Earlier this week, the sun came blasting in to the Chatette. Tonight, I sat at the same window open to the sun setting on my last evening here for quite some time. Sammie cat and I take the 9:15 bus tomorrow morning into Cahors to catch our noon train to Paris. We'll be spending the night and then heading to Charles de Gaulle on Monday to catch our noon flight to St. Louis with a pit-stop in Chicago. American has a policy that pets cannot fly if it is 85 degrees or over. St. Louis is looking like it could be a problem. I'm hoping that we can make it to Chicago. If so, I have a car reserved for us and we'll just drive the rest of the way to St. Louis together. Wish us luck...I'll be back when I can. Off to do some more packing and easing into tomorrow morning's departure.
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Books on the Beam
- Carlos Ruiz Zafon: The Shadow of the Wind (*****)
- Sheron Long: Dog Trots Globe (*****)
- Jeffrey Penn May: Where the River Splits (*****)
- Joseph Joffo: A Bag of Marbles (*****)
- Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D.: The Fall of Freddie the Leaf-A Story of Life for All Ages (*****)
- Richard Bach: Illusions-The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah (*****)
- Thad Carhart: The Piano Shop on the Left Bank-Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (*****)
- Rick Jarow: Creating the Work You Love (*****)
Vernissage-2009
- Welcome to La Galerie Dans la Cave
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August 2014
August 30, 2014
Recapturing Rain
Early birthday morning moments wowed me this year. Maybe it was because 60 really does feel like a milestone. Maybe it was because I was home to celebrate. To be honest, this place wows me every day. I discovered that Tuesday's rain left tiny birthday presents everywhere.
It was a day of gifts. Many of them were gifts that you could see and touch. But most were feelings; home, friendship, love, gratefulness, sharing, and support. It is still incredible that this is my life. I always wonder how this happened to me.
I came home in May after 18 months away. Being gone all that time, I'd come to realize that it was important to recapture my life here before the storm. Josie and Patrick hosted an amazing birthday party. My friends came together to celebrate me. And then Jean said it: "It feels like old times." Ah, recapturing success!
August 29, 2014
Apero Aha's
Join us on the terrace where the August 20 Apero Party is in full swing. When I thought about having the apero party, I chose August 20 because it always seems to be an epiphany day for me when I'm in France.
Whether it's dancing the ballet to Mozart on butterfly wings in Tour de Faure, or sitting on my Chatette's terrace in the rain, in my overalls, watching my snails; there is always some huge aha for me. On this evening surrounded by the friends and neighbors I am closest to; I realized that this is the life I choose. I belong here. I've been accepted here in a way that I would have never dreamed possible.
An evening of special moments, special people, in my place in the sun that sings with happiness and joy in the village and up and down the Lot. This, is my home. This, is my life. This is where I am my very best self.
August 28, 2014
Feeling the Pink
One of the things that I love about here is that from time to time we are surrounded by so much pink that it seeps in through the windows and doors. I feel it. I know that it means I should grab my camera and either go outside, or open the windows. Earlier during our stay, it started in the evening. This week, we had a very pink morning event. I think you can see why, I am going to miss the pink.
August 27, 2014
Que Sera-ing
Open, sweet, welcoming and beautiful...the barn worked its magic on Wednesday evening for me.
I began by hanging two of my paintings done by my sister-in-law, Joan Parker-Bourgeois on the doors as you enter. One is of the Chatette and the other of Dali and I, so both are special and meaningful to me. They are made even more beautiful when they are set against the wood and surrounding flowers.
I chose 6 horizontal favorites and hung them in a frame from previous years, but this time suspended it from the old tobacco drying wires. I chose another 6 vertical shots that I had individual frames for from previous years and previous projects.
It was fun, easy, and gave me the chance to spend more time in the barn and to really take stock of our 4 months here with my eye to the future. I've learned once more that no matter how hard I try or would like to force my wants and wishes, it's in the letting go and trusting the power we cannot see that it comes. Trust comes easier here. As I head to St.Louis for my next 4 months, there are so many unknowns. I am returning to Ferguson, MO where I grew up. In addition to my parents, there is now a whole 'nother layer to this return. So, maybe it's me and the barn. We are open, sweet, welcoming and beautiful, and, it will be what it will be.
August 26, 2014
The Show Must Go On
I chose Cahors that morning specifically for my printer ink, but had a few other items at the office store that I wanted to get for special projects back in the states. Of course, when I arrived I noticed that my Color HP 343 was not on the shelf. It is a popular version and I should have remembered the August holiday makers bring this same problem every summer. Needless to say, I was bummed. I began to think of what I could do with what I have so far. Then, the other office store had moved or was out of business. My options were waning. I'd surrendered. Maybe this was just not meant to be. But, the barn was waiting.
I'd planned to stop last at the Casino to get a few odds and ends for the apero, before returning to the station to catch the bus. I began my usual route through the aisles, but decided to divert and head over to the office supplies section. I struck gold! Not only was my ink cartridge there, but there were 2 of them just hanging on the shelf. I was tempted to buy both, but settled on one. Once again, surrender and letting go led to finding just what I was looking for. I felt the magic in our meant to be once more. Nothing could stand in our way!
August 25, 2014
Extra: That Special Lucie
Sammie cat and I are lucky to have Evelyn's Lucie staying with us this week. We (maybe just I) so miss having a dog, that having Lucie really brightens up the place. She also gets me out and walking. I get to exercise, say hello to friends I haven't seen, and wave to the buses and the bus drivers as they pass. Sometimes, I miss Dali more when we have Lucie here. It was the two of them together over long periods of time for different reasons.
The other morning, Lucie and I were crossing from the Donkey Road on to the Construction Road and Dali just should have been with us at just that point. I looked for her. I missed her. I cried a moment, but then Lucie just kept smiling and dancing on...so did I. We got home. Lucie parked herself on my overalls and looked so cute. If I had to caption the shot below it would be: "Hey Mom, how about a pair of these for me when you get home?"
Facing Impediments Together
Our barn has always held a special place in my heart. From the time I bought the Chatette in 2002, it spoke to me. I'd sometimes talk to her from the porchswing-rain or shine. We'd commune together in the dark. I'd divine her to come to me. She became part of our "we" in 2010.
Every summer we were here since I bought the barn, she'd have a special show to accompany the vernissage. During the summer of 2013, we were in the states. This year, I'd decided that the vernissage was too much of a production to put on when I was only here for four months and would be leaving shortly thereafter the usual scheduled time.
Getting ready for the Apero Party I'd scheduled for the 20th, I was straightening and blowing out in the barn so she'd be pretty and tidy if people wanted to have a drink at the wagon or the kids wanted to wander around. I stood in the middle of our beautiful stone floor and felt the need to do something in the barn.
And so, I decided to choose some of my favorite photos from this summer of 2014 to print, frame and display in the barn. It was Monday. I only had a couple of days. It could be done, and done rather easily. It would be our beautiful barn, glowing, pretty and sharing our time together this summer with my close friends. Our gift to them.
I began choosing and printing favorite photos from the summer. I found frames from past vernissages around the Chatette. I had lots of photo paper, but then...the color ink cartidge ran out of ink. I still had time. If I went into Cahors on Tuesday, I could get the cartridge and still have time to print, frame and hang in the barn for Wednesday night! I set my expedition into Cahors for Tuesday morning. This will be easy...or so I thought!
August 24, 2014
From Paris to La Pause
Some days are just perfect and you haven't even had to work to make them so. This is where flexibility and spontaneous surprises reign supreme!
I'd mentioned to my friend Jane that I needed to do a big shop before the Apero Party at the Chatette on the 20th. She said she was ready for a big shop too, but we didn't set a date or time. While I was blowing the terrace and getting ready to cut the grass on Saturday, Jane called to say she was going that day. I decided the terrace and the grass could wait. We were off to the Hyper U in Villefranche and then decided to have a picnic on the way home. Jane had never been to the Belgian Cross-et voila! What a wonderful picnic spot. Jane brought the sandwich. I had some wine glasses, wine, tomatoes, and of course...we had all the stuff in her car for the party coming up too!
The view from the Belgian Cross includes all of Cadrieu and then you can also see the Chatette. It is breathtaking and spectacular no matter what time of day or the weather. We may have had too much fun. We cracked into the cookies for the party and opened one of the cubis of Cahors just to top off a second glass. Then, we decided that a coffee at La Pause in Cajarc would be a nice way to end our adventure. Plus, it was market day.
We scooped a table right near the street and started with our coffee. Friends found us. Friends joined us.
Pretty soon we'd moved on to something a little stronger and began nibbling on everyone's market goodies. It began with strawberries and moved on to olives and sweets.
There was just as much action on the street as we had at our table. I found a man in overalls. I love the men in their berets. And of course, some of the kids take the cake. It was quite an afternoon on into the early evening at La Pause. The dappled light was settling in. It was time to go.
I hesitate to say "what a day this has been". Gene Kelly could probably make it to the market in Cajarc and La Pause just as easily as he did to the ledge of the Pont Neuf in Paris. Imagine living a life where you can have both!
August 23, 2014
Almost Like Being in Love
Ever since my second trip to Paris in '92, I have always liked to end my visits with a trip on the Vedettes du Pont Neuf ride on the Seine after dark. Maybe it's the memories of rushing across the Pont Neuf to catch it with an old boyfriend, and then watching him miss the next to the last step on the way down to the boats and go sailing through the air (Scooping him up at the bottom with hugs and kisses was more than worth it). Or maybe it's just the twinkling, brilliant, views of a different City of Light at night from the water.
With summer light later into the evening, I had to catch the 8pm boat in order to be able to get to the train station in time. The ride lasts an hour and runs on the hour. I thought about catching the 9pm boat, but it would have been a run to the Gare D'Austerlitz at the end of a long exhausting day...8pm won out.
I was glad it did. We set off into a setting sun, just in time to get a few final shots of the Eiffel Tower near dusk. Making the turn, the sun seemed to be running away from us. It felt like a race, but a race I was happy to lose. The dramatic scenes of the Seine at dusk wowed me, in ways that the twinkling City of Light at night never have.
And, I think you can see why.
Back at the top on the Pont Neuf, it was time to say a bientot to Paris one more time. All I could think is what a day this has been! And then...there he was...
...Gene Kelly, dancing across the ledge of the Pont Neuf singing: "What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm in! Why, it's almost like being in love." (From Lerner and Lowe's Brigadoon)
Who needs love-locks when you can have this?
This, is being in love!