Soar-Dream-France

A Landing of a Different Kind

Landing in Cahors after a stateside trip usually means shooting into the Gare at high speed, jumping off the train, and running to my bus or rides home that may be with Jean, or Evelyn or sometimes both. Tuesday night was different. Just outside of Limoges, we discovered that there was a problem on the tracks somewhere between Brive and Toulouse and everyone would be de-training at Brive to be transferred to buses. SNCF provided a "direct" bus to Toulouse with the rest of us on the "milk run".

Our milk run stopped in Soulliac, Gourdon, Cahors, Caussade and Montauban. Fortunately, I didn't have to go all the way on the bus. I arrived in Cahors, a little more than an hour later than planned, but exhausted all the same. I'd been able to let Evelyn know what was up-so she didn't have to wait for me quite as long. Home by the hardest once more, but happy to be back in our heavenly place!

Lunching in the Sculpture Garden

It doesn't seem to matter one bit how much my life has changed, I continue to be a creature of habit. My friend Barbara and I began having lunch in the Sculpture Garden in City Park on my visits. I love it. We continued the tradition yesterday when she came over from work to meet me there. We've been able to squeeze in a little more time than usual, so it's been fun for me. We found someone to take our picture and ran into our friend Pam who is a Director for all Seasons. We laughed together as she came around the corner with the blower! One of the wonderful things about living in New Orleans is that you are always running into people you know. And maybe the next most wonderful thing is all the hugs and kisses that follow! It's a treat!

Friend Festing

Jazz Fest has lots of draws for me. I could tell you about all the great music I heard. I could tell you about all the great food I ate. I could tell you about all the great crafts I saw. But at the end of the day, to a Neville Brothers background...it wasn't about any of those things. It was a full day of festing, fun and friendship with my friend Carol. Now, back to work!

Along the Road Home From the Count

 

Walking down the road home from the count of the vote last night, I was pleased I went. Voting is important no matter what country you live in. When I arrived, Christiane was standing by the locked box holding Cadrieu's votes in blue envelopes. Once everyone arrived who was there for the "Contrôle", the box was unlocked and the sealed blue envelopes were passed to the end of the line at the table.

With a line of four, one opens the envelopes, the next pulls out and unfolds the ballots, the third reviews the opened vote, and hands it to the fourth-our Mayor-she then announces outloud who the vote was for. The votes are recorded by two separate people, adding even further to the system of checks and balances. I sat through every ballot announced. For a small village like ours, a turnout of 122 in an approximate population of 150 is excellent. In the end, the two candidates with the most votes were incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy and challenger François Hollande. In fact, each had the same number of votes. The Lot Department went for Hollande, with the rest of France voting 30.41% Sarkozy, 22.75% Hollande, and LePen coming in with 20.71%. Sarkozy and Hollande will be in the run off on Sunday, May 6.

I'm going to miss that May 6 vote. I'll be back in New Orleans dancing to the Neville Brothers at the Jazz and Heritage Festival. It will be interesting to see who will be the President of France upon my return!

April Showers Bring...

Bemoaning the rain together on the phone with one of my British friends, we agreed that since these April showers bring May flowers we won't complain. But then I went on to add in that other little ditty we sometimes say in the states: "And, what do Mayflowers bring?" It was reflex action. I should have caught myself. Mayflowers...Pilgrims...American Independence...But, it was too late. She's a good sport though so we had a good laugh and went on. Happy Weekend! And...it's still raining!

Return to a Beautiful Pebble in Dégagnac

Having had a wonderful lunch on this terrace with Clare at Beaucaillou, Evelyn and I continued to enjoy the sunshine and good conversation with our fellow-American well into the late afternoon. Clare's beautiful pebble is available to rent this summer, and could be the perfect spot for you. She's listed on the site below, with numerous interior photos that showcase this incredible renovation:

 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p956890

What better spot to enjoy a lazy, sunshiny afternoon with a bottle of Cahors, a warm, crusty baguette, fruit of your choice and some wonderfully, runny aromatic goat's cheese! I can see you sopping that cheese up with your bread already. Don't wait! Check out Clare's site and come to the Lot!

 

 

 

Farm Equipment Heaven

Checking in with Evelyn on Sunday morning about our walk, she asked: "Did you leave a big piece of wood in front of the barn when you finished working yesterday?" I hadn't, so I wandered out and saw about a foot of it extending toward the train tracks and knew immediately...Willie had brought the 18th Century Plow (Charrue) over that he had promised me. He'd placed her gently in front of the door to the barn, resting her on a piece of iron on the side to hold her up and balance her. I'd seen her once before up at his place. But upon closer inspection, she is very delicate with a sleek wooden design that holds the iron plowing piece. She's a beauty...gently carved and artistic. We seem to be building an ancient farm equipment collection over here...a heaven and a haven for all.

LALBENQUE-Shortcut to Truffles

Until Tuesday, Lalbenque was only known to me as the direction you head for a shortcut through the countryside to reach the A-20 to Toulouse. Little did I know that it is the capital of the Marche aux Truffes, where people come from all over France to purchase this mushroom-like black gold. Before moving here with Dali, I used to tease about her running through the woods in her beret, finding truffles with that big nose of hers that would support our life in France. (Of course, it didn't happen quite that way.) Tuesday was the first time I actually saw a truffle in the flesh. Evelyn had mentioned last week that she wanted to go, so I asked if I could tag along. She knows way more about all of this than I do. She shares a lot of the details, information, and photos over at: www.melangedmagic.blogspot.com

For me, it was about an afternoon with a friend, impressions, people, and loving this life in the French countryside. We drove over way in advance of the 2:30 sharp start time, arriving around 1pm. We'd been warned that it could all be over in  a flash. Many of the sellers were already set up, hoping to get a primo spot. After a few shots, Evelyn and I took to the café on the sunny side of the street. In between a couple of bierre pressions and a plate of frites with mayo and Heinz, (that stayed remarkably hot till they disappeared), one of us would "hold down the fort" while the other wandered off to take a few more shots as the market filled up. We were out in time for the rope to drop at 2:30 on the dot.

I was struck by the diversity of sellers, buyers, and between sellers and buyers. There was a reverence in the folded hands that hung above the truffle baskets with their mostly red-checked clothes. Discreet photos of people and pets were not always easy, but fun to try no matter what. And so, I leave you with two shots that scream what I've come to love about this life in the Lot.

St. Etienne High Noon-Cajarc

 

High noon Ash Wednesday, found Evelyn and I in one of our favorite spots doing one of our favorite things...lighting candles. Once again, the light and time of day offered new views and draws to corners of St. Etienne that I had never discovered before. The light came streaming in through this stain glass name sake, painting chairs and stone alike...a special treasure to start the Lenten Season.

Holiday Hotel Room Decorations

Seasoning up for myself in my room, I had a head start when my predecessor left this sweet, earmuffed, scarved and mittened Christmas Bear for me to say have a good stay. I'd already brought Msr. Mouse with me from home, so the two of them have gotten quite cozy. Since I made sure to enjoy my own tree at the Chatette before I left, I feel less need for a tree here. But decorations-especially lights are a must for me. On a tour on Friday, my colleague and I noticed the class and subtlety of the Dutch decorations. I decided to shoot for the same, and rejoiced when I found these beautiful dangling stars of white light at LIDLs. I've hung them on my door, but am now thinking I may need another box to set off the blue curtains on the other side. I'm already planning a pit-stop at LIDLs on my way home this evening.