the afternoon hunched over the computer, marching my mind and fingers toward a deadline. My treat for the day was reading this post, that was so gentle and relaxing that I heard myself sigh as I came to its close. What beautiful photos and prose, Heather.

  47. The title of your post makes you sound like a proper goddess, H.

    The number 19 has a special significance for my father. He would have read a lot into your excellent menagerie of images.

  48. Really enjoying your photos Heather. I feel like I've met a kindred e-spirit. You look at the sorts of things that I look at … the little things. Maybe we could house swap for a while haha

  49. A warm spot and warm coffee (not to mention the brioche!!) Pretty evocative – this is my new word for the morning I think – but it is appropriate!! Cheers!!

  50. Heather, what a perfect Sunday and a beautiful walk. I'm so glad you took your camera with you so that we could follow along – your photos are amazing. I especially love the door in the half-light, what a gorgeous shot.
    Hope the beauty of your Sunday follows you throughout the week! XO

  51. Your photos make me see my own world with new eyes dear Heather. I love the play of light and shadow in the first photo. I could stare at it for hours. And I also love the one of that cat peeking from behind the shutters. What a wonderful capture.

  52. How cool is this post? I love the photos and all the little details you saw, especially those two kitties. (: Waking up to twinkling Christmas lights where there where none before is a little like the Shoemaker and his Elves.

  53. Lazy Sundays I love them. Being retired most of my days could be lazy days if I wanted,but then Sunday wouldn't be special. Loved all the photos, especially the one with the cat peeping out from under the shutters. Lovely post.
    Best wishes Barbara

    Thank you for your kind comments on my post.

  54. Oops, everyone else was up way before I was!
    I'll take those bises and sling them right back at ya from the South…

  55. But oh, how I wish you both would have actually been here, not just virtually. A true Hattatt day if ever there was one. Budapest seems so close and yet is not close enough!
    Gros bisous,
    H

  58. Hello Heather:
    When lazy days and Sundays collide, it is a match made in heaven. You capture the glorious indolence that is the essence of this perfect marriage and we have so enjoyed the pleasure of your company!

    A sunlit café terrace at this late stage of the year is a treat. How wonderful to have languished over lunch for hours in the company of friends. perfect!!

  59. Ah,…. you are a lucky girl!

    I'm green around the gills…a perfect Sunday!

    Some fab pictures in there woman….

    hugs H

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