Soar-Dream-France: June 2014

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June 2014

June 22, 2014

From Weed...

...to flower dramatic!

Posted at 07:00 AM in France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 21, 2014

Running through books I brought, books I'd read for a second time, books I borrowed from the Cadrieu library and books left by the Carlls; it was time to return to my source this round...Evelyn. Leaving with a bag full of books, I teased that she could be my new "Eric".

Oh, it's a little different. It's only a walk 2 doors down the train tracks, not a bike ride away. It tends to be earlier in the day, so it's a coffee and not a wine. It's Lucie not Louie, and there's no Stew wandering around in the kitchen while we visit. And, I'm usually "camera-less" when I wander down the tracks.

What a bounty of books! Look at those titles. Can you guess which ones I've read so far? I've finished 3 and I'm on the tail end of my 4th. I'll leave you with this quote from the one I'm reading now that touched me:

"Missing a single person makes your whole world empty."- Lamartine

Posted at 07:13 AM in Books, Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 20, 2014

Cadrieu Roads-the Cemetery Road

There are many pretty routes to take through Cadrieu. I've written about our roads before, especially because most of them form a crescent with the Lot River much like New Orleans does with the Mississippi.

On my way home from helping Jean assemlbe a new garden table, I took what I like to call the "Cemetery Road".

There is a beautiful view of Saujac across the river.

A shot of the Chatette from on high and a little different angle on the Chateau.

I'd usually be walking from the other direction on the cemetery road and I'd have been walking with Dali. It was a different way...a different day...a different season...and, I remembered some favorite shots taken on that same route during one of our winters while walking with my Dal. I leave you with a few! And, of course...

...our Dali!

Posted at 07:40 AM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 19, 2014

Closed Door Magic

It's fun when doing something out of the ordinary provides surprises! Yesterday morning, I went out to work on the raised circular piece of land above the barn. It's one of the pieces of land that came with the purchase of the barn. It was badly overgrown. I'd worked and worked prior to leaving in 2012. Then, while I was gone the village came and cleared it.

The lawn mower was over on the terrace so I hauled it down the train tracks to the land and didn't open the barn up as usual. Such pretty shots with the barn doors closed, and a very good start on cutting, weeding, and pruning on this sweet, little, stone-encircled raised spot.

Posted at 06:30 AM in Barn of Our Heart, France Life, Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 18, 2014

Both Sides Now

I've always been a "hat" girl, but tended to only wear them in the winter time. Here, with so much yard/garden work and living in the sunshine; I'm finding hats more regular companions. We'd had an unseasonably hot week here for June last week. It was the topic of conversation at the bus stop, at the grocery store, and throughout the village. So hot, that I began closing my shutters to keep the morning sun out and the Chatette cool. Now, you also get dark with that...a dark that gave me this wonderful shot of my chapeaux purposes and personalities. The best thing is...I can wear my overalls with both!

Posted at 06:16 AM in France Life, French Funnies, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Overalls and More, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 17, 2014

Winning Wagon Ways

Out on the wagon, I have a couple of geranium-filled window boxes that hang nicely from the wheels and an old door I've used to cover the bed. I take the big green plastic watering can out with me every morning, dipping it in the lavoir for water to nourish the pretties that I've spread around. Watering the geraniums the other day, I discovered this tiny snail on one of the leaves. It was only about a quarter of the size of the tip of my baby finger. I rested it on the corner of the wagon-et voila!

Funny, I've been thinking about painting that door red. Now, I'm thinking maybe just one side. The texture has so much charm, personality, and beauty that maybe I'll reconsider...hmmm, maybe I can just paint one side for wine at the wagon and other little parties, but keep one side as is.

Posted at 07:04 AM in Barn of Our Heart, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 16, 2014

Excavation Stations

During the summer of 2005, I became a "digger". Finding soil covered stone formations throughout the property and beautiful stone floors covered by close to a foot of soil; has kept me digging. I've uncovered a small staircase, a beautiful stone terrace in the lower garden, a tiny stone terrace and addtional steps in front of the Chatette on the road, what looks to be steps in the back archway of the tunnel, and of course...the incredible stone floor in the barn.

One of the things I've learned on this return, is just how quickly everything gets "covered up" again. Eighteen months later, this stone formation in the garden was completely covered over when we returned. The few flowers and yucca that remained pointed the way. The lower terrace is not totally covered up yet, but it is going to take a major effort to return it to it's former self. I find myself taking on the smaller more doable projects first. Yesterday I excavated this flower box. The lower terrace is next. I still have the unfinished tunnel and the next half of the barn stone floor to tackle, but it has to be a step at a time. I find I'm mixing my excavating in with my gardening. I don't know which projects...but I'm sure some will have to be surrendered!

I love being able to feel that my hands have touched and caressed these surfaces of our place. The best part is...the stone speaks!

Posted at 06:15 AM in Barn of Our Heart, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 15, 2014

Great What's?

I had a little education on local birds last night. These little guys on the right dine regularly at the bird balls I hang on the terrace. There are a few other varieties who sneak in from time to time, but these guys are it. I described them to my friends at Jean's apero party last night. Evidently there are Blue Tits that fit the description, but then Jean says: "If they aren't blue then they're Great Tits." Mine are yellow, so I say: "I guess I have Great Tits." And, I'm sure you can imagine where the conversation went from there.

I'd run out of bird balls, but we're back in business with the bucket I bought at the Carrefour on Friday. My bird buddies are back, and I'm again enjoyng watching them from the kitchen window while I do dishes and they do their own thing. Happy Sunday!

Posted at 08:26 AM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 14, 2014

The Morning After...

...my dusky evening photo shoot, I woke up and looked more closely at the shots I'd taken. There, very clearly in two shots were clear masculine faces. Nothing like meeting men in the clouds! I must admit to feeling as if someone were watching over me...et voila!