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.
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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.
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Have a wonderful week everyone…
Woot woot!
I adore silly words! I blame it on supercalifragilisticispealidocious, which I'm sure I spelled incorrectly 😛
Pop by my blog when you have a chance. I added one of your Aix posts to my latest Expat Escapades x
Oh I will take that wonderful wish, dear G.
Love to you too, Sharon. I do hope that we get to meet one of these days. I think that we are both "fans" of each other's dogs–both of us have a sweetie and a stinker! 😉 And I think it is wonderful that you are doing these giveaways–and I can't speak highly enough of David. He is a good egg!
Sending Gros Bisous up to Normandy,
H