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Herndon, Deborah |
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Blue Ridge Original
“What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Who’s guilty? All of us have warm thoughts we want to express, but often can’t find the words. People close to us need words of love, support, congratulations, even apology, but it’s not easy to do. That’s the genesis of these cards - to transform feelings into words. Words and images play off each other in these cards. My ever-changing life has shaped Riveting Notes’ original photographs and words. Doctor, lawyer, utility chief - what you do for a living does not define your life. How you affect other lives is how you will be remembered. You can use these cards to communicate and deal with the tough parts. Traveling through France, Chicago, and the South made me realize that unique cultures frame our lives. These photographs and words capture images that connect you with different frames. How you use them to lift others is up to you.
Deborah D. Herndon
Artifacts & Architectural Details – Metallic Photographs My husband and I were married in France, so return every year to revisit our early married life. Because November can be cool, we decided to visit the far south corner of France near the Pyrénées Mountains, about 45 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. The district of Roussillon teeters between France and Spain with the mountains as a divider. Once known as Catalonia, this region celebrates a uniquely blended Franco-Spanish culture and independent religious history. The village we called home for a week, Vernet-les-Bains, is famous for its mineral baths of hot sulphuric water. A beautiful river roars through the town, carrying mountain water from the Pyrénées towering above, to the many villages below. We stayed immediately adjacent to this river that Rudyard Kipling often visited more than 100 years ago. A five minute drive away is the village of Villefranche in the Conflent valley. Constructed in the 11th century to defend France’s border from Spain, extensive fortifications were added in the 17th century. Villefranche’s augmented stone walls and turrets cloister this undisturbed medieval village. Ancient details such as fanciful door knockers, sun dials, and double locks on the village church accent its doorways. Centuries ago, French crusaders on their way to the Holy Land stopped here for rest and replenishment and left their cross in its walls. Further south lies the village of Céret, artistic haven to Matisse, Picasso, and Braque. A wonderful art museum gives testimony to their creations as well as many others who resided there. Céret boasts huge stately sycamores lining its cobbled streets and wonderful chocolate in small cafés. The old, wood paneled bars capture these prominent compatriots’ debates on artistic style and issues of the day. Weathered paint on doors gives a sense of history and past colors that haunt the homes there. Ancient symbols on door handles and locks combined with unusual mailbox names add to the mystery of Céret. In Prades, the Saturday farmer’s market is filled with farm made sausages and more cheeses than one person can sample. Local folks congregate around their native pink granite fountain to discuss the news, give away kittens, or sell their wares. Centuries-old copper streetlights, aged to a green patina, dot the nearby streets.
Vineyards in Roussillon stand up to the fierce winds and blazing sun to produce Rivesaltes wine. Made from the Muscat grape, this sweet wine was much treasured by the ancient Catalans and is still enjoyed today. A small “cabanon” in the field shelters workers for a brief respite at harvest time. As we traveled through the countryside, the big question was: why leave the remains of a Drive In Cinema in the middle of such a beautiful vineyard? Late night entertainment? Share this page with your favorite Social Networking website.  |
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