A trip to France has had me captivated. I have been lucky enough to be able to spend some time out without my children (wonderful as they are) with two fabulous friends at the organic smallholding of my husband's uncle.

The farm is in the Midi Pyrenees and lies an hour and a half north of Toulouse. Not many folk live in the area and the traffic is non existent.

Never have I experienced such deep and profound silence and peace. I felt very connected to the world around me. There was time to meditate, do yoga and chat.

We cooked food from the garden and ate our way around the hedgerows which are prolific in their food production.

We laughed. We sketched. Rachel painted and danced amongst the vegetables. Valerie swang in the swing, cooked and read and I did all of those things ....

It was heartening to know that it is still possible to live almost off grid and through the fruit of the land. Permaculture is a fascinating lifestyle and I have come away with many ideas to add to what I already do in an urban environment.

The key to this medieval building

 looking through the gateway

 Into the courtyard - like a scene from Romeo and Juliet

 The well

 Looking toward the pond with resident frogs and lizards

 Birds nesting and feeding their young within the four walls of this bastide style house

 Into the garden

 After the gardening!

 Places to eat and sit below from the balcony

the barn - a wonderful space. Graceful.

Peace

Valerie lying on a bale

Oh those blue shutters

Bits and pieces - all very photographable!

Quite some time spent thus

interiors and windows - beautiful too

 out and about walking for miles - no cars

Rachel's painting depicting light through the barn door -

 work

and play

 a sketch through the bridge - no paint so we used river mud!!!

Dave - leave the door on the latch .... we will be back!