#blog provence france

[allthingseurope]

Aix-en-Provence, France (by Despina Galani)

[manolomun63]

Courthézon, Vaucluse, France.

[wine-porn]

Du Travailler

The red wines of Provence are something rarely seen in the US, but they are my favorite representations of Cab and Syrah in the world. They basically never say what’s in them on the bottle, and people don’t just automatically *know* like the regions of BDX or Rhone, but they typically run nearly 100% cab down to around 50/50. Which has always struck me as weird, as the “normal”–and far more…

[cote-dazur-insider]

Découvrez Côte d'Azur Insider, le blog Côte d'Azur lancé fin 2022.

Que faire sur la Côte d'Azur, où sortir ?

Faites confiance aux initiés.

Restos, brunches, rooftops, bars, events, plages, balades, réseaux sociaux, ...

[books]

Writer Spotlight: Jamie Beck

Jamie Beck is a photographer residing in Provence, France. Her Tumblr blog, From Me To You, became immensely successful shortly after launching in 2009. Soon after, Jamie, along with her partner Kevin Burg, pioneered the use of Cinemagraphs in creative storytelling for brands. Since then, she has produced marketing and advertising campaigns for companies like Google, Samsung, Netflix, Disney, Microsoft, Nike, Volvo, and MTV, and was included in Adweek Magazine’s “Creative 100” among the industry’s top Visual Artists. In 2022, she released her first book, An American in Provence, which became a NYT Bestseller and Amazon #1 book in multiple categories, and featured in publications such as Vogue, goop, Who What Wear, and Forbes. Flowers of Provence is Jamie’s second book.

Can you tell us about how The Flowers of Provence came to be?

I refer to Provence often as ‘The Garden of Eden’ for her harmonious seasons that bring an ever-changing floral bounty through the landscape. My greatest joy in life is telling her story of flowers through photography so that we may all enjoy them, their beauty, their symbolism, and their contribution to the harmony of this land just a bit longer. 

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

How do your photography and writing work together? Do you write as part of your practice?

I constantly write small notations, which usually occur when I am alone in nature with the intention of creating a photograph or in my studio working alone on a still life. I write as I think in my head, so I have made it a very strict practice that when a thought or idea comes up, I stop and quickly write the text in the notes app on my phone or in a pocket journal I keep with me most of the time. If I don’t stop and write it down at that moment, I find it is gone forever. It is also the same practice for shooting flowers, especially in a place as seasonal as Provence. If I see something, I must capture it right away because it could be gone tomorrow. 

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

You got your start in commercial photography. What’s something you learned in those fields that has served you well in your current creative direction?

I think my understanding of bridging art and commerce came from my commercial photography background. I can make beautiful photographs of flowers all day long, but how to make a living off your art is a completely different skill that I am fortunate enough to have learned by working with so many different creative brands and products in the past. 

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

Do you remember your first photograph?

Absolutely! I was 13 years old. My mother gave me her old Pentax 35mm film camera to play with. When I looked through the viewfinder, it was as if the imaginary world in my head could finally come to life! I gave my best friend a makeover, put her in an evening gown in the backyard of my parents’ house in Texas, and made my first photograph, which I thought was so glamorous! So Vogue!

You situate your photographic work with an introduction that charts the seasons in Provence through flowers. Are there any authors from the fields of nature writing and writing place that inspire you?

I absolutely adore Monty Don! His writing, his shoes, and his ease with nature and flowers—that’s a world in which I want to live. I also love Floret Flowers, especially on social media, as a way to learn the science behind flowers and how to grow them. 

How did you decide on the order of the images within The Flowers of Provence?

Something I didn’t anticipate with a book deal is that I would actually be the one doing the layouts! I assumed I would hand over a folder of images, and an art director would decide the order. At first, it was overwhelming to sort through it all because the work is so personal, and I’m so visual. But in the end, it had to be me. It had to be my story and flow to be truly authentic. I tried to move through the seasons and colors of the landscape in a harmonious way that felt a bit magical, just as discovering Provence has felt to me. 

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

How do you practice self-care when juggling work and life commitments alongside the creative process?

The creative process is typically a result that comes out of taking time for self-care. I get some of my best ideas for photographic projects or writing when I am in a bath or shower or go for a long (and restorative) walk in nature. Doing things for myself, such as how I dress or do my hair and makeup, is another form of creative expression that is satisfying. 

What’s a place or motif you’d like to photograph that you haven’t had a chance to yet?

I am really interested in discovering more formal gardens in France. I like the idea of garden portraiture, trying to really capture the essence and spirit of places where man and nature intertwine. 

Which artists do you return to for inspiration?

I’m absolutely obsessed with Édouard Manet—his color pallet and subject matter. 

What are three things you can’t live without as an artist?

My camera, the French light, and flowers, of course. 

What’s your favorite flower to photograph, and why?

I love roses. They remind me of my grandmother, who always grew roses and was my first teacher of nature. The perfume of roses and the vast variety of colors, names, and styles all make me totally crazy. I just love them. They simply bring me joy the same way seeing a rainbow in the sky does. 

(Photograph: Jamie Beck)

[gogmstuff]

Early 1730s dresses (from top to bottom) -

1730 Tea Party at Lord Harrington's by C. Phillips detail (Yale Center for British Art, Yale University - New Haven, Connecticut, USA). Probably from Wikimedia; fixed spots with Pshop 1247X1623. There are many caps and veils, square necklines, and laced bodices with revers. But full-blown panniers are not to be seen.

1730 Marquise de Gueydan as Flora by Nicolas de Largillière (Musée Granee - Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France). From cutlermiles.com/portrait-of-marquise-de-gueydan-as-flora-nicolas-de-largilliere/ 1908X2484. She wears a stout Swiss belt and cleft coiffure that harken back to the late Louis XIV era.

ca. 1730 Empress Elisabeth Christine by Johann Gottfried Auerbach (auctioned, probably by Lempertz). From Wikimedia trimmed 1715X2352. She wears a round skirt and a scoop neckline.

ca. 1730 Polyxena of Hesse-Rotenburg, Queen of Sardinia by Maria Giovanna Clementi (location ?). From tumblr.com/blog/view/jeannepompadour; enlarged by half 1053X1385. Her dress has a deep V neckline filled in by a modesty piece.

ca. 1730 Rhoda Apreece, Mrs Francis Blake Delaval attributed to Enoch Seeman the Younger (Seaton Delaval - Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, UK). From artuk.org; enlarged by half 994X1200. The ruff makes this a Van Dyck revival dress. The laced vest and jaunty hat lend a casual air to the portrait.

ca. 1730 Robe volante (Musée de la Mode - Paris, France). From fripperiesandfobs.tumblr.com-post-139802377452-robe-volante-ca-1730-from-the-palais-galliera 1140X1620. Dresses before the 1750s often had cuffs that could be substantial like these.

1731 Die Liebeserklärung by Jean François de Troy (Sanssouci, Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin - Brandenburg, Germany). From artsandculture.google.com/asset/die-liebeserklärung-jean-françois-de-troy/XAFpCyLiWrxHZw?h 3074X24.12. Known in the Anglophone world as “The Declaration of Love. The large patterns mark this as early century. The robe à la française is firmly established in the form it would take until the late Louis XVI period.

1731 Infanta Maria Teresa Antonia de Borbón by Jean Ranc (Museo del Prado - Madrid, Spain). From their Web site; removed spots and streaks with Photoshop 2621X3051. Spain was ruled by Borbóns after the last Habsburg was cleared out in the early 1700s.

1731 Julia Calverley, Lady Trevelyan, by Enoch Seeman the Younger (Wallington Hall - Wallington, Northumberland, UK). From nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/584399; erased navigation marks in corners & fixed spots w Pshop 1616X1992. Clasps replace lacing to close this bodice.

1731 Lady by John Vanderbank (location ?). From the Philip Mould Historical Portraits Image Library 920X1214. The dress is Van Dyck revival similar to the one worn by Rhoda Apreece.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

American Riviera Orchard - the dream vs the reality. A pictorial essay. by u/Mickleborough

American Riviera Orchard - the dream vs the reality. A pictorial essay. There have been a couple of posts about the unfortunate name chosen by Meghan for her (cough) lifestyle line.Great minds think alike; at the same time, I was curious to find out if the name evoked what I thought it was intended to.The (cough) logoFauxligraphy - my guess is that it’s been improved with computer fonts. For example, the lower case C’s, A’s, and R’s are very regular. The lower case D is pure Meghan fauxligraphy - there’s no way you can write that without lifting your pen. Note that the capital A and R are disproportionately narrow compared to the generous O. No money for a pro? Distinct amateur vibes.The dreamWe know what that is, thanks to Meghan’s nightmare sequence.Flowers - so feminine and genteel and ladylike. What is it with Meghan and flowers? (‘I’m a lady! I do lady’s things!’). The kitchen - the heart of the home, complete with weirdly textured mixing bowl and an impractical receptacle for fruit to be used in a kitchen, as opposed to displayed.The Woman in Black. Run for your lives! In the video, the door actually opens slowly - with no human aid…Actually this is more frightening - there’s a lot to be said for soft focus where Meghan’s concerned. We know she’s on a red carpet because her red dress matches it. Not sure what her shoes are meant to go with.The realityLet’s break down each word of that outlandish name. What does each word make you think of?AmericanApple pie’s often invoked as being quintessentially American (along with mom).RivieraThe Riviera‘s the American term for the South of France. Villefranche-sur-Mer, in Provence, east of Nice.Oh wait - you’re supposed to put the words together.American RivieraSanta Barbara - considered the southernmost part of Northern California - bills itself the American Riviera because of its balmy weather and scenic coastline. It’s interesting that Meghan’s gone for a name which invokes an original, namely the French Riviera.OrchardShade Farm Management, an 800-acre avocado and citrus orchard in Santa Barbara.ConclusionIn my opinion the 3 words don’t add up to the whole as promulgated by Meghan in her photos. ‘American Riviera’ has a different feel - leisured, moneyed - from the more workaday, hard labour ‘orchard’.This looks like another instance Meghanese. It’s like ‘silk scouring pad’ or ‘crushed gold ear wax’ - the concepts just don’t go together.‘American Riviera’ on its own would’ve conjured up the fine china, linen, elite lifestyle Meghan’s aiming for. Adding ‘orchard’ makes it sound like what the Beverly Hillbillies do. post link: https://ift.tt/NqXzckn author: Mickleborough submitted: March 20, 2024 at 09:42PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[thedansemacabres]

Hi! I hate to come into your ask box randomly but could you give some devotional wine recommendations for Poseidon? Thank you! Love your blog btw

do not apologise, I greatly appreciate it! I’m glad people like my wine things. I’ve worked very hard for my other degree (I get it next year!) I love sharing wine things—and I also adore Poseidon myself.

Poseidon invokes, to me, that heavy richness of some wines—some that most people may not enjoy for their weight and earthiness. Some that come to mind are:

Old world, Provence Syrah. Very different from new world, this is a lighter bodied herbaceous wine.

California Cabernet Franc. This is a hard, earthy, tough wine. I enjoy it, but many people do not anymore. Excellent pairing wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon. A child of Cabernet franc, but much more mild. A very popular wine, it is California’s signature grape.

New Zealand Sauvignon blanc. These are very aromatic, intensely bell pepper flavoured wines. Earth shaking, I suppose!

A personal one, but hybrid wines—if we take earth shaker more poetically, hybrids have been changing the game for winemaking. Chambourcin is my personal favourite, especially as a rosé.

For sea colours, I do know that blueberry wine is produced in Maine.

There is a winery named after him in Napa Valley. I haven’t personally tried their wines, but they do appear to have a decent Chardonnay.

Thalassitis wine, “wine of the sea”, a Greek wine I think is befitting.

Sea water wines. A very rare technique in the modern era, but there are wines made with sea water—such as the Ocean vermentino white wine. Along with this, there is an ancient style involving sea water is Coan Wine. This wine is not sold commercially to my knowledge, but if you are interested in making it, feel free to reach out and I can direct you to some tips/supplies.

Corinth does produce wine into the modern day, so some classic Greek wines from the region would also be perfect for him.

[theretirementstory]

18/08/24. Bonjour et bienvenue, if you are new to this blog, what took you so long finding it 😉. For those that have followed me for the past years, thank you 😊.

The photos this week are from my “archive”. The above is of the front garden after I spent days removing very long grass and (stupidly) laying weed suppressant before I covered it with bark. I was so pleased with the result. Unfortunately now the potager is a cat toilet and the bark has lost it’s colour and the area looks shoddy. I have some more bark and would like to get the germinated seeds taken out and add more bark. Perhaps I will be able to do this very soon.

We are one week closer to the arrival of 2nd son and his girlfriend and I have had a few baking days preparing food for the freezer so that, if, I don’t feel up to cooking a meal we won’t starve 😊.

It’s been a different week with two visits to the hospital in Troyes, for my transfusions. Back to normal next week with a visit to Paris and also Troyes for the transfusions.

Talking of Paris, I messaged Jony, my Syrian friend, on Friday evening and brought him up to speed with my treatment. When I met him his paperwork in France had his name spelt as above, however, he signed off with Johnny. I am pleased he is now using (perhaps) the correct spelling of his name. I know that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime, Johnny left Bar-sur-Aube in July 2018, although I haven’t seen him since, when we message one another it’s as if I had just seen him last week. I pray to be well enough to go to Paris one day and meet him for coffee as I used to do here in Bar-sur-Aube. Keeping my 🤞 for that one!

Anie and Monique are sharing the shopping duties, with Anie getting the visits to the pharmacy too. It’s so kind of them to do this for me, although I know I couldn’t do it myself.

On Friday, Anie was telling me about the liberation which took place on the coast of Provence on the 15 August 1944. After American, British and Canadian forces landed they were followed by some 250,000 soldiers recruited largely from French colonies in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. As 15 August is Assumption Day this landing goes largely unremembered. She then mentioned the Résistance and I asked if she had been to the Résistance Museum in a village not too far away. She said she hadn’t and maybe we could go together. Hopefully we will get there before it is only opened to groups from November.

The cleaner came and she is a good worker, however I will have to itemise each task I want doing. I did clean the kitchen myself (apart from the floor) which she did. I want to get her to wash the window and door frames inside and out 😳 plus the glass panes.

I have a “to-do” list as long as your arm! The car is in need of a service but as I am not allowed to drive, I haven’t phoned the garage. I messaged the gardener to come and cut the grass. He didn’t respond but I feel sure he will turn up and transform the garden. Maybe I won’t contact him again just yet. I messaged the plumber to come out but again no response. He maybe on holiday and could contact me this week, if not I will call him. I have to ring the man to come and wash the outside walls of the house. Currently, the sand blown from the Sahara has caused red streaks to appear and I would like them cleaned. Finally I need to contact the roofer, I signed the estimate in October last year and he said he would come on a dry day to do the work. We have had a lot of those days but he is more elusive than “The Scarlet Pimpernel”.

“The Trainee Solicitor” now just shares his office with one other person. I hope that means that he can get on with his work without too many distractions. I know from being in a car with a driver for three hours or more, picking the skin on their fingers or picking their nose, plus a little cough which has become a habit all of these get on your nerves.

“The Recovery Coordinator” has had another “garbage” week! They have lost 5 members of staff in 6 weeks so the workload for the remaining staff has increased and it’s stressful. She is glad she has her holidays to look forward to.

“The Photographer” has had an okay week which ended with a high on Friday evening, winning a game of bingo. Yesterday he was at Scarborough AFC’s home game taking photographs. It’s something he enjoys doing and is such a change from his full-time work.

“The Jetsetter” still has clipped wings and is spending her summer going swimming, playing bingo 😂 and working. Some of that working involved a professional exam this week. I would imagine, while waiting for results of the exam, that she will be deciding on places to visit during her next round of holidays 😁.

Talking about holidays, Pauline has been making the most of the Iberian peninsula. She has been to Lisbon and Porto. Then went back into Spain visiting Malaga, Seville, Granada and Madrid. Not quite sure where she is at the moment but she is not due back in Paris until 21 August.

Goodness me, I nearly forgot the music section 😳. The first track is “Loves Me Like A Rock” by Paul Simon this was released in 1973 that makes it over 50 years old but I love it as much today as I did then. The second track is from a lady who, sadly is no longer with us, it’s “This Time I Know It’s For Real” by Donna Summer which was released in 1989. I hope you enjoy listening to these two songs.

The photo below was taken at Chateau de Cirey-sur-Blaise. A place where the writer, Voltaire, lived with Mme Du Châtelet from 1734 to 1749.

Jusqu’à la semaine prochaine.

[kyndaris]

Protect One, Protect All

A Plague Tale: Innocence was one of the most harrowing games I’d played in a long time. It was a little known title from a AA studio that might have sailed beneath most people’s noses except for those in the business. I, for one, had been intrigued by the trailers and you can read my impressions on it if you search far enough down on my Tumblr blog. 

Though it took players on a journey across war ravaged France when pestilence and disease reigned in the early half of the 14th century, at its heart, the game was about a brother and a sister and the bond between them. Forged from familial ties and strengthened by the challenges they faced - whether that be deadly rats ready to tear the flesh off your bones or the Inquisition, Along the way, they were aided by strangers and friends. And though they suffered loss, the ending to A Plague Tale: Innocence was an uplifting message.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is not so kind.

Following on six months from the end of the first game, A Plague Tale: Requiem starts off peaceful enough. Hugo, Amicia, their mother Beatrice and Lucas are headed towards a city where a known Order member resides. There, they hope to find a cure for Hugo’s ailment: the Macula.

Along the way, they enjoy the fresh air and countryside, with Amicia and Hugo taking the opportunity to play at a local creek and explore what initially appears to be an abandoned tower. But after they climb inside to look around, disaster strikes. They two siblings are mistaken for thieves and Amicia must once again do the unthinkable to protect her brother and herself. The skirmish triggers the disease in Hugo’s blood and when they make it to Provence, they find that the rats have followed them.

Over the course of those opening hours, however, Hugo talks about an island that he has seen in his dreams. One he hopes that will provide the cure he so desperately needs. When Provence is overrun and they attempt to flee, so begins Amicia and Hugo’s journey to unlock the secrets of the Macula.

Watching a few of the trailers, I initially feared that something terrible would beset Amicia. I was convinced that she would have to sacrifice her life in a desperate bid to keep Hugo safe. But as the game went on, it became clear that my fears were unwarranted. True, Amicia does suffer a terrible head wound and is shot and stabbed, but as the main character, she managed to pull through - her love for her brother and the bond that they share allowing her to stand back up after every setback.

Along the way, she and Hugo discover what happened to the first known carrier of the Carrier and the origins of the Justinian plague that was hinted at in the first game. Just like Hugo and Amicia, it is implied that Basilius and his protector Aelia were family.

What I loved about A Plague Tale: Requiem was the impact that the first game had on our protagonists. During those first few hours, it was clear that Amicia was still struggling with a lot of trauma. And in the sequel, some of that trauma manifests as anger. Scared and terrified, she no longer wants to be the victim - instead turning the tables on the guards that she faces as she goes on a murderous rampage. One that culminates when their mother, Beatrice, is killed in a ritual sacrifice.

Hugo, too, has seen his own share of death across both titles. Despite Amicia’s attempts to shield him from reality, Hugo is wiser beyond his years. And yet in those early moments of the game, he still retains a lot of his childlike wonder. Being out on the sea, enjoying the games and festivals in Provence...

These moments are short and precious and give players something worth fighting for. It’s easy to understand why Amicia wants the best for her brother. He didn’t ask to be the Carrier of the Macula. He’s just a young boy that is curious about the world around him. And just like Amicia, I couldn’t help but want the best for him - even though I didn’t always agree with Amicia’s methods - especially when she became deadset to find out what happened to Basilius and Aelia. Like, couldn’t they have waited a day or two to explore the shrine atop the mountain? It wasn’t as if going into the fort with slavers a week or two after more preparations had been made would have made too much of a difference. And perhaps then, as well, Emilie and Victor wouldn’t have realised that Hugo was special.

But then, of course, we might not have had the game that we had. Sometimes events need be contrived. Like how Hugo befriended Arnaud.

In all honesty, that moment caught me off guard. For the first several chapters, Arnaud served as an antagonist to our erstwhile heroes. But then suddenly, his helm was off and he had become a reluctant ally. At first, I didn’t know who he was - as he’d been dressed in plate armour and his face hidden. The sudden 180 degree turn was jarring and probably could have been tackled slightly better.

Still, story-wise, I was utterly devastated by the ending. Even when I felt that the bond between Amicia and Hugo had become somewhat twisted and was a little too co-dependent, having to kill the young brother that had grown from an annoying liability to something precious and dear to my heart was almost too much. But kill him, I did.

And the way those last few moments played out - with the slowing of the animation as Amicia took out her sling...it was the perfect demonstration of how difficult the entire situation was.

From a gameplay standpoint, A Plague Tale: Requiem builds on what came before. Amicia now has plenty more tools in her belt when it comes to enemies although I did find it best to play it stealthy as much as possible. Or, at the very least, be a little more creative. For, just like the first game, Amicia isn’t built for combat. She doesn’t die immediately with one hit but she’s still no stalwart warrior.

There was one part in Chapter 10 that was so thoroughly infuriating because no matter what I did, I would always be detected. The guards, too, were far too alert for the slightest noise and it was a struggle to use my crossbow, pull open the door and dash through the opening without wasting too many resources.

So, while much of the gameplay had improved, there were still frustrations because of the limitations presented by the game itself.

Beyond that, the puzzles were much more enjoyable this time round. As was trying to find and locate every collectible. I didn’t quite manage to get them all, but most of them were placed just far enough down path not followed that they weren’t too hard to find.

As for the graphics, they were mighty impressive. The rat swarms, especially. I can’t really attest to the 300,000 rats that were in the advertisements, but the waves of rats that I encountered near the end of the game were terrifying. The way that they would pop up from the ground, the wave of them rushing towards Amicia and Lucas...

I cannot say if A Plague Tale: Requiem will have a sequel. While it did bring closure, I didn’t want my time with Amicia to end. Truth be told, a part of me wanted her to find happiness. Whether that be with Sophia or in the pursuit of a noble goal in aiding the future Carrier. The stinger at the end did imply a Carrier in modern times and I would be curious to see how that might play out given the years of COVID that had us all locked up in our homes.

Just like its predecessor, A Plague Tale: Requiem isn’t quite the perfect polished game that AAA game studios will pump out. But perhaps because of that, it was able to reach my cold dead heart. The story is rich and the characters were a joy even if the ending brought with it a difficult decision to make. Amicia and Hugo have left a profound mark on me and their story is something I would like others to experience.

Its nomination for Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2022 is a recognition that it’s most definitely a game worth playing. Will it win? Probably not. I’m sure Elden Ring or God of War Ragnarok will take that lofty title, but I’m satisfied that it, along with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 might finally enter the popular zeitgeist. For too long, big titles like Halo and Call of Duty have dominated the charts. It’s time for more introspective games to take the helm and show off, once and for all, that games can be art and great vehicles for narrative.

[allthingseurope]

France (by John)

[manolomun63]

Place des corps saints, Avignon.

Fujifilm X100V

[claudehenrion]

Il était une fois… le 14 décembre.

  Un jour comme les autres, sûrement, pour vous. Pour moi, c'est un jour un peu spécial, Comme si souvent, faisons un petit “retour sur image”. L'année 1934 se terminait sans autres histoires que toutes celles qui l'avaient secouée… mais pas spécialement plus qu'une autre. Mais comme l'action allait se dérouler à Rabat, il faisait doux, le ciel était “normalement” d'un beau bleu profond… et je m'apprêtais à tomber du bec de la cigogne qui m'avait porté jusque là, 5 ème enfant d'une famille qui en comptera 6 neuf ans plus tard. Bref, ‘’RAS’’… Sauf, peut-être... pour moi !

Et pourtant, outre et au delà de la rencontre France-Maroc en quarts de finale de la Coupe des Nations, c'est vraiment la date la plus importante de ma vie. Il ne me suffit pas d’être né le 348 ème jour de l'année du calendrier grégorien et qu'il reste 17 jours avant la fin de l'année, que le signe du zodiaque soit “Sagittaire 3 ème décan’‘—spécificité à laquelle je dois que tous les horoscopes m'annoncent, d'une manière surprenante, des voyages en été, des cadeaux à Noël et des changements –ne serait-ce que de millésime– vers le 1er janvier… Je ne suis pas peu fier d'être né le ‘’XIV.XII.MCMXXXIV’’, qui fut le 24ème jour du mois de Frimaire dans le calendrier républicain / révolutionnaire français, où ce jour-là  était officiellement le ’'jour de l'oseille”. Mon ordinateur, consulté (à des prix plus abordables que les consultants de Mac Kinsey qui arrivent à eux seuls à plomber les comptes de la nation) m'informe –et ça, c'est une info utile– que “le 14 décembre tombe entre le 13 décembreet le 15 décembre”, je jure que c'est vrai. Je n'ai pas eu le temps de vérifier si c'est cette année seulement ou tous les ans. Je vais le faire, c’est promis !

J'ai donc profité du fait que, pour la première fois depuis que ce Blog existe je partage avec vous la date inaugurale du début de mon vieillissement –qui, plutôt lent et majestueux dans les années 34 à 54, aurait plutôt tendance à s'accélérer dangereusement ces temps derniers– pour me livrer à quelques petits calculs qui m'autorisent à vous avouer sans fausse honte mais sans joie particulière, que j'ai vécu, jusqu'à ce jour, 32 142 jours, autrement dit, 4591 semaines réparties sur 1055 mois, ce qui me semble énorme. Je dois être très vieux, si on y réfléchit !

J'ai ensuite cherché ce que camouflait, renfermait, proposait cette date significative (pour moi et quelques autres personnes), et j'ai découvert que, en l'an de disgrâce 1582, il n'a pas eu de “14 décembre”, les pauvres : par la faute de l'adoption du calendrier grégorien, le lendemain du dimanche 9 décembre s'est retrouvé être… le lundi 20 décembre, directement, sans tambours ni trompettes, et sans “14”, pauvre de moi, ce qui, si cela se répétait de temps en temps, me rajeunirait de… ??

Mais en plus de ma naissance, dont tous les terriens vivant en 1934 se sont pas mal foutu –à la seule exception de mes chers parents–, il s'en est passé, des choses, “un 14 décembre”, à commencer par le rattachement de la Provence au Royaume de France, le 14 décembre 1491, ce qui, pour le mouginois amoureux de son village que je suis, est une date à marquer de pierres blanches ! C'est à la même date, mais en 1939, que l'URSS a été exclue de la Société des Nations après son attaque de la Finlande, ce qui confirme qu’il n'y a jamais rien de nouveau sous le soleil ! Et ce n'est donc pas sans plein de bonnes raisons (que je n'ai pas encore trouvées, mais ça ne saurait tarder !) que c'est ce même jour qu'on fête (à vrai dire selon des degrés très variables) la fondation de l'Empire du Japon il y a 2680 ans (si je n'ai pas fait d'erreur de calcul), ce qui explique sans doute pourquoi les Empereurs Nippons ont tous, toujours, l'air souffreteux, décharnés, momifiés !

Outre votre humble et très dévoué serviteur, quelques autre personnages, illustres, eux, ont choisi cette date pour faire leur entrée fracassante dans le monde (la mienne étant plutôt dans le style “pour vivre heureux, vivons cachés” !). Le plus ésotérique de mes “jumeaux pour partie” est sans doute le mirifique Michel de Nostredame, dit Nostradamus dans les milieux décentrés. Né en 1503, c'était un médecin, apothicaire, astrologue et écrivain français (on me dit qu'il avait créé  un “Blog” qu'il avait baptisé, sans aucune raison sérieuse...  “Comprendre demain”… ce qui, pour lui, avait un sens !). Le 14 décembre 1548 naissait Tycho Brahe, le grand astronome danois, ami et parfois concurrent de Keppler et Copernic, que les observations de la supernova de 1572 ont rendu célèbre “in illo tempore” (= en ce temps-là). Et c'est aussi un 14 décembre, mais en 1610, que l’Église catholique finit par remettre en cause l'immuabilité du monde supra-lunaire énoncée par Aristote et abandonna le système géocentrique de Ptolémée, au profit de celui de ce Tycho Brahe, plus conforme aux observations. Plus près de nous, le Roi George VI d'Angleterre et d'un Empire sur lequel le soleil ne se couchait jamais, père de la Queen Elizabeth que les républicains français ont pleurée si abondamment le 8 septembre dernier, avait choisi cette date pour venir au monde. C'était en 1895.

Des saints, aussi, et par calendriers pleins, ont été rangés comme nés ce jour-là par le “Livre des Saints” (dont le vrai nom, le “Synaxaire Hagiographique”, demande un vrai effort de mémorisation si on a besoin de le glisser en douce dans un “dîner en ville” --ce qui, il faut le reconnaître, arrive assez rarement. Mais c'est un superbe moyen mnémotechnique de se souvenir de ce dont on n'a pas besoin !). Rassurez-vous, je ne vais pas vous dérouler des listes de noms plus ou moins barbares (pas mal de Saints ont eu des états civils à faire frémir les générations actuelles) mais, tout simplement, vous en remettre 4 ou 5 en mémoire (autre manière de dire : je doute qu'ils y aient jamais été, sans mettre la moindre malice dans cette remarque

Sont ainsi commémorés liturgiquement le 14 décembre : Saint Jean de la Croix, qui est l'un de 35 Docteurs de l'Eglise, Sainte Odile, abbesse de Hohenbourg et Sainte patronne de l’ Alsace (“Bonne fête aux Odiles”), Sainte Eutropie ( martyrisée à Reims, et  par les Vandales, s'il vous plaît (ces types-là, il valait mieux les éviter, comme nos “racailles” d'aujourd'hui !). Mais on ne sait pas si ce fut en 407 ou en 451. (C'est un cas à soumettre à la “Cellule d'éclaircissement des Cold Cases” ou cas non-résolus. En attendant, bonne fête également à toutes les “Eutropies”!)

Il y a eu, également, Saint Spirydon de Trimythonte († vers 348), évêque à Chypre –car je tenais à vous montrer de quelles cruautés les parents de ces époques étaient capables : outre que c'est trois fois à demi honteux de porter le nom de Trimythonte, appeler un pauvre enfant sans défense “Spyridon”, ça devrait être défendu. Heureusement pour lui, il a bien réussi dans le vie, et c'est donc, malgré son nom,  un très grand saint dans la liturgie grecque, sous le nom de saint Spyridon le Thaumaturge (Ο Άγιος Σπυρίδων, ο Θαυματουργός, vous l'aviez déjà deviné !). Et enfin, en ces jours de gloire pour notre belle, merveilleuse et goûteuse baguette nationale, et de la préparation aux ripailles qui sont devenues la raison d'être de l'ex grande et belle fête de Noël, je vais finir cette liste en évoquant Saint Jean du Pain (†  1150), frère cistercien à l'abbaye de Sagramenia, en Espagne. Il est surnommé “Jean du pain et de l'eau” en raison de son régime hyper-frugal.

Pour avoir fait le tour de cet intéressant sujet, iI ne me reste plus qu'à revendiquer fièrement un des “best-not-sellers” de tous les temps, le tout-à-fait confidentiel “Avenue du 14 décembre”, inoubliable ouvrage de poésie pour ceux qui l'ont lu –dont je ne fais hélas pas partie. Mais “dans mes vieux jours”, je ferai peut-être l'effort de l'acheter. Quant à le lire… je serai sans doute beaucoup trop vieux !

Il me reste à vous rassurer, si vous avez eu la patience de lire jusqu'ici ce “billet” : sur les trois “iso-jumeaux” dont je me gratifie. L’un est mon cher arrière petit-fils, l'adorable Dimitri –un an !–, et les deux autres sont deux ravissantes jeunes femmes dont l'une est une “successful” entrepreneur à Mougins, et l'autre brigue un Prix de piano au conservatoire de Paris. Débordantes d'intelligence et de talents, elles rajeunissent ce “billet”… et tout ce Blog, par leur seule présence ici. J'espère qu'elles n'ont pas trop honte de la promiscuité de partager leur anniversaire avec moi… même s’il se dit que nous ne serions pas de la même génération : je ne suis pas peu fier de les avoir “welcomé” dans notre “Congrégation du 14 /12” … et je leur souhaite à tous trois un bon, super, glorieux Anniversaire, dans la joie.

Un grand MERCI à tous, pour vos souhaits, vos chants, vos ‘’hugs’’ et vos superbes cadeaux. Non… Non…; je vous assure, ‘'C’était pas la peine ! 'Fallait pas…’’

H-Cl.

[alextblue]

I posted 2,850 times in 2022

That's 86 more posts than 2021!

5 posts created (0%)

2,845 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@shtish

@laurawatchesthebees

@lennyjamin

@artoodeeblue

@spacemanrhys

I tagged 413 of my posts in 2022

#ofmd - 59 posts

#ref - 33 posts

#the sandman - 28 posts

#alex's for later pile - 22 posts

#friend art - 19 posts

#sandman - 17 posts

#moon knight - 17 posts

#our flag means death - 17 posts

#blackbeard - 14 posts

#ed teach - 14 posts

Longest Tag: 111 characters

#though i'm starting to get worried that im damaging my sight with overuse of screens and reading in the dark 😅

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

oooh, 4 and 8!!!

4. what does your room smell like?

It smell like crisps and mint (though it smells a bit stale rn cause i just came back from a trip)

8. what color do you think goes best with your personality?

Well blue is the obvious 😅 but i think a combination of sky blue and bright orange fits

Obscure ask

1 note - Posted May 3, 2022

#4

I have a question..... If you could have any snack in the world, what would you get atm?

Rn i'm craving the Bifi dried sausages (specifically the original one)

1 note - Posted May 3, 2022

#3

Precious bean ofc

awww that's so sweet!!! 🥺

1 note - Posted May 3, 2022

#2

5, 11 and 27!!!

5. favorite form of potato?

hmm this is a tough one because I love potatoes a lot, in most forms. I think my top one is roast potatoes (in quarters-ish) with the skin on and seasoned with 'herbes de Provence', garlic and salt. My mum used to make them all the time when I lived in the south of France so I think there is a nostalgic aspect too

11. anything from your childhood you’ve held on to?

I've kept a bunch of stuff from when I was a kid in boxes in storage. The one thing I've brought with me to uni though is a set of post it notes that my best friend ages 7-14 got me (it's pretty much this one, and though I don't really use the sticky notes I take it with me every time I move)

27. what’s your favourite or go-to outfit?

this changes regularly. At the moment, I'm quite fond of a set of denim overalls/dungarees (from Monki) and I'll wear that with these really comfortable and soft cotton T-shirts (from Uniqlo) and I'll usually wear my Geox boots (they have a water-resistant/warm winter lining so perfect for Dutch weather)

questions from weirdly specific and unrelated asks to know someone well

2 notes - Posted June 9, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

3, 6, 39?

3. what movie/game/etc. helps you calm down? 

I’d have to say my favourite game to chill out is a logic puzzle game, it’s called picross/nonogram or logimage in french. It has become a bit like muscle memory/automatic logic over time, and it’s nice cause I can listen to podcasts at the same time and it doesn’t bother me (numbers and words don’t interfere with each other for me much)

6. what kind of music would you listen to if you could only choose one?

Hmm, I’d say whatever Hozier is categorised as? (Fleet foxes, the crane wives, the amazing devil... that kind of stuff)

39. earbuds or headphones?

Headphones for sure! I really struggle with audio processing so having the dampening of the outside helps a lot, though I have to say that earbuds are more practical to bring with me on outings.

Obscure asks

2 notes - Posted May 3, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[pinezoe]

Rose Metals @anastasiabeverlyhills 😍 Il faut vraiment la swatcher en magasin pour voir à quel point elle est superbe!Vraiment en photo elle ne le disait absolument rien! Si vous aimiez un peu les look grunge des années 90 elle est pour vous! ➡️ Je vous en est fait un post sur le blog ! #anastasiabeverlyhills #eyeshadowpalette #makeup #makeuplovers #makeupjunkie #sephora #blogpost (à Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClEi0h2rt0y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fuxweine]

L'attrait du rosé de Provence ultime et de la Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia : un voyage à travers des vins exquis

Les amateurs de vin du monde entier sont toujours à la recherche de vins d’exception offrant des expériences uniques. Parmi la myriade de choix, Ultimate Provence Rose et Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia se distinguent par leurs qualités extraordinaires et leur riche histoire. Ces deux vins, originaires de régions différentes, mettent en valeur l'art de la vinification à son meilleur. Voyons ce qui rend ces vins si spéciaux et pourquoi ils méritent une place dans votre collection.

Le charme du Rosé de Provence Ultime

C'est un vin qui capture l'essence de la région Provence en France. Cette région, réputée pour ses paysages pittoresques et son climat méditerranéen, offre un environnement idéal pour produire des vins rosés de grande qualité. Les vignobles sont baignés de soleil et les douces brises de la mer Méditerranée contribuent au terroir unique qui définit ce vin.

Il est célébré pour son caractère élégant et rafraîchissant. Le vin présente une belle teinte rose pâle qui rappelle les paysages ensoleillés de Provence. Au nez, il offre un bouquet séduisant de fruits rouges, d'agrumes et de subtiles notes florales. La bouche est tout aussi captivante, avec des saveurs de fraises mûres, de framboises et un soupçon de melon, le tout équilibré par une acidité vive qui le rend incroyablement rafraîchissant. Qu'il soit dégusté lors d'une chaude journée d'été ou accompagné de plats légers, Ultimate Provence est un vin polyvalent qui ne déçoit jamais.

L'héritage de la Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia

De l'autre côté du spectre se trouve la Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, un vin légendaire de la région de Bolgheri en Toscane, en Italie. Ce vin a gagné sa place parmi les meilleurs au monde en raison de sa qualité exceptionnelle et de son riche passé. Les origines du Sassicaia remontent aux années 1940 lorsque Mario Incisa della Rocchetta décide de créer un vin de style bordelais en Italie. Le résultat fut tout simplement révolutionnaire, puisque Sassicaia devint l'un des premiers vins super toscans, remettant en question les normes traditionnelles de la vinification italienne.

Il s'agit d'un assemblage majoritairement composé de Cabernet Sauvignon avec un petit pourcentage de Cabernet Franc. Cette combinaison donne un vin riche, complexe et incroyablement apte au vieillissement. Au nez, le Sassicaia révèle une palette d'arômes, dont le cassis, le cèdre et le tabac, avec des notes d'épices et de vanille issues de l'élevage en chêne. La bouche est corsée, avec des tanins bien structurés et un équilibre harmonieux de fruit, d'acidité et de chêne. Chaque gorgée de Sassicaia témoigne du soin méticuleux et du savoir-faire apporté à sa production.

Les accords parfaits

Lorsqu’il s’agit d’associer ces vins à des mets, les possibilités sont infinies. Ultimate Provence Rosé accompagne délicieusement les plats de fruits de mer, les salades et les entrées légères. Son acidité vive et son profil fruité complètent les saveurs délicates des fruits de mer et des légumes frais, ce qui en fait un choix parfait pour les repas en plein air.

Conclusion

Dans le monde des grands vins, Ultimate Provence Rosé et Tenuta San Sassicaia occupent une place à part. Leurs caractéristiques distinctes, ancrées dans leurs terroirs uniques et leurs traditions viticoles, en font des choix exceptionnels pour tout amateur de vin. Que vous soyez attiré par l'élégance rafraîchissante de l'Ultimate Provence Rosé ou la sophistication audacieuse de la Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, ces vins promettent de vous procurer un plaisir sans précédent. Pour explorer davantage ces vins, visitez fuxweine.ch, où vous pourrez découvrir une sélection organisée de vins d'exception qui conviennent à tous les palais. Profitez du voyage à travers ces vins exquis et élevez votre expérience viticole vers de nouveaux sommets.

URL de la source du blog :- https://fuxweine.blogspot.com/2024/08/lattrait-du-rose-de-provence-ultime-et.html