Sunday, December 09, 2007

French Housescape


French Housescape
Originally uploaded by linfrye
The holidays are catching up with me! Christmas shopping, holiday party obligations, gift wrapping ... hours slip by as fast as a blink.

Weather too seems to conspire --- after temperatures in the 30sF all last week, yesterday was a balmy 65F -- sun aglow and casting the most gorgeous shadows from bare trees, and today promises more of the same. And yet, we've still suffering from the worst drought in state history, so while the day beckons one out of the indoors, the dusty, dry air greets you when you step outside. And there is no rain in the forecast for the next week or so ... sigh.

In between obligations, I found this lovely photograph of a housescape in France. I fell in love with with stones and flowered walls ... our flowers now gone for the season. The original isn't as 'grey' as the scan, and I couldn't adjust it adequately without changing the flowers or some other element ...

Nonetheless, I am reminded of our trip to Sicily ... and painting this made me long again to return to my grandparent's homeland.

9 comments:

caseytoussaint said...

This is beautiful, Lin - I'd love to see the original!

Lorraine said...

Oh this is SO soft and lovely -- very calming and restful. I love the colors together too.
We are getting all the rain you are missing. I hope it heads your way soon as we are finally almost caught up! Thanks for the color to brighten my gray, rainy days.
Hugs,
Lorraine

Tami said...

This is so soft and pretty, I love the play of light and shadow. The flowers tumbling from everywhere are a delight. I hope you get some rain soon!

Carole said...

This is gorgeous, and so is the lantern below. I love the soft colours on this one.

I can't believe you've still got a drought there - it's been ages. We've got loads and loads of rain here, and it's starting to erode the hills and the roads. It's a shame we can't share it out more evenly isn't it?!

Teri said...

This is even more beautiful knowing what a busy time this is. Love it!

Linda said...

Lin, this is really beautiful!

We have had rain for the past two days, and really quite heavily this morning, so hopefully it will head your way. I was SO glad to see some moisture!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Gorgeous, Lin. I love the way you have handled the flowers. They looks so painterly and simple. Just lovely.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

In three months it will start looking like that again here...for now it is much more pleasant looking at your painting with it's uplifting colour!
ronell

Lindsay said...

This one is lovely.Such a soft feeling.