Summer in our little town brings scorching temperatures, scores of tourists, and a plethora of special activities. Join me for a tour of the sights and sounds of summer in St. Hippolyte du Fort. Locally grown summer flowers Our weekly open markets are at their peak, bursting with seasonal produce, flowers, local products, clothes, and so much more. White and yellow peaches, melon from Cavaillon—delicious chilled with jambon de Parma —yum! My home garden grows slowly this year

Here in the Cévennes, we are experiencing a chilly spring. A few days of sunshine tease that we're headed into warmer weather. We pull out short-sleeve shirts and lighter weight clothing, only to return to multiple layers the next day. As I write, I'm wearing winter flannel-lined pants and fingerless gloves. The fire in my wood-burning stove takes the edge off a bit. Despite the colder temperatures than usual, signs of life still burst forth. After an abundance of rain, some

We're in between deluges here in my little town of St. Hippolyte du Fort. The latest storm pounded down vast quantities of water so quickly that the already saturated ground could barely absorb it. Our Cévennes region is known for such events which are called an episode Cévenol. Flashes of lightning on the mountains behind our house and cracks of thunder that sound like they are just outside the window are part of the package. I love it.  After the rains: Waterfall in the cen

In the Cévennes region, we usually have scorching heat starting in June. Not this year! Temperate weather and intermittent downpours have...

While there's never a dull moment around here, this past month has been extra eventful. Often, I feel like I'm living in a French film...

The first week of December here in the Cévennes, we harvest olives. Our crop this year was by far our most abundant, taking us two days...

Here in the Cévennes region, spring is elusive. One day, we have brilliant sunshine and bright blue skies filled with puffy white clouds....

A gray, cloudy day––depressing or cozy? Roadside growth––weeds or wildflowers? Whether we see beauty in the storm and life in the weeds...

In my little town, St. Hippolyte du Fort, we are blessed with lovely walking paths. I'm grateful to so easily engage with the surrounding...

My husband had a significant birthday a few years back (well, ok, more like a decade). I sent out requests for a word of encouragement, a...

Part One Madame fought back tears, but the deep well of emotion that was their cause would not be contained. "Our grandfathers… the...

When I reflect on the beauty of the seasons, I usually picture the soft bright colors of spring or the brilliant tones of autumn. Yet...

I have written about the mountains of St. Hippolyte du Fort in a previous blog, but majestic Le Cengle calls us to take another look....

The Route de Lasalle starts right outside my front door and winds its way up through beautiful Cevenol countryside. I love watching the...

Vive les vendanges! Yay for the grape harvest! I love this time of year, and one of the very best things about it is the vendanges. Early...

One of the best things about living in the south of France is lavender season. It is truly incroyable…incredible! The colors, the scent,...

This year, for the first time, I have a vegetable garden–a potager as it's called in French. Interestingly, the word for...

This week we're going on a tour of the beautiful mountains surrounding my little town. So grab your walking stick and hiking boots…just...

These past weeks, here in the Cévennes, we have had quite a stretch of gray skies and rainy days. Our summers can be scorching hot, so...

Of the many beautiful walks in and around St. Hippolyte du Fort, my very favorite is on the Route de Cros. Out my door, across the...