One of the wonderful things about living in a small village is getting to know the interesting people who live here. We’ve come to know Dick and Laura, who live in a beautiful home set amid a grove of olive trees in the tiny village of Piégon, perched just outside of Mirabel. Last week, Dick and Laura invited us to their home for apératifs. After a day of tearing old wall paper off walls and demolishing kitchen cabinets, we tidied ourselves up as best we could and drove a few kilometers up the hill from Mirabel to their home. Dick greeted us warmly at the gate, with an open umbrella and the typical Provençal greeting of three kisses – right, left, right.
Provençal Black Redstart
Dick and Laura let us know that a bird had flown into the living room and their dog was, naturally, a bit excited.
At last, the beautiful Provençal Black Redstart flew into a windowpane and was stunned momentarily.
Laura and Dick rescue the bird!
Laura rescued the delicate creature (held here in her hand for a moment) and then let it fly into the dark night through the open terrace doorway. Thus began a fascinating evening together, hearing stories of Dick’s childhood in Eastern Europe and the United States, subsequent years in Brussels and south of France, and Laura’s life in south Africa before France. Dick was a student at Yale in the 50’s before returning to Europe to help his father run his diamond cutting business. Dick graciously offered to help us in our remodeling efforts, managing work done while we are all back in the US. Since then, Dick and Laura have stopped by the house and given us enthusiastic feedback on our remodeling efforts! We appreciate their warmth and friendship.
–Dory