I don’t really celebrate July 4th any more, mostly because I’m not around any fellow Americans out here in Provence, but I hope that everyone has a great holiday back in the States. Eat a hamburger for me.

RED

WHITE

and BLUE

My son, who lives in Switzerland, and his family came for a long weekend recently. Of course, we had to take them to see the lavender. They are going to be back in time to visit the lavender festival too on July 19th.

Not all of the lavender fields look this great with hardly a weed in site. This is one of my favorite fields to stop at for photos.

A view from the other end.

Three of the four grandsons setting off to explore. The youngest can’t walk well enough yet. The oldest got bitten on his knee by a bee because he tried to cross through some lavender.

I’ve got to tell you–if it weren’t for company and our desire to show them around Provence, I wouldn’t be having a very good summer. I’ve been trying to get ready for that darn French Driver’s license and it’s just about killing me. Not only is the French often over my head, the material is difficult and I still haven’t reached the level I need to pass the test. I go every day, usually for two hours, and work at home too. Maybe one day soon. In the meantime, the only photos I have today or some I took in my yard.

I’m not sure what these are-maybe related to the marigold, maybe daisy or minature sunflowers. I bought these because I liked the color.

Geraniums do really well here, even in the hot summer. It gets cool at night which I think keeps everything going.

I was trying to get the sun shining through this butterfly’s wings.

I even put some melons together for a little montage.

One of the most charming things you can do in Provence is to visit a market. Not only can you find cheese, vegetables and fruit at the height of freshness and taste, but also all sorts of items you’d love to have in your home.

I love these glasses and the holder for them.

This lady makes such great hats. One of these days I need to buy one so I can look stylish in the sun, instead of wearing my usual baseball cap.

I’m not sure what you could do with these hearts–hang them on door handles?

Something else decorative I guess to hang on a wall.

It’s time in Provence for that popular soup full of fresh garden vegetables with the addition of a dollop of a garlic/basil sauce on top. I would say that it is easy to make but time consuming. I needed a sous chef to chop up everything but didn’t have one.

Provencal Vegetable Soup (Soupe au Pistou)

1 1/2 cups fresh fava beans or 3/4 cup dried navy beans
1/2 tsp herbes de Provence
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
2 small leeks finely sliced
1 clerey stalk finely sliced
2 carrots finely diced
2 small potatoes finely diced
4 ounces green beans
5 cups water
2 small zucchini finely chopped
3 medium tomatoes chopped
1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
handful of spinach leaves cut into ribbons
For the Pistou:
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1/2 cup basil leaves
4 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
4 tbsp olive oil.

Cook the beans in just enough water to cover adding herbes de provence. If fresh about 10 minutes, if hard probably about one hour. Set aside.
In large saucepan heat the oil, add onions and leeks and cook until soft. Add the celery, carrots and other garlic clove. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring.
Add the potatoes, green beans, water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 mintues. Add the zucchini, tomatoes and peas together with the beans and their liquid. Simmer for 30 minutes. Keep checking the vegetables as it is easy to overcook. Add the spinach and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the soup and top with a spoonful of pistou into each bowl.

It’s taken a while but the lavender has started to bloom and we heard the first cigale, a sure sign that summer is here in Provence.

Maybe I should have gotten this book about cigales. I saw it at the Val Joanis vineyard gift shop.

I’m not a huge fan of spiders but I liked the web design that this one did in the middle of some of the lavender in our yard.

Reflections in the corner of our pool. I love the yellow flowered genet that blooms in May and early June. It has a wonderful sweet fragrance.