Wow! It is hard to believe it is June 4th already and that I have been here at Les Battees in Southern Burgundy for nearly three weeks. I find myself in almost a timeless space here, with most days spent in the countryside living and working at the Chambre D’hotes.
In general, life here is pretty easy. I have plenty of time in the morning for relaxing and doing my morning rituals – Reiki, yoga, often prayer and meditation. Summer business so far is mostly on the weekends, and most weekdays offer plenty of time for leisurely work and play.
Even though I am living in France, I am surrounded daily by the tones, expressions and content of English culture with my English host and his visiting mum. It is fun to see the similarities and the differences in the language and the culture. Yesterday I made a comment to my host that he did something “lickety split!” He looked at me bewildered… and perhaps even a little afraid. I retreated sheepishly…Oh, I got it! American slang! You have no idea what I just said to you! I quickly rearranged my verbage to a more friendly and accessible phrase.
My hosts sister and partner have been visiting this weekend, expanding the British encounter. We joined them and visiting guests on Saturday night out on the terrace for dinner. It was an even split for the evening… five french guests at one side of the table and five English speakers at the other. And in truth there was not much intermingling between the two. My host mended some of the distance with his conversational French. My hosts’ French girlfriend was also there, relieved to have some French comrades for the evening meal and conversation.
I am still nurturing and healing my injured ankle from my trip down a few stairs during my first days at Les Battees. My plans of riding kilometers down the bicycle path along the nearby canal are temporarily on hold. I continue to find my way in the little things, day to day. We have had some visiting hedgehogs here at Les Battees, a mama and two babies, living near the compost. Digging in the dirt the other day, clearing the weeds away from the lavender plants, I discovered my first French snail. And a few days ago, I caught a glimpse of one of the local birds who sometimes comes for a visit… the Hoopoe. His distinct call lets us know he is in the neighborhood. He is a beautiful spectacle and quite something to see.
Today the sun is finally shining after a few days of rain. The surrounding meadows, flowers and gardens happily greet me outside my bedroom window. There is a light breeze and coolness in the air and the birds once again are showing off. My hosts’ garden features roses now in full bloom.
It seems that there is something creeping in on me… from these days of simple living in France. It almost feels like… rest… all the way down to my bones. I am giving way, ever so slightly, to the need to predict, impress, figure out or make big plans while I am here. And in the wake of that I see there is some space to be… present. Present while ironing the sheets for the Chambre D’hotes. Taking simple pleasure in its neat appearance when complete and folding it gently in quarters. And in the space, perhaps the freedom to simply be present I am experiencing some… relief.
My host and his mum are heading for a visit to a near-bye village tomorrow. I look forward to joining them as I continue to go with the flow. It’s nice to leave Les Battees from time to time for a shopping errand to a neighboring town or village. The wind has picked up outside and soon I will do a little laundry and hang my clothes outside on the line to dry in the sun. Another day submerged in the easy living of Les Battees.
Plum blossom photo from the grounds of Les Battees.
Gypsy Woman 