tour de home

i can't help but think that at this time last year, i was planning a two-week july trip to france!  so today i did what any sensible person would do and appreciated the francophile elements right here in my own backyard!  usually one to savor a slow morning with french press, today i started hastily with yogurt and fruit, i had my own tour de france to ride, afterall.  hopping on my new commuter bike, i rode the mere three but scenic miles to red hills market, ordered cold-brewed coffee and turned on nbcsn to watch the real tour's peloton ride from aix-en-provence (blissful sigh) to montpelier in stage 6.  if it had been football, i would have been competing for a view, but i was the sole oregon watcher at this particular locale, glued to the set in order not to miss any familiar sights in the south of france.  lavendar, plane trees, mediterranean coastline, colorful jersies, signs in french, roundabouts...from there i moved to a wine-barrel crafted chair (stamped 'made in france') to read about cooking in a small town (in france) while the lavendar stems swayed under golden bees (blissful sigh number two).  i pedaled home past tasting rooms and expansive pinot noir vineyards before reaching my driveway whereupon i was greeted by adorable children (of the family who is staying here this month) sharing fresh-picked blueberries with them, i stretched along with the day sprawled open before me...one thing i always wanted to do while in provence was have a kitchen so i could both go to market AND cook (the best combo is their markets and our kitchens) so i did the next best thing with the fresh produce from home...roasted hazelnuts with fresh rosemary, grilled balsamic mushrooms, seared salmon steaks on fresh garden greens, olive oil & seasalted baby potatoes...the rhythm continued as my sun tree brewed and naptime approached...waking hungry for chocolate, i furthered my french intensive.  noting the tricoleur (or french flag) is bleu, blanc, rouge (in that order) i celebrate july 4th and salute the french, who have 10 days until their bastille day...c'est complet, mon tour chez nous.