Soar-Dream-France

Pastry Paper Presents

One of my favorite things about living in France is pastry paper.  My love affair began back in 1998, while I was making pastry paper butterflies out of my sacks from Isabelle's patisserie in Tour de Faure.  She wraps your tasty goodies up in beautiful paper with a scene of St. Cirq Lapopie on it. Many of the patisseries have a "signature" paper that is always beautiful and special in my book.  In the last couple of years, there's been a run on a more generic variety that features darling children...a la the one on the left that I picked up in Cahors on Saturday. I frequently use pastry paper in my collages and other artsy projects, so I actually have a rather large stash in one of my suitcase file cabinets. I got two of these darling sacks that were emptied quite quickly over the weekend.  It's pretty bad when you buy more pastry because you want more sacks!

HAIRY MONSTERS EVERYWHERE

Some combination...darling children and hairy monsters but you can't say I don't keep it interesting.  These huge charming fellows can be found mostly at ground level around the base of the barn.  They are huge, nasty, stickery and very difficult to remove.  Add in the nettles that are also close by and you could have an exciting afternoon of stinging, sticking and burning.  So, as my Round-up does its job around the base of the barn and most of the nasty stuff dies...I can begin to work lower and get rid of my hairy monsters that aren't going anywhere without very special attention-even Round-up isn't enough!

Ancient Gifts of Beauty and Glory

 

Once again, the sunlight from outside making its way into the dim and darkness pulled me. I felt glorious in that moment in St. Etienne in Cahors.  I'd already found my special book for Mom and Dad's present (on the left) and began my usual wander.  On the edge of the market, I knew it was time to go light my candle at the Merci Lady.  I sat a moment with all of my gratefulness, but it was Saturday and crowded. So, I headed out to the Cloisters where I could enjoy some of the silence there.  It wasn't until I came back inside and began to head left to the exit, that this light beckoned me to the very back of the cathedral. I turned right, and voila!  So, this is my Sunday gift I share with you. It didn't cost a thing...and, I didn't even have to wrap it. Happy Sunday.

 

Here is a little bit of a before and after shot from Friday's de-vining of the back of the barn.  I'm doing the small stuff at my standing up level first, since it's the easiest.  There is more below and more above and then you can see those huge things bordering on small trunks that still need to come off, but much more carefully so I don't damage the stone. Wait till you see the "hairy monsters" that I'll share with you tomorrow!

Very Crafty No Sew Pillow Covers

Ever since I got this beautiful patchwork quilt from Jan last year, I have struggled with where to put it.  As furniture has moved in an out of rooms with the seasons, it ended up on the arm of the living room sofa.  As the piano room evolved-it became even more perfect on the back of the black sofa, as it is covering one of those very nasty radiators that I don't even use anymore!  I've also struggled with the right pillows.  With the quilt on the black sofa, I remembered some upholstery material I scooped from Mom because it was a perfect color for most spots in the Chatette. With a nice sized piece and a smaller one I went to work.  It is very easy-you will notice that this material has two sides that are both beautiful. I took the larger piece, put a pillow in it that fit so I could fold up the material like a present and then tie the lace around to hold it all in place.  Sometimes it helps to have a few pins or two on the inside just for safety's sake.  The small one is just as easy-same beginning technique and then gather up all the left over material and either rubber band it or tie it with a sturdy string or ribbon.  When you straighten out the material it can sometimes look like a flower depending on how you fold it around or it can also look like a fancy bow.  Play with it and have fun-you'll probably come up with all kinds of other ideas and configurations that I've never thought of.  I've been trying to remember where I saw this technique-it may be time to confess to being an avid Martha Stewart fan back in my New Orleans days.  After all-It is a good thing!

I wanted to share this picture with you of the barn that I took on Barn Signing Eve.  First, it's an angle I don't usually take and it has Dal in it at a distance.  Second, you can see how much progress I've made in a very short time. And third, you can see the lavoir.  Today is a special Lavoir Merci to Evelyn.  She sent me her special book about lavoirs in France, and I scooped it up out of the mailbox when I got home from Cahors this afternoon.  Merci Evelyn! And, we are really coming along.  Who knows what will be next! Happy Saturday! 

The Lettuce Man Cometh

Early one morning this week, I heard a car idling outside, a car door opened, a car door closed, and a car carried on.  It happens about the same time every so often in the morning, and I usually find a sack of lettuce hanging from the green plastic gate that holds Dal on the terrace.  This particular morning, I discovered this huge head of lettuce on the left sitting on the corner of the terrace wall.  It was anywhere from 12-18 inches in diameter and sparkled with the morning dew.  Frankly, it was just too pretty to eat.  I pondered putting flowers in it and using it for a center piece on the wooden table. 

Then I remembered all those years of eating taco salads at Vera Cruz Restaurant that used to be on Decatur Street in New Orleans and this layered taco dip thing that became our neighborhood favorite after the storm when we were partying on Columbus Street after a long day of working on our homes.  Jean was coming down for dinner, since I had some salmon that needed to be eaten. Little did she know, that she was going to be a guinea pig for a new idea that combined two fond food memories from New Orleans.  I guess we'd have to call it a Taco Dip Salad.  I left the head of lettuce intact and put it in a large bowl.  Then, I took the round leaves in the center out.  The layers began with ground beef, then crushed tortilla chips, then a layer of bean dip, a layer of guacamole, a layer of sour cream, and the chips and a tomato to garnish the top.  It was superb and a meal in itself.  My usually very popular marinated salmon was not the star last night.  Jean and I agreed, the only thing I should do differently next time is to include a layer of tomatoes and some salsa on the side.  It was fun, pretty, and a perfect dish for summertime.  But enquiring minds want to know: Where in the world will I get a head of lettuce like that in the states?

 

 

During my many falls of scooping walnuts up from the train tracks and discovering their wisdom within; I never thought that some day they might actually be "our" walnuts.  Once again...this has turned out to be about so much more than the barn.  Apparently the walnut tree had been growing on the cliff at one time and tumbled.  Now, the huge trunk is lying on the ground and struggles to reach up to the sun between the Chatette and the cliff.  Interestingly, I found my very own chaise lounge right on the trunk.  I leaned back, with my feet on the roots to peruse the hard work I had just finished on the cliff.  I didn't even need one of those back adjusters to get the angle right...it was just perfect for me!  I was telling Joan about it, and we are pondering one of those hanging hammock chairs between those two very huge and strong upright trunks...a place for both of us!  

Making Do and More

Thinking back again to those early days here at the Chatette: I found myself always trying to make do with whatever I had around the house first, before running out and spending money right away.  Part of it was there really wasn't a lot of money to spend.  The other part of it was that without a car, getting out to spend money required extra effort to get to the bus, hop on my bike or get a ride somewhere.

Some of the first lamps I bought here, were small iron lamps with metal shades that had woven or floral patterns on them.  I often swap bases and shades around depending on what I need around the Chatette.  Both of the metal shades were sitting in the storage room the other day when I decided to see if they would fit on top of a wine bottle.  Voila-they are almost perfect if just a tiny tilted, and with a candle their soft light through the lattice and flowers makes the whole room dance.  Of course, you must have an empty bottle of a favorite wine to make your candle-wine bottle-iron shade lamp special.  I love the name of this wine and the label, but did you notice the CRU?

Continuing my work out on the land behind the barn, I find treasures out there as well.  There are bits and pieces from the railroad, pieces of farm equipment hidden under the foliage and a wine bottle or two.  Most of it gets set on the side of the tracks, but sometimes it's easier to just put it on the barn's back window. So much to be done, but so much fun.

Paris People and Places...

I'm sure you'll remember my young sweethearts from my last trip to Paris.  I wanted to do something special with the photos, so the frame and matting from last year's vernissage was perfect.  It's like looking through my window to Paris right from my living room in the Lot.  Maybe I really can see Paris from here!

In addition to a few other Montmartre pit stops on my Thursday evening, I plan to stop in at Chez Marie with copies of the photos and the posts. I had intended to e-mail them but the e-mail came back.  Then, I planned to just mail them.  But now, this will be better...personal delivery.  There is something to be said for seeing the expression on the faces of the parents and children when they see what I have for them.  The photos speak for themselves in any language. But, the question is do I try to do a google translation of the posts to French? We shall see. 

Out and digging again yesterday, I wanted to share these before and after shots with you of the land that I'm clearing  slowly but surely behind the barn. The first two should give you an idea of where I started, and the last two I've included just to share the beauty of the stone that speaks to me. The rose again stands out, and I'm discovering even more shades of green than the millions I've already found.  Treasures of color are everywhere.

 

Passing Through Paris

 

Preparing to pass through Paris with an overnight on my way to the states, I ponder Parisian Pals that I will see again. I've come to know the Gare d'Austerlitz well, and always look forward to seeing the brazen and begging sparrows and pigeons that make it home.  They are great entertainment. But then, it has been said that I'm easily entertained!

Although this photo of the "Charette"is a little blurry, it was the rose colored reflection in the corner that catches my eye every time. Part of the magic of this place is the rose that appears "partout".  This morning's dawn on the terrace felt intensely rose.  When I walked to the front, I saw why.  One evening on my way home on my bike at dusk, the Chatette and the Château glowed a soft, sparkling rose.  I've been told that there is so much rose quartz in the stone here, that the reflecting sunshine brings the rose out everywhere! I don't even need rose colored glasses!