Soar-Dream-France

A Last Day Magical Moment

 

On my last day on Columbus Street as I'd emptied out everything except the piano, one of my neighbors said he knew someone who would want it. He mentioned Doreen Ketchens. He plays drums for her. I told him I was a huge fan of hers, but the piano was a wreck. Many of the keys sounded like crashing plywood on concrete and the sound board was cracked. Of course, our "Violette" had quite a history and story all her own since she'd been my childhood piano. Some day, I'll share more of our story. 

 

 

 

Even so, Bootsie got Doreen on the phone and handed it off to me.

I told her who I was and that I was a huge fan. I told her about the piano and was honest.

I added: "As much as I would love knowing that my childhood piano was living with you, I can't in good conscience recommend it...

...I know what kind of shape it has been in ever since it sat in water after Hurricane Karina!"

 

 

She appreciated my honesty, and basically said that her husband had admonished her about taking it since she already had one that was in the same shape. We giggled a bit and I knew this was going to be one of the highlights of this trip.

I have this favorite photo above that I scooped when Doreen and the band were on the corner of Royal and St. Peter playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow!"

I'd stopped to listen.

 

 

I cried. I left my tip. And then, I wandered through Jackson Square over to the Napoleon House where I was meeting a friend from graduate school. When I got home later that day and saw that top shot of her...it was better than anything I could have hoped for.

 

 

What a story of "stuff!" There are so many from this trip that are laden with so much meaning that I may share them with you over time.

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Wouldn't it be Wonderful if...?

 

I have often asked the question above out-loud over the years. Just feel free to fill in the blank with your own "wonderful!" The interesting thing about this is that my "wonderful" often happens. Big things or small things, it doesn't really matter. When I was getting ready to buy the barn back in 2010, I said "wouldn't it be wonderful if the dollar was stronger when I go to pay for the barn?" It was. That's a pretty large thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently, I said: "wouldn't it be wonderful if all of my roses on the stem all bloomed at once?"

I'd already resigned myself to that not happening. It seemed impossible to me for lots of reasons.

But yesterday, voila! There they were!

Off to Larnagol on the bus this morning. It should be a nice day.

 

 

I'll visit with Jane at the epicerie and it's a first chance to see Anna's and Sid's cafe across the way. Of course, there will be photos!

 

Happy Friday!

 

Processing Through

 

It was Downtown Super Sunday in New Orleans.

Even though I usually catch the Downtown Mardi Gras Indians at Bayou St. John before they really get rolling; I knew that they would be passing by my corner of Broad and Columbus Street too. 

 

 

It was also the last day of the three days of what I've come to call: The Great Columbus Street Give Away! I'd planned to park myself on Columbus Street for those three days. People would know I was there and they could stop by to visit, or come by and grab a few treasures.

 

 

 

 

As a strategy, it worked well. I could keep working at my own pace, stop when people came, or just stop when I'd had enough and needed a little break.

I knew I had a lot of stuff, but really hadn't counted on quite so much paper! 

 

 

 

 

 

As busy as I was, there was very little time to think and feel anything other than whatever was right in front of my face.

 

 

 

 

This particular day, I took a break and wandered out into the backyard with my iced tea, cookies and book and just hung out. It felt good to stop. It felt good to enjoy the brand spanking new paint job on the house and it even felt good as all the memories washed over me.

I had a solitary orchid flower blooming.

 

 

 

Other flowers were beginning. The paint job was perfect and just a bit enticing.

I kept thinking how beautiful we looked, and had a moment of maybe I should just continue to split my time and go back and forth between Columbus Street and Cadrieu. I surprised myself. But, I also realized that it was part of the process I had to go through after the 42 years of "us!" 

I heard the police sirens, drums, and music, and knew the parade wasn't to far away.

 

 

 

I went in to put my stuff down and wander the half a block down to Broad Street to watch a bit and come back home to "continue!" 

Little did I know that when I opened the door, Dorian would be almost to my porch to visit.

His arrival changed the course of that day.

So much stuff. So many stories. So many memories, and so many wonderful shared experiences.

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Beginnings

 

 

Many have suggested that I set up a camera and take a shot of the same spot at the same time every day for a year.

This is way more than I'm interested in doing and/or committing to doing. Talk about rigid routine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I confess though, that I do think about it most mornings.

 

Those are the mornings when I have been through what feels like a dozen different views in moments! 

The changes in such a short period of time in just this one spot are astounding.

 

 

 

I think you can see what I mean.

 

Happy Monday!

 

Happy Together!

 

Today, I'm basically home two full weeks. I'm loving that I got back in time to rescue my roses from the jungle on the terrace and catch beginning buds everywhere.

Now, we have actual blooms in the front and one bud on the terrace about to bloom.

 

 

My cutting back, pruning, tending, and watering have paid off. 

 

There are times when I feel like the roses are an almost year long affair.

At least, I feel them with me all year long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking more at some point.

 

 

I seem to know what to do with them and they are happy here.

That means I am happy too!

It's hard NOT to be happy here!

Once I have plans firmed up for the addition, I'll see about roses over that way too.

 

What do you think? Too Many Roses?

Happy Sunday!

 

An Orchid Girl?

 

Orchids are not a flower that I often ponder.

Interestingly, my friend Gary gave me an orchid when he came for a visit early on in my time on Columbus Street.

His only instructions were: "Give it to someone you love when you leave!"

Little did I know I was going to have to guard it with my life as it sat upon the piano...

 

...everyone wanted it.

 

 

 

It went to live with Eric and Steward on Dupre Street.

 

 

 

Then, there is a friend near here who is very much into local orchids. The photos Maggie posts are beautiful.

Most of them are wild and way more varieties than I knew existed.

Yesterday when I was out cutting almost thigh high grass in the big yard, I saw whisps of color up closer to the point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low and behold, it appeared I had a variety of wild orchids growing at the point in my yard.

Later, camera in hand, I scooped some shots of these "Pyramid Orchids!"

 

 

I googled them and returned to some of Maggie's posts.

There was no doubt that I had Pyramid Orchids growing in my yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently, they need to have a certain kind of mineral in the soil to bloom...

 

 

 

...AND the butterflies love them too!

I'm beginning to think I was lucky NOT to have cut the jungle grass out there yet, or I may have just roared straight over them!

I cut a couple and then decided to see if I could pull them out by the roots.

Thinking about the soil issue, I'm going to go out later on and see if I can dig a couple up and put them into a pot with their own soil and see what happens!

You never know!

 

 

Actually, I think the solitary guy I posted in the wood on the banner a while back was one too! I shall keep you posted!

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Fresh Looks

 

Although I've made many returns from the states to here, this one is different. I am different. I feel as if everything is new, exciting and a challenge that can be met.

It may be something I learned in my six weeks stateside: do what you can do, if it doesn't work, find something that does, but above all just keep moving. I manage to NOT feel the crippling feelings of being overwhelmed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the terrace, I had seen the lavender iris peeking out from the corner of the dungeon door! After looking at them a million times; I decided to walk up and take some photos.

 

 

I hadn't really wandered up that way since I'd been home.

 

 

Rounding the corner of the turn from Route de la Vallee to Rue du Chateau, the neighbors had a patch of iris and some very pretty white flowering ground cover. As I got closer to the iris, I could see that I may have waited a tad too long.

They were still beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always enjoy this walk.

 

 

It provides a nice view of the Chatette, the barn, the lavoir and the land.

The village had cut the grass on the land that is now theirs and in a few other spots.

They had been busy.

 

 

I discovered a pruned, weeded and cleared reservoir too.

 

 

All nice surprises.

 

 

New views for my new perspective!

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

It's Not a Race

 

There were so many things I had to get done during the stateside time I had on this trip. The house was not the only thing. As I tried to organize and be sure I could get everything done I needed to do, I was reminded that this was not the way I wanted to live my life. This wasn't news. I've known it for a long time. While most of the stateside time I had blinders on so I could keep moving forward and do it all; I realized that many of my friends live this way all the time...scheduling days, squeezing and contorting to get as much done as possible within the time available.

As I watched, I remembered the race all over again. It was a big day when I realized I was racing against myself. I began to make changes. I think they've stuck.

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

 

 

Mother's Day, VE Day, and Living Life

 

This will always be a favorite shot of me and my Mom. Here we are out together playing in the rocks at Nannie and Papa's place out in House Springs. I loved that place. There's not a doubt in my mind that this was the beginning of my "rock girl" self! For some reason, I always felt safe and happy in that place.

Is it any wonder that today, I am living surrounded by stone?

A week into this "new book;" I am realizing that living into this life is most important. Sounds easy, huh? It should be, but it's not.

 

 

I've been sleeping later in these mornings. The bird surround sound and bells are still my gentle whisper that the day has begun.

Even Lola, is sleeping by the window or on our big chair later than usual. Just looking at her fills me with so much love. 

I knew it was Mother's Day and VE Day when I woke.

There's also been so much talk on the news of Putin pushing harder in Ukraine, to be able to declare victory on this date as Russia did in 1945.

The world is watching, often in horror at the comparisons. 

 

 

 

Interestingly, the book I was reading and enjoyed finishing, None Stood Taller-The Final Year: One of the greatest love stories of World War Two, By Peter Turnham, climaxed on just this day in 1945.

While I've always been interested in the resistance, living here has brought those times and those stories even closer.

I have ravenously read many books about WWII, the Resistance, the SOE, the pillaged art, Ravensbruck and other camps, and so much more.

This morning, it carried me to Mom and Dad.

Mom would have been 14 and Dad 15.

They hadn't even met yet.

 

 

 

Both had older brothers that were in the military and served during WWII. Eventually, Dad joined the Air Force, Mom went over to the UK to marry Dad in '53, and I was born there in '54.

 

Reading this book and feeling those times, carried me there and back through history to today. I confess, to having past life feelings for this time period in history, long before I began reading in depth. I've often thought it was just listening to the stories Mom and Dad and other family members shared over the years. But then again, how serendipitous was this morning? 

 

 

This is where the living into your life and paying attention becomes important. It's the richness of life that comes to you when you have the luxury of being able to live into it and enjoy more (or at all) because you are paying attention.

 

Happy Mother's Day, Victory in Europe Day, AND Happy Sunday!

 

Sometimes You Have To Be There

 

As soon as I arrived on Columbus Street on the night of March 15, I hit the ground running. On top of the house, I had many other chores, tasks, errands, and other what-evers to complete. It was overwhelming, to say the least. Even so, in the few quiet, alone moments there was time for reflections, epiphanies, and tears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading from the sofa one day during a "stuff break," I burst into tears in a sad part of my novel. I chided myself, and questioned what was I really crying about? I screamed to no one, maybe just between me and my house: "this  place holds 42 years of my life!" That's a long time, especially by today's standards.

 

 

Then, I got a call from an old friend who lives in Colorado now. We'd worked together at the Sheriff's Office and remained close, even though we don't see much of each other and mostly do birthday cards these days.

She told me that she was sad too.

It wasn't till we spoke, that I realized there were so many others who had experienced "us!"

I remembered how she used to tease me that her husband loved coming to parties at my house because: "it was like a different Fellini movie every time!" 

 

We hosted so much on Columbus Street.

There were: parties, dinners, coffees, brunches, lunches, Jazz Fests, Mardi Gras, funerals for friends, workshops, and on and on. 

The richness of our life together can't be denied or forgotten.

As one of my friends texted recently, it will always be "Laury's House" whenever I drive by.

And remember, Columbus Street gave me the Chatette and Cadrieu!

 

 

As if you can't tell, places are important to me. I believe they live and breathe and we have a relationship and a flow together.

 

 

 

They speak to me.

Happy Saturday!