“I got it!” I stared at the screen on the back of my camera. An extra blink to be sure and yet there it was, a frozen bolt of lightning. Remi and I laughed. It seemed lucky, crazily lucky, somehow.
We had turned back swift as sparrows as a rainstorm ruined our afternoon ramble. It approached swiftly with pelts of rain on the windshield in a “Ha. Ha. Ha.” The clouds billowed heavier than smoke and yet, when we saw the little cabanon perched at the end of a field of wizened vines, we had to explore.
How different it must have looked in other times. Big tree giving shade to workers dipping handkerchiefs in the well.
We peeked inside to discern…wire traps for the creek running below, freshly cut wood and a forgotten chair that once gave relief.
The frame of an iron tonnelle bended with forgetting.
And I couldn’t help but wonder, why oh why in France is the horseshoe always the wrong side down?
No wonder this poor little cabanon was ill-used. Perhaps we could look up the proprietaire, rent it out, fix it up and then it would be our get-to for the weekends?
You know us and how we like to dream.
But the rain pressed on and worryingly while the wind sucked the oak leaves upwards in spirals. “This is a bad storm coming, Remi.” I knew it in my bones. You can’t grow up in the Midwest and not have a feeling for that sort of thing. So back we scuttled as the rain pelted, turning eventually to hail.
Pop rocks that would burst our momentary daydreams but not let them be forgotten. The country is calling and I am listening…
Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.
totally gorgeous wild storm and love that little horseshoe and forgotten chair!
thank you again for your lovely encouragement it means so much
ciao lisa x
Absolutely spectacular photos as always and beautiful words to accompany them. I love the way you are able to catch a moment in time. And I love the sentence about growing up in the midwest and knowing storms – I don't think I ever truly got it until I visited Oklahoma in Spring – yowsa!
Hi,
Thought I had to give you some kind of explanation as for the horse shoe. I had to google it since I didn't know myself why it's often pointed down here in France (nor did I know that the side matters). It was an opportunity to know more about my own country. ^^
I found very few answers: it may be because to some people making a horse shoe point down leads the negative waves towards the ground. Still, almost all the search results mentioned that it has to point up if you don't want the luck to run out.
But in my opinion it's just because French people are not very superstitious (so they don't even wonder what side it should be, and let the law of gravity decide for them ^^).
Heather, I popped over last night and frankly your photos blew me away, I have come back this morning for another look and to leave you a comment. Jeanne is right soulful but I can add atmospheric and beautiful. Brilliant, wonderful you.
XXX
it IS true. i am not kidding!!!
you are a darling of fortune anyways, this i can tell <3
love from snowbound berlin*
j.
I think that you are amazing and I take that as a mighty fine compliment coming from you. And yep, I do think we have really similar ways of seeing–although you are far more technically astute than I am. Soulful is a beautiful word. And it made me think of a compliment that Suze gave me recently, one of the most lovely things I have heard in a long time: "It's like you walk through the world with your entire heart an open eye." Isn't that something?
All I know is I am trying. I find my way by looking and writing these days. It helps me stay focused and present. You too I reckon. It is a common thread in your life wherever you go…
Many bisous,
H
I know Claire! I know!!
Two tornados passed by when I was in elementary school in Michigan. And to get to the shelter we had to go outside!!! Our little selves hand in hand flattened against the wall. Not excellent architectural planning on someone's part I must say…
I had to scroll back up but you are right. Whoa. Puts the Mother back in Mother Nature…
Slim! From Morocco! I bow down to your photographic greatness. I still can't get over your last post and have yet to dive in to your newest…hooray…very, very inspiring….