Soar-Dream-France

Snips and Snails...les Escargots and More!

I must confess to not having much experience with snails before I came to France. I'd only seen them on the end of a fork! I'd never seen one in action to admire their patience, or watch the beautiful artwork they create as they meander up and around terracotta flower pots.  I have fallen in love with snails...along with many of the other creatures that share this place with us.  As some of you have noted, as happy as I am to be HOME...problems in New Orleans have reached their tentacles the 5000 miles to here and just when you think your footing is firm, some other piece of something hits the fan.  Thank God for my snails, the butterflies and the field mice.  On the same day this week I saved a peach butterfly who was stuck in the Chatette and also a peach, striped snail (not unlike the guy in today's photo) who was in the way of my snazzy red lawn mower.  Then this morning, both Dali and Sam were hovering around a box in the piano room.  I moved the box and a tiny, brown field mouse came scurrying out in hopes of finding safety somewhere.  Dal and Sam were hot on his tail, but I found him behind the door to the terrace I had opened in hopes he'd be wise and escape.  He hadn't.  I put Sam in the bathroom and Dali sat well, as instructed.  I found the tiny guy perched on the bottom bolt of the door between the door and the stone wall, with his head and whiskers sticking out.  I said: "Run little guy, get out of here little mouse!"...and he was off onto the terrace with the door closed behind him in no time.  Who can complain about a week when you've been able to save a butterfly, a snail and a field mouse?  Not me!

Postcard Perfect Pals

After yesterday's sunflower post, I thought it might be fun to post these two pictures of Joan and I the day we were out running through the sunflower fields last year.  A number of friends wrote to say how much they enjoyed the photos, so I've added a few more in here for good measure.  Since both poppies and sunflowers are on the top of my family's "favorite flowers" list, I found this shot of me at the right gracing my Mom's refrigerator while I was home in St. Louis.  If you look closely you will see that I wore the perfect dress for taking sunflower photos that day with Joan.  I tried to grow sunflowers on Columbus Street in New Orleans a few times, but never had any luck.  Mom has a few on Elizabeth Ave., so maybe I should try to grow a few of my own here at the Chatette.  I'm thinking they might look very pretty along the wall between the two wisterias!  I guess it's time to do some research and make sunflower plans for the Chatette for next year!  Here are some more sunflower shots! Enjoy!       

Picture Postcard Perfect

Last summer was the year for sunflowers at my neighbor's place across the river. I don't expect to see any out my windows this summer, since they seem to appear every other year.  I'm feeling wistful and greedy today, wishing they would bless our view every year.  So today, I'd like to share a few of last year's photos with you and a little bit about my friend Joan Spinks who is usually my partner in sunflower crime!

Joan and I first drove to Saujac in the early morning to catch the sunflowers in 2006.  I got some incredible shots and we were then able to go again in 2008.  The first year it was just the girls, but last year her dog Aris and my Dali came along with us. We had a lot of fun and I'm sure my neighbors were looking on thinking: "There's those two crazy women running through my sunflowers again!"  

I first met Joan here in 2003 when she and her husband Bob bought the house next to Christiane and Jean-Paul.  We've both been through a lot since then, and I will be forever grateful for Joan's love and support during the torturous times in New Orleans. My cell phone would ring and this amazingly cheerful, strongly English accented, "Hello darlin" would ring in my ear and make me smile no matter what I was doing at the time. I continue to marvel at the depth of love and support I received from my friends all over the world! I was receiving regular phone calls from everyone over here that often arrived when a friendly, loving voice pulled me out of a very low spot!  Since it is a stretch for me to get photos of myself, Joan has also been my photographer on special occasions.  I have her to thank for my overall shots and many more that range from serious to sexy to giggling with vegetables!  We don't have any sunflowers to share together in Saujac this year, but with all the changes in Joan's life too, I hope that our every summer visits will continue.  I'd hate to have to be missing my friend Joan like I'm missing the sunflowers this year!  

 

Where the River Splits-by Jeffrey Penn May

Many of the books I've shared with you on my beam have been gifts.  This book is particularly special, because it was a gift from the author on my last trip to St. Louis.  I'm not sure how objective I can be.  Thirty years ago when our "river split", I described the author as someone who "fancied himself a writer".  I can gladly eat those words today, as I share the back cover synopsis and my musings with you.

Synopsis-When Susan agrees to a canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness with her estranged husband, she doesn't expect to paddle through moonlit white water while escaping a raging forest fire.  Nor could she foresee the canoe capsizing, stranding her on the opposite side of the river.  How will she survive?

Her husband, David Brooks, can't believe his wife has drowned.  He is even more dismayed when he sees her alive.  Why does he run away, embarking on a new suspense-filled journey alone?

Susan and David struggle with nature and with each other, two distinct viewpoints converging to a surprising climax.

For a professional social worker and someone who "fancies herself a writer", Where the River Splits delves into individual psychological issues and dilemmas that most couples face...if they are honest with each other.  May does and excellent job of portraying relationship impasse and the huge boulders that can get in the way of any kind of progress.  The writer in me enjoyed his rich and quickly paced dialog between realistic and believable characters.  The therapist in me wanted to be a third in the canoe to facilitate their exchanges.  The woman I am knew that I had been there before.  An added pleasure for me in reading Jeff's book, was my own memories of bits and pieces of people, places, and happenings that blended splendidly into the flow of the plot and carried me smiling all along the way. I have two favorite scenes in the book: David is in a tent lying on his back with his head resting outside looking up at the stars, and, Susan is in a tent lying on her back with her head resting outside looking up at the stars.  Have you been where the river splits? May's book will take you there!

You can find out how to get a copy of Where the River Splits and learn more about Jeff at his website: www.askwritefish.com.  I just want to know when the movie is going to come out!

New Orleans House for Lease-New Price

Welcome to my former home on Columbus Street in New Orleans.  Although it doesn't have near as much history in living years as the Chatette, 2617 Columbus Street was home to me for more than 50% of my soon to be 55 years!  2617 Columbus Street became my first house and my home back in 1980.  I was able to assume the mortgage with the help of my parents and my Grandma (of Nannie and Papa fame)!  This was a big deal for a 25 year old single-woman who didn't make a lot of money as a social worker.  Over the  years, the apartment was shared and sometimes rented by friends and family. Later, it became my social work private practice office and eventually my home after the storm. Although the apartment is now rented...the big house is still vacant and we are going to come down on the price to $1000/month.  It is a lot of house for the money, with a yard that has incredible potential in the hands of the right  person. 

2617 Columbus Street-A spacious, newly renovated camel-back, 2-3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, huge  fully furnished kitchen, hard-wood/tile floors, ceiling fans, AC/heating combo units, laundry room with a washer and dryer, large fenced in back yard and ample off-street parking.  One half block off of Broad Street on the Fairgrounds side.  Quiet and private.  Near the Broad Street and Esplanade Bus Lines.  One mile from the French Quarter and walking distance of City Park and Bayou St. John.  $1000/month, one month's security deposit and a one year lease.

Contact John VonHedemann at (504) 390-1438, or [email protected] if you or someone you know may be interested.  Thanks for any help you can give!

 

Breakfast Bon Voyages...and Frothy Coffee!

I am blessed with some of the most amazing friends in the world...and all over the world for that matter!  This year at Valentine's Day, my friend Father Henry wished for me to know "where and how I am loved"! As difficult as this trip was in many ways-the where and how I'm loved screamed out loud everywhere! 

Last year at this time, my friends Mike Kelly and Drew Schroeder were here in the Lot with me.  Mike and Drew live across the street from my Mom and Dad in St. Louis.  They had an incredible dinner for my French friends when we visited St. Louis last year, and many returns were enjoyed all over the village while they were here in Cadrieu.  All of our evenings were memorable, but one of the best was at Josie and Patrick's when we passed around the plastic Elvis hair and glasses given to Patrick by my friends Carol Miles and Keith Villere!  Each of us had to put on the Elvis hair and strike the pose!  Everyone was rolling!  When we took a vote, it was decided that Jean was clearly our best Elvis! (I told our Elvis dinner story in New Orleans and Carol has promised to send more Elvis-es along with our friend Jan Robert who will be visiting the Chatette soon!)

You already know that Jean feeds me dinner when I leave Cadrieu for the states.  Now, Mike and Drew have breakfast for me before I leave the states for Cadrieu.  We have so much fun together on these mornings.  Last trip had to be early because they were working and I had an early flight.  This trip could be later because it was Memorial Day and I had a later flight!  I teased that we were starting a tradition here with our breakfasts together before my departure, but there were no arguments from either corner and it was decided that our breakfasts should be as regular as Jean's dinners.  Not only were there no arguments, but I got the most fun and entertaining gift I've received (maybe not as entertaining as Elvis) in a long time: a hand held AA battery powered milk frother!  I'm now frothing the milk for my coffee every morning and before Rob left we had "frothy coffee" here every morning.  Poor guy, he refused frothy coffee on his last day because he was returning home to no frothy coffee and he didn't want to have frothy coffee withdrawal! 

The photos are:  Mike and Drew in their kitchen raising mimosas on Elizabeth, Mike and Drew (or should I say Michel and André) in my yard at the Chatette after a long bike ride, Mike and Drew's message board, and from left to right: Jean, Michel, my friend James Wink, and André at the market in Limogne on Sunday during last year's visit!