• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Patricia Sands

Author

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Can I visit your Book Club on Zoom?
  • Books
    • The Bridge Club
    • Love in Provence Series
      • The Promise of Provence
      • About Promises to Keep
      • I Promise You This
    • Drawing Lessons
    • The First Noël at the Villa des Violettes
    • A Season of Surprises at the Villa des Violettes
    • Lavender, Loss & Love at the Villa des Violettes
  • Travel
    • Photography, France & d’Ailleurs
    • If it’s Friday, it must be France…
  • Instagram
  • Contact me

follow your dreams

Weekly Photo Challenge: GEOMETRY

November 6, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

This week’s photo challenge is guest hosted by Quintin Lake of Quintin Lake Architectural Photography. Click on the link  for more about this week’s theme and his photography tips!

Geometry: This challenge is about the shapes and rhythms that make up the geometry of our world.

Here’s my shot looking through the porches of the change huts at a beach in the beautiful town Forte Dei Marmi on the Italian Riviera. End of season! Nobody does geometric on beaches better than the Italians.

Forte Dei Marmi-PSandsPhotos

Consider this quote from Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004), a French photographer, painter and draughtsman, generally considered to be the father of modern photojournalism.

“For me photography is to place one’s head, heart and eye along the same line of sight. It is a way of life. This attitude requires concentration, sensitivity, a discipline of mind and a sense of geometry.”

Head on over to The Daily Post at WordPress to check out more fabulous photos!

Here are a couple of my favourites this week:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/weekly-photo-challenge-geometry/

http://thepetalpusher.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/weekly-photo-challenge-geometry/

http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/11/02/i-love-france-33-weekly-photo-challenge-geometry/#comment-4472  – How could I possibly not have found a blog entitled “I Love France” before this?

How do you see geometry in the world around you? Got a photo? I would love to see it!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Email

Filed Under: Blog, If it is France..., Photo blogs Tagged With: follow your dreams, Forte Dei Marmi, Italian Riviera, Italy, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, photography, postaday, The Bridge Club, travel

In search of the perfect chèvre …

November 3, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

When we lived in Antibes for five months in 2011 …  *pause briefly here while I weep and wail quietly lament we are not there now* … pardon my sniffling … okay, I’ve pulled myself together …

To continue … our favourite fromagier, Jacques, at the daily Provençal market in Antibes suggested a few places to visit to see how chèvre or goat cheese was produced in the traditional way.

With dear friends visiting us, we left behind the sparkling Mediterranean, passed through grape-laden vineyards preparing for the September Vendange (harvest), and headed into the countryside of Provence. It wasn’t long before we were twisting and turning our way through the narrow mountain range of the Luberon.

Luberon-PSandsPhotos
Luberon-PsandsPhotos
Luberon-PSandsPhotos

Our destination was a remote ferme-auberge (farm-inn), Le Castelas, located next to the tiny village of Sivergues (population approximately 40, we were told). Perched at 1935 feet, Sivergues is said to be the highest village in the Luberon and is a popular hiking destination. History records that in the 16th century a group of persecuted Protestants called the Waldensians hid in this area, fleeing from massacres that killed about 3,000 people in the Luberon. Imagine the stories those cobblestone lanes might tell.

Sivergues-PSandsPhotos

The writer in me wanted to stop, explore, make notes, take photos. My traveling companions were starving … hunger won out. The remoteness of the area became more apparent. Were we really on the right road? Was that bottom sign misspelled? Should we follow it instead of the directions we had?

Luberon-PSandsPhotos

The next sign, which we passed before I could snap a photo, said “fin de la route” (end of the road). We bumped along as the dirt road grew increasingly narrower, as did our confidence in the directions. Stomachs were grumbling.

Road to Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

And suddenly we were there. Sweeping views to the west and rugged rock formations to the east filled a spectacular panorama of this part of the Grand Luberon.

Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos
Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

Goats in rich shades of amber, beige and chocolate brown grazed in a large meadow to one side of us, some looking up with bright-eyed curiosity as we wandered into their space.

Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

To the other side, the most gigantic pigs I have ever seen snuffled in the dirt, undoubtedly searching for tasty tubors and roots. (“Lunch,” muttered a ravenous voice in the back seat.)

Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

The structures of Le Castelas include a large, rambling stone farmhouse/barn and several outbuildings, some dating to the 16thC. We ambled down the lane, immediately intrigued.

Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos
Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

Combine the setting, the history, the rustic charm of Le Castelas and the delicious meal served and you have a most unique dining experience. On fine days, guests are served on long wooden trestle tables set in the fields in the midst of the goats and the breathtaking scenery.The weather was cool and windy when we arrived so we ate indoors, with cheery service provided by the owners, in a cavern-like room built of stone centuries ago.

Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

Forget the Michelin star meals! This was the most basic and yet simply scrumptiously delicious food, organically produced on this farm, served on wooden board platters cut from the surrounding forest. The meal: fresh greens tossed with vinaigrette with warm chèvre on toasted baguette, thinly-sliced cured ham, and a selection of at least ten types of chèvre  (young and old) accompanied by a small bowl of divine lavender honey. The ham, goat cheese, freshly baked bread and honey  were all from this farm. Dessert was a tasty tarte aux pommes straight from the oven.

Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos
LeCastelas-PSandsPhotos
Le Castelas-PSandsPhotos

Sigh … just another day in the south of France! MAGNIFIQUE!

What memorable day trips have you taken that ended with a meal like no other? Let’s hear about it!

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Email

Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: Antibes, chèvre, Cote D'Azur, follow your dreams, French Riviera, goats, Le Castelas, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, Provence, Sivergues, the power of friendship

The Promise Of Provence

September 21, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Alloooo, I’m still deep in my revisions and very excited about how things are going for my next novel! In fact, I believe I’ve finally settled on a title *HUGE sigh of relief*. Now I can go back to counting chocolates to fall asleep instead of having possible titles making me crazy  rolling through my head every night.

THE PROMISE OF PROVENCE   

What do you think? Here are a few photos to help put you in the mood. See you next week!

La Cadière en Azur – PatriciaSandsPhotos
L’Abbaye de Sénanque-PatriciaSandsPhotos

 

Provence – Moustiers-Sainte-Marie – PatriciaSandsPhotos
Provence-PatriciaSandsPhotos
Provence -PatriciaSandsPhotos
Provence-PatriciaSandsPhotos
Provence – PatriciaSandsPhotos

 

Provence – PatriciaSandsPhotos

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Email

Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France..., Photo blogs Tagged With: 2012 Indie Excellence Book Awards - Finalist, follow your dreams, France, Indie Reader Discovery Awards Finalist 2012, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, The Bridge Club, The Promise of Provence, writing

The Wireless Generation – could this be you?

August 22, 2012 by Patricia Sands 15 Comments

For a few weeks now you may have noticed me talking on Twitter or Facebook about a documentary project being prepared for Sundance called The Wireless Generation.

Here’s the skinny on it.

“ABOUT THIS FILM

The internet has changed everything. Not just how we work, but where. Working from home in the US has increased dramatically in recent years and they estimate that by 2016, 63 million Americans will work from home at least part time (Source: 2011 Forester Research).

We wanted to look at the edges of this movement, the people who are not just working from home and keeping the status quo, but those who are taking this new freedom — the opportunity to choose to live anywhere without having to consider workplace location — and what happens next.

If you shift your life from being centered around where you to work, to being centered around how you want to live, what happens?  Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?”

Drew and Christine Gilbert’s website is here. I hope you find the time to go and get to know them. Christine’s posts are often hilarious in their honesty and her ability to go with the flow no matter where they happen to be living.

Their dedication and professionalism to this project is serious and I truly believe the subject matter is such an authentic representation of how opportunities are changing in our world for people who have the right set of circumstances to take their work wherever they please.

Check out their Facebook page and send them a photo of you wherever in the world you are working on your laptop. At the very least it’s an inspiration to dream big if travel is your passion.

One of our sons is working on his laptop right now from France. I wrote most of my soon-to-be-published (yippee!! – sorry, just lost it there for a sec – it will still be a few months) next novel from France last summer after beginning it in Florida and finishing it here in Toronto.  A 20-something and a 60-something as part of the Wireless Generation in our family! Love it!

You may well be doing the same thing or thinking about it. If you can make it work, why not? This documentary is about some folks who ARE making it work. It’s interesting, relevant, and a story that should be told. Please help support this by passing the word around. They are doing brilliantly on Kickstarter and with just six days left to jump on board every little bit helps. Got $5 to spare?

 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/almostfearless/the-wireless-generation?ref=card

Is this a dream of yours or have you already made it happen? Does it even appeal to you? How are you following your dreams? 

Forgive a little shameless self-promotion here, but I’m following my dream too! The Bridge Club is the Book Of The Day on eReaderNews today. If you can pop over and like their page and tweet it up a storm, that would be magnifique. Thanks. Here’s the link:

Alright! TBC is up on eReaderNews. Here’s the tweet and if you have time to like the Facebook page that would be SO appreciated! Thanks a million. Feel free to add your own comment or hashtags.

Book Of The Day-The Bridge Club –http://ereadernewstoday.com/book-of-the-day-the-bridge-club/6717389/ A book club favourite! #women #life #bookclubs

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Print
  • Email

Filed Under: Blog, News Tagged With: Almost Fearless, blogging, Christine Gilbert, documentary, Drew Gilbert, follow your dreams, Patricia Sands, Sundance, The Wireless Generation, travel

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 14
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Join Me Here!

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
YouTube
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Instagram

Follow Me on BookBub

Follow Me on BookBub

Follow me on Amazon

Follow me on Amazon

Available from Amazon!

Available from Amazon!

Available Now!

Available Now!

Available from Amazon

Available from Amazon

Join me and 9 of your favourite women’s fiction authors

Join me and 9 of your favourite women’s fiction authors

The Good Life France Magazine

The Good Life France Magazine

Categories

Archives

Footer

Copyright Disclaimer

© 2020 by Patricia Sands. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use short quotes provided a link back to this page and proper attribution is given to me as the original author. All photographs on this site are copyright of Patricia Sands

Follow Me!

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Tweet
YouTube
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Instagram
  • Privacy Policy

FTC DISCLOSURE

The Federal Trade Commission requires that I disclose any relationship I have between a product manufacturer or service provider when I write about a product or service. I may receive a small commission for purchases made via affiliate links on this site such as Amazon. The above does not affect my opinion of those products and services. I am committed to sharing the work of other authors with my friends and readers.

Copyright © 2022 By Patricia Sands · Theme created and maintained by Bakerview Consulting