Sigrid Style

My Week in Provence

Posted by Sigrid Olsen on September 18, 2011 1 Comment

I am sitting in the airport lounge at CDG in Paris waiting for my flight home to Boston after a dreamy retreat week in the French Countryside. Martha and I woke today at five and headed to the train in Avignon where we dozed as magnificent clouds appeared in the morning sky over the green rolling landscape that zipped by our windows. In a few short hours we found ourselves at the airport and ready to return to reality. I find myself in possession of various electronic gadgets, flip-video, iPhone, camera and iPad...all loaded with hundreds of photos and video bits that have yet to be uploaded and edited. So please forgive the text sans visuals as usually I avoid blogging without pictures. This retreat unfolded naturally just like every other one, shaped in part by the location, and in part by the people. Every retreat is like a soup that is altered and enhanced by the uniqueness of these two ingredients. Provencal Retreat Recipe: Lavender and honey Olive oil Fresh peaches and figs Songbirds Dappled sunlight Combine the above ingredients with 6 lighthearted women, 2 happy leaders and one extraordinary hostess. Introduce 2 young chefs with high ideals, exquisite taste, a full pantry and sun-warmed produce. Add a full pad of watercolor paper, 8 bottles of translucent watercolors, 32 stamp pads in various colors, rubber carving blocks. Begin with breathing excercise on the terrace at dawn. Follow with an hour of walking in the brightening light of day along a canal in the countryside. Meet with a poetic breakfast in the garden. Continue at the same table by mixing the above art supplies to create an array colorful pages. Show one another. Break for a short while and enjoy alfresco lunch followed by more artistic experimentation. Roll yoga mats onto outdoor terrace under the trees and intensely blue sky for afternoon yoga. Swim in pool to taste. Share a glass of wine, sparkling water followed by amazing dinner and starry sky. Finish with a good nights sleep. Smile. Repeat. Serves 6-12.