Soar-Dream-France

New Orleans JazzFest Memories Cadrieu Style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evelyn pointed these beauties out to me one day on our walk.  When she said they were rose-hips, I immediately remembered all the wonderful rose-hips iced tea I drank at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival over the years.  Back in the early years of the fest, my friends and I would stroll through the grounds and around the tents of music and crafts, with huge styrofoam cups of rose-hips tea and honey.  Yumm!  Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger came close to duplicating that wonderful experience, but never quite succeeded.  Last week, I made it my mission to see how close I could get.  Pretty soon I was out there picking and pruning, and then hunting for the directions for the concoction on the internet.

 

 

 

 

Once they're all gathered, they need to be dried in the oven till they are wrinkled, but not brown.  Next, you take a couple of fistfuls per litre of water and bring them to a high boil on the stove for at least 10 minutes, maybe more depending on your desired strength.  I put a heaping tablespoon of Miel de Fleurs Sauvages de Montagne (Honey of Mountain Wild Flowers) in the bottom of my St. Cirq Lapopie pitcher, before straining in the liquid sans rose-hips. Once I poured myself a cup, all I needed to do was put the Neville Brothers on and up real high, and voila...instant Jazz and Heritage Festival 1977-Cadrieu Style!

Another DREW in New Orleans

When most of you think of the name "Drew" in New Orleans, I'm sure that the first Drew who comes to mind is Drew Brees-the Quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.  I had the pleasure on my last trip to New Orleans, to share my digs on Columbus Street with this gorgeous guy on my left here whose name is also Drew.  Drew is my friend Gaynell's dog.  Drew and I got to spend some one on one quality time together, which was really special for me.  He's on my list of the top ten most kissable dogs I know!  He's been on my mind a lot lately, and is probably number three on my current canine favorites list...right behind my Dal and Evelyn's Lucie. I love you Drew Boy.

On the Road Again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart strings pulled and ached a bit, at the sight of this photo in my repertoire this morning.  Each day that passes, gets me a little closer and more ready to head out to work in Holland for two months. Three weeks between returning from the states and heading out to work really wasn't very much time.  Now, it's about 10 days and counting down until I catch my train in Cahors, to spend the night in Paris before I fly out of CDG to begin my next European assignment.  I'm not a total rookie this time, so I'm more comfortable.  Evelyn and Lucie are here to take care of home and Dal and Sam. I'm even ready to do that old manual transmission driving thing. One of the other main differences this assignment, will be that I already have tentative plans with friends who live nearby, so we can get together on weekends or meet in the middle somewhere. I continue to marvel at the globalness of my life these days.  Even in the excitement of new people, new places and new things; I still miss home and the sweet, simple, gentle life we have from just this spot along the Lot.

All Souls Memories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine years ago this afternoon, Kathleen and Tom and I were wandering around the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris together.  We'd only arrived that morning, spending a few days in Paris on our way to Cahors so I could sign the intent to purchase on the Chatette.  I'd always known about All Saints Day, but I first learned that there even was an All Soul's Day that day from my brother-in-law, Tom.  We aren't a morbid bunch or anything, but we do like cemeteries...their beauty, history, stories, and really-they can be that jumping off spot to the heavens.  I wasn't one bit surprised when our tiny Cadrieu Cemetery became a favorite spot in the village for Kat and Tom.  So today, All Souls Day has rekindled some wonderful memories, and given me a very good excuse (not that I need one) to share our wonderful village cemetery with Kat and Tom from a distance. Kat says that every time she sees that huge ancient cedar tree, she knows she is "home in Cadrieu." And for me, I wish they could be here.

 

 

On Our Way to...

We've been in process with our pumpkins here since they were humped down the hill from Simone and Auguste's earlier in the week.  The question around the Chatette these days is: "And, how many pictures of pumpkins can just one person take?" If Evelyn and I are any example-PLENTY!  From still life, to jack-o-lanterns, to still life again, I'm surprised our three very cute guys weren't screaming STOP at the top of their lungs a long time ago.  As my friend Rob used to say: "You're moreish, Laury!" I kept taking more and more and more, and then after I thought I was done; I'd see a new angle or arrangement and I was off and running once more.  I guess it was fun I deserved after spending all of yesterday afternoon getting our guys carved.  They hung out on the terrace a bit, filled the ledges of the cliff behind the Chatette, graced the windows of the barn, dangled from the corner of the lavoir, and when Christiane dropped by with grandson Tom, our favorite little guy went home to live with Tom.  (Shame on us, that was one photo we didn't get-Tom and our favorite guy together!) It was especially fun to see our guy sitting on the bannister at Tom's house, when Evelyn, Lucie, Dali and I passed by on our walk this morning.  I think you can see that a very Happy Halloween was had by all in our little corner of the world.