Soar-Dream-France

Angel Rose

Simple things excite me. Just looking at this photo makes me smile. This is my life. Sharing these moments through my blog and photography, is the only way that most of you can reach out and touch this luxurious life I live in the Lot. Some of you I may never know. Some of you I've met. And then, there are those I feel I know. We write. We comment. We communicate through email or Facebook, away from the blog. There are many. You know who you are. But today, my Angel Rose is for Jen Borel. I feel her genuineness, in a world where genuine is sometimes difficult to grasp. And...even more difficult to hold on to. To Jen-With Love from the Lot

Liquid Lessons Learned

This glass of wine is one of the best. I know exactly how much it costs. There are no surprises. I've already shared our 10€ Montmartre Biére Pression story with you. Time for true confessions- I should have learned my lesson from the weekend before in Luxembourg. I was so happy to find a place to sit and write my postcards to the states. I asked for a glass of red wine.

The waitress offered a "demi", which in France is usually a pichet  and  runs about 5 or so euros. She returned, poured my glass of wine, and said 18 euros! She noticed I was shocked and asked if it was too much? I told her it was more than I expected, as she went on about what a great Bordeaux it was. My rationale was much the same-I'm on vacation-I'm in Luxembourg-but I have to tell you-I drank every last drop. Evelyn and I were sure to check the price on our cider at the Creperie Beaubourg in Paris that Saturday night following our Montmartre Beers and I'm now happy to be home where I know I can sit on the terrace and enjoy a very good red wine for just one euro-and leave a euro tip!

Terrasse Times in the Making

 
Believe it or not, you know this place. I've shared La Cazelle with you before...a place of beautiful wisteria, wonderful proprietors, nice vin rouge and lots of kiss-kiss-kissing. I didn't have a lot of time left in Figeac yesterday between grocery shopping and the bus, but I saw a sign in the window as I passed that said something about enjoying our "terrasse dernier". I went in, ordered a "très petit vin rouge" (after all it was only 11:30) and was directed to the terrasse when I couldn't quite seem to decide where to sit. The waitress and I passed through the kitchen, where the proprietor was cooking, and out on to this beautiful terrasse. I got my kiss-kisses, sufficiently oohed and aahed, drank my wine, shot some shots, ate a cherry straight from the tree above my table, and promised to return for a meal. They've obviously been working very hard and are very proud of this new addition. It changes the whole ambiance of the place and opens it up tremendously. Of course, I'll be back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanky Required-Bonjour Evelyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Mom-As you can see, I'm at my usual spot. Laury says the sofa has my name on it and I believe her. Laury's doing her best to keep up with our routine-walk in the morning, walk to the river at lunch, food, medicine, the works. But now, she's outside so much that I'm spending a lot of time on my new extendable leash. I know you'll remember the day that this photo was taken on the left. I didn't mean to run away and leave you up in the causse looking for me, but I was missing Dali and Sam. I know it's why Laury won't let me off my leash unless she's with me...I don't mind. I'm just happy to be them where ever they go. I miss you Mom. We all miss you, but we're already looking forward to when you come back in September. Love, Lucie

ps-You need to talk to Laury. She's started calling me her "Lucie-goosey-girl". I guess I can get used to it, but I'm not sure I like the implications!

Colorful Carousels

Coming up from the metro at the Place Jules Joffrin, I've seen this tiny carousel every time. Prior to this trip, it has always been closed. This time, I was in luck and so were the tiny ones who were having a ball. The color here was striking. And of course, the one at the Abbesses Metro was just as colorful as I remembered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Candle Close-Ups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Fairies are hard at work!

 

Really Home

Home. I dream about it when I'm away. I'm here, but it doesn't seem real. I'm pinching myself. Am I really here, or is this just another one of those dreams conjured up when I'm sleeping in hotel rooms? I knew it was real this morning when I turned off all the lights and lit my candles. It was one of those silent, soft, nurturing mornings when the birds are welcoming the dawn in between gentle raindrops in the lushness that surrounds us. I am home.

 

Say It With Flowers-Roses Will Do

The Chatette knows how to say it with flowers. My roses welcome home was incredible. I was right...the poppies are just now popping, my lavender and butterfly plants are about to bloom, and I'm ready. Of course, there's grass to be cut, weeds to be pulled, and pruning to do so that hidden daisies and peonies can catch enough sun, but who's complaining? Not me.

 

 

 

 

 

Heartbreaking Visual Violations

Having already shared these beautiful murals on the walls following the staircase up at the Abbesses Metro Stop, those that follow below are hard to share. Evelyn and I almost cried when we saw what you can see a hint of in the top corner of this shot. I don't know what is going on, but the metro station was not the only surface visually raped. It was pervasive beyond Montmartre and could be seen everywhere we walked in Paris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris Pennies

From under this awning, as close to on the street in the center of Place du Tertre as one could be: Evelyn and I pit stopped and enjoyed a bière pression as we ogled the passersby. Our two huge beers arrived in sync with the keystone cop-like exit from the police car of three very cute officers. They smiled. We ogled. (It's those flight pants that get me every time.) We watched: someone running by on tip toe who was apparently being chased out of somewhere; artists playing the tourists; a roley poly drunk who Red Skeltoned his way around the square; couples beside us doing what couples do in Paris, youngsters sitting beside us but not paying and being chased off, giggly girls, and on and on. We caught up some. We talked about what we might want to do the next day together and just soaked in this place I love. Imagine our shock when the bill came for our two beers...10 euros each! Lesson learned-check the price before you buy...but even so, we sat for over an hour, the beers were big and the street side entertainment, sharing with a good friend, and the Place du Tertre on a warm spring evening under a smiling moon and a star lit sky are priceless. It was worth every penny and more.