Soar-Dream-France

From the Other Side

 

Another rainy Sunday, when all I really want to do is sit beside the fire, enjoy our Christmas tree and other decorations, and read or watch Hallmark movies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not like there aren't things I could be doing. I just don't feel like it!

Besides, it's Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like to make myself something nice for dinner and enjoy some of my regularly scheduled calls with friends and family.

 

 

 

Bringing wood in yesterday, this scene through the door close to dark as I was getting ready to close up, made me return with my phone.

It was the gold that really grabbed me.

But then there was the realization that I'm usually on the other side of this photo looking out.

It was fun to see the "looking in" version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find myself thinking a lot about sides, views, perspectives, and just different ways of looking at things these days.

 

It helps me to find visuals in my everyday life that encourage those ponderings, like this did.

 

 

I guess being more on my own and talking to Lola, lends itself to more thoughtfulness and mindfulness. 

I am enjoying the MORE of those things that seem to appear during periods of solitude. 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Missing My Old Friend Cahors

 

A Saturday in Cahors was a regular occurrence for me pre-pandemic.

It's Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between the time when these photos were taken back in April (almost Easter) to the December of today, there have been NO Saturday trips to Cahors.

 

 

And, no trips on any other days of the week.

 

Although my trips to Cahors had been severely reduced due to the change in bus companies and bus schedules; I would still go in from time to time when: there were things I loved that I could only get there; I had friends to meet; I was catching the train from there; or, I just wanted to wander around town and take photos.

The new bus schedule meant very quick shots, or long, leisurely days of shopping, eating, visiting with old friends, and taking photos.

 

 

 

Now with the pandemic, I only go if I absolutely must. My only must so far this year was to finalize my Carte de Sejour. Now, that was important.

 

I grieve Cahors today.

The market is today and Wednesdays.

Both, were days that I'd enjoy my bus ride in and my bus ride home and all the time in between.

I miss Cahors, like I would miss an old friend. 

I believe that should our lives become more our own again, Cahors and I will be like old friends.

We will be able to easily pick up where we left off.

 

 

It's yet to be seen if our lives are going to become more our own again. Until then, if and when it happens; life in Cadrieu goes on in a way that nurtures me and makes me happy. I am hoping to be looking forward to a when and not an if!

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Living in Interesting Times

 

Even though I think I've done an amazing job of putting lots of pieces of joy together to keep me as positive as possible in these crazy times, negativity still sneaks in and positivity escapes me!

Sometimes, I just want to scream "enough, already!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been asking myself lately, how many more things can I just set aside and think about another time.

Honestly, there are too many to count.

 

 

 

But, they are also things that I can't do anything about at the moment, or they are just completely out of my control.

The latest freak was hearing about the new entry restrictions for international travelers who are returning to the states, regardless or vaccination status and citizenship.

The wheels kicked in and I began to think how I can get a covid test within 24 hours from departure leaving from here? 

That bridge too, will be crossed!

 

Annie and Scarlet have nothing on me: Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and...tomorrow is another day-Ha!

 

 

So, I enjoy: the morning sunrises out my front windows; the latest bunch of beautiful French stamps that I ordered and have arrived: my daily advent foie gras calendar treats; cooking; decorating for the holidays; and, of  course...hugging on my Lola.

 

 

It will come.

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

Holiday Fun, Spirits and Thoughts

 

December 1, 2021 has finally arrived, and that means it's time to start the Advent Calendar event and surprises.

This is the first year that I've actually bought an advent calendar for myself.

This year's gifts ran the gamut: Bonne Maman jams; hot sauces; popcorn; ice cream; and foie gras! I began my own foie gras calendar this morning. 

It worked out perfect for my first day. My goodie was a chocolate and was perfect with my coffee on a rainy, chilly morning! 

 

 

I realized that these were the same chocolates I'd bought last year.

They come wrapped pretty and have a trivia question on the inside.

Last year's were Christmas trivia-these were animals this morning.

They challenge my French!

 

 

 

 

All this fun got me in the mood to do some more Christmas decorating. I still had Christmas stuff to hang on the tree. I wanted to decide what to do with my ribboned-up cookie tins, and where to go with the nativity scene this year since the geraniums took over its spot on the evier! We're getting there! Don't worry, I'll be pondering penguin placement soon!

 

 

Now, I'm looking forward to what surprise awaits me under door #2-December 2! It seems to me every day needs a sweet surprise to get us started, especially during these uncertain, everchanging times. It's time for a little "joy" surprise each day. I'm going to ponder this one!

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Show Yourself

 

As I have been wandering around the Chatette these last few days, a lot of my focus has been on making us "more" beautiful for the holidays. I've been very hard on myself because I have stuff everywhere that needs a place that I just don't have right now. (That's a story for another time!)

 

 

 

Because I'm a planner and a forward thinker, it isn't easy for me to go with the flow and respond in the moment. If I'm not thinking hard on something and following my pre-conceived plan, I am often uncomfortable.

Those old shoulds are just swirling around in my head to the point where they can be immobilizing. Inertia sets in.

I like pretty.

I like meaningful.

I like neat and uncluttered, but that just doesn't seem to be in my immediate future. So, I'm going with what I've got.

 

 

 

Each of my "feeling into the projects," moments have brought grand rewards.

I love the way my now "inside" window boxes of geraniums have made us more beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the way the antique school desk has been transformed into: a geranium resting place; a spot for Lola to eat her crunchies;

 

 

 

 

a spot to showcase my brother Jim's artwork;

 

 

and, how my photo holder from Evelyn holds many family memories and moments that showcase nicely against the stone.

 

 

When I came during 2006 to clear my head and make big decisions after Hurricane Katrina, I was very clear that I wanted to immerse myself in this place and the people.

No one of us does it quite the same.

I was very clear that I was not recreating New Orleans or the states here.

I was also very clear that I wanted to pay attention to what worked and didn't work in the village.

 

 

I tried to show myself by the things I did, said, and offered.

What I realize regularly is that participation is the most important and it is often the deeds that matter most. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think it's all worked pretty well for me.

Hopefully, I'm getting even better at it these days!

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Feeling Home

 

With a fire in the fireplace, smoke from the Chatette chimney, and Lola beside the fire; I am very much feeling home as we ease into the holiday season with Thanksgiving this week.

Lots of special goodies from Thiriet have been ordered and arrived for me and others. I'm pondering exactly what I'm going to do decoration-wise for Christmas this year. I bought so much last year, that there weren't a lot of purchases for this season, just some pretty spools of ribbon and another few strands of lights. 

 

 

 

It's funny how it happens.

It may be when I'm sitting on the edge of my bed on a new morning, or when I'm upstairs reading from under a cozy  comforter with Lola in my lap; I feel these overwhelming feelings of joy, comfort, and gratefulness.

All the signs are there as long as I pay attention.

 

 

 

 

Recently, those feelings rise when I'm dealing with the fireplace. 

 

 

 

It seems to be early in the morning or late in the evening. I've finished stoking us up for the night or having re-arranged again to begin a new day.

 

After both, I sit on the arm of the sofa and just look at the fire. The other day, I found myself remembering how much I love the winter here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fire brings me the peace, comfort and a slowing down to life that feels comfortable and nurturing.

Lola and I have taken to sitting beside the fire on the sofa together again too.

Ah, the sweet magic and comfort of just this place.

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Happy International Overalls Weekend 2021

 

This year, I've been a tardy girl for International Overalls Weekend.

To be honest, I'm always confused over whether it is the weekend before or after Thanksgiving.

I should know better by now! 

 

 

That opening photo says it all!

It was overalls, wood back in the meter long log days of 2009, cold November, and did an Irish Coffee and Cookies Overalls party here at the Chatette.

It was certainly memorable for me.

 

I found out how much other friends enjoyed it when we were having lunch after the village clean-up!

I do have some great photos and found myself wondering if I could pull another one off.

Maybe next year or the year after...

 

...for now, we're all doing a lot of living on memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's hoping you'll enjoy some of mine to celebrate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy International Overall Weekend!

 

 

 

 

On the Waterfront

 

This is one of my all time favorite photos of me on the river that was taken by my friend Marina!

Seasonal life on the waterfront on the Lot changes often.

It is often the "stage" for many of the events of my daily life in the Lot. 

 

 

 

In fact, some might say that it's my front yard!

 

This is the spot that has most recently been excavated and cleaned up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is also where my full (or otherwise ) Moon River moon most often shows itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It may be: watching trees uproot as the bank erodes; noticing the difference in the view between the seasons; watching the river rise and wonder if we might be going to flood; making algae art on the stones; watching the tiny fish nibble at my bare toes; floating heart-shaped crackers; and my solitary picnics of Cahors wine, cheese, baguettes, salami and a fancy pastry.

 

But then there are the memories of:

lazy days with Marina and "rockin'" on the river with our water aerobics from time to time; hanging out with Dali; and, making magic with Wendy's kids, Matthieu and Sawyer back in 2004, when we watched the "swords" floating down the river and talked about how they would always be welcome here with me!

There's nothing like hearing a tiny 3 or 4 year old girl say "It's Magic" with a French accent.

 

 

 

The stage is set. It's been vacant for quite some time, but I have a feeling that there is about to be a revival in the years ahead.

 

 

Now, that will be something that I will be looking forward to whenever it comes!

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Wood if it Could!

 

For a girl who grew up in the suburbs and had no "outdoorsy men" in her life until much later; I had a very limited relationship with wood...campfires, and it wasn't my job to start them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 was my first year using the open fireplace for heat.

 

That first year and many after, it was meter long logs.

 

Prior to that time, logs were photo opportunities.

Hiking with two guy friends from Tour de Faure to the Chemin de Halage and then back to St. Cirq Lapopie in '98, I remarked on a beautiful arrangement of stacked wood along our route.

 

 

Of course, I had to take a photo  (it now hangs with many others in our library at the Cadrieu Mairie).

 

 

My French friend turned to me and said: "I have lived here all my life, but today I see it through your eyes!" I don't think the wood would have excited him quite so much as it did me. Who'd have thought that ten years later I'd have amazing wood piles all my own. They still wow me.

 

Last year I paid the neighbor teens to hump the wood up to load it on the covered terrace and stack the rest below. My worker bees aren't around this year. Initially, it was overwhelming. Then, I reminded myself how much I love the wood and its natural beauty. I also loved the idea that my hands touched every piece of that wood. I let go. The wood sometimes speaks to me like the stone does.

As I mentioned before, it is particularly pretty this year.

 

 

Each log is often a work of art all its own. I have a trolly and a wheelbarrow. So far, I'm trollying up as many loads as I'm in the mood for each day. Whatever gets done is a success, and feels good. It's under plastic in the drive. It will be fine.

 

 

One of best parts of hauling the wood is that I have a little robin who joins me regularly. He teases me mercilessly and never quite allows me to get a good photo of him.

The other thing I love is finding interesting shapes. The other day, I found a piece that was heart-shaped on the bottom!

Just another present for me!

The sun is out. I was waiting for Pascal to give her some book marks (she's a collector and it's called a marque a page in French) and some important cards.

She was thrilled.

 

 

As I walked back into the house down the drive, my plastic was up. As I put it back down, my robin guy flew out from underneath! What a tease! With the sun out, I'm going to go trolly some more. Who knows, maybe today is the capturing my robin day!

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

One Year Anniversaries

 

With the winter holidays upon us, I've been thinking back to where I was a year ago in my quest to make the holiday season here mine and special. 

I'm realizing just how many "firsts" there were for me last year.

I ordered my special Thanksgiving and Christmas meals from Maison Thiriet, and fell in love with them and their products. I'm on a regular monthly schedule now for my special items, but still go into Cajarc for the more everyday things.

 

 

I also began ordering on-line for more than just books. From on-line: I decked us up for the holidays in fine style; christened annual Advent Calendars from Bonne Maman; ordered my gifts for friends and family stateside; discovered very special French postage stamps; and, treated myself to a beautiful piece of sheet music that blended Beethoven's Fur Elise with traditional Christmas Carols.

 

 

 

 

I made hand cut ornaments for my new modern tree that I have now turned into a tree for all seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wrote special lyrics to a chosen Christmas Carol that reflected the story of the year to be included with a note to my very special "pandemic pals" and family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I confess, I also became addicted to Hallmark Christmas movies on YouTube!

 

 

 

Lola was the biggest first for me.

 

 

She didn't come to live with me until the 15th of December.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't believe that just a year ago she hadn't yet arrived to become a huge part of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every cat I've ever had came to me as a kitten and was usually what I would call more of a "mutt" kitty.

 

 

 

Lola was already 5 years old and I've teased that she is my "swanky" girl...sometimes feeling almost too swanky for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She has always been affectionate, but our attachment just grows and grows.

 

 

I knew she had me the morning I felt her resting her head on my wrist from under the covers and then patting my cheek with her paw when it was time to get up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not exactly sure what I will or won't be doing to make this year special, but I do know I will celebrate Lola's "gotcha day" in some special way. 

 

 

She is my very special girl!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!