Soar-Dream-France

Tick-Tocks, Ding-Dongs, and More

With each tick-tock of the clock and the ding-dongs of the bells, our return to the states is becoming more real. It shouldn't come as a surprise. I knew that once Marina got on that midnight train last night, I would have nothing left to distract me from focusing on all I need to do to be ready to head to Toulouse on October 22.

Actually, we're in pretty good shape. My big red suitcase is open and ready. I'm already triaging: putting in, removing, and weighing as I go. Sam's and Dali's carriers have been cleaned.

I'm getting together starter packs of necessities for us to be ready with the essentials once we arrive. We have a starter pack for Dali, a starter pack for Sam, an Office starter pack, the music starter pack, and although I'm not putting together a kitchen starter pack...I am packing a corkscrew! There are priorities!

 

Overalls in Love

No make-up. Nasty overalls. Curler holding up my hair. But, Marina got me giggling like a teenager again and we ended up with a photo that screams ME! These overalls will not be coming back to the states, so I have to squeeze every wear out of them I can before I put them away in the armoire to await my return to get back to work. I've decided to bring the pink pair and my overalls gift from Niels back to the states with me. Afterall, International Overalls Weekend is coming up and I need to be ready! Thanks for all the photo fun and a truly incredible visit, Marina! My nasty overalls love you and your camera!

The Rest of the Girls

The "girls" were everywhere at Rocamadour. Their Black Madonna is famous. I found my personal favorite, St. Therese of Lisieux, and then there were those two girls I came with.

Special thanks to Jean for all the driving she's been doing for us, and to Marina for a wonderful lunch! Our fun is about to end, until the next time! 

We'll Miss You Marina!

Spirit-filled Stone...Communion

Yesterday's "girl-star" is incredibly multi-faceted. I think I was able to catch her from most angles and moods. Ah, she caught me. She intrigued me. She pulled me to her. She spoke to me. Everywhere I went, there she was. Looking down on me, watching over me...that sense of loving and protection all wrapped up in one. I didn't notice that bird resting on her shoulder until I was looking back over the photos on the way home in the car. She touched me, but I could only touch her with my camera. Rocamadour-a day of girls, communion, moods and memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls' Days

Whether two-legged or four-legged, the girls have been having fun...dinners on the terrace, lunch at Rocamadour, shopping, shopping, shopping, ice-cream in the park, making new discoveries, and just catching up on quality time with girlfriends.

 

For some reason, a number of "girls" caught my eye at Rocamadour that I don't remember seeing there before. So many impressive women all in one place.

This imposing "girl" was looking down at me from on high the first time I saw her. She didn't look to happy to me from there, but as the day went on I discovered her softer sides. 

        Stay tuned for more!

Happy Places

With Marina here, we're managing to have fun and get work done too. I'm on a mission to clean and varnish all the windows, doors and shutters prior to my departure. It's probably been done twice since I bought the house, but now that we'll be gone for a longer period of time I want to be sure that the exposed surfaces are going to have an extra layer of protection. And besides, it looks so pretty!

I always loved my house on Columbus Street. There, I paid people to do things for me because I was working like a dog. Here, I enjoy doing many of those same things myself. I so enjoy loving on and touching this place. I expect to be doing more of that on Columbus Street this time around...quality relationships with places are important too.

Walnutting

Do I need one more walnut? Absolutely not! What I do need is to keep doing the things I love doing here right up to the time we head back to the states on the 22nd. Scooping walnuts up off the traintracks, picking rose hips to make tea, enjoy my "four-legged" family and friends...even cutting the grass! I have no grass in New Orleans. Grass cutting has become therapeutic for me-but not so therapeutic that you'll see me pushing a lawnmower over the cement on Columbus Street.

Marina's here. Walnutting pairs nicely with terrace conversation, photo opportunities and reconnecting face to face that you just can't do over the phone or the net!

 

New Orleans Roses In Our Future

No matter when or where, our roses are spectacular. I started with one in this vase. In no time, I had three from the same bush that grabbed me with their beauty and aroma every time I passed. Not only did I have to touch them, I had to stick my nose right down in them! Ahhhh! No roses in New Orleans. I have a feeling there might be a bush or two in our future!

Flowering into Fall

The pleasure I get from my roses is endless. It appears that we are coming into our last hurrahs of the season, but then I still find buds and new growth. They have been pretty, prolific, and pleasuring!

I think about the extremes of this life of mine. Here I have gardens, land, budlheas, roses, bird balls, the barn, farm equipment, lavender, the lavoir, the river and so much more just right out my door. I am very spoiled in my heaven on earth and I expect some of it to come along to New Orleans with us.

Don't be one bit surprised if you should pass by Columbus Street to find: window boxes full of flowers and herbs everywhere, bird balls or feeders hanging out the kitchen windows, a colorful umbrella and table and chairs up and out in the back yard, and all the windows and shutters open to the street with a little of Francis Cabrel's: Samedi Soir Sur La Terre floating out those windows as Sammie cat snoozes in the sunshine. And, that's only part of the picture I'm painting!