The Color Purple

Rich and regal, strong and saturated; purple has always been my favorite color.

Icy wisteria hanging in clusters.
Deep purple figs plucked from the trees and unavoidably squashed underfoot. 
Shutters in a light shade of violet always capture my attention.
Ripening grapes thriving on the vines.
Amethyst tinted garlic, lush, juicy plums and heavy globes of eggplant.
Pale violet skies at sunset.
A glass at the end of the day.  Santé!

Its presence is appreciated all year, but these last days of summer are infused with all shades of purple, violet and lavender.  So gorgeous. Pin It

Les Petits Détails

Everyday details that have captured my eye. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Grapes!

I was out walking the dogs the other day when our neighbor brought his bicycle to a halt in front of me for bisous and a chat.
After a few of minutes of scolding me because we had sold our garden to people who aren't taking proper care of it, he pulled this gorgeous bunch of white table grapes out of his vegetable laden bicycle basket and offered them to me with a big smile.

I guess that means I have been forgiven. Pin It

Photo du Jour - A Very Good Year

With the plentiful sunshine and long, hot days we've been having, it looks as though the grapes are coming along nicely. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Grapes

A lone little cluster of Muscat grapes that the vendangeurs left behind. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Driving

This is the view through the windshield whenever we drive anywhere right now.

The vendange is almost over though. The purple grapes hanging in the vineyards have almost all been picked and taken to be crushed.
The yeasty, musty aroma of fermenting grapes fills the air. Pin It

Photo du Jour - Summer Grapes

Not quite ready yet. Maybe another couple of weeks? Pin It

Photo du Jour - Changing Seasons

An early sign of the changing seasons in the vineyards.

Every year on August 15th there is a perceptible change in the weather. The air takes on a slight chill at night and the days aren't as blistering hot. Pin It

Photo du Jour

Snapped this while out wandering in the vineyards yesterday morning. Looks like it will be a very good year. Pin It

Photo du Jour

Wearing some autumn colors.
As soon as the grapes are picked, the leaves turn color quickly and fall off. We try to enjoy the beautiful reds and golds while we can. Pin It

Photo du Jour

They're still harvesting the fat bunches of grapes.

Most of the vines have been stripped, leaving behind a grape here and there. I tasted one yesterday while out for a walk. Delicious! Pin It

Photos du Jour

The grapes are so gorgeous...



and ripe
and lush!

It won't be long before they're picked, then the leaves turn beautiful red, orange and gold colors. Pin It

La Vendange

I wrote about the white grape harvest about two weeks ago. It appears that la vendange is in full swing!
Today while driving the thirty minutes it takes from Narbonne to our village, I got stuck behind I-don't-even-know-how-many tractors whose trailers were overflowing with deep purple grapes.

Will it be a good year for our local wine?
Some say yes, some say just average. Pin It

Photo du Jour

Muscat vine growing on our neighbor's house. Pin It

Photo du Jour

White grapes going off to be crushed.

This time of year we often get stuck behind these tractor-trailers full of grapes. They only drive about 25 kilometers an hour-about 15 miles an hour. Since they serve a very important purpose (future wine) we try to be patient! Pin It

Photo du Jour

The vendange* should begin in a few weeks. The white grapes are already being picked.


*grape harvest Pin It

Photos du Jour

Coming along....


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Photos du Jour

The grapes two weeks ago.


And yesterday. They're becoming sweet and juicy and turning a beautiful golden color.
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Photos du Jour

the grapes a month ago


and two days ago Pin It

le Jardin

tomatoes and nasturtiums



Never thought I would be one of those people who got excited about gardening. Well, maybe excited isn't exactly the right word. I should say I'm satisfied with gardening.
Surprisingly, the apricot tree produced some fruit. We thought it was sickly, so we're happy to report that it isn't. Apricot clafouti this weekend!
Everything else is coming along. S L O W L Y it seems, when I look at the size of the gigantic tomato plants in the other garden plots around ours. What are they using on their plants to get them to grow so freakin' huge?



little olives


baby grapes


the dog, passed out after running around the garden Pin It