August 16, 2005
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Un indicible bonheur .
An inexpressible happiness .
English version below the picture
Le Jeudi 13 Août dernier je préparais de jeunes poireaux avant de les planter ( couper le bout des feuilles et des racines ) . C ' est pour moi un des meilleurs moments de l ' année au jardin . Assis à même la terre , le dos appuyé sur le tronc du cerisier à 'ombre de son feuillage bruissant légèrement j ' éprouve un intense sentiment de bonheur dans un calme total .,. Je me sens fusionné avec la douce nature dans une totale paix . L ' air avait une parfum de bénédictions . Chaque année c ' est la même chose . . Je rends grâce de cette douceur de vivre .
J ' étais donc dans mon rêve tranquille quand ma femme Janine m ' apporta aune botte de carottes qu ' elle venait d ' arracher pour la soupe . Superbes carottes . C ' est avec fierté que je les brandis imbibé de félicité . Cela valait une photo .
Simplicité et petites choses pour un grand bonheur et quelquefois pour une consolation .
At peace in the garden En paix au jardin Photo Janine Fauquet August 2005
On the last Thursday 13th of August I prepared young leeks before to plant them ( cutting the ends of leaves and roots ) . It ' s for me one of the best moments in the year at the garden . Sit on the bare ground , the back rested against the cherry tree trunk , in the shadow of its foliage lightly murmuring , I have an intense feeling of happiness . I feel myself fusional with the sweet nature in a total peace . The air had a fragrance of blessings . Every year it's the same . I am thankful .for this sweetness of life at this moment .
So I was in my quiet dream when my wife Janine brought me a bundle of carrots she had just dug up for the soup . Superb carrots . I was proud and I held them very high with blissfullness for a picture . It was worth it !
Simplicity and little things for great happiness and sometimes solace .
Comments (134)
Bonjour, Michel!
I think I finally caught up on all of your past entries that I missed. I do feel horribly for not knowing that you had made a comeback.
Those are beautiful carrots, and you have a beautiful smile! I would be proud too. You have created, cared for, and kept up a fantastic garden. I am the complete opposite. I cannot keep anything alive! I kill flowers, vegetables, you name it! I have no green thumb, for sure!
Have a wonderful week, Michel! God bless.
I really need to work on a garden next year. I would love to go visit your garden. Looks peaceful and spiritual. God Bless...
Une photo merveilluex!!
i am soooo jealous of those beautiful carrotts !!! your words are touching Michel, but the photo of you looking so happy is just as nice. ...and i am jealous of all the green too, we have been very dry here due to lack of rain. the grass, the trees are all looking dull. i am hoping the fall will be better. blessings, melinda
You grew those carrots?! They look fantastic!!! You do look so very happy and peaceful in that garden - makes me smile to see you there
My mum loves gardening, and recently went up to the property she and Dad have bought to plant loads of fruit trees so that they'll be growing before they move up there. The place will be a forest by the time she's done 
Bon appetit!!
You and Janine warm my heart.
Regardez ces carottes ! Stupéfier ! Là la paix dans l'odeur est-elle de la terre, no?
Look at those carrots! Amazing! There is peacefulness in the smell of the earth, no?
Some days I wish that I could be sitting in a garden holding carrots...I'm sure it would be so peaceful...
Sometimes I have how much of a hurry Americans are in.
<3
Aubrey
What a priceless picture. Your contentment shows.
Wow - those are wonderful! You remind of me of a happy Hobbit from JRR Tolkien's world. They were happy and content in their home and garden
You are truly an inspiration! You failed to tell us one thing...when was it ya'll were having soup and when to expect us all! ;O) The carrot soup sounds delicious. After looking at those carrots...I'm not so sure I could wait for them to be in the soup before having a bit of a taste!!! :O)
xoxo Cat
Yes carrots in soup. You can't beat them. Yummy.
I think this is one of my favorite pictures I have seen of you Michel. I always enjoy your photos, but this one truly make me smile inside & out! Well done to you on the garden as well as to Janine for the wonderful photography!
to you both.
You do look very happy.
Yum. Those carrots look good. For some reason, I can not grow carrots. So I must buy them at the store. They aren't near as good as fresh though.
ton jardin est assez beau. les carrotes sont tres grane aussi.
That's such a happy picture.
I'm glad that you have so much to smile about
What handsome carrots! What a pleasure it is to harvest from the garden. There is a special joy in working in the soil and growing food and flowers. Like you, I find great contentment in the garden.
As ever, Carol Suzanne
wow, you make life sound so great...makes me want to pack up my stuff here at work and go garden or fly to europe...anything but working!
I love this photo of you Michel
It makes me very happy to see your smile.
You are a good friend
~Rosemary
A handsome man with a wonderful harvest.
succulentes carottes!!!
Ce texte et cette photo respirent le bonheur et la liberté !
By.
Ah, it is almost 8PM here in Illinois and time for a light supper and bed, but just now I visited around and find you have posted!!!! What a wonderful way to end my day!!! I love your picture and your blog. I can eat carrots every day..cooked raw, in soup or carmelized. During WWII my mother would use carrots instead of sugar to make cookies (bisquits to you!). Sugar was rationed, of course, so the carrots gave the sweetness required!!
Have a lovely Wednesday, Michel!!!
Love
Bev
what beautiful carrots! you look so happy in that picture.
The carrots are beautiful....and you look so happy!
The simplest things in life are more often than not, the best!
What a wonderful post you've shared with us all, Michel. 
I adore this picture of you sitting on the ground with your carrots, in total bliss. 
You always make me feel much brighter for having read your inspirational blogs! Just lovely!!
Ah... that's life, the way it should be
i love carrots but alas, i'm allergic to them...they look beautiful. You spend a lot of time in your garden, don't you? i wish I could have a garden!!
fusionne!!!! its hard to feel that.. i like carrots... theres this other kind of thing that we call carrot but actally is turnip...
amazing, Michel!!! All the right to be proud, my friend!!!
Quelle beau photo! Thank you for sharing. Quand j'arrive en France, j'eterai tres heureuse parce que je vais apprendre beaucoup francais! Et aussi, enjoy la vie francaise
it is beautifully simple. made better with carrots, they are nature candy you know
Your garden looks like the garden of eden. You have a chance that Janine brought you carrots and not a apple...
.
With all this carrots you should not be wearing glasses. Perhaps you should share the receip of the soup.
Amitié
Carlo
You are a man for all seasons!
c'est plein d'énergie le tronc d'un cerisier Michel !!!!!!!
tu as raison d'en faire une cure de temps à autre
bonheurs indicibles
oui on le sent bien
même d'ici
Amitiés honglongaises
honkongaises .... pardon !
That is so awesome! I wish I could be there to enjoy some carrots with you. What an lovely picture you have. That would be a great picture to print copies and give to your children. That's a picture that they would pass down for generations. You could write a little story on the back.
Oh, Michel, I love that tranquility that you speak of in this post. It is a feeling that I relish....one that I seek at this very moment. Life happens and then I search for that quiet and joy and simpleness.
My husband and I are thinking of selling our house and taking all of the money and buying a rural property and owing nothing. We want to be able to enjoy this life without the modern day interruptions. I think we are happiest when we have nature around us and have left the asphalt roads behind. ....just things we are pondering.
Have a joyful time in your garden.
Karen
quel beau potager. plein de tranquillité.
You look like a leprachaun with a pot of gold. Just Adorable!! Maybe I will have pictures like this after I move.
My parents live in Australia - they bought a property up in the Glass House Mountains, a beautiful mountain range just north of Brisbane, and will move there when they have both retired. Our family home in Brisbane is surrounded by every kind of plant imaginable! Mum grows mangoes, paw paws (papaya), avocadoes, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, pecan nuts, pomegranates, lychees, mulberries, passion fruit .. everything
My uncle has chickens in his back yard and provides everyone with wonderful, fat, free range eggs, and it's all fresh, healthy food - delicious!
You have a beautiful garden there
Solution to sending the soup...I will mail myself on over. I can be there in a few days! :O)
I do make a lot of home made soup...you are right...not many do this. The difference in flavor is amazing and I know what is in the soup and that it was made with love.
Maybe Janine would be willing to share with us cooking tips, techniques and recipes?
xoxo Cat
i love this picture, michel~! janine is good at capturing the moment
)
and my little banana smilie? i guess it just means 'dance your cares away'.
What a wonderful thing to do. Just sit quietly to enjoy Jehovah's awesome creation and benefit from His bounty. This is so nice, Michel. Thanks for sharing it.
Your blogs have an incredible way of bringing solace to me as I read them. You are a wonderful man and love this picture!
Did you tell Janine about the shoes? Hehe!! I've got to go shoe shopping soon!
come read my xanga biatch
enjoy all the fruits of your labor, what beautiful carrots, grown with joy and love and the soup will probably be even more delicious since it is from your own efforts....
Ah. The simple life! Not easy. Just simple.
Good food. Good friends. Good moments of Peace.
Simply delicious! Your shared joys become my joys!
That is a wonderful picture. I can really see how happy you are!
AHHHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!! MICHAEL!!! i love your carrots!!
you look so cute!!!
c'est magnifique!!!
<3!!!!!
You look like the happy gardener. Le gardinier heureux.
you look so happy...you can tell you love to garden......those carrots look wonderful!! take care and God bless
ah...to reap the harvest that you've sewn
magnifique!
What a wonderful picture of a happy, contented man. I am sure the soup Janine made was delicious---even moreso because the produce was from your own garden!
Michel, the look on your face is priceless! Such peace and joy cannot be bought!
There is something about a cherry tree in a garden ... the strength and stamina it represents, surrounded by the lush green yield of nature ... the rough bark which yields such tender fruit ... complex simplicity. Enjoy, my friend!
Love, Nancy
Votre emplacement est vraiment frais : -) Vous aimez jardinage ? Ces carottes semblent grandes ! Appui verticaux aléatoires !
What's up old dud.
What's up old dud.
je apprecie votre ecriture beaucoup..
sorry, my french is horrible.. i have not used it for a while.. hehe....
quelle photo fantastique!
J'aime bien!
Ton anniversaire va arriver, non?
Amities,
CLementine
Hey random props! I was meandering around and found your Xanga! I really like it.
Nice entry. You should check mine out, it's probably my last. Bye!
Hi Michel!
What a wonderful garden you have. Nature does give us peace, doesn't it. I myself love to ride in the mountains at folliage time and just enjoy the splendor.
Have a nice day.
Paula
I just love the picture it show such joy in life and such a harvest of good foods God Bless my friend .
http://media.euniverse.com/www_castlemountains_net/images/08_2003/august26a.gif
What a great picture! You look most happy and content, my friend. How was the soup?
DG
Those carrots look lovely and sweet ( just like the man who has grown them
) Your garden looks marvelous Michel , I hope you have got some rain to help things grow
In answer to your question as to rationing of sugar in WWII, yes, it was rationed in America and I was living in Indianapolis, Indiana, the capitol of Indiana. My sister and father did war work there and then we returned to the farm after the war ended. I still have my ration coupon book. When one of our men was home on "leave" or furlough as it is commonly called, we would go without for a period of time so that we had ration "points" to spend on their meals!!! Those were blessed times for us. My mom was the oldest of eight and her mother died at age 40 so Mom was like a mother to her siblings. Two uncles were career Navy men and so we had them with us every time they were home!!!
How odd that my eprops went through but not the comment. That's okay, I will just be last in a long line of admirers. What I said is what so many noticed as well. The picture you posted shows a happy and content man, what a rare thing and I am so pleased to know such a fine man.
What a joyful experience you have shared with us. The wonder of growing things tilled with your own hands...the closeness to nature and goodness
Oh, Michel-I just love that picture. It is easy to see how very happy you are with those carrots.
They are beautiful. I did not raise any this year and really miss having them. You cannot buy anything in the store that tastes like fresh from the garden.
I am finally eating fresh tomatoes, and all the cucumbers, green beans, zucchini and yellow squash that I can eat. I agree with you about gardening. It is so quiet and peaceful when you are there working, that you can almost hear the vegetables grow. Have a great day!!! Enjoy that soup, I will stop by for some.
Love
Edie Rose
Bonjour! i discovered your site through the sites of others and have been enjoying it. i studied French all 4 years of high school (many, many years ago) and love the language. When i go to your site, i try and read the French part before i check the English. i can translate some of it, but not all.
Have a wonderful day, and God bless you!
Tu as l'air très très content Michel, presque comme un enfant qui est très satisfié!
J'adore ton philsophie de vie: c'est dans les petites choses où on apprécie le bonheur. Je suis ravie que tu as ce paradis sur terre dans ton jardin.
the photo captured it all.
Dear Michel,
How wonderful your garden looks! I have never been able to grow carrots that big! I would be very happy to have a garden that looked so full and lush. I am glad that you are blogging again, my friend. I hope you enjoyed the letter. I enjoy having someone to write to "across the pond". Take care. Give my best to your family. - In friendship, Rachel Susan
What a beautiful photo! The carrots are lovely. I sure wish I had a garden/sanctuary like that! You are blessed, Michel. How was the soup?
I love this: I feel myself fusional with the sweet nature in a total peace . The air had a fragrance of blessings .
Thanks for your good wishes on my trip. I had a wonderful time in Europe, and I even understood and spoke a lot of French! J'ai utilise beaucoup de francais, j'adore practicer ca.
Keep gardening with Janine!
Ah...isn't life wonderful? There is nothing more basic nor more rewarding than growing things in the earth. It's the miracle of life repeating itself over and over again each season. I agree with you 100%! The most serene moments seem to be in the simplest of things. I live in the desert and haven't mastered the art growing vegetables here but have found great joy in creating a cactus garden and pond. Congratulations on the beautiful carrot crop...there is nothing like the taste of fresh carrots from your own garden.
So so true. And while I'm not as relaxed as you are in the picture, visiting here is restful in its own delightful way.
I put the comment to this post on the one below by mistake it was 117 so if it went through I will be 118 so will send an e.mail you might not go that far down. Love Marjie.
I would like to have a large garden someday. Those are beautiful carrots! I am growing tomatoes, peppers and some herbs on my porch.
Wonderful! LOL! I love carrots. Especially for a dish called hutspot - where we cook carrots, onions and potatoes and mash it all into one dish. It is a winter meal... but you can wake me up in the middle of the night for it.
My compliments for Janine, who made this wonderful photo.
yes...you look at peace with the garden and with life...your carrots are superb and you should be proud...enjoy the soup...my guinea pigs would be squeaking like mad if they saw those gorgeous orange carrots...giggles...huggs...Sassy
A simple tale. A happy moment. Life is a dream, and dreams are life.
Well done.
I didn't realize 'bonheur' meant 'happiness.' I'll bring that up the next time I teach about Rosa Bonheur in my class. ; )
Votre jardin et vos carottes est très beau. J'imagine que je mange des carottes que vous avez semen!
é!
nice site
Hi Michel,
Yes we are finally moving back to the Dallas area, the sale of our house is supposed to be final next Thursday and we will move next Saturday. Thank you for asking!
What a wonderful photo! It is so very nice to see someone enjoying life! Thank you for stopping by my blog. Yes we are farmers. We grow butterbeans (lima beans) edible soybeans, peas and in our private garden all types of vegetables. My youngest son loves carrots by the way. Take care!
Love,
Debbie
Thanks thats my first modeling pic with my new agency hott huh??
Michel and Janine....Merci!!!! :O) xoxo Cat
albacore is a type of fish...me and my friends were being silly talking about fish and my friend, amber, said "albacore" and my friend, kelly, didn't know what albacore was. so it was a funny joke all night. hope you're having a good day.
re: your comment. Max died last winter and Sophie this spring. it's a tough life for a barn cat
(
Watching your garden grow is one of life's simple pleasures. We only plant tomatoes but they are in abundance right now. What a peasureit is to go out to the garden with a salt shaker and eat the tomatoes hot off the vine.
Thank you for the kind words you always leave behind at my site. You are a pleasure to know. Thank goodness Marion (oz_girl) lead me to you.
Delicious carrots from your own garden..... such blissful life you have.
Je peux lire le francais, mais c'est plus difficile de l'ecriver.
I really like that picture! I agree that it is the simple things that make life worthwhile and keep you connected to what is really important. Unfortunately, life gets too busy sometimes.
Michel, je ne vous oublierai jamais.
Le bonheur du travail bien fait.... c'est le vrai bonheur. Ce sentiment me manque un peu, mais je recommence a travailler lundi... donc je suis heureuse et enthousiaste.
Of all of the photos and moments you have shared, this has to be one of my favourites. Your smile is so wonderful. It shows your pride.
Hello Michel, indeed you look a happy man, I am full of envy... envy is green like your foliage. I would love to have a garden too. I have been away for a few days in Tuscany, it is full of French turists. The Chianti vineyards are superb, but then French vineyards are too. It is so relaxing to be in close contact with the soil, energising, it's the best tonic in the world. RITA
Oh Yes Michel! I want to have a big garden next season! The carrots are wonderful and will make a nice stew or they will be great to nibble as if you were Bugs Bunny!
Enjoy, my friend. This is truly one of life's simple pleasures, the garden. :sigh:
Love,
Deb
Thanks for you comment
Isn't that the truth!! The simple things in life bring us such pleasure.... and you expressed it so well. Love the picture of you. You look so very happy. I understand what you are saying about sitting on the ground before you plant something. There is a connection with all things present, past and spiritual. Thank you for your insight that you shared on my blog. I appreciate it. Have a wonderful weekend. love and Blessings, kc
Had a little laugh regarding your comment---asking what are slacks. I guess you might know them as women's long pants--which we wear instead of skirts. Don't know what else to call them. Does that explain it???
Read somewhere that someone thought you looked like a leprechaun in the picture. I agree. You just need to be dressed in green and have a smoking pipe in your mouth!
I just looked up a translation on the internet. Slacks is your "pantalon".
You are right! I do prefer every shoe. I'm a shopaholic!
Even though I am getting rid of the fourth pair, I will try and keep them depending on space.
Those are some beautiful carrots! Good job gardening!
-the rachael
oh my gosh, your carrots are gorgeous! i'm sooo envious. you look so...wonderfully happy. it's nice to see that on a blog!
I go to school in Maine.
It looks so beautiful and peaceful in your garden. Enjoy those carrots.
Dans l'amitié
Thunderous carrots!
Those are some beautiful carrots!!
Thank you so much for wishing me a happy birthday, I had a great day! Come by and visit another time, you are always welcome!!
~allie
Je n'ai jamais été à ce site web avant, mais j'aime la langue de français. Je prends le français comme une deuxième langue.
Michel, j'adore tout ce que tu écris.... et surtout tes belles photots!! Quand j'entre sur ton site xanga, j'ai la nostalgie pour la France...
Merci d'être là et aussi pour tes commentaires sages sur mon site!!
Now that is a photograph of extreme happiness
your face goows more than usual God Bless in your state of Bliss magi
eh,i'm alright.
-Lauren
I was just about to say those looked like carrots to me.
My father was a lover of the soil. Walking in his little potato plot was like walking in a thick carpet as he was a fan of the compost pile.
Thanks for your lovely comment on my posting more blogs lately.
I think the reason is because I'm more settled, being in my own house now. When I'm feeling secure, I'm more inclined to be in a better mood to post blogs! 
I was very unsettled before, not knowing where our home was going to be. Thanks again, Michel. 
Hello Sweet, this was awesome. what a treat to live as you do. I would trade places with you any day. God Bless
heheh... simple things are the best things in life
Merci de la rétroaction merveilleuse et des mots encourageants ! Je tends à expérimenter avec mes dispositions de façon régulière. Si tout va bien je trouve le droit pour employer un jour ! ; -) En outre, je fais des excuses si ma traduction française est terrible ou un peu peu précis parfois. Je n'ai pas écrit en français (ou le rai il, pour cette matière) en quatre environ années. Svp ours avec moi : -)
You have such bliss on your face! To be one with nature--commingling--and enjoy the harvests. Life is beautiful!
et puis encore merci pour le site d'Andrew à Hong Kong !
peut-être qu'un jour nous nous rencontrerons
your happiness brings a smile to my heart sir. namaste
whoah! those are good looking carrots, michel.
The simple things... they make life worthwhile.
michel,
no, not me. it is a pic of a garden in seoul, korea; part of a beautification project.
I thought of you yesterday whilst at the reunion..a gathering of relatives with the same family background. There were many home-grown veggies there...just as I wished! There was one salad that I wonder if it is French in origin. It was broccoli, grapes, crisply fried bacon bits, with a creamy sauce. It was so good!
Bon apetit...I don't remember where the accents go!!!!!
Simplicity and little things for great happiness and sometimes solace .
Couldn't have said it better myself! You're an inspiration Michel!=)
A carrot bouquet!
Your garden is a special place of enjoyment! I took a short break!
Beautiful. Beautiful. I'm moving to a new apartment where I have a large back porch. No yard, but I'm definitely going to have a herb garden
hi , your name was given to me by cheleD , she said you may be able to help me i am looking for a steam carpet cleaner in france and dont know what it would be called and where to look ! i have looked et darty, bricorama and carrefour and havent had any luck!!! your site is great and gorgeous pictures thanks wendy!
You are the perfect picture of a gentleman farmer. Such splendid carrots! And a very poetic entry, it was quite soothing to read.
Michel, one hundred thirty-five comments.....you must be the most popular blogger on Xanga!! I can understand why!! I dreamt of Brittany and the rough coastline last nite. No wonder I did not awaken till almost 6 AM!!!
More pictures, please!!!
Magnifique photo ! On croirait un enfant dans sa gallerie de jouets !
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