Finding a Provenance

For years, my sister and I have been buying these special little beaded leaves and flowers from old milliners or bead shops and last year, from Lizzie who owns the Chateau Dumas.  Coming to France for the (4th? 5th?) multiple time, I find their original use and gaze in wonder.

The day of the St Antonin Market I decide to head off and do a little exploring around the edges of town, in particular, the graveyard.  Every time we've been here, I've meant to stroll through the graveyard and stare at the headstones, read the reasons for leaving this earth, and pull in a general feeling for the people that have left this beautiful town.  My biggest discovery was the beaded flowers.  There they were... all these intricate bits and pieces:  the leaves, the flowers, the words, all beaded by hand and laid to rest with the people below.  I was blown away.  I had no idea these bits of beauty were originally constructed for the dearly departed.

Some are in complete tatters, while others still shine in the sunlight like new.

I've always been fascinated with graveyards and walked around this one for quite awhile until I came upon a mausoleum that was almost completely grown over with vines.  No, that doesn't stop me ...  I pushed aside the vines and held my breath just a bit and peered in with my camera...

I got closer and closer...

and was in total awe at the beauty of it and the seeming tragedy of this person being left behind...

an incredible memorial, forgotten.
Until I got there.