Spring is in full swing

Now, the missing photos from the last blog entry... a quick trip back to the Netherlands...

Mesmerising, field after field of tulips in bloom

Before I chatter on about how lovely spring is now at Le Mas Blanc, here are a couple of photos missing from the earlier blog about my marvellous time in the Netherlands during my visit with Conny Steenman-Marcusse  (L) and Sheila McCook (R), my two dear friends who have now become friends together too.

And now, back to life at Le Mas Blanc.

In spite of temperatures that are lower than normal for this time of year, the greening of the countryside is going on apace here, and there's such a busy hum in the air of birds and bees that I swear I can hear the leaves on the trees unfolding and growing. We had a little rain recently -- the south of France, as many other parts of the country and of Europe and Britain as well, has been suffering drought for several months -- and that has made a grand difference. There's some water coming over the dam again, and the grass under the olive trees is bright green instead of dry and brown.  This means, of course, that it is time for the first mowing, and I was lucky to have my nephew Tom Howey (a  typographer- book designer in London, England) come for a brief visit, right at the moment whe he was needed for field work. Well, we had a pretty good time together besides the mowing... and went into Anduze one afternoon for a cuppa at TEAPOTES, where Tom, who is from Yorkshire, got on famously with Aline Rideau, who grew up in that part of England too. They were able to revert to their "local accent"  and understand each other!


here's Tom with the heavy mower

 While my nephew was mowing, I was busy with a few other chores, including the setting up of the orchard scarecrow, this year featuring a broom from the Philippines as his/her head. I'm quite pleased with my labours, I have to say, it is definitely a scary epouvantail...

here's the scarecrow, still nameless... any ideas?

you can see the result of his labours here, a view of the small olive grove and lilacs planted in memory of my goddaughter Carrie Newman whose birthday it would have been this month had she lived.  Sadly, the period of freezing temperatures in February seems to have been harmful for the olive trees -- as well as killing my lemon tree -- but local advice suggests that I just "wait and see", they should eventually recover...

freshly mown

back home from the Netherlands

Well, if you're in the habit of checking BLOGS frequently, you'll have seen that I am not yet a dedicated blogger, such as my good friend Beth Kaplan who did try to give me a few lessons while she was here at LE MAS BLANC WRITER'S RETREAT at the end of March... She's got the knack of the every-day discipline to observe and record... I'm still learning the ropes.

Here's Beth, while she was here, at the clothesline... As I say on my website, I don't have an electric clothes dryer but you know, no one ever seems to mind the smell of freshly dried clothes off the line!

WRITERS IN THE SUN

Well, here we are, Beth Kaplan from Toronto, my first writer-visitor here at the Mas Blanc. She has come to stay here for a few days, to work on a manuscript that is essentially finished, but needs some "quiet time" so that she can re-look and revise... We're longtime friends, and so her choice to come here to the Writer's Retreat has been a great way for me to start this new venture.... To see who Beth Kaplan is, if you don't already know, AND to see what she has written about her stay here, go to her website at  bethkaplan.ca.......

A BIENTOT!

oops

oops... at the end of that last message, there's a strange NO that has landed there from outer space. Ignore it, as my word of choice is always YES... positive attitude, all the way. And I am feeling quite positive now about the new website that is up and running for LE MAS BLANC WRITER'S RETREAT, thanks to my friend Rick Kitto in London, Ontario, who creates websites... Check out his website to see the kind of work he does (RICK KITTO WEB SITE DESIGN)  -- I think he's terrific, and am singing his praises to all who will listen... I am grateful for the way he's helped me put my idea "out there" where it is accessible ... my idea being to have a place where writers or artists or musicians can come to work alone, in an undisturbed fashion. (Although, insofar as writers might need editing or proofreading or mentoring help, I am available for these tasks.)

So here's the site -- http://www.isabelhuggan.com/

Have a look, and let me know what you think... Suggestions and questions will be welcomed.

back at my desk

Well, it has been a month since I was last here at my desk and my blog. I was lucky enough to spend two weeks out in Kenya, visiting good friends and re-visiting some of the places I grew to love when I lived in that country, 1987-90... Here are a couple of "classic shots", Mt. Kilimanjaro shining in the sunlight and a stray giraffe looking out as I passed by. NO

Time for tea?

When you're in Anduze, the village only seven kilometres from Le Mas Blanc, you'll want to drop in for a cup of tea or coffee (excellent coffee!) at TEAPOTES, a tea shop where you can relax, chat with other English-speaking (and French-speaking) local people, and explore the used bookshop upstairs from the tea room. As you'll see on this site, the shop offers a wide range of activities..... Not to be missed!
http://www.tea-potes.com/

it's coming along nicely

End of January

Just a few more finishing touches and I’ll soon be ready to rent my new bedsittingroom -studio, and I’ll have the link to the website here.  Until then, I’ll post one or two more photos of what the room looks like, to give you an idea of the space. It is situated on the second floor of the old barn, up a set of wooden stairs, which means it is not accessible to anyone with hip or knee problems.  Beside the studio at the top of the stairs is a pleasant little blue& white bathroom with a shower, with shelves and a rack on which to hang clothes.

 At this point, I’m hoping that the news of LE MAS BLANC WRITER’S RETREAT will pass among friends and acquaintances by the trusty and trustworth old system of “word of mouth” (in French, the phrase involves the ear as well, “bouche à oreille”).  My hope is to give other writers and artists a truly quiet and nurturing place in which to think and write. I know I’ve benefitted in the past from such situations, when I’ve been able to leave ordinary responsibilities behind for a few days and simply concentrate on my work.  Although the space can accommodate two people – the fold-down couch makes a double bed --  I’m expecting solitary individuals to come, as the idea is to “get away”, even from the most beloved partners or families, in order to put every ounce of energy into the work at hand: writing, composing, painting, whatever.

For me, running the Retreat  will provide a good solid reason for staying in France, which has been my home now for so long I can’t imagine living elsewhere. I'll post more specific news of how to book your space at Le Mas Blanc Writer's Retreat later in February. For now, I'll leave you with these photos so you can imagine the place.

listen to the waterfall as you work... the river is just below Mas Blanc

this old stone barn, across from the main house Mas Blanc, 

 will be your "home" while you are creating your masterpiece