Sweet Relief

If I have been posting less of late, it is for a very simple reason--it is too hot. My brain is in a state of suspended animation. For those of you from far away, please be patient with your French bloggers who are all in the midst of a canicule or heat-wave, one that has put several regions on high alert. I had already sweated my way through the last in 2003 when an estimated 15,000 people died. We now know to plan, to conserve our energy and to take special care of our furry friend, Ben. But there are still places to go and people to see, visitors to tend to. 

On our way home from a recent outing, we took a small country road that we had never travelled before--as we are wont to do--and came screeching to a halt at the sight of a gift from the heavens. A source or spring burbled in a shallow pool that had been created with old stones and lined with a paved gravel by some kind soul for the benefit of all. The water was icy cold, from deep within the earth.

"Do you think Ben can go in?" I asked. He had rolled in the dirt earlier in a desperate attempt to keep cool. A bath would do him good in more ways than one. "I don't see why not," Remi replied. Ben couldn't seem to believe his good luck. He pranced about, lifting one paw then the next...

...and then sank down with a sigh. His eyes glazed over and he became very still.

I cast off my sneakers and sank in my toes. Remi joined me. 

We sat like that for some minutes, utterly content. The chill slowly worked its way up from our feet all the way to our brains until we felt completely restored.

Isn't it lovely that such a small moment is one of my very favorites from this Summer?

Have a wonderful week everyone...