Finding France

I have long had a dream of visiting France when the lavendar is in bloom.  I can see myself drivng over the winding roads, up and down the low rolling hills in my fancy little car with the top down, and the wind blowing my hair.  The sun is bright and the fields are various shades of purple and I am soaking in the beauty and flavor of Provence.  Alas, the dream has of yet not been fullfilled so I found lavendar fields closer to home.  How about Mona, Utah.  Yes, there are fields of purple in Utah.   

France it is not, but I can't find fault with the color and the mountains framing the fields.  We visited the distillery and saw the huge vats  where the dried lavendar is crushed in the process of obtaining the oil from the plants and learned about the numerous uses of lavendar oil.  The only thing the small town of Mona has going for it is the lavendar farm.  Very few people live in the area.  There is one extremely small store and a hamburger stand where you order from your car or the front window.  You have to remind yourself that you are only 30 miles south of Provo.

 
This is the store in Mona.  We thought it was closed down and just left as a reminder of a past era, until we saw people coming and going. 


Part of the garden area at the visitors center
and store

Maybe someday I will visit Provence, but I have seen lavendar fields and didn't have to travel far to see the rows of purple.  Lavendar is lavendar no matter where it grows.  I'm satisfied---I do wish I'd had the fancy little car.

    

     So often life becomes cluttered and it is hard to separate ourselves from the parts we would rather not have to deal with.  We need to step away from the moment and look for something that feeds the inner self.  It is okay to take care of ourselves.  We need candy for the soul.  Most often the things that make us feel good are close at hand and we simply forget to look. 

A sunset not from yoiur own backyard, but seen a few miles down the road puts a different slant on the same clouds. 

We become accustomed to routine.  At certain times the moon is visible in the very early evening and also sets before dark.  Take a look--mix things up a little.

There is a large vacant lot on the corner near my house.  In late July and August the sunflowers bloom.  I drive past them every day, yet it never occured to me that I should pick them and bring them home.  I never paused long enough to see them and I almost missed out on something special.

Making something original that is totally my creation is also is candy for my soul.  I have found many small things that add pleasure and help put life in perspective.  It is these small things that add up to balance out the craziness that often invades us.  The trick is--don't forget to walk outside the craziness to find your candy.