Soar-Dream-France

Off to the States-Taking a Break on Blogging

I'm very pleased with myself at the moment.  As I looked out the window from the computer, the valley was bathed in that green that usually means RAINBOW.  I went over to the middle window and there it was.  What better way to head off to the states tomorrow than with a RAINBOW Send Off.  I'll be back in early July, when I look forward to doing some more soaring and dreaming in France. 

Where to Focus?

Mornings are special for me no matter where I am in the world.  As you can see from these photos, City Park mornings in New Orleans border on spectacular. Although my subject may be the same; the moods, light and experiences can be totally different depending on where I focus.  I have important reasons for going to the states, but this trip I'm focusing on me.  I'm not running around like a chicken with my head cut off all over the country.  I'm staying put when I'm in New Orleans and I'm staying put in St. Louis. I am coming to accept for real, that I live in France.  I can't make things stay the same no matter hard I try, and  I've been trying way too hard way too long on too many fronts. As friend of mine says regularly: "It is what it is."  So, I'm learning to let go, accept the "is", and take it all as it comes my way.  It's still a struggle for me.  I've said that Hurricane Katrina taught me to let go, laugh and keep moving on.  It seems to be a process that never ends...I guess it's called change. My camera lens keeps moving in and out-maybe some day it will settle in to focus somewhere and stay for a while.

One of the great things about the barn, is that it looks out over the lavoir.  I have visions of dropping off to sleep up in the loft some evening to constant rushing water symphonies, and waking up in the morning to watch the sunlight do its reflecting dance.  Not only do we have rushing water, but I've also discovered sweet, tinkling, drops of water making music as they slide off the carpets of moss onto the beautiful stone.  Who needs water treatments when you are a part of a place like this? As I get ready to return to the states tomorrow, I can't help but wonder what magic Willie will have worked while I'm away. I'll keep you posted for sure.      

Ms. Williams of MORE-and Magic!

One of the main reasons for my trip to New Orleans this visit, is to spend some time with my friend Gaynell.  You'll remember her as my Ms. Williams of More who I've told you about before.  On my last trip to the states during November of 2009, I'd thought I was going to be setting up my own little corner of New Orleans.  Once again, the New Orleans leg didn't go at all as planned.  We did make decisions about who would take what floor of the house, and when Gaynell would begin moving in.  Gaynell took up. I took down. Gaynell planned to move in during early 2010. But, as fate would have it...I was unable to do any of the things I had hoped to do while I was there that visit.  I spent all my time putting out fires.  My part of the house-my own little corner of New Orleans never materialized. But, Gaynell is now living in the upstairs. This will be the first time I've slept on Columbus Street in years.  I'm looking forward to riding bikes, seeing the sunrise in City Park in the mornings, taking some photos, sitting in the back yard with Gaynell in our plastic Adirondack chairs from the storm while we pretend France, and just being there to see friends who are planning on stopping by.  I love this shot of Gaynell in City Park.  We'd ridden our bikes over one holiday season after the storm and it was truly a magical Christmas time morning.  With past holiday and friendship magic swirling around out there, my hopes for good times are high ! 

Most of the photos that I take of the barn seem to be either straight on or misty morning shots.  That blue sky grabbed me the other day when I was next to the lavoir doing some weeding.  I came in and got my camera, because I had been trying to describe to Mom and Dad how the barn is partially below ground and nestles into this hill and the cliff. Although it is beautiful and quite "interesting", parts of the structure that existed before the road and the train tracks are covered up with soil. The soil continues to wash down and in over time.  I'm expecting more surprises and discoveries as I continue to dig!  I'll keep you posted for sure.  

Morning Memories

Yesterday, my morning sky reflecting in the Lot looked very much like this.  It was 6am and I was on my bike, short overalls covering up my pajamas.  There's no one out much at that time of the morning-so I stopped at the first break in the wall in the direction of Mont Brun.  There was a stone staircase all the way down to the river (which I had to restrain myself from weeding).  I sat for a while and it hit me...I know where I've seen this kind of sky and color before.  Can you guess where?  Maybe that piece of palm tree in the upper right hand corner will give you a little hint.

 

I don't know what got into Mom one year at Christmas, but all of us got tiny St. Francis statues for our gardens.  He came in a little wooden house with a stake on it that you could stick in the ground somewhere. I actually brought mine to France with me and have had him at various spots around the Chatette.  Ever since his house collapsed, he's been living in the  front, roadside flower box that has now been taken over by lavender.  I'm not complaining-it's beautiful and aromatic, but  you could barely see the poor guy's head. So yesterday, I whisked him off to the land behind the barn to take up residence on one of the many beautiful ledges along the cliff. He looks so happy and right at home there.  He has lots of birds and creatures to keep him company-and  doesn't seem to miss his old collapsed wooden house one bit. And here, he is the center of attention.

Four Day Open House

It never fails.  It's less than a week before I'll be heading back to the states for a visit, and I'm already missing home.  I can tell you there won't be any pastoral scenes like this waiting for me.  I'm still wearing sweaters here in the mornings and evenings. My flannel pajamas won't be coming along.  From what I hear from everyone in the states, I might just melt upon arrival.  All kidding aside, it will be good to see family and friends.  New Orleans will be sandwiched between my St. Louis arrival and departure, as I shoot for four days of open houseon Columbus Street.  I'll be "en velo" in New Orleans this trip, and looking forward to having everyone come to me. I keep trying new techniques to make these trips to New Orleans more enjoyable...we'll see if four day open house does it! 

Continuing my work out on the pieces of land that came with the barn, I keep seeing more things that need to be done on the land and on and around the barn.  Although most of it I can do myself, I've been thinking about having a friend in the village come and look at what needs to be done.  After yesterday, I was certain.  Voila-this morning I was out on the road and Willie drove by and stopped.  We were able to walk around and look at everything together, so when he has time he will be back to remove all of the trees around the barn, another that has tumbled from one of the tiny pieces of land on the roof, all the vines, and clear one of the tiny pieces of land for me.  I've told him "je ne suis pas pressée", which is good because even though he is retired now, he says he has more work than ever!  C'est la vie! So, next time you see this shot-it will be "sans les arbres".

Wine, Wine, Wine and a Tiny Bit of Champagne

 

One of my favorite things to photograph is a glass of red wine.  With summer approaching, most others will turn to white or rosé but I'll be sticking to my red...even more likely my almost black Cahors. I love the way the sun reflects through it, and last week I discovered just how pretty it looked with the sunshine reflecting through my red parasol...turning everything very pink.  I'm true to my red regardless of type of food or season.  What about you?

Take a look at the two photos on the left.  Do you recognize anything? I brought our bottle discovery in yesterday to get it cleaned up and put with the rest of the souvenirs of these times.  Hot water, soap and bleach worked very hard to get whatever had been growing inside out and remove the slimy stuff from the outside that clouded everything.  And, it isn't a wine bottle...it's a champagne bottle who turns out to be even better for making these candle/bottle/lampshade numbers.  The lip is wider and thicker than a wine bottle, so it cradles the shade nicely and doesn't tilt.  So, take your pick...wine...champagne-which would you choose to light up your life?

Flying Droppers

Lots of flying and dropping going on around here these days.  When I'm not gazing out the windows at the hang-gliders on the other side of the river, I have the animal kingdom to entertain me.  This bird has a nest above one of my windows, and swoops down to the road regularly.  You might here me scream: "Look out little bird" as the crazy drivers come speeding by, but she seems to have her technique down. She hops up on the wall and then bounces her way down to the river.  Occasionally, she hovers right at my window with wings flapping feverishly just to say hello.  Then this morning, I was bringing laundry in from the terrace and I kept hearing a noise.  I stopped to listen and realized it was coming from this floral hanging bag that is suppose to keep bugs, snails and slugs off your delicate plants.  Mine is empty, and it sounded like there was a bird stuck inside.  I tried to first get the lid off and then just took it down. I looked inside the hole in the top, and there was one of our favorite tiny, brown, field mice looking out at me with his whiskers twitching. I laid the contraption over on its side on the terrace wall, et voila...he scurried out of the hole and ran down the wall into the garden.  All I want to know is how in the world did he manage to get in that thing?

I snuck one of these pictures of the ladder up to the loft of the barn into one of the large photo groupings on an earlier post.  I'd mentioned it, but thought if I hid it well enough my folks might not see it.  I expect runs of "Now Laury, you be careful on that ladder" during future telephone conversation once they see this photo.  I too, have my technique down and it doesn't include any "flying and dropping"-at least not so far.  Wait till they see the holes in the floor of the loft! 

Cherries and Overalls

I know I promised you cherries and birds at the end of yesterday's post for today, but today's post needs to be in honor of my friend Niels and all of us who so proudly wear our overalls whenever and wherever we can. You know who you are. I laughed this morning, as I walked by my overalls. All three pairs are hanging on a hook between the kitchen and the piano room, sprinkled with black body suits, tops and t-shirts that I'm looking for every morning. I have my dressy pair, my hanging from the cliff and working in the garden pair, and my in between pair that I wear around the house and to the grocery store.  I'm particularly happy at the moment, because that last one is also my "skinny pair". They are back in my "overalls repertoire" because my friend Jean (who like my Mom-isn't crazy about my overalls) very graciously patched the behind for me so I could keep wearing them. My overalls don't live in the closet.  I hang them out there so everyone can see.  And besides, anyone who knows me and/or reads this blog, isn't surprised to see overalls all over the Chatette.  Wait till those overalls planters go up in the garden and hang from the loft of the barn! I am obviously a very "out there" overalls person.  What about you...are you "out there" or are you in the closet when it comes to your overalls? 

And by the way...aren't those some very RED and sweet looking cherries!

I leave you with Overalls Everywhere!  The middle shot is my "skinny overalls" hanging from the clothes line on the terrace.  If you look closely you can see the roof of the barn and the lavoir in the background.  

Cherry Teamwork

Since I am a bit taller than Jean, she recruited me one day last week to come up and help her get some of her cherries off the tree.  Dali and I walked up, and she stayed inside with Rocky while Jean and I got rake and ladder and went to work.  My first thought was, these don't look like the usual cherries to me and they don't look ripe enough to pick.  I mentioned it to Jean, who described them as a different variety and that they were definitely ready.  Who am I to argue?  I know as much about fruit as I know about tobacco-zippo. Height and teamwork paid off.  I got the rake, held the branches down, and Jean picked the cherries off.  We only needed the ladder once.  Good thing, it wasn't very steady.  I asked again if the cherries would get any redder and Jean said no.  She'd already brought me this bunch that I had sitting in the bowl on the table.  My first promise was jam, but yesterday's was even better...cherry pie sometime when I come up for dinner.  Jean's cherries are in her refrigerator.  Mine are continuing to sit in the bowl on the table.  What color do you think my cherries are now? 

I'd hoped to put flowers of some kind on the barn and the lavoir each summer that I came to spend my time here.  In the beginning, a month wasn't enough time and money was short.  In 2005, money was still short, but I was scheduled to be here that year from mid June to mid October.  That summer I got them all duded up...geraniums and hanging petunias in the loft of the barn, and some other flowers in copper pots and a long window box in the point of the lavoir.  I didn't have a hose (still don't), so I was hauling my huge green plastic watering can across the tracks with me...sometimes twice.  Needless to say, this was all a little more trouble than I had bargained for.  They managed to make it through the season, but I hadn't tried flowers again until now.  Still no hose, but there's something about it being ours that feels like less trouble.  Now the lavoir, that's a story for another time.

Four-Legged Widows

One of the hardest things about being gone from here, is missing Dali and Sam.  We spend all of our time together, but now with the expansion of our "we" has come confusion.  It usually happens when I'm directly behind the Chatette working on the back of the barn or on the land behind it.  Dali makes an effort to come with me, but then just stands on the train tracks and looks at me like: "What, are you nuts or something?" So after 15 minutes of this, I take her back to the terrace.  She's taken to standing in the terrace flower box to keep an eye on me and Sam sits in the window and cries.  Dal eventually gets tired and finds some shade, but Sam just keeps crying.  She sounds so sad and pitiful.  I keep saying: "It's okay Sammie cat, it's okay.", but her cries haven't deterred me from my mission.  You've heard of "football widows"...I guess my Dal and Sam are "stone widows".

Working on the barn and the environs...this is another favorite spot of Dal's that is particularly cool outside on the few very hot sunny days we've finally been having.  I believe that it's the inside of the barn that beckons Dal most.  She is very happy to sit or lounge inside when I'm in there working. If I'm in some other area and I can't find her, I stick my head in the barn and there she is where it's cool and dry.