Whatever happened to the long drive....

Look at this little arrangement on the side of the road in countryside France.

It's put there, by residents (3 of them) just for passing motorists to have something cute to view.

The 'man' is made from terracotta pots, and the wagon is painted that glorious shade of blue popular in some provences.

There were pots of pansies and geraniums around to add colour to the display.

We had been randomly driving around trying to find our way to Etretat`, and go lost several times.

Had we not got lost, we wouldn't have stumbled upon this little montage`.

A happy serendipity.

Once upon a time, before petrol hit well over the $1 per litre here in Australia, we used to go for a 'drive' for something to do.

You'd get to know the neighbourhood, or explore other neighbourhoods. You'd stumble upon a new park, playground, BBQ area or church to explore.

We used to love sitting outside churches n a Saturday afternoon to watch the parade of brides. The bells would peal, confetti would be thrown, and they'd drive off in their beribboned cars, making space for the next happy couple. It was beautiful.

No-one does this any more. Sure, the cost of fuel is prohibitive, but I also believe that no-one drives for exploration, walks for fun, runs for the sheer pleasure of feeling the wind on their limbs, or drops in for a coffee just because you were passing by anymore either.

What's wrong with us?

We've all forgotten that it doesn't have to cost money to entertain ourselves.

I recently took my daughter to a large cemetery to explore, read and admire the gravestones and family crypts and be saddened and heartened by the many hidden stories there. We took some gravestone rubbings done with tracing paper and charcoal, and placed flowers on some graves that looked lonely.

Surprisingly, this was one of the most delightful outings we've had. It created conversation about family ties, grandparents, medicine, God, median lifespan, my Mum and Dad who have passed away, gardening, flowers, stonemasons, weeds, crows, shadows, how leadlight is made, religion, the afterlife, Buddhism, and a myriad other topics.

If we'd sat at home, we would have watched a movie and never had that conversation.

As it happens, she now has a deeper appreciation of many things in her life, and I have a new appreciation of how quickly she is growing up.

On my Tray of Bliss today, is a note to glue our gravestone rubbings into our scrapbook along with some dandelions we are pressing, and not take the few years I have with my daughter before she 'grows up', for granted.

What's on your Tray of Bliss?