Soar-Dream-France

Tour de France Cahors Memories

With the Tour de France passing through Cahors today, I had to post these photos full of fun memories that I shared with Jean's and Joan's families the year we took the bus into Cahors to see "Le Tour". (I believe it was the summer of 2007, but I could be wrong.) Friends in the states have been asking about whether it gets close to us, and I'd have to say that within the 10 years I've owned the Chatette...it's probably passed in easy siting distance 4-6 times...Figeac, Cahors, Villefranche, Villeneuve and probably others.

I tease all the time, I'm waiting for the day when it passes in front of the Chatette. It hasn't yet, but if I find out it is we'll be having one hell of a party. With five windows on the road, out come the upstairs screens, open all the downstairs shutters, prune all the trees and shrubs along the road, and we'll be ready! Tour de France Cadrieu Central-Here we come!

 

Saint Marina in My Pocket

Today, July 20, is Saint Marina Day according to my orange.fr page. Most of you know that every day of the year is Saint-named in France. How appropos that as I sit down to write a huge merci to Marina...it is actually Saint Marina Day. And, a saint she is. We share our love of photography and have so much fun when she's here. We pose. We shoot each other. We set up shots that are silly, romantic, sexy, and interesting. Marina has gone a step further: I've become Mona Lisa; she's made a poppy hat for me to wear with my overalls; she's put ballet dancing fairies in my roses; and, made a handsome man on a horse who was passing by the Chatette even more handsome.

I've been wanting a new digital camera, but couldn't quite make a decision about what to get. And so, when my snazzy red Panasonic Lumix arrived the other day...it was a done deal. Saint Marina strikes again. While I was pondering, she took action. She says it's an early birthday/hostess gift, but I know it is a much larger gift than that. Every shot I take I think of Marina. She is with me. Her spirit and energy guide my shots and make me smile every time I turn the camera on. I'm still exploring, but my new camera is in my pocket and ready for action. It's as if Marina is in my pocket. I half-way expect her head to pop out and say: "Laury, look at that light over here!; Don't miss that hummingbird moth!; or, Hey, catch Dali and Sam in the sunshine!" From now on, every photo will carry the spirit of Marina! What could be-MORE FUN? Thank you Saint Marina!

 

Out to Pasture...Cameras and Overalls

 

Sometimes you just have to move on. For me, it's often kicking and screaming but I eventually get there. This week held a couple of moving ons for me. My Canon is going to be replaced by the gift of this sweet, red, snazzy, Lumix digital camera that arrived for me from the states and my every day overalls have become BARN Overalls. I'm ready with a new camera, but now it looks like it's time for new everyday overalls.

I spend a lot of time pondering purchases, especially when I have to order them and they may not fit once they arrive. We shall see. But for now, I love how the Lumix eases in and out of the pockets of all my overalls. I am such a "camera in my pocket" girl! More tomorrow, with thank-yous and a Lumix photo or two!

Bring on the Butterflies

 

Finishing up as much digging in the barn as I could handle yesterday, I found myself on the terrace cleaning up my ancient plow to get it ready to be varnished. After working at something that is so slow going, in the dark, and tedious; it was wonderful to be out in the sunshine. I wasn't alone. My budlheas have been full of butterflies, hummingbird moths, and a few bumble bees or so. I've taken to sitting in my rocking chair with my feet propped up on the stone ledge and letting them surround me. They dive bomb in over the umbrella, chase each other around, and just generally have a blast. Apparently, budlheas aren't the only butterly plant. I discovered this very special guy hanging out on the hanging bag near the window. What a treat! I had a picture in my mind of what we'd be like as all the flowers were purchased and budlheas were planted. The reality is better than anything I could have dreamed!

An Irrigation Celebration

So often on my bike, the sun shines rainbows through the hard working mist of the pumps and irrigators. It may be no big deal to most of the people here, but the first time I saw one riding my bike into Cajarc back in 2006: I was certain I would have a charmed day. Now I know, I have a charmed life. With so many other things in these lives of ours, all of the conditions have to be just right. If just one piece to the puzzle is missing or you take a step forward, to the back or to the side...it's gone. I'd never tried to hang on to an irrigator rainbow moment before...What a treat and celebration of living this sweet, simple, wonderful life in Cadrieu!

Irrigation Station

Timing can be everything! I've never had a day quite like this one. I'd have to call it irrigation day. Every time I went out on my bike the irrigators were pumping and spurting, and never quite so prolific as this. I felt like a kid on the first visit to the water park. Remembering how pretty my snow photos were when I took them while it was snowing, I: went home; got my camera; returned to park my bike nearby; and just jumped right in. My neighbors were coming back from their field beside this one and agreed that it would be a very pretty photo. (Little did they know, it wouldn't be just one! ) My second bike ride of the day provided more irrigation celebration. I'll share that with you tomorrow!

Magic LauryLand

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week Marina coined the phrase: Magic LauryLand. She got me to thinking even more about what our place looks like to others-especially children. When I went out to lock up the barn and close down the umbrella on the wagon last night...Magic LauryLand appeared before my very eyes!

Feeling "French"-Joyeux Quatorze Juillet!

Birthdays have been taking me into Cajarc by bike more regularly the last couple of weeks. Getting cards to the states for family and friends takes forethought if you want to be timely. Forgetting the French holidays can really mess you up. So on Friday, I was off by bike to get cards, write cards, mail cards, and pick up a few things at the Intermarche to tide me over into next week.

I'm loving being back on my bike...the freedom, the exercise, and feeling good all over just by having my biking legs back again. On the way home, I remembered my favorite garden plot near the river and thought it might be more in bloom than on my last visit. I was right. Parking my bike and my backpack, I walked up and down the road trying to get some pretty shots that felt French to me. What better way to say Happy Birthday to a nation and savor your own independence, on your bike beside the river soaking up the beautiful flowers of a very happy garden. Happy Bastille Day! Happy Quatorze Juillet!

...and I hope you enjoy this little bit of an independence day in France!

Moving on Up and Behind

Up in the loft varnishing the outside of the top doors, gives me a whole new view and a few more challenges. Height is one thing, but holes in the floor are something else. I have to be particularly careful that I don't set my foot down in a place where there is no wood. You can see why I've hung my sign on the door and now keep the barn locked whenever I'm not right there. It's a huge inconvenience because it means locking and unlocking all the time, but necessary. The next day the girls were back. Evelyn reports that they stood in front of the sign, had a conversation and went back up the hill. We know exactly where they would have been if the barn had been open and there'd been no sign. I shouldn't have to do this, but until something changes this is just the way it's going to have to be.

I'd already noticed how pretty the loft doors are from behind. Even though there's less opportunity to see them and they may be a little more treacherous to get done, I have a feeling that the end result will be worth it. We shall see!

Puppies and Passings-Flowers for My Friends

If I were back in the states, I could be patting puppy Titus on the head and hugging my friend from graduate school who just lost her Mom. But, I'm not. So instead, I send these flowers to say: I'm thinking of you; I wish I could be there to share the joy and the sorrow; and, I wish you could be here. If you were, we'd sit at this table and talk for hours, share a wine or a coffee, and of course, all the delicacies of here that accompany them. But the most cherished delicacy...our love and friendship that continues even with 5000 miles and an ocean between us! Love to you and all the rest-Laury