There are words that, after all of this time in France, still twist between my tongue when speaking or dart out of reach when typing. Abracadabrant, is one. I casually tossed out to my Mom that I was pretty sure that it meant something along the lines of “everything but nothing at the same time.” However, Wiktionary swung me wildly back to Planet Earth by declaring, rather, “ludicrous, preposterous.” Oops. Or as the French say, “oups.” Perhaps those two definitions are not so entirely far a part from each other in the immaterial dreamloop that I have had on repeat as of late?
And yet it was with feet solidly on the ground–one two, one two, huphuphup–that Remi, the puppers and I went for a rather lengthy hike in the hills of the Alpilles yesterday evening. The clouds were playful and I was grateful for the shapes of shade and the cooling wisps of…silence. I have become convinced that we are suffering from noise poisoning in our apartment in the center of Arles. One that somehow trumps my former residence off Time Square for it’s determined non-stoppedness. Not so in the Alpilles, especially along the paths of this inconnu corner far from all…
…save for one truly envy-inspiring home with an eagle’s nest view and an infinity pool that I seriously considered walking down and falling in to. Would they mind? Probably. I kept walking.
How I love the tug between above and below.
As we climbed, the olive groves smeared into Seurat dots, marbles rolling across a plain.
We zig-zagged over the trail, ankles wobbling dangerously, dogs panting noisely…
…until we reached the upper crest, at such an altitude that sprigs of wild lavender had sprouted, surprising us with their smoky sweet scent.
Quieted, I saw a landscape that was preposterous in its beauty. Abracadabrantesque? Absolutely.
Just like pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
***
Now, while my vocabulary might be as slippery as an eel, there are times when I know EXACTLY what I am saying and this would be one of them, so please do gather ’round and listen up.
I believe that most of you that have been reading here for some time get as big of a kick out of the comments and stories left by David Terry as I do. But have you ever clicked over to discover what a truly unique and wonderful artist he is? If not, there has never been a better time to do so. You see, the lovely Sharon Santoni of the exceptional blog My French Country Home is offering a giveaway of one of David’s portraits, to be commissioned by the winner.
Remi and I are the proud owner of three of David’s works and I can assure you that they are far more beautiful in person that his website can portray. As his pieces can sell for up to thousands of dollars, this is quite an opportunity. So what are you waiting for?
To enter (and see the portrait of Ben and Kipling that Sharon included in her post), please click here.
To discover David’s work, please click here.
But do hurry, I believe that you only have until next Saturday.
***
Have a wonderful week everyone…
How horrible to have noise poisoning. Glad you could take to the hills to escape from the noise and thereby bring us more beautiful, tranquil scenes. Loved the links. I feel overcome by all the loveliness I have seen in the past hour. 'Deep peace of the quiet earth to you" from Gallivanta
Heather your pictures are quite beautiful … and what a long way you walked! No wonder your ankles were wobbling 🙂
Surely you could have dreamt up an excuse to knock at the door of that house, what an amazing setting.
Thank you for the shout out for the giveaway, David's picture of Ben and Kipling asleep is one of my favourites
love to you
Sharon
xx
You are welcome, Sister!!! And oh, David deserves far more than a little link or two at the end of a post called "abracadabrant"!! There is nothing preposterous about what he does, no matter how I might try and be silly with the word!
And do you remember when you were here and I wanted to dump a bucket of water on the hair salon's rave party below?? Hehehe….
I love you Sister!
Thank you David but as I have said previously, whenever you transform one of my photos it becomes something far more beautiful than I could achieve, not to mention it solidifies into something that LASTS. So please do borrow away, I take it as a fine, fine compliment.
Oooh, will take a look as I truly meant noise "poisoning"–I don't want to sound too wacky but it really is making me…not well. It is a constant interference that keeps me from being at ease. Thanks for the suggestion and the compliment.
It looks like David beat me to the punch in responding, Edgar but I do think that one of the reasons why he and I get along so well has to do with a similar way of appreciating our surroundings.
Well, as much as I tend to sound gushy as a Pollyanna, I never give a compliment that I don't mean with my whole heart. My Mom was also strict with us, most certainly about two things: manners and honesty.
And David, don't think for a second that we don't appreciate that symmetry nor all of the support and kindness that you have shown both of us.
Who knows what kind of interesting or witty comment that I coughed up on Dominique Browning's beautiful blog to get you to find me here but I am so glad that happened…
Oh we are really at our limit, Leslie. It is a shame because this is a lovely apartment that suits our needs very well but there is no way that we can stay here. Truly, there is a woman talking on her cell phone in the street below and I can hear every word as if she were in the room!! Arrrhh! It felt so wonderful to just have quiet on our walk. I crave it now!
No, we haven't yet met but might as well have. Sometimes I have to remind myself that we haven't!
All is fair in love and war!
And the house is perched on a hill that drops deeply on the other side–that is why it looks like that. 🙂