Provence, usually provokes colors of blue and yellow, lace curtains, shuttered windows, sidewalk cafés, and all of that is true- until you see the underlines of green.

                

Comments

• In reply to Leonie. ❤️ by Corey
• Lovely comment by Beth. So many shades of green, so cooling. by Leonie
• In reply to Beth Schultz. Thank you so much for saying that!!! by Corey
• In reply to Marilyn Miller. Kindred spirits ! by Corey
• I love the greens or spring and summer. And then there are my ... by Marilyn Miller
• The bottom painting reminds me of you and Annie! by Beth Schultz

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I’ve lived in France for 40 years. It was hot last year, but this year is off the charts, and they expect things to get even worse.

I grew up in California’s Sacramento Valley, where summer heat was simply a fact of life. For years, whenever people in Provence complained about the heat, I would say, “No, this isn’t hot. Sacramento Valley is hot.”

Last year, and especially this year, the conversation has changed. The first thing people ask each other now is, “Do you have air-conditioning?” Most of us just shake our heads. Why would we? Until recently, it was rarely needed.

Installing air-conditioning – Outdoor units often can’t be placed on buildings because of historic preservation and or regulations, and in many apartment buildings there is simply no practical way to vent the system. or in our case we have 3 feet thick plus stone walls, actually hard to vent them.

What makes the heat especially difficult is that life in France is very different from life in the USA. If your home isn’t air-conditioned, there’s usually no cool refuge. Many people don’t have garages. You walk to your car, and parking is often limited, so you may have to park far from where you’re going. The Metro and the buses are not air-conditioned either. The places you visit frequently might not be  air-conditioned. In small towns, most daily activities are done on foot, not by driving from one air-conditioned space to another.

When you live in a climate that is hot, such as Arizona or parts of California the infrastructure is designed around the heat. You moved from one air-conditioned space to another. Here, even when temperatures reach the same extremes, life is different. People walk, shop, meet friends, and go about their daily lives outdoors. but without the infrastructure to keep cool the heat is ruthless.

                

Comments

• In reply to Leonie. France as prepared at citizens telling ... by Corey
• In reply to Kathie B.. True by Corey
• In reply to TracyH. Downstairs in our house is cool. Upstairs ... by Corey
• In reply to Ali. Yes they do- on the bottom floors. by Corey
• In reply to Diogenes. To drill through the stone wall takes a ... by Corey
• In reply to jeanne. Thank you x by Corey

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photos and text via Keys to France.

                

Comments

• In reply to CAROLE. Remember that!! by Corey
• In reply to Teddee Grace. Staying inside, or by a pool, or go ... by Corey
• In reply to Kathie B.. The chicken coop is under the trees ... by Corey
• In reply to Rachel Scott. Noted! by Corey
• In reply to Judy Wilcox. As hot and uncomfortable as it is, ... by Corey
• I am so sorry you are experiencing this devastating heat. I ... by Judy Wilcox

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My friend Laurie’s Italian cousin is renovating her family home in a more contemporary style.

Her aunt had lived there before, and the house was filled with old things—everything from jars and dressers to trophies, kitchenware, buffets, nightstands, bed frames, and countless other treasures. Even the old tile floors are being removed. She invited us into her home and encouraged Laurie to take whatever she wanted.

We tried to convince her to keep some of the pieces, telling her how beautifully old furniture and vintage objects can complement a contemporary home. But she wouldn’t hear it.

In a way, that’s fortunate for me because I love old things, and I happen to live in a country overflowing with them. At the same time, it’s bittersweet to watch old homes be stripped of their historic interiors in pursuit of something modern. But things change. Styles change. Life changes. I understand that.

One thing I’ve come to realize after living in France for nearly 40 years is that when you’ve spent your entire life surrounded by centuries-old buildings, antique furniture, and history at every turn, it’s natural to crave something new—something that speaks a different aesthetic language.

Laurie brought home a dresser, a buffet, a light fixture, and some shelving. But the piece that meant the most to her was her great-aunt’s wooden cutting board and rolling pin. There was still flour clinging to the cutting board from the last time gnocchi had been made on it.

We carried them down the worn stone steps through the village to Laurie’s home, a place lovingly filled with the beautiful leftovers of things that other people no longer wanted.

                

Comments

• Well I will say Laurie scored, as I would want those old things ... by Marilyn Miller
• Enjoyed these pictures so much! And that rosebush is stunningly ... by Diogenes
• The Italian cousin could probably pay for a chunk of her ... by Teddee Grace
• How sad – so many family treasures. After my mother died, my ... by Fat Rabbit
• Dear Corey, I love the cutting board and rolling pin, a unique ... by Leonie

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