Creches, Castellet

 Every year, during the holidays, the town of Castellet, up the hill from Saignon, puts up numerous creches. Every year they are different. This year had a good crop.

More Rue du Bourget weeds, Saignon

Could not resist the dewdrops,

More moss, Rue du Bourget

 Location is everything. Those round leaf plants above. Where they are rare they are called pennywort and planted with mosses. Here in Florida they are called dollarweed and are invasive and very hard to get rid of.

Moss, Saignon

This year, when we arrived, on January 4th, an iris across Impasse du Bourget was blooming! Usually they bloom much later. The rest of the irises bloomed over the course of our visit. There had been no hard freezes and, by the time we left the flowerier trees, such as almonds, were all budded out and the roses were actively growing. This moss was the same, growing a month or too early.

Vines, Saignon

Yvon's watering cans, Saignon

Year after year, Yvon, would sit out in front of his house most of the day. He had retired from a municipal job and loved to sit with his dog and watch the town go by. He had a sign telling you not to photograph him. He also had three or four big containers of plants that bloomed all summer. He used these watering cans to take care of them and some of the plants near Christine's, across the street. Last year he had a health setback and was not there much, But this winter, he was back but not as strong. He would come get the paper in the morning and then set up his chair wherever the sun was.

Saignon Christmas decorations.

There are little Christmas decorations like this all over Saignon until the end of January.

Lighting store, Apt

This place always has very interesting displays.

Local cutie, Apt market.

On Saturdays I drive the two Janes down to the big Apt market. They plunge into the hustle and bustle of the streets and I go off to photograph for an hour or two. We meet and either go to lunch, joined by Ian, or go back up to the village and eat there.

Olive wood, Apt, market

I bought the bowl in the lower right corner and brought it back to Florida to hold salt in my kitchen. Now I look like all of those celebrity chefs who dig into a salt container and sprinkle it, just so, onto the food.

Apt, market day

Market day, Apt

Market day, Apt

Traffic mirror, Apt

Gate and shadows, Apt

Hydrant and shadows, Apt

Shadows, Apt

Elio, Saignon

The Saignon Skulker.

Our Cactus. Saignon

Many years ago we were lucky enough to rent a Citroen Cactus, in the year they were introduced. It was, to me, the perfect car for Provence. It ate luggage, seated 4 people comfortably, had enough power, handled well and was good on gas. Now, years later, we lucked into an upgraded one. Citroen has just made it better. A bit more power, a bit more room and still fun to drive while being small enough to travel narrow Provencal roads comfortably.

Drainpipe, Mailbox and vine, Apt

Shadows, Apt

Shadows, Apt

Shadow, Apt.

ABC Coiffure is where both Janes go to get their hair done. She does a lovely job on both of them.

Woman in red, Apt

This woman is omnipresent in Apt, especially on market day. She has an electric tricycle. She has a "Get off my lawn." attitude about her personal space and has no patience with people who get in her way. It was strange to see her at rest, enjoying a glass of wine.

Drainpipe, Apt

Shutters, Apt

Shutters, Apt

Drainpipes, Apt

Drainpipe, Apt

Red car, Apt

Apt

Saignon

Ahh, the Provencal blue skies make everything look good.

Sign and drainpipe, Saignon

Heart and drainpipe, Saignon

Vines and drainpipes, Saignon

A new subject wormed its way into my eye last year. There is a lot of rain here but I never see a lot of water in the street. It is because every house has drainpipes, and most of them go through the street to drainage tunnels under the street. As you all know, I love vines, so this is a natural for me.

Rush hour, Saignon

Shadow, Saignon

Bird and hydrant, Saignon

Shadows, Saignon

Christmas decorations, Saignon

Winter colors, Saignon

Shadows, Saignon

Shadows, Saignon