A moment in Provence is best at the end of Spring, late afternoon. With family and friends gathering outside, sipping rose, while the softness that is before nightfall causes one to reflect on the day. A French provencal water jug, an old one, that used to be used to collect water from the well sits on the kitchen table... France the lessons I have learned under your watch. A santon, part of the French nativity scene, with the water jug on her head. Perfecting balance. That is how I feel: Our friend is recovering in the hospital. Thank you for your prayers, much needed prayers... My prayers weave with yours, surrounding our friend, begging for balance, courage, and healing. The day is not over... with harder days to come. A mortar and pestle. In Provence it is used to make an olive oil, egg yolk and garlic sauce called: aioli A tool used to crush, grind, and mix solids in to fine powder, or cream. As I pound the pestle I put my heartache, my sadness for our friend's journey and imagine it smoothing out, blending it to a happy place. If it could be so easy. A few weekends ago I bought the piece of provencal pottery (the plain one to your left) I was attracted to the shape, though I had no idea what it was used for. I asked the brocante dealer and he said, "It is for putting water into the holy water font at church." That sold it for me. Holy water. Gee, I should of used that for a "French Antique Guessing Game"! Would you have known? The table was set. Flowers from our courtyard inside a porcelain de Paris vase. Straw plates wait for the meal to be served. All in place, ready. After I took a photo I looked up and saw an unexpected guest arrive. Our old neighbors moved (Prayers answered!) they took their cat... Stinky Cat, kind of sad to see him go. But the new neighbors have a cat... she is very friendly, very curious, and loves to dangle her back leg in our fountain and admire the goldfish. Hopefully just admiring. Again thank you for your prayers and good thoughts! So tell me do you have a name for our neighbor's cat?
