Soar-Dream-France

From Balls to Bells

On the hunt for bird balls to lure our feathered friends closer to the basement window, I discovered these bird seed bells at the grocery store. They are bulkier than what I'm used to, but very pretty and in sync with the season. Even with a pretty Christmas ribbon, it doesn't seem like the birds have been tempted to feast. Little of our bell has disappeared, but that doesn't keep Sam from gazing at it on a crisp sunshiny afternoon in anticipation. We have a few more weeks. If these St. Louis birds don't get busy-our bell will be coming to New Orleans for some Columbus Street bird action!

Almost Instant Christmas

It was easy. All I had to do was go down to the basement and carry my old "Yogi Bear" Christmas tree up the steps, into the living room and plug it in. Voila!

The part that wasn't so easy was making up my mind if it was worth clearing out a little more room than usual and choosing a different spot so we could actually see the pretty fireplace this year. I decided it was worth a try.

When I left for the post office Mom was still in bed. I told her she'd find a surprise in the living room. I also told her that if she didn't like it I'd fix it when I got back.

As much as she did like it, she had lots of reasons why it wouldn't work. I expected them all and will gladly move the tree back to its usual spot. But hidden somewhere deep in our tree conversation, I found music to my ears: "I have to be realistic, Laury." I'm hoping Christmas Tree realism carries over elsewhere! Happy Saturday!

Barns of Another Color-Ferguson

Many county municipalities were once rural residences or a "residence secondaire" for urban dwellers. Finding barns on my wanders, should be no surprise. You have: barns turned garage; barns turned home; and on this trip one even had train tracks in its backyard! They aren't as close as mine, but good thing...these trains still run!

Although these house barns are made of wood and have large and many windows, it was interesting to see the similarity of the roof design to our stone baby back home.

When I took these photos, I walked up Elizabeth toward Chambers/Hereford, right down Darst and then took a left and walked to the dead end of Clay. There's a sidewalk that runs along the little barn house that takes you to the tracks where you can make a short cut to the post office!

Off to the Ferguson Post Office again today. More barn wanderings await!

My Two Old Girls

 

Thinking about my two old girls the other day, I remembered this post I'd written on December 6, 2012 when Dali, Sam and I were staying with Mom at 411 while Dad was in the REACH Program at the Care Center at Hidden Lake. It's a poignant piece these days, with Mom's passing this February and Dal's this month almost exactly three years ago. And then, today is the day of my Nannie's birth. I bet the three of them are up there whooping it up together. At least, I hope so. This sweet post reminds me to make the most of every moment with those we love.

And so...

 

 

 

 

12/6/2012-I've joked about it some, but it's true...having parents and pets at about the same life stage at the same time can be a challenge. For me, I'm lucky it worked out that way because as it turns out now I am in the states with both.

My 4-legged family and I are early birds...generally up by 5am. This morning when I was getting up to feed Dal and take her out, I heard the front door close upstairs. Mom had already gotten up and taken Dali out. I caught her on the porch and told her I was sorry, but she wanted to walk with Dali down the sidewalk and back. Mom told me she felt bad because she knew she didn't take her out before she went to bed last night and so she just got up to take her now. Mom told me: "It's not Dali's fault."

 

 

Watching my two old girls come back down the sidewalk together brought tears to my eyes. Sometimes I sit on the bed in the morning and chat with Mom. Dali always comes over to kiss her good morning on the cheek as she lies there. They are keeping each other very good company. I'm now worrying some about what it is going to be like for Mom when I take Dali away with me at the end of the month. We shall see...another bridge to cross on this journey!

 

Only Almost

Dali, Sam and I miss Lucie. We think about her every day for no special reason at all. Here she sits on the terrace under one of the medieval sinks during her last stay with us. Ah, to be able to open the door to the terrace and run out and join her there! It'd be no leash for Dal...a cup of coffee for me to enjoy from the ledge...grass in the rose garden for Sam to nibble on...birdie birds hanging from the balls for petit dejeuner...our mouse running up and down the beams...our red squirrel "squirreling away" some walnuts of his own out across the tracks behind the barn...our walnuts drying on the covered end...Poste Person Pasquale's toot as she passes...buses and neighbors passing...

What a full and busy morning we'd share! I want to write that "all would be right with our world". But, that's not exactly true now! Almost. Someday soon.

A Montmartre for the Meantime

Hanging out in the basement, we channel France on a regular basis. Sammie cat spied me from behind her Montmartre tapestry coverd pillow that decorates "our" basement bed. The question has been asked by many: "Why are you staying in the basement, when you have a big, beautiful house with lots of room?" As I told the inquisitive washing machine/dish washer repair man...it is a very long story. Paul Harvey used to say: "And now, for the rest of the story!" Here's ours:

For the last almost 7 years, Dali, Sammie cat and I have lived together at the Chatette. Most of you have seen it here on the blog...we eat together, we sleep together, we have lots of space...they are my four-legged family. When we arrived, Dali and Sam were not welcome in the house. That didn't work for me, so I searched for other alternatives. The basement was the best one. It is the only place that Sam is allowed and the best place for Dali so she doesn't have to manage the many narrow steps between floors. I am also used to living alone in my own space. Under the circumstances, the basement was the only choice once more. I have set it up so we have room. I can work, exercise, read, write and plan uninterrupted. For now, it is our little corner of the world. It is our place and my choice.

It's been an adjustment for all of us. In a different way, for Mom too. Since our arrival, she and Dali have become big pals. Now, Dal spends more of her time upstairs with Mom. It's good for both of them and that makes me happy. We are all doing the best we can to go with the flow of change, stress, new, the unknowns, and moving forward when we're faced with things we'd rather not be doing...but have no other choices. Me-I'm just grateful we can be here to help and be supportive...even if it means living in the basement!

Lights Along the Way

An after dark wander on Elizabeth around 411 last night, got prettier and prettier as we walked. Although some houses were already decked, many were still working feverishly to get their decorations up before the close of the weekend.

The Smythe's century home next door was particularly pretty and classically tasteful. Two of the houses badly bashed by the tornado Easter a year ago, were decked, pretty, and moving on to new life! The only sign I could see was once again-few to NO trees left.

Of course, we found fun and in some cases "overdone", but I guess Christmas is like fun...Can you ever have too much?

A Playful Paris Patinage

I am her...at least at that place in my mind, heart and soul when I've escaped to the basement for little pieces of peace, silence and solitude. The aroma of freshly baking French Baguette wafts through the air. I imagine that I am 10 again, dashing and dancing my way through the Tuileries Gardens in Paris as it snows. I'm on my way to ice skate with friends and look forward to enjoying a warm baguette of jambon et fromage avec beurre when we've finished our patinage. We love the Louvre in the snow! My ten year old self looks forward to a chocolat chaud. But, my 58 year old self says: "Bring on the Irish Coffee!" Lots of them!

I have my sister Kat and Bath and Body Works to thank for the props that carry me to such a wonderful place. We've been in and out to holiday shop a number of times. Every time, I'd gaze at this gift bag and that little girl wishing I could be where she was. When we opened up a White Barn French Baguette scented candle, we were transported to just that quaint place in Paris! The voila came when Kat handed me the bag with the candle, oh...and my penguin sock slippers the other evening. Wishing y'all a sister like my sister Kat, and a spirit of the holiday season that lasts all year long!

Lunar Inspiration

Missing my music magic, I noticed the way the moon hung like a huge whole note between the power lines the other evening. If you're a treble person it'd be an "F"...for the bass people it'd be an "A". Wouldn't it be great if there could be more than one and we'd have a tune?

I fell in love with a commercial on public television during their "Be More" Campaign. A musician who is writing music reaches a block, looks out the window, and there a bunch of birds have perched on a set of five power lines to form a beautiful tune. He plays their tune and then returns to his work to set it down and keeps on writing. Our muses are everywhere...if we only pay attention!

Where is Monsieur Winkelmann when I need him?