Soar-Dream-France

Are We Having Fun Yet?

As I've written before, my sister Kathleen, her husband Tom and I, manage to have a good time wherever we are when we're together.  Times haven't been so much fun for any of us lately with my Dad not doing well, then our Mom fell on her face and Tom's Dad had fallen just the week before Mom.  It was good that I was already scheduled to come home and could help out a little, but the bottom line is that for us it is all on Kat since we all live away.  I don't know what any of us would do without Tom.  He is an incredible support to Kat and jumps right in and just does what needs to be done, even when he's got so much of his own to do. 

Since we all needed a little fun, we headed out to lunch my last Saturday at Blueberry Hill on Delmar in St. Louis.  It gave me my last real chance to have an American hamburger before returning to France and to say thanks a million to Kat and Tom.  Our parents always seem to start off the conversations, but pretty soon we were laughing and joking about who we'd want to have in our weddings if we ever got married again.  The first gold mine of giggles for the afternoon was finding "Artificial Tatoos for the Elderly".  Kat and I were rolling in the store and I had to buy them all to give as gifts and share with friends.  Things like: "Arthritis Sucks", "Nursing Homeboy", a diaper that says "Out of Control", and a scooter that says "Born to RIde".  There were many more and so much fun for all of us under the circumstances. Laughing all the way back to their house, I had no idea that even more fun and laughs were on the horizon.  I checked my e's and then Kat shared a couple of recent Saturday Night Live skits with me that had me dying.  I guess you could say they're "off color", but I honestly haven't laughed that hard in forever.  In the states you should be able to pull up "D--- in a Box" and "Motherlover" without too much trouble on the NBC site. I discovered that I can't get them here-when I was in desperate need for real BIG Laughs when I returned to a huge tax crisis and problems with the property in New Orleans.  Laughing is always a good thing! 

Graduation-The Passing of the Hat

One of the highlights of this last trip to the states and a main reason for going when I did, was to see my only nephew, Jesse Davidson Bourgeois, graduate from Shawnee Mission South High School in Kansas on May 20.  My brother Jim and I are 2 years apart, me being the oldest of the four sibs.  There's a lot of pressure when you are the only grandchild and nephew out of the four of us.  Jim and I had hoped that if I was there in St. Louis and had plans made to come to the graduation, between him, Kat and I; we could orchestrate everything well enough to break Mom away from Dad for 24 hours so she could see Jesse graduate.  Jesse is important to her.  Ceremony and life milestones are important to her. But it wasn't meant to be. So, I was able to be the representative for the family.  More than that, when Jim and I were talking about everything on one of my phone calls from France, I could hear in his voice that it was just as important to him that I come.  The decision was made and I was pleased. We had a great time together, and crammed a lot into a little more than 24 hours.  Jim and I got some quality time on our own, which is rare, so especially special and I got some great photos of the graduation and other happenings to share with the folks and Kat.  I began this post with the photo of Jim.  I realized while I was there that I didn't have any nice, recent shots of Jim and got a few very nice ones.  My favorite of all of the graduation shots is smiling father and son, with Jesse wearing his Dad's hat and special graduation raven tie (he loves Edgar Allen Poe) from his Aunt Kathleen.  Before the ceremony, we all went out to dinner-the small photo insert is Jesse's Mom, Diane Davidson Bourgeois, brother Jim, Jim's wife, Joan Parker-Bourgeois, Joan's son, Brent and the back of Jesse.  Of course, I'm the photographer!

Personal Poppy Photos

Although I'm still in the re-entry process and was presented with tax emergencies yesterday, I did not want to let today go by without sharing a few of my own poppy photos with you!  Happy Friday!

Poppies Partout!

I've been wanting to sit down and write here ever since I returned on Tuesday of this week, but it just wasn't in the cards.  This trip and the return have provided me with so much material, I can probably blog all the way till the end of the year!  You already know that poppies are favorites of just about everyone I know, so today I want to share this photo that my friend Rob took of me yesterday.  I will share more of my own in the future, but for today I thought you might enjoy this one and another of his taken while we were roadside and running through this huge field of poppies.

I first noticed this field in bloom last year when I was on the bus to Figeac.  On our way back yesterday in the rental car, I was psyched to see it again and have the opportunity to stop.  We talked about how the Brits (and I believe Americans and French too) celebrate the end of WWI by wearing artificial poppies on November 11.  He asked me if I knew why the poppy was chosen?  I didn't have a clue that it was because poppies only grow on "disturbed" ground.  I guess you could say war is "disturbed" ground!  I am off to do my very best job of turning lemons into lemonade and continuing to look at problems stateside as opportunities to think out of the box!  I will keep you posted.

A Bientôt Y'All!

I'll be catching my flight out of Toulouse at 6am tomorrow morning, but leaving in the middle of the night tonight to get there on time to be there for the 2 hours ahead check-in time.  My friend Rob is here from England, to hold down the fort and take good care of Dal and Sam for me.  We ran a few errands earlier today and were able to head up to the Belgian Cross and Saut de la Mounine for some great photos.  This evening, Jean will be having dinner for us before we head to Toulouse. We try to feed each other before we head off on long journeys.  Last year Jean had the  whole French contingent up before we headed to the states.  She told me that feeding friends before they departed for journeys or left ports, was a tradition during the years that she and Roy were living on the boat.  So, we've adopted it here!  I won't be writing while I'm in the states.  The itinerary is growing with each passing day, and computer access is limited at my parents.  (I'm chuckling, it doesn't exist at my parent's house.)  So, writing will require an internet cafe or visiting someone with a computer. It's time to take a break.  I'm heading out shortly to walk around the village and tell my friends a bientôt.  I wanted to leave you today with a few photos.  I'll be missing my morning sunshine from the terrace while I'm gone.  I fell in love with the lone house and the line of three trees from Saut de la Mounine this morning, and if you look in the bottom left hand corner of the aerial taken from the Belgian Cross, you'll see a white road marker that marks the spot in my heart where the Chatette disappears as I round the bend to the bus.  I won't be on the bus this evening, but I can promise you that the ritual corner stone kissing and tunnel wandering will occur as usual.  I'll be back at the Chatette on Tuesday, May 26! I'm off and...A Bientôt Y'All!

My Life is a Movie and I Live in a Painting!

As I get ready to head back to the states in the next couple of days, there's always a flood of feelings.  Before we were living here full-time and I was here alone, the week before it was time to return I found myself beginning a kind of "re-entry" process.  I'd start cleaning and straightening some, while thinking about seeing Dal and Sam, my friends in New Orleans, Columbus Street and getting back to work.  I was always taking the bus into Cahors to catch the train to Paris and then on to the states.  That last day was heart-wrenching.  I'd walk around the Chatette and the garden,  go down into the tunnel and wander around, turn off the water and the electric, cover the furniture, unplug everything in the house, and close the shutters.  I'd leave by the front door because the terrace door is shuttered when I'm not here.  I'd begin walking toward the bus stop, and began the tradition of touching and kissing one of the outcropping corner stones of the Chatette and saying-"Be safe.  I'll miss you. I'll be back as soon as I can." I'd then walk toward the bus stop and stop to look at the Chatette at the turn in the bend just before it disappears from sight.  These days, there isn't quite so much to do.  I know I'm coming back, but now I'm leaving Dal, Sam and the Winkelmann.  I miss them desperately when I'm in the states.  I also miss my friends, my bike rides, the river, the causse, my garden, the silence, the bells, my morning bird symphonies...just this simple life.  When I'm in the states there are fewer walks, I drink soft-drinks, I eat hamburgers and pizza, I watch television, I don't sit at a computer, and I drive.  There seems to be so much noise, so many people, so much manic movement, and moments in the madness of wondering how and when I became such a solitary person.  I have always recognized the extremes, but it wasn't until I was standing in a bar on Bourbon Street with Christiane, Josie and Patrick that it smacked me in the face. They asked: "Laury, why do you live in Cadrieu.  You have such a great life here?"  It was hard to explain.  I tried.  The bottom line is I love this sweet, simple, uncomplicated life here in our place in France.  In many ways, the storm gave us this gift!  I tease all the time, but it's true:  My life is a movie and I live in a painting!

How Long Has That Wine Been in Your Cave???

My friend Wendy Eloit dropped me an e-mail with a "topic" for my blog the other day.  She made me chuckle when she said: "You should tell them the story about our wine and ...!" It's a fun story that I think you'll enjoy.

Wendy and her family were hoping to sell their house in Tour de Faure.  During the summer of 2004, Wendy came with her two children, Matthieu and Sarah, to finalize what she thought was going to be the sale of the house.  I inherited some wonderful twin beds, bedding and a few other things that summer.  And then there was the wine from their cave-quite difficult to get back with them to Viet Nam. I told them it was fine with me if they stored it in my cave.  I wasn't living here full time back then and didn't foresee the cave being used or the wine being in anyone's way. It rested very quietly in my cave.  Any temptation to pinch a bottle from time to time, was thwarted by my memories of my first week at Wendy's that summer of '98.  I thought she had said I could help myself to wine.  I went into the cave and picked a bottle of Cahors Château Caminade, and then mentioned how good it was during one of our telephone conversations.  Imagine my surprise when she said: "Don't touch the wine in the cave! I'll have some sent over to you from one of the neighbors who is a wine merchant!"  I felt really bad about the misunderstanding.  I took my pitiful empty bottle and put it back in it's place, with a little note in it to her husband saying how sorry I was! 

Once I started living here full time, I was hoping to set the cave up as a gallery and host a vernissage for the village.  I had decided to call it La Galerie dans la Cave.  At that point in 2008 (now 4 years later), I consulted my neighbors to see if it would hurt to move the wine and see if they had any suggestions.  Of course, the most popular suggestion was that we should drink it! I told them my story...said absolutely not...and they then tried to convince me that it might go bad if we didn't drink it very soon!  I held my ground and decided to use the wine as props and "atmosphere" for the opening.  As you can see from the photo, they did the trick and blended in perfectly well with my photos, the artwork of other artists in the village, fruit collages from the collage class I had offered, and Stuart's special iron chairs.  The evening of the vernissage, many people asked me if the wine was for sale and then gave me the quality critique!  I told them, no it wasn't for sale, it belongs to my friends Wendy and Stephane who live in Viet Nam and I think they'll be coming next year to pick it up!  So, five years later, July 4, 2009, Wendy, Stephane, Matthieu and Sarah will be arriving to visit me, and also collect their wine.  The wine and I are excited about this!  Neither of us has seen the Eloits' in the last 5 years, so it is going to be quite a reunion for all of us.  And then there's the question of my neighbors...I think a party on the terrace will be in order so they can meet the infamous owners of the wine in Laury's cave!  Maybe I'm going to have to start a collection of my own to keep the gallery ambiance in tact!

Planer-Rêver-FRANCE

As you know,  I've been promising myself a hike on my own between St. Cirq and Bouzies and then back up to St. Cirq over the causse for quite some time.  After a week of rain, I got the grass cut by the hardest on Saturday and then decided that Sunday was the day. I packed a nice lunch, my favorite Cahors wine, cork screw, very nice wine glass, and headed out on the 9:15 bus to Tour de Faure.  I was hoping for a solitary trip to recapture the valley and maybe exorcise a demon or two along the way. I picked up a couple of noix pastries at Isabelle's and then stopped in to tell my friends Jean-Luc, and his Mom, Odile hello. 

Our coffee put me back a little in that schedule in my mind, but it didn't matter.  I was out to enjoy the day however it came my way!  I like hiking alone because I'm much more tuned in to the beautiful photo opportunities. I don't mind stopping and taking my time when I'm alone...evidence the close-up of the beautiful old door in the sunshine.  There's a point at which you can walk along the river or take the paved road. I chose the river.  This farmer was out with his dog, and I couldn't resist!  He also had a garden patch that looked very colorful from a distance.  I thought he had placed seed  packages beside the rows, but when I got closer you could see that they were actually tall,multi-colored plastic water and soft drink bottles meant to keep 4-legged creatures at bay...just not 2-legged photo hounds!  I had forgotten this was a holiday weekend, so much for no crowds.  I ran into many other hikers on the path and even families with babies in strollers trying to maneuver the wet, damp and irregular-sized stones.  The tow path and Bouziers felt like old friends, and with the sun beginning to bear down I was able to de-layer to the point of sleeveless to begin the climb back up to St. Cirq and lunch at the look-out.  My feet were starting to get tired.  I had great shoes which I had tested on the stones when I bought them at Cabella's, but the socks were a huge mistake. I'd add good socks to good shoes when hiking this far!  I made it to the lookout and was really excited when I arrived, ready to throw my table cloth and crack open my wine, but as I neared the stairs I could see stair steps of four heads.  Two young couples had beat me to "my" spot. 

I was undaunted though.  I said "bonjour", offered them some of my wine once I got set-up, and took a photo of the foursome before they headed on ahead of me. I had some alone time, but the hot sun and no shade had done its duty and I was ready to get moving on and maybe stop at a few shady spots along the way.  I straggled into Lou Bolat's at St. Cirq Lapopie to relax and have my favorite crepe for dessert...this time I ate it all by myself.  It was wonderful to be remembered by the staff from both of my recent visits and leave with an "à prochaine fois"! It was only 3:30, so I window shopped a little and then headed back to spend the time before my 6pm bus with Jean-Luc and Odile.  Jean-Luc told me that he reads my blog from time to time and enjoys it.  His English is very good and he has helped me with my French regularly.  It is nice because he knows how much progress I've made since my first trip here.  Although this summer will be 11 years since I spent those 5 weeks at Wendy's, we sorted out together that my first trip to the Lot was in May of 1996...13 years ago now-Mon Dieu!  While we were waiting for the bus Jean- Luc asked me what the words in my blog site title mean.  So, en français...SOAR-planer...DREAM-rêver...and FRANCE is always France.  I am wondering if my soaring bird of prey in the photo is dreaming of France, or just feeling really lucky that he lives here...just like me!

Chatette Cadrieu and Us!

Today I'm going to tell you in a little greater depth about the Chatette and us.  Chatette Cadrieu has three levels and 4 mélange-ing magic individual twin beds available in shared accommodations.  The ground level has 2 caves and a t-shaped tunnel high enough for a man and his horse to ride through.  Climb ancient stone steps to the terrace and enter from the back on the second level, where you will find a circular wooden staircase and a hand carved reception desk to your left.  The living room and common area are located to your right with a fireplace; numerous window and tile floors bordered in ancient stone.  The shared kitchen, full bath with shower and piano room are on the other side of the reception desk.  The third level has beamed ceilings with  skylights over the staircase and sunken tub in the bath. Here you will find a loft bedroom with hardwood floors to your right, to your left a reading room, a full bathroom and private carpeted shared accommodations with four twin beds.  Both bedrooms have floor to ceiling windows with window boxes of blooming lavender and French doors that open to the river, capturing a breathtaking sunrise in the morning and a constellation-filled sky at night.

Amenities include: stereo, wi-fi, washer, dryer, 2 bikes, piano, numerous books in English, stove, freezer, refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot.

Since I enjoy the slower pace of life in France with my dog Dali and my cat Samedi (Sam), I don't have an automobile or a television.  I travel by bike and/or country bus and fill my time with reading, gardening, writing, and playing my used baby grand piano-the Winkelmann!  This is truly France Profunde and a wonderful magic mixing environment.  We look forward to sharing our place with you!

Sincerely, Laury, Dali, Sam, the Winkelmann, and, of course-The Chatette

Please check out the side-bar section entitled "Mélange Photos" for additional photos of the area and accomodations!  Hope to hear from you soon!

Bienvenue à Cadrieu et Cajarc

The thirteenth century Château Cadrieu has many tales to tell, as does the Chatette.  I've been told that parts of the Chatette are as old as the Château.  History and romance are woven into a colorful past, based in both fact and legend.  It has been said that the Chatette was a factory where the bottles were made for wine before they were shipped on the Lot River to Bordeaux and that it had been the former entrée to the Cadrieu Château.  During medieval times, when there was no road in front or train tracks behind us; people arrived on horse-back or from the river and entered directly through the tunnel which was open in the back and led to the barn and the Château.  I believe it had also been a Brocante.  Through windows and doors opened or closed: the birds sing in surround sound; the river and the lavoir play water symphonies in stereo; and your time is kept by church bells.  Our night skies are a cross between Van Gogh and Disney-we're surrounded by French National Park and in a triangle of the clearest skies in France!

Charmingly placed directly below the Château, we nestle on a pie-shaped piece of land surrounded by a sheer cliff; train tracks; barn  and a medieval lavoir on one side, then the road; the river and the causse on the other.  There is:  a garden; terraces; and room to park three  cars.  3km (1.86 miles) from Cajarc, (the former summer home of Georges Pompidou) which is accessible by rural bus, on foot, by boat, or bike path-In  Cajarc you have a choice of grocery stores, restaurants, bistros, patisseries, banks, a post office, public swimming pool, hang-gliding opportunities and bike rentals at your fingertips.   Markets in Cahors and Figeac along with a variety of sites/destinations in the Lot, are accessible by country bus, train, and of course, car.

I've included an aerial photo of Cadrieu taken from the Belgian Cross with the Chatette just below the Château as you round the bend on the road, a shot of Cajarc taken from the other side of the Lot River in Salvignac-Cajarc, and a favorite honey vendor at the Sunday market in Limogne.  Tomorrow-our last Mélange-ing Magic installment, with greater detail about the layout of the Chatette and the comforts and lifestyle...ah-la vie en France!