Happy Walk Series France: Short But Sweet
9:36 PM
I am starting a series called "Happy Walk". I have been suffering from depression quite often lately for reasons unknown to me. Hence, I found it to be an awesome cure for blues. I was surrounded by an uplifting energy within the greens and the water. It felt like nature's embrace. This made me decide to pursue and explore the different circuits nearby.
Transformation of a Gourmande
6:03 AMMy favorite space in the house to workout. A glazed corridor with garden views on both sides. |
Happy Monday everyone! In light of National Physical Fitness and Sport Month, I'm going for a healthy lifestyle topic. You must have seen these images on Instagram. As you might have also read in my previous fitness post, I've adapted a healthier lifestyle since moving out of Dubai.
Wildflowers and Becoming One
1:21 AM
Take away the wildflowers from this landscape picture and it suddenly becomes less pleasing. Somehow the presence of these wildflowers not only adds beauty to the entire scenery, but a certain kind of softness that transforms a seemingly scary pond into something worthy to capture. It offers a certain serenity and calm to the unknown.
As I walked quietly in the countryside along wheat covered fields and trees with branches that bent over pathways, I was drawn to the beauty of these wildflowers. What I love about them is their quiet determination to survive in an unplanned or unexpected environment. They have the strength to thrive. They stand tall and proud as though within their roots is an abundant source of light. They acknowledge their natural beauty with an innate simplicity. They are confident to reflect their authentic self.
Happy Walk Series France: A Walk in the Forest
9:56 PM
Deja vu. Well, almost. Five years ago, we stopped here for a picnic. I remember wanting to explore the park after an early dinner on the park benches but the sun was quick to leave and we had an hour's worth of drive left. Needless to say, I missed that chance. Yet, life has its way of throwing in surprises and saying,"Cuckoo!" I daresay one of the happiest weekends I've ever had was yesterday when the family decided to spend an afternoon for a reflective walk here under the same canopy of trees, in the same forest park in Orlonne Sur Mer called Les Gravelots.
Fresh from the Garden
8:14 PMLettuce and raddish from the garden. Tomatoes are coming soon. |
Like most summers in France, our daily vegetables and fruits come from the garden. The family used to have a bigger orchard. When they moved to Les Sables d'Olonne, the space left for gardening is a tiny fraction of what they used to have. Thanks to a neighbor who lent his land for my father-in-law to freely use for his gardening, they're growing well and we'll have enough to last the whole summer. During the previous years, they even had a chicken coop where we got lots of eggs from. Sadly, they had to let this go when they moved to the new city.
A Coffee Addict's Paradise
10:16 PM
The scent of coffee drifts in the air. The kind that will make you forget your worries and will temptingly lure you in. My mother-in-law was looking for a gift for a new family acquaintance in Paris and I suggested a box of chocolates is a safe choice to give, especially one that is a speciality in the region. Off we went to the nearest branch of La Vendée's famous chocolatier, Chocolatier Gelencser.
Travel Quote of the Day
5:37 PM
We finally had that coffee with my favorite old couple who used to be my in-laws' neighbors. They always invite us for a cuppa every time we are in France on vacation. Since my in-laws have moved to the city an hour away from this quiet village, we drove to see them and enjoyed an afternoon re-visiting the countryside where my husband grew up. I'm thankful for this opportunity.
Have a lovely afternoon.
Love & light,
Arni
One Cold Afternoon By the Sea
11:35 PM
While we are stranded indoors as it poured continuously outside for the last two days, I'll write about our first short walk along the coast. Our week started sunny and to our hearts' content we enjoyed the seaside under the cold afternoon sun . Here are images of what we will be seeing during our daily walks for the next several months. Click on the link and read more about Les Sables d'Olonne , France.