Soar-Dream-France

What Price Heaven?

 

There are so many things about this place that are heaven for me. I want to say that it is "heaven," and that would be true! BUT, not to the point of denying what it takes for a single woman to take care of all that is here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Heaven" needs tending, insurance, repairs, and upkeep. Of course, lots of those items roll into euros and centimes/dollars and cents!

 

Can you put a price on heaven?

 

You see, there is a timeless, boundaryless, romantic, and historical state of being here in this very spot that I have not been able to find or feel  anywhere else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or, maybe it's just that when I came here I was ready to find my heaven on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, with tumbling roofs and savage gardens on two continents;  I can still stand back and say: THIS is heaven on earth!

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

Change

 

I took this shot on a first trip to visit Tour de Faure back in the late 90's. It was one of those shots that made me know I was in France and feel so "French!"

Interestingly, I found myself often going back to look at this door with such fond memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, I stumbled on a photo of the same door that I took on a ore recent visit to Tour de Faure. All I kept thinking was how much things change.

I'm glad I have all of my wonderful memories.

 

The message in the door!

Happy Wednesday!

 

Routing the Rut

 

In these days of dangling and unknowns, a person can go along with it for just so long before you reach a point where you have to do something. I often ask myself what I can do to feel different? What gives me joy? What do I love? Lately, I've already gone through the answers and done them all so I am now at my activity of last resort...moving furniture.

Back in my crazy working 60 hours a week days, I often rearranged my house to feel better when I couldn't rearrange my life.

 

I have my list. I'd begun in the kitchen, but I spend most of my time here at the table or over on the sofa near the fireplace poele. I'd moved my round wooden table at Christmas to soak up the lights I'd hung and to put the Christmas Tree in its place. This year, the tree has its permanent place and I've left the lights up all year for when I needed a special jolt of happy. We are ready. 

I often find myself missing some of the feelings of the early days of here. That was it! I would move the table back to where it has rested since I bought the Chatette back in 2002. 

 

 

The table is back where it belongs. I am plugging back in to feelings that carry, focus, and nurture me. I am moving forward!

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

St. Cirq Lapopie Whispered

 

So many places hold a special spot in my heart here in the Lot, but none more special than St. Cirq Lapopie. It is where I found my photographer self and my very soul in 1996, and it carried me over the years to Cadrieu.

 

 

We never know what's on our road(s). 

 

This life of mine often looks very romantic, charming, magic, and like a fairy tale to others. Lots of people like to tell me that I'm living my dream, but I tell them I believe that it is my destiny. Others have said: "You have a house in France, you must be rich!" To that I say: I am not rich in dollars and cents, but in experiences and gratefulness. I tease that I live in a painting and my life is a movie. It's very true, even if the movie is sometimes a disaster film!

 

 

 

 

 

To be honest, none of this was on my radar.

If I were to offer people one piece of advice, it would be: if there is something you wish for or want badly, put yourself in a position to be as close as possible to your intention. I did not intentionally choose here, but it started in Paris and carried me along.

 

At every opportunity that presented itself along the way, I said "why not," and kept moving forward.

 

My dreams were of a house on the beach at Santa Rosa Island National Seashore and an apartment in Paris.

Little did I know, that I was destined to find my heart and meant to be in a tiny village-Cadrieu, France. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were a lot of steps on this road.

 

 

I often thank Wendy for her invitation to Tour de Faure. Today, I say a huge merci to St. Cirq Lapopie and her whisper in my ear that turned into a scream I couldn't ignore.

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Double Decades

 

As Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans on the exact same day as Hurricane Katrina had hit sixteen years ago; I found myself looking back, but looking beyond Katrina. Using those 16 years as a base, I found myself looking back and looking forward. Most interesting to me was the perspective that I have now that I am 16 years older and we are still living reduced lives from the ongoing, debilitating pandemic.

First, I realized that I have been journaling daily (mostly) for 24 years.

 

 

Next year, I will have been journaling for 25 years, AND will have owned the Chatette for 20 years. 

 

Often, I would write about my life in 10 year chunks. I remember writing about different themes to my life for the 70's, 80's, and so on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My serious journaling started during 1997. Today, I am on journal number 121.

 

 

I often wish I had been journaling during those earlier years, but mostly I am grateful that I have for the of now almost 25.

 

 

I realized that when I was younger, it felt right to chunk my life in decades and could easily put theme to them looking back or even journaling when I was living them.

 

Now, I find I'm chunking 20 years together. I confess, they feel like they are going by much faster.

Maybe it's because of the clear distinction of life in Cadrieu and life in New Orleans.

Maybe it's all the friends that have been passing away way too regularly.

Then, there are those who are facing debilitating illness.

There's also the fact that the pandemic has changed concept and flow of time in our lives.

 

I also wonder if I even have 20 more years?

 

Chunks of 20 years still feel right to me. I shall continue on as I am and just keep paying attention...only time will tell!

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

*Photos here are from the archives with St. Therese of Lisieux taken of an antique post card!

Honoring a Heavenly Birthday

 

Today, I'm feeling my Daddy and honoring him on his 91st birthday. It's his second heavenly birthday, and I know that the 4 of us siblings all remember, honor and celebrate him in our own ways.

While the shot above is not one of my favorites of Dad, I love it because he loved that Mardi Gras jester hat and was having so much fun wearing it. It's one that I actually took of him.

I have a tendency to share the "young and handsome" shots of Dad.

 

 

But, this is the way I always remember him...still always handsome and smiling. Of all the later photos, this shot that my sister Kat took, is my favorite. I keep it on my refrigerator so he is smiling at me every morning and I say: Hey; Hello; or Good Morning to Dad every morning. And, always I love you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If he were here with me today, he would have loved having a chocolatine with me and maybe a little coffee.

 

 

I looked around for a candle this morning just to make it perfect, but have no idea where I've put them. So instead, I lit candles all around the Chatette and enjoyed a Happy Birthday petit dejeuner with Dad. I also decided to put on a pretty dress for the day too!

I'm sure a little later, I'll play Moon River for him and maybe a little Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup or When I Fall in Love.

 

Nat King Cole was his and Mom's favorite. They saw him together in person in London. I'll never forget as long as I live, sitting with the two of them while Mom was in hospice and watching him hold her hand and sing Nature Boy. Yes, I am blubbering now.

 

 

So Daddy, Joyeux Anniversaire from France. I Love you.

I know you and Mom are just beyond the moon keeping an eye on all of us. We love you.

 

Happy Birthday in Heaven!

 

Water Water Everywhere!

 

Not long ago, I shared the channel and canal that run from the lavoir under ground below the train tracks, my property, and the road...to carry the flow to the Lot River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These shots look very different with water!

 

 

I would guess that these older ones will make a little more sense when you see the channel, canal, and the river with rushing water.

In fact, the canal to the river is overtopping at the moment.

 

 

It was difficult not to remember the flood last year.

 

 

 

Then, the Lot River itself breached its banks and came all the way up to the wall.

It made me think about all the various sources of the water for us here.

I've often joked, who needs "water treatments" when you have a lavoir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, it seems water events are everywhere!

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Figgie Fun!

 

For the last few years, my friends Eddy and Helen have gotten in touch to tell me that their figs were ripe and I could help myself.

That's when the jam making began. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That first year I had a recipe that called for vanilla, and it was fine. Last year, I got carried away with the vanilla.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But this year, it seems just right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No vanilla this year, but a few dashes of lemon juice.

 

 

It's very pretty and a very different consistency than the last two years, but it tastes just as good if not better.

As you can see, I've been enjoying it on a fresh croissant with my coffee.

These are definitely some of the treats of here.

Both yesterday and today, I was also able to get a couple of chores done. My friends live close to the poubelle and the bottle bin.

Yesterday was garbage and recyclables and this morning was bottles. They are very particular about what kind of "glass" they want in the bottle bin.

They have a new one now with a tinier hole that makes it difficult to throw in much more than jars and wine bottles.

 

 

I was particularly pleased to see that they clearly state DO NOT throw stuff around the side of the bin if it's full! 

The bottle bin used to be all by itself down by the bus stop on the main road. You can imagine what it looked like on the main road.

 

 

During summer season it was always full and overflowing. it's spot now beside the other bins works much better.

I don't need more figs for the moment, but it might be time for another bike ride bottle deposit before the day is over.

 

Happy Bottle Binning Tuesday!

 

Meaningful Mornings

 

Sitting here at my spot on a Sunday morning, I can see the butterflies on the buddleia just out the door and the robins and other birds wander around in the rose garden. Everything is so nicely framed by my big, double-glazed, back terrace door. At night, I pull the wooden shutter door shut and that way I don't have to lock up.

Some mornings, I leave the shutter closed and open the double glazed glass door so that Lola can "pretend" she's outside when that outside air wafts in under the crack at the bottom of the door. No, she doesn't go out. The crack is enough for her to enjoy, but not enough to escape. 

 

 

I headed out on my bike yesterday morning, only for it to begin raining halfway to Montbrun. I know I'm not going to melt, and am happy to ride through the morning mist, but this was definitely drops.

I turned around and felt a little cheated.

This morning I thought I'd make a quick trip into Cajarc for a few essentials. Now that I'm riding more, a "run" into Cajarc feels even easier!

I left at 8:30 and wondered if I could make it back by 9:30?

Early is always better for me because of the cool, less people, and much more energy.

 

 

I was very quick with the Petit Casino essentials and then had to have a few goodies from Besse's. 

I'd thought about going to see my "Merci Lady" at St. Etienne, but really wanted to get back.

It wasn't a race, but I wanted to spend some quality time with her and thought a separate visit might be best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was crossing the first set of train tracks at the first train house, I could see the morning mist had settled into the valley and over the treetops as some beautiful, soft, fuzzy, animal of your choice. It always makes me want to reach out and touch it with my hands, or pretend that I am wrapped in its soft morning sweetness.

 

 

 

Then, there was a break in the trees, way before my usual stair step stopping place on this part of the road.

I passed it up and almost kept going.

But instead, I stopped, leaned my bike against the road wall, and walked back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't resist capturing a few photos.

 

 

Another gorgeous morning in the Lot. What a way to start any day!

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Patience is a Virtue

 

With a second day of heavy rainstorms and continuing spotty internet, my patience with writing anything of great length is tested again. So, today, I'm re-directing my impatience and focusing on my beautiful rain-kissed, aromatic roses! 

 

 

Yesterday's exploits at the Resurgence will have to be saved for another time.

 

Happy Friday