Soar-Dream-France

Such a Helper

 

After so many days of working outside last week, I needed to move inside and begin to focus on getting ready for Ava and Nick arriving on Wednesday "apres-midi!" Yesterday was some pondering and planning and prioritizing. Even so, I found myself wandering a bit in my day.

Today was a different story. I had a goal, but there were others in the family who had different ideas! As you can see, Lola joined me in our bed making event of the morning. Who could fault her? She was having so much fun that I did my best to work around her. She even joined in doing the windows, but all she could really do there was watch me. 

My biggest problem is finding where to go with everything. Still, I got everything done except the vacuuming. I've learned to save that for the last minute.

I always feel so good when the guest room is set and looking pretty. I got to try out an idea I had for the bedspreads that ended up working perfectly. I even continued on and got even more done than expected.

We will be ready! Can't wait to see Ava and Nick!

Happy Sunday!

Gratefulness Remnants

Once Gabriel had unearthed, de-ivied, and de-brambled us in the lower terrace; I knew I was going to have to gather myself together to open the door to the vernissage cave and look at it again. It's still difficult for me to go there since lots of things from the fire are there.

 

If you look at the above photo to your left, the door to the vernissage cave is on the right. Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I remembered it.

 

 

Somethings I thought I might want to keep and others were things I just couldn't bear to throw away (I should have had Eric here to help).

I got inside and knew exactly where to go to find what I was looking for.

I had my three statues: 2 Marys and my St. Therese of Lisieux in the living room where the fire ravaged the worst.

One Mary was NOT salvageable and you see what the other Mary and St. Therese look like. I just couldn't part with them.

 

They have been sitting in a box in the vernissage cave for the last 5 years.

 

 

I decided to bring them out and put them in the alcove for air.

I'd finally decided that I wanted to get another St. Therese.

Mom and Dad bought her for me, and I liked having one of my very own in the Chatette.

 

 

Since the fire, I learned about Sainte Barbre, who is the patron saint of the pompiers. I looked her up shortly after the fire and discovered she was also the saint of "digging!" I chuckled then and am chuckling again with all the digging and excavating that goes on around here. I believe that Sainte Therese and Sainte Barbre were keeping an eye on us and protecting us here.

 

 

So, I've decided to order another St. Therese AND this time a St. Barbre and maybe a Jean D'Arc. Mary is fine, but the other three speak to me more. We shall see. 

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Immobilized No More

 

I've been doing a lot of looking at my first 20 years of here.

The people, the parties, the discoveries, the visitors, the vernissages, and all the hard work. From 2002-2006, I was pretty much back and forth on my own.

 

I lived with no car, no television, Dal and Sam in the states, and getting around mostly on my bike, on the bus or with friends.

That worked for weeks and months at a time.

Then in 2006, Dali and Sam and I came to stay after Hurricane Katrina. Honestly, it worked then too.

A lot has changed since then.

In 2012 Dali and Sammie Cat and I returned to the states. I needed to work.

But then, Dad had also fallen the week before our return.

 

I wanted to be closer than France to be more available-or "less unavailable," as the case may be.

 

 

I quickly learned that you can't maintain your property as I had, if you were only here for a month or two during the summer each year. I had someone for general maintenance so we didn't get totally out of control. But, trust me, the lower terrace never looked like that shot above again.

 

 

 

 

 

After the fire in November of 2017, I tried to get us back to there. Housebound pretty much during the pandemic, I could have been out there working away. I tried. I never got very far.

This time around in 2022, I realized what my problem was. Every time I'd go out, I'd find another piece or memory of my life under the growth. It just made me too sad so I stopped. There was enough sad.

 

 

 

Now, I've asked the twins to work on it for me. They got that first part cleared so they could at least get up the steps to put the remnants of last seasons wood on the terrace before Ava and Nick come at the end of the month and the next wood delivery arrives in October. 

Today Gabriel is continuing with the project. I wanted to show him what it could look like and used to look like when I was here and could keep up.

I laugh at myself that I ever actually BOUGHT buddleia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a buddleia jungle and our road is buddleia alley.

I had no idea they "volunteered" everywhere with absolutely no effort on my part. I do love them and the butterflies they bring, BUT-

I used to tease that my garden was more "sauvage" than most of my friends here, but we crossed the line. We are a jungle of out of control!

 

 

 

I am guessing between the work projects with the twins and the 2023 village/department Voie Vert and Lavoir projects, we will be able to get back on track.

I hope so.

 

 

 

There's a lot to look forward to once we are cleared up out there.

 

 

 

Again-Huge Merci to Gabriel and Abigaile!

Happy Friday!

 

Fanning Inspiration and Gratification

 

Ever since I arrived back in Cadrieu in August of 2020 during the pandemic, I wanted to get out and do more with the barn.

To be honest, I just couldn't face it.

I knew there was work to be done on the inside, but it felt huger than it was.

I found that everything felt huger than it was during the pandemic, and sometimes still does.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Needless to say, Christmas 2020 passed with no lights on the barn.

 

 

 

Christmas 2021 passed with no lights on the barn.

 

I really wanted lights this year for Christmas...or sooner if I could find a way to pull it off.

2022 has been a big year, with so much to be grateful for.

 

 

 

When I arrived back from the states the last day of April, 2022; I told myself that I needed a different strategy this year.

I talked to Nadege and had my list of projects that I could offer to the twins. They got my lower terrace started for me by clearing that portion of the buddleia and carried the remnants of the wood up to the terrace. Sunday was remove the broken tiles, store, and clean the stone floor in the barn day.

 

 

Step One...the barn is on its way. 

 

 

HUGE MERCI A GABRIEL ET ABIGAIL!

 

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

The photo of the wine glass on the stone with the Chateau reflection and this last shot were taken during 2010  when we were just getting to know each other. All the rest were taken this week, as I surveyed and pondered what I wanted to do next. I shall keep you posted! I should add that I think that opening shot was left in 3D by accident when I was playing around with the Frenchie Smart Phone. Still learning!

Changes Everywhere-Your Blog Feedback/Input

 

Back when I began blogging in 2009, Dali and Sam and I had been full time French girls for almost three years. Monsieur Winkelmann had joined us and the barn was about to become part of our "WE" during 2010. I'd considered myself an almost "religious" blogger, blogging on a daily basis to the point of sticking to the same time.

During those times, it worked.

A lot changed when we went back to the states during 2012, and even more changed when only Sammie Cat and I returned in 2017.

 

 

 

Since then, friends have died, friends have moved, COVID happened, both of my parents have departed, Columbus Street sold, and many other life-changing events just kept coming. HUGE CHANGE!

In the midst of that change, I've talked about how it sometimes feels easier to "begin again" than to "continue," and the signs that this is truly a new book are everywhere. If you read me here, and/or we are friends on Facebook; you know most all the details by now.

I have loved blogging.

 

 

I still do.

 

Like everything else, my blogging is changing too. I've been looking at ways I could change or update the blog.

One of the biggest changes is that I don't blog every day and sometimes many days pass. I often feel like I want to give myself space to truly live in this life in the moment.

I struggle.

Rigid routines gave me some kind of comfort that I don't enjoy anymore. Even so, I feel guilty when I don't blog at some point during the day. (I'm working on the feeling guilty thing!)

 

I thought that I would throw the "how and what to blog" dilemma out to you. I'm going to be playing around with some ideas. In the meantime, I would love to hear from any of you who have ideas and suggestions for me. I should add, I don't blog to make money.

 

All that said, drop me a comment here or a response/message on Facebook, if you have any feedback, comments, suggestions, or burning change you'd like to tell me about.

 

I'll look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

Happy Monday-Love to all-Laury

 

"Mikey" and Me

 

Yesterday was quite a day and an event. As most of you know, I was expecting a delivery of my Smart Car d'Occasion-a "used" car in French. Patrick was his "MacGyver" self as usual, and made sure that all the t-s were crossed and i-s were dotted for me. I was shocked to hear that the sellers were actually driving "Mikey" to us here.

Patrick called at 11:30 to say that they were on their way and to begin walking up the hill to their house. Imagine my surprise, when I am heading up the road in front of the Chatette and I see a car pulling a trailer coming towards me.

 

It was Andre and Mordelle with "Mikey!" We got it sorted and Patrick came on down. We unloaded and parked Mikey (Andre and Patrick did), and then we headed up to the Larribes to "do the deal!"

Everyone was so wonderful and made everything so easy on me. After paperwork, euros, and lots of water, we were on our way to La Pause for lunch together.

 

 

 

I "invited" everyone to lunch to say a HUGE MERCI. It has taken me awhile to figure out that "invited" means, let me "treat" you to lunch, dinner, whatever. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many choices for our Plats du Jour...I had crudite, pchuli porc and frites, and 2 boules of glace-vanille et caramel.

 

 

 

 

Aperatifs are extra, but the demi pichets of rose and coffee were included. All for 14.50 euros each and such a deal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't feel left out like I sometimes do. I kept up pretty well with my French.

 

 

 

It helps when everyone is patient with me and maybe (haha) speaks a little slower than usual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andre and Mordelle had a long drive home. At least it would be a little easier with an empty trailer.

 

 

I also think Patrick may have pointed them in the direction of a quicker and easier route.

Having a meal out was a real treat. It isn't something I do very often anymore for lots of reasons. I think everyone else enjoyed it too.

I walked home from Josie and Patrick's feeling like I got so much more than "Mikey!" I'd made some new friends too.

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Lightening Up

 

I'm realizing with every day that passes, lightening up can make life and living so much easier! Sometimes, I'm the one who is loading myself down.

 

I want to stop that. 

Yesterday was a day of "lightening" and enjoying it.

I didn't feel the need to cram my backpack. I discovered a new way (for me) to carry my baguette home. I reveled in the lightness of the old bike I've been riding because I feel freer, more balanced, and unrestrained. I didn't realize how the weight and size of my Monsieur Columbus kept me from doing more riding.

 

 

 

I'm sure there's more to come, but this feeling light and "lightening" my life are good things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Detour to Gratefulness

 

This morning I knew a run into Cajarc was a good idea. I didn't need much, so the Petit Casino was the only spot on my agenda.

Arriving at the circle, I decided to go left instead of right to look for the location where a favorite shop may have moved.

The plan was to just go on around, but I could see that the Brocante/Vide Grenier wasn't going to let that happen.

On reflex, I turned right into the church square and knew it was meant to be.

I'd tried to see St. Therese a few times, but it was always crowded with too many people-today was perfect-just me!

 

 

 

 

Of course, candles were a must. But, I didn't have any change.

Instead, I decided to splurge. Usually I just light a tall white one and sit a bit.

Today, I did that in honor and memory of Mike, but also scooped a few votives.

Everything is just so pretty. The very tall one in the center and the two votives are me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It felt good to sit together and be grateful! She's been with me all the way since the early days. She is a fixture in my life. I felt her love, guidance, support and kindred spiritness with me that brought me joy.

 

 

She stayed with me all the way home.

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Old Haunts and Maybe Fall

 

The last couple of days I've headed toward Cajarc instead of Montbrun. It is a very different ride and I was ready for a bit of a change. I'm trying to ride most mornings early so I start my day off right...exercise, contemplation, reflection, photos, and gratefulness...at least, right for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm back to taking a left and the bus stop and riding the road through fields on both sides of me to the "river road," where I take a right. It's rough pavement and gravel for quite a bit.

 

When it becomes a mostly dirt path with a row of grass down the middle, I make my U-turn. 

I got to do a lot of finding fall, channeling Monet, and looking for Shoeless Joe Jackson in the corn fields. "If you build it he will come," ran through my mind more than once.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of "Shoeless Joe," Dad hung out with me for a while on the ride home. Dad and the Cardinals put baseball in our blood.

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

From Pretty Blues...

 

...to good news.

 

Out early in the cool and the blue, but still way too "people-y" for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since it was earlier than usual, I was pretty much alone and the only one on the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time I returned there were still a lot of people, but departure signs were everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

Tents coming down.

 

 

 

Cars were stopping to pick people up.

 

 

We shall see what tomorrow morning holds!

 

 

Happy Monday!