What is life without beauty? It would be very dull. But what is beautiful is all about perception. It is in the eye of the beholder, we say. So that is where we begin today.

What is more beautiful than the faces of those we love? So please indulge me as I share a photo of my breakfast partner on Wednesday, June 3.

Mama and Papa were on a breakfast date, checking out a gluten free bakery, La Manufacture. What a delight to find a source of great baguettes, etc. that John can eat! And I was also delighted to share my table with Sydney.

There is not much else to tell about that day. Just a visit to the marché fermier, the farmers market about 1 km away from our rental, plus a stop at a patisserie to get a cookie for Sydney and the French version of apple pie for me, a tarte au pomme. Anyone who knows me at all is aware that I am crazy for pie. This version has a sort of custard between the crust and the glazed apples. Délicieuse!

The next day, June 4, I took Sydney for a long walk while her mom was at a meeting. While Marseille has a lot in common with other big cities, I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much graffiti as there is here. Many businesses have garage-type doors that are shut when the business is closed, and every one is decorated, so to speak. A lot of the art is actually quite skillful in my opinion. I took a photo of a very large example of graffiti art.

Today, June 5 was special, because I got to do one of my favorite but rarely enjoyed hobbies: hiking. I took public transit to La Calanques National Park, where I trekked for about 45 minutes to an overlook high above the Mediterranean coast. It was a perfect day for it, in the high 60s and sunny.

Savoring my morning experience, I took my time returning to our neighborhood, where I decided to treat myself to more than a quick sandwich or salad for lunch, le dejeuner. I ordered a glass of wine and a delicious plate of gnocchi, and ate it in the leisurely way that the French do so well.

In the afternoon I savored the delight of watching my granddaughter playing with her toy sheep and pouring water from basin to cup on the patio. When she hears a bird, she looks at me, gasps, and says, “Listen!” When she sees a plane, she points up and giggles.

Yes, the coastline was breathtaking, but dwelling in the moment with a small child is equally beautiful in its own way. So I will close this edition with another photo of our precious girl as she watched the rain on the patio last night. Thank you, God, for the way she reminds me to wonder at the beauty found not only in the natural world, but also in the moments with those we love.