My time in Provence last fall was more than I had hoped for...
I had the privilege of staying in the home of a dear family living there. Their names are Francisca and Jean-Pierre.
They not only opened up their home and the way they live, But they made me feel like part of their family,
and fed me like a king.
Being able to experience what its like to live there was a "Dream Come True,".... a memory I will cherish forever.
After a long train ride, they picked me up at the train station, and brought me to their enchanting home in the country side of Provence. Their home is and old farmhouse they had restored.
After I got settled
we sat down outside on their patio to eat one of the most wonderful, unexpected, best meals of my life...
First they brought out a vegetable lasagna which Francisca had prepared using fresh vegetables from their garden along with a whole grain bread that Jean-Pierre had made. So when we finished the lasagna, she brought out the salad, after that, a cheese platter with all kinds of delicious cheeses from their region, and a basket filled with fresh figs, quinces and pears all from their fruit trees. And of course a carafe of wine.
To finish
off that amazing meal, Francisca served the best Mousse au chocolat I have ever had.
j'adore mousse au chocolat…..
All our meals except breakfast were eaten outside, which I loved. We walked along the Rhone in the morning seeing a flock of white swans. They would walk their dogs along it every morning.
Their fruit trees, their garden, the blue shutters that they would close at night, the smell of them cooking outside in the evening, the wine....their simple but pure living is what this world needs more of...
Even though my French wasn't very good and Francisca's English wasn't good, there was no language barrier between two mother's hearts.
I was truly blessed to experience it. And I pray you can too.
Don't ever stop believing.
the table we ate our evening meals
roof tops of homes in Provence
Chateauneuf de Pape
Squash soup Francisca made
L'lsle Sur la Sorgue
Avignon
their driveway
a view from Chateauneuf de Pape
