It is so quiet in La Buissonade that all I hear is my breath flowing in and out. We are at our cottage rental in the Luberon and Remi has taken the dogs to go mushroom-hunting. I am doing yoga on the floor of the bedroom next to the heater – salutations to the sun despite the steady drizzle of rain falling on the other side of the plate glass door in front of me. Swan-dive forward, lift my heart, back into a high lunge, hover in plank and lower to the floor. When I peel up into cobra I am stunned to see the rain has morphed into a loose wet snow that gathers force as I continue. When I finish, my seated meditation is simply watching the flakes fall fast and furious.
In the late afternoon, we pile into the Range Rover to go “see the snow” for on the upper hills it has stuck, stubborn. There is nothing to say as the car rolls along through villages illuminated by puffing smoke chimneys and not a soul to be seen. Nor as we pass the great oaks, the truffle trees sleeping. When we stop, it is for a reason. The moon has risen.
We know how special it is to see this icy dust on the lavender fields…
…the flowers warmed from yesterday clutch the snow like diamonds, jewels to the heart.
We stomp our feet and clap our hands to stay warm. Puffs of breath, that same in and out, escape like smoke through our grins. But it is beautiful. Finally, the bitter cold forces us to head back to the cottage but that moon is burned in my mind.
The following morning I awake with an idea for a cocktail. Now, not that I have the habit of imbibing with breakfast – ok, only in New Orleans – but I have had a theme hovering in my head, knowing that in the beginning of December, I would need to create one for the holidays for the By Invitation Only Series. Nothing could be more inspiring than the snow on the lavender fields under that bone hollow moon.
And so here it is, the Lavender Ice.
It is so simple as to barely merit the title of cocktail. To prepare your glass, line the rim with honey then coat it by turning it upside down in a plate sprinkled with powdered sugar. There is your snow. Then prepare your liquid with 3/4 cold vodka to 1/4 lavender syrup (if you have trouble finding some, it could be easily made with simple syrup and lavender flowers heated, strained then cooled). I prefer my martinis stirred not shaken – sorry Mr. Bond – but do as you please. A stalk to lavender flower is the perfect garnish.
The result is simply wonderful if I do say so myself. The lavender gives a fairly smoky finish so as to balance the sweetness of the honey, making it appropriate for both men and women, plus it is festive without being gimmicky, there are no bells and whistles here. None are needed.
For we all know that the finest moments of the Holiday Season are just that, moments. Of love, of giving, of being together with an open heart. I have already had a great gift in those few truly happy moments with Remi at our own little party of two. So perhaps I am good for Christmas this year…
…but tell me, what are you doing for New Year’s Eve?
To join what I imagine will be a truly festive party this month at By Invitation Only, please visit Splenderosa by clicking here.
Watching the snowflakes fall after your meditation sounds magical, Heather…you write so poetically; an absolute joy! The Lavender Ice Cocktail…sophisticated simplicity…I'd love to join you in a glass!
Wishing you a very happy festive season xx
Very, very, beautiful, and I confess to being a hard critic.
Lavender feels so like summer to me – to see it caught in ice is something special.
And the drink sounds delicious, I do not like sweet cocktails and am always hunting for the taste of smoke. I'd never realized until now how piquant lavender is, how close to smoke and tang. Thank you.
"Jewels to the Heart."
How truly Heather this is. Recognizing every single element and seeing it's beauty.
This is why we need you, my friend. You are like a jewel to our hearts.
And, this little cocktail, how brilliant, how creative and how beautiful.
Perfection, this entire post.
Happy Holidays to you, Remi & the boys.
Leave it to you, Heather to put a truly original twist on a theme. Thanks for taking us all a world away for this cocktail that must taste like the essence of Provence. I want to try one, but will have to wait until after breakfast since I am not in New Orleans. (I actually have some lavender sugar in the pantry which I bet I could coax in to syrup!) You are so right, Christmas is made up of beautiful moments and I hope you have plenty this season. XOXO
Heather, you so consistently blow me away with your word paintings and photos! I was just about to post one of my 'how to cut the cost of travel tip' posts with cut and dried advice, but decided I treat myself to your post first. Now mine so pales in comparison, I may just skip it altogether. . .what a beautiful job you did on this one!
One supports the idea of the sacred Christmas cocktail.
Oooooo – SUCH beautiful pictures! My favorite is the flower and how you described it, and the piece of ice is almost heart-shaped!! Methinks you have become a zen master, finding the beauty in everyday scenes and then writing about it so lovingly. Either way I am so glad you have this and our lives are enriched by reading/viewing it! It's a win-win! : )
That's the same amount of snow, if not even a bit more, than what we have here almost 3000 km north from there. These sure are amazing times!
What a breath of fresh air Heather, I love your words, and I wish I was doing yoga with you now, of course with a glass of lavender champagne on the side. Enjoy the snow and the beautiful little snow flakes, oh how I wish I was there, I have a fan on in my bedroom now, it's been a very hot and long day here in Australia. Oh to have a winter Christmas one year! Sending my warmest of wishes for a beautiful Christmas. xxxxx
Snow covered fields, the rising moon, "..the flowers warmed from yesterday clutch the snow like diamonds, jewels to the heart." Ah, yes, you may yet get me in the mood. And you created a cocktail to enjoy while experiencing it all. Bravo!