Soar-Dream-France

Rainy Days Photo Fun

It seems like everything we've been doing the last week has been done between raindrops and downpours. Squeezing in walks has been a challenge. Sam stays under the covers on my bed or makes a new spot. And, Dal and Lucie want a treat for each raindrop. We may have skipped fall and gone straight into winter. But, my girls are very photogenic in their rainy day selves and we make our own fun!

The Best Cappuccino?

Yumm...cappuccino! I love it and have enjoyed exploring various locales and establishments during many vacations and subsequent life in the Lot. On one of my first trips to Paris, I quite naively decided that I was on the quest for the "best" cappuccino. I was driven to my quest when my ex-pat boyfriend's children debated the philosophical issue of what makes french bread "good". I realize that "good" is different from "best" and should be easier to define.

Although there is a basic cappuccino, everyone does them up differently. In Paris, I'd decided that Segefrado was my favorite. Here in the Lot, my three favorites are from: The President/Cajarc; The PMU/Cajarc and the PMU/Figeac. I scooped these photos of my cappuccino at the PMU in Figeac while I relaxed before catching the bus home the other day. It was just so pretty, fluffy, frothy, sweet, warm and toasty. What standards would you use to pick your "best" cappuccino? Whether you're a cappuccino purist or a cappuccino sweetie, you can find exactly what you're looking for if you're willing to explore. And, don't forget to have a lot of fun along the way!

From Fire to Fur

 

Sunday morning's sunrise was full of fire...fire so brilliant it took your breath away. As the week has gone on, we've had less brilliance and more softness through heavier morning mists. It's difficult to decide which is prettier. Every morning is beautiful. Every morning is different. With the weather patterns beginning to change, fall is on the way and so is our impending departure. I feel the tenderness in our change. Which do you prefer?

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing Another Kind of Travel

It's easy for me to keep up with the years married for Mom and Dad. It's always one more than my age. Good thing...at least back then anyway. So today I celebrate the marriage of my Mom and Dad. I searched for a shot of them having some fun somewhere. This shot of them taken at Silver Dollar City in the Missouri Ozarks, near Branson, did the trick.

We didn't get to start having "real" vacations until I was in the 7th grade and Dad began working for McDonnell-Douglas Corporation-now Boeing. Our family vacation was a trip to Silver Dollar City every summer for a week. We'd rent a cabin nearby, get our week long passes, swim, eat and we were in heaven.

I've always been grateful that Dad was able to retire at 55, and he and Mom got to travel. They loved it. At 60, his mobility became a problem so traveling as a couple stopped. Mom would still come to visit us on her own sometimes, but over time that stopped too. I know I'm not the only one who longs for the days when they could travel together. When I called to say Happy Anniversary, Mom said they were getting out their wedding and trip albums and sharing memories together. Hmmm, sounds like just a different kind of travel to me. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad-Love, Laury

Winding Down Wines at the Wagon

With Joan in town for a visit, we had to do a little wine at the wagon sometime during the short time she was here and Saturday night was it. Waking up that morning, it appeared the weather had what I've come to call: The Wine at the Wagon Kiss of Death...it was raining. Even though we always have the covered terrace, and porch swing as a back up plan, by the very late afternoon the sun was shining and our tucked away little corner over there was fresh, sweet and dry when I checked it out. On with wine at the wagon!

Gearing down here to head back to the states, I asked everyone to bring something to nibble on. And after all, I still have my wall of wine left over from the vernissage...lots of boxes ready and waiting! I propped up my ancient rake, hung the wine glasses, wine-boxed up the end of the wagon and we were ready to go. The wagon is such a pretty and perfect spot to entertain from. I stood against the wall in the very back corner before everyone arrived and just sucked in our place. We've come so far together. The change during our years of here is incredible. I'm holding out for at least one more Wine at the Wagon while Marina is here next week.

Hmmm...how am I going to translate this to New Orleans? Maybe Kirs on the Curb? Beers in the Back? I'm sure we can come up with something! I'm open to any and all suggestions!

Treats Girls Rule

This may look like any other normal cookie tin, but reach inside and you'll be surprised. It's full of Dali's favorite doggie treats. Lucie is here to stay with us for a few weeks while Evelyn is in the states, so every morning while my coffee is making the treats girls wait patiently for me to open up their tin. They know what's inside. Dali is lucky Lucie is here...Lucie loves the little bone biscuits that Dali turns her nose up at. Lucie gets half of a bone and Dali gets a whole biscuit of something else she prefers. Could you say no to those two sweet faces gazing at you with lust in their eyes? I know they love me, but let's face it...that's treats lust not Laury lust! We're happy to all be together again! Off to walk off those treats!

Morning Has Broken

Morning is my very best time of the day no matter where I am in the world. My place on the Lot makes enjoying the mornings easiest, with the beauty of our sunrises, sunsets, and dancing diamonds right outside my windows on the Lot and my terrace. We have those specatculars in New Orleans too; I just have to travel a little further to find them...a bike ride away. I've been thinking about what is outside my windows in New Orleans.

After the storm when I was living back in the apartment, I looked out my windows to see a number of blue roofs on Broad Street. Over time, my trumpet plants returned, the fences and uprooted concrete were repaired, and my limited garden space was replanted. My friends and I used to put up the colorful umbrella, get some wine, cheese, fruit and other goodies and "pretend France" in the backyard. (And yes, a number of those get togethers are already in the works.) But this time, I will be living in the big house for the first time since the storm seven years ago. I don't remember spectaculars right out my windows. I'd always go to Bayou St. John or City Park to capture them. You can be sure that if these spectaculars appear right outside my Columbus Street windows, I will share them with you. Until then:

I leave you with some New Orleans spectaculars to make you smile!

 

 

 

Vote-Vote-Vote

Voting is important! I don't care what side of the fence you are on, I have always encouraged everyone to vote. I've even gone so far as to assist the "few" of my friends that are on the opposite side of the fence from me, in getting registered or voting absentee. Then, there are the other "few" of my friends who are on my side of the fence who are not registered to vote. This frustrates the hell out of me because there seems to be nothing I can do to convince them that voting is important.

I'm done. I've voted. My absentee ballots will go out in tomorrow's mail from France, to be counted on Election Night in New Orleans. Even though I will now be there in person on that night, I wanted to go ahead and vote my ballots that arrived just to be sure I'm covered. I feel good to know that this is one more thing I can check off my list.

I voted for my President!

Bottle Binning

I know I'm nuts. You don't have to tell me. I've been taking pictures of the inside of the bottle bin for years! Usually it is full, but this time it wasn't and the sun was shining in so nicely that I got beautiful effects. It seems like the Wizard of Oz should live here!

After last year's summer full of hunting glass yogurt jars, I found myself loading them and the other glass items into my handy purple back pack for their bin journey. Knowing that we are going to be gone for an extended period of time, I'm into my purging, cleaning and giving away mode here. There isn't a lot. I've been much more minimalist in France than I was those almost 30 years in New Orleans. I'm hoping to take the minimalist approach back with me to New Orleans! A friend of mine asked me: "Where's all your stuff?" I told him: "I don't have any stuff." The light finally dawned for him and we laughed. I am walking back in to an empty house. I don't need much. We're starting fresh. And, I think that's just the way it's supposed to be. 

I've got the Wizard here...where are those ruby red slippers when you need them? Have a nice weekend everyone!

 

A Very Green Day

 

Color can often express how we feel. When I'm working with clients who have trouble describing their feelings, we start with color. I often ask them to choose a color that describes their feelings in that moment. Sometimes I get: "I don't feel colors." We move on and try another approach. But, most people can choose a color and use it to describe how they are feeling. Here in the Lot, my color is often chosen for me when I walk out the door. I tease that this place is greener than green. I bet there are a million different shades. One day last week the color was green-and green in more than just the trees. Green makes me smile and feel alive! How about you?

Can anyone guess what the very green shot below is? I had some fun with this and will share the rest with you tomorrow!