Soar-Dream-France

The Road to Vote

Today, the French have the opportunity to cast their vote for the President of France. It's important. In my past life, I was active in politics. I worked for many elected officials in New Orleans over the years. Some of that "activity" was by choice and some of it was because I wanted to keep my job. That's what happens when you "serve at the pleasure"!

I'm still learning about the French system. Unless there is a landslide today for one candidate, this will only be round one. It is predicted to be neck and neck, but the wildcards are the undecideds and the abstentions. So tonight at 6pm, I plan to wander up this road to the Mairie to see how Cadrieu votes. It's fun for me. You can actually see each vote counted. I'll be back tomorrow with the results. Here are a few other shots from along the voting road. Happy Sunday!



 

April Showers Bring...

Bemoaning the rain together on the phone with one of my British friends, we agreed that since these April showers bring May flowers we won't complain. But then I went on to add in that other little ditty we sometimes say in the states: "And, what do Mayflowers bring?" It was reflex action. I should have caught myself. Mayflowers...Pilgrims...American Independence...But, it was too late. She's a good sport though so we had a good laugh and went on. Happy Weekend! And...it's still raining!

Wrapped in Nannie's Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holidays have different feelings and depth of meaning for each family. When we were growing up, Thanksgiving was a big holiday that we shared with our Nannie and Papa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the side-effects to this weather we've been having, is a cold Chatette once more. Working upstairs one day, I broke into my winter clothes again to get a turtle neck sweater. Just as I was ready to pull it out, that 100% wool, button up, navy blue ribbed sweater that had been Nannie's screamed: "Wear me, wear me!" How could I not?

 

 

That day became Nannie's day, and she's been close by ever since. It isn't just because I've been wearing her sweater every day. I already live with her diamond studded gold wedding band on my right hand. I have: the apron she used to wear at Thanksgiving tied to one of my ladders; lace table cloths; her deer floral arrangement center-piece, and the Madam Alexander Russian Doll that she gave me when I began to take Russian in college.

It isn't even about the stuff. I admit, seeing it makes me think of her. It's in the feeling her, in the paying attention to her presence and a boundaryless communion that we share. When I told her about the premonition I had about Papa dying on the day that he died, she could have said a lot of things. (At 16, I was more than a little worried that I might be crazy.) Instead, she said: "Sometimes when people really love you, they can communicate with you in unusual ways. Your Papa loved you so much that he wanted you to know it was time for him to go. He wanted to tell you goodby."  Nannie didn't shut me down. She encouraged me to pay attention to my feelings and feel that love even more. That special communication has continued throughout my life with many people that I have loved, lost and found again. Here. Home. I've found that the timelessness and boundarylessness of this place always wrap me in that love.

So coming up on Nannie's birthday, I celebrate her on-going love and the gift she gave me of learning to love more.

Room for Rainbows

We've been having that four seasons in a day (sometimes an hour) weather around here this week. I've surrendered, making many of these days "inside days". Trying to work in the garden or begin projects outside ensures that you will be wet or hit by hail sometime before you're finished. The teasing sun is in and out. I've learned. It no longer lures me into the garden or out to walk Dals. By the time I put on my work clothes, it's raining again. In between the sun and the rain and the rain and the sun, the valley sometimes gets this very green green. It's electric! I know when I see it-the rainbows are sneaking in. And last night, they did just that. We had two. What a treat!

Where does your wine go while you're madly shooting photographs of rainbows? I wasn't sure where mine had gone. Luckily, it was waiting patiently on the window ledge for my return. We then leaned out the window together, to enjoy the rainbows until it was time for them to go and our dinner guests to arrive.

Surprises and Smiles

Yesterday, I wrote about all that has come to us here in wonderful ways. I believe in part because we live here all the time now. The barn became part of our "we" in May of 2010, along with all of its contents, 3 parcels of land and apparently the strip of land along the train tracks too. Since then: the spring/summer of 2010 I worked on the barn and the land behind it; spring/summer of 2011 I worked on the barn, the farm equipment and the land to the right of the lavoir; and this season I've begun to work on the circular piece of land surrounded by this beautiful old stone wall. The photo above should give you some idea of where we started.

I am constantly amazed at what I find covered up by weeds, vines, brambles and dead trees. This parcel of land is at least twice the size it appeared when it was totally overgrown. I try to do a little bit every day when it's not raining. I love seeing progress, even when it is petit à petit. But then, all I have to do is compare the new shots to the old ones and the change is incredible! I do what I can with in my talents, skill set, and available equipment. (I never thought that I would ponder purchasing my very own chainsaw, or having someone teach me how to set a safe fire so I can burn all the overgrowth!) It can be slow going, but that's okay. I'm here to love this place. Me and my overalls might be damp, dirty, bleeding, torn, and sore-but I've done as much as I can with what I have to work with.Touching this place, listening to the lavoir, the basin and the birds; I am sure I feel what it might have been through the centuries. I believe that touching it, working it, and loving on it is important.

So, if you should drive up the road from Evelyn's some day, as you pass the Château, look to the left...that overalls clad woman, hanging from the tree, in her red St. Louis Cardinals Baseball cap would be me.

Lot Lesson: Finding joy in each step even when I don't know the way; brings new discoveries and surprises to make me smile.

 I leave you with some of my SMILES!

A Long Ladder of Lace

Living here full-time has changed my life-but especially our life here in huge ways. Some things just don't happen when you're only dropping in from time to time...being here-availability-engagement in a community...it's all been really wonderful for me. Our barn and the land that came with her are the biggest pieces to that puzzle of the more from just being in this place. But then, there's the farm equipment. We already had our ladder, wagon and plow in the barn. Then last year we were given another ladder (very very tall) and this year another plow (18th century)-both from Willie Braun. I spent a lot of time last September cleaning and varnishing this ladder you see in the photos. She reaches from the first floor all the way up to the ceiling of the loft bedroom. I think she's found a permanent home. On my last trip to the states, Mom pulled out a box of lace doilies that have been in our family for years. I love lace. I can get carried away. Plus, they are pretty easy to pack and bring back to France with me. So, not only did a bunch come home with me but they're not just sitting in a closet somewhere...they're out here on our ladder for all of us to enjoy.

Lot Lesson: If I sit still long enough...what I love comes to me! 

Music of the Rain

From under my covered terrace, the music of the rain is endless. Although it's been gently falling on the roof almost daily, by the end of a week of gentle we have thunder. The waterfalls return to the Château, the land and the basin fill, the water pushes hard into the lavoir, and is carried into an underground canal that goes under the road to an above ground canal  which feeds into the river. It's hard not to feel magic in the middle of all this music and movement!

When Less is MORE-Facebook Friends

How many times in one day do you post to Facebook?

I would like to encourage some of my friends on Facebook to consider the old concept "Less is More". There are some days when I receive close to 25 hits in a row from the same person-music-photos-quotes-causes. I don't understand this. What is the motivation? What do you hope to gain? I end up just scrolling through it to get to the end and not even reading what's been posted.

I care about my "friends". This "unfriending" stuff is not very appealing to me. But since my Facebook is "en Français" you are asked if you want to "retire" someone. I like the idea of retiring you, but still being friends. I hope that's possible. If it keeps up the way it has recently, I see some of my friends heading toward early retirement.

Oh, and by the way-I don't play games, do contests, or participate in chain letter type things-especially if they threaten me! Whew-that feels better! Happy Sunday Everyone!

After Rain, Rain, and More Rain...

...how wonderful to be able to sit out on my favorite Figeac terrace in the sunshine and enjoy a glass of red before walking down the street to catch the bus home! I'd walked over to the market hoping to find seat cushions (for the 4th time) for the terrace furniture once more...but rien! So, I decided to take a new route over to the Carrefour and crossed the walking bridge into the free parking lot. Spring was springing. I was happy I had my camera with me and didn't have to rush through such a beautiful walk...flowers everywhere! Coming out of the Carrefour, loaded down with groceries in my miraculous, bottomless backpack; the sun was out. It had warmed up considerably since I'd waited for the bus that morning, so off came my patched blue jean jacket. I still had three layers to go...a fine science for this time of year! I began to think that another layer peel might be necessary!

I'd hoped the wisteria might be blooming above the entrance to the tabac, but I instead discovered lots of buds with only a full bloom or two. I asked Marc if I could sit on the terrace with my wine, and it was all mine! He even had to take a chair down for me so I could sit at the solitary table. I was a sponge...I soaked up the scenery, the sunshine, and yes...my quick red wine. (Little did I know that there was even more waiting for me at home.) You'll find a little of my "soaking" below. Happy Weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy to Please With Cheese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digging into the archives today to give you a point of reference for a future post that also involves screaming and cheese! One might say that I'm easily entertained. Most of my friends can attest to that fact! I hope you'll enjoy this post from April, 2012! Happy Saturday!

 

 

I opened this Rustique Camembert and screamed for joy! The last one I'd opened did NOT have the tiny "Rustique" sticker that you see on the cheese above and on the left. I'd feared they'd gone the way of some cost-cutting measure, never to be seen again. They are such a nice touch and make this wonderful camembert even more special for me. As you can see: I'm beginning my days with cheese, fruit and walnuts for petit dejeuner; I put these stickers in my journal to dress them up a bit; and when I'm finished with the cheese-the lids are thick enough to become great drink coasters or platforms for dripping memory bottle candles. I've even discovered that Jane and Yves use the bottoms with the sweet red and white checked papers as olive pit and nut shell holders at parties!

I sure hope they keep doing what they're doing over there at Le Rustique in Normandy. Their camembert is already my favorite, but with all these little perks it's become a regular part of my life in France. Having just rearranged the kitchen, I've been looking for something to cover the newly configured counter space. I'd sure love to have some oilcloth with every inch covered in graphics of these great stickers for my counter. Sounds like a great advertising scheme to me! Don't you think that Rustique oilcloth would blend in beautifully with the rest of my Babar and Buddy Lee motif?

 

Happy Weekend, and enjoy...

 

...a little 2015 cheese tease!