I know I promised you the rest of the rest of the story today, but as I pondered the bridge times of returning to New Orleans after the storm to coming here in May, 2006 to "clear our heads" and make difficult decisions: I decided to save that last segment for another time.
Today is celebration! Seven years ago today, is the day that the Chatette and I became a "We"! The big question though was how to celebrate. I enjoy having friends over regularly, but with our heating system this winter the Chatette is a little cold for others, and then when you add in our 4-legged house guest, it is impossible. Around the New Year I had contemplated "Irish Coffees and Covers" fireside but gave it up to wait for spring and warmer weather.
I told myself that if I were ever able to buy property in France, I would celebrate with Moêt et Chandon Prémier Cru Champagne. You can see the bottom of that bottle in the photo-it is now a wonderful candle holder and reminds me of this important day. So today-I took the party on the road...maybe a "Party Apporter"! You already know I love chocolate-add in champagne and you can't help but celebrate. I found 3 tiny bottles on a recent trip into Cahors, that were perfect to accompany my chocolates from Roland Périn. This is my favorite Chocolatier in Cahors. I especially like the tiny Cabecou Chocolates he makes, covers them in white chocolate, and puts the tiny Cabecou mark on them. (I've put an actual sample of Cabecou Cheese behind it in the photo so you can get the full effect.) I bought a small bag of them and must confess that I ate all but one of them before I began my portable party today!
Around 1:30 I loaded up my purple back pack with my 3 tiny bottles of champagne and my box of chocolates. My first stop was Josie and Patrick's-where we chatted, I left the bottle and they chose their chocolates. They invited me to stay and have other drinks as well, but I was on a mission. My next stop was Christiane and Jean-Paul's-where my plan was to do the same; but I ended up with a coffee, champagne, chocolate and a piece of apple tart that was the test for a light and crispy crust that she had learned to make at our friend Suzanne Dupont's last Thursday. My last stop was at Greg's where we sat together in the living room with his dog Megs, and drank our champagne and ate our chocolates together. I got him off a ladder where he was pruning his wisteria, but he said he was ready for a break. He took his last chocolate and left in on the table. Believe it or not, there are enough chocolates left to take them to language class to share tomorrow. Greg counted them to make sure that I didn't do to this bunch what I did to the tiny Cabecous! I told him maybe he should keep them at his house and bring them, but he says he's even worse than I am about chocolate.
It was fun to speak French with my friends and talk about all that had happened in these 7 years. Mostly, that it's incredible that it has been that long. Greg will celebrate his 5th anniversary in his house in November and we are thinking it might be time for another celebration by then. I left Greg to his wisteria and weaved my way home back down the hill. (I decided it was best not to practice walking backwards this time.)
Greg came in from trimming his wisteria, looking forward to that chocolate he had left on the table. Megs must like chocolate as much as Greg. All that was left was a soggy little brown paper and a smiling Meggie Girl. Greg says she's NEVER done anything like that before! Hmmm, I wonder!
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