Languedoc light / La lumière du Languedoc

Since I've been back from our trip to Wales I've noticed more than I usually do how wonderful the light is here.  Even though the sun shone while we were in Wales, the light seems so much brighter and clearer here - a Mediterranean light.  One that has been appreciated by artists.  We're not far from Collioure where Matisse and Derain painted in the early years of the 20th century and began a new movement called Fauvism (from the French fauves, wild beasts).  We've noticed too how the quality of the light changes around Carcassonne if you're travelling from west to east - suddenly the haze lifts and everything looks sharp and clear.

Depuis mon retour du Pays de Galles j'ai remarqué plus que d'habitude la lumière languedocienne.  La lumière ici est beaucoup plus clair que celle du Pay de Galles - une lumière mediterranéenne.  Nous ne sommes loin de Collioure où les artistes Matisse et Derain ont peint au debut du 20ème siècle et où ils ont fondé le mouvement qui s'appèle le Fauvisme.  Nous aussi, on a remarqué que la qualité de la lumière change vers Carcassonne quand on voyage de l'ouest à l'est - tout à coup la brume se lève et tout semble clair.

I love the contrast of light and shade and the sharp shadows of plants against a sunny wall / J'aime le contraste de la lumière et l'ombre et les ombres prononcées des plantes sur un mur ensoleillé.

Mussels for lunch / Les moules pour le déjeuner

We bought mussels from the van from Bouzigues and cooked them over a wood fire at the garden with lardons (bacon pieces) and thyme, then garnished them with chopped savory and garlic and a squeeze of lemon.  A delicious lunch!

On a acheté des moules du producteur de Bouzigues et on les a cuites au lardons et au thym sur un feu de bois au jardin.  Garnies de l'ail haché et de sariette et un peu de jus de citron, elles on fait un déjeuner delicieux!

We worked too.  We planted some of our tomato plants - the Yellow Pear which we bought.  We'll plant the others tomorrow.  And we made sure that the courgette plants will get watered by making a channel through the bed.

La première fleur du ciste au jardin

Our first cistus flower came out.  They are already flowering in the garrigue and this is later than last year in the garden.  Each flower lasts only one day and this one fell quickly because it was windy.  There'll be more tomorrow.

Lo Jardinièr found this butterfly on the thyme.  We think it is Brenthis daphne Marbled Fritillary