Drawings by Jabes on the manuscript of The Book of Questions The place that felt to me just as holy as all the churches I visited (the Dourade with its Black Madonna that I described in my last post) is... Continue reading

I spent the day in Toulouse, which meant there was only so much I could see. Kind of like life. After talking briefly to a couple in Auvillar, Gerhard, originally from Germany, and Marie-Josef, from France, about their project of... Continue reading

one of the painters in the painting competition whose muse (a grey parrot) is sitting in a tree nearby Village life has its advantages. You stroll around on market days and everyone knows your favorite chevre, your passion for lemon... Continue reading

Birthday Macarons from Le Varens de Gens, neighboring town This was my birthday present from Cheryl and John, who hosted a fabulous birthday dinner party for me in the garden here. It's a feast of colors and flavors, as is... Continue reading

La Garonne Water Before, there is water. After, there is water. during, always during. —Lake water? —River water? —Sea water? Never water over water Never water for water; but water where there is no longer water; water in the dead... Continue reading

view through the poplars "Machinery will have so much Americanized us, progress will have so much atrophied our spiritual element, that nothing in the sanguinary, blasphemous or or unnatural dreams of the Utopists can be compared to what will actually... Continue reading

I am residing next to a hunting club. Every day, since I arrived, groups of men go past my window early each morning, busy with preparations for a midday feast that took place today. How could I not attend. It... Continue reading

photo by Michelle Acuff This is where I am living: where they grow sunflowers and are in love with nuclear power. This plant, Golfech Nuclear Power Plant in La Garonne, is so close that I could see it in the... Continue reading

I just arrived in the southwest of France (in the Midi-Pyrenees) to begin an artist residency at Le Moulin a Nef in a tiny village called Auvillar. Quite a culture shock after pinxtos (tapas)-bar-hopping in San Sebastian, Spain till all... Continue reading