Soar-Dream-France: April 2015

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April 2015

April 20, 2015

Caretaking

How can it be that I'm sitting at my computer in New Orleans this morning, and feeling my garden overgrowing in Cadrieu?

All it takes is one suggestive photo to pop up and I'm a goner.

I'd taken a lot of photos once I arrived last year. I was so pleased to see that my hard work on the doors, windows and shutters prior to my 2012 departure paid off.

It's not the same here in New Orleans, but there is a similar project in our future here.

The garden is a lot to keep up as I like it.

I do have someone who keeps the grass cut for me. It became a much bigger job for me once I bought the barn in 2010 and it surprisingly came with 3 more parcels of land...and not very level land I might add. It's become an enjoyable challenge for me when I'm there, but it just gets the "basic" cut when I'm not. How does your garden grow?

Posted at 01:52 PM in Barn of Our Heart, Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 19, 2015

A Picture-Taking Pal

The trip to The Music Box in City Park with Stew, Eric and Louie last weekend was full of surprises. The ticket booth was a work of art in itself and the views crossing the bridge from all sides reminded me once more why I love City Park and why I love New Orleans.

Stew and Louie headed back to the car after a brief look around...other unleashed dogs roaming around were just not a good idea.

Eric and I soldiered on by ourselves. Because I was behind Eric most of the way I found...

... I had the most fun taking pictures--

--of Eric taking pictures! But, I did get him to pose for just one.

Posted at 01:27 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 18, 2015

Dali and Her Passed Pooch Pals

Today, is the two year anniversary of Sammie Cat and I losing our Dali. We lost Toby before and Aris after. Their friendships together and separately were a joy to behold. Well, at least a joy to behold for me anyway.

Until we moved to Cadrieu, I had no idea what an alpha dog our Dali was, with male and female dogs alike. Jean's Toby and Joan's Aris were both male. We'd never been alone and running free in the yard or the house with other dogs before.

I'd never seen anything like it. She was the clear master at the Chatette and didn't have to do a thing. I don't know how many times when Toby was staying with us, Dali would be laying outside on the terrace near the door. Toby wouldn't pass her. I'd walk out and we'd walk around Dali together on into the house. It was the same with Aris.

When Jean got Rocky, it continued. We'd be up at Jean's having our coffee and Rocky and Dali would be out in the yard. Dali would often come in earlier and lay right by Jean's piano or in the hall. Rocky wouldn't pass her.

So today, I honor Dali and her pals who are up there waiting for the rest of us at the Rainbow Bridge.

I'm sure she's in charge there too.

What a girl!

Posted at 01:34 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 17, 2015

Routine Missing

This time last year, I was getting ready to head to Cadrieu with Sammie Cat for the summer. School was wrapping up. All of our arrangements were made. We'd be on the road to Ferguson on Saturday, April 26 for a visit, then arriving in Paris May 1 and Cadrieu May 2. What an intense whirlwind of preparation that trip required, for not only our four months in Cadrieu, but our four months in Ferguson too.

So, forgive me if I reflect. It happens this time of year whether I'm returning home or not.

Knowing, loving and feeling this place is so wrapped up in who I am today. Beng there, I discovered the strength, foresight, and ability to be in the natural flow of my life in ways I'd never known before.

Only now, I seem to be able to do the same here. As I find my way again in New Orleans and on Columbus Street, I've often written "10 years too long". The reality is, I needed those ten years. I'm fortunate and grateful that this place was part of my ten year post-Katrina journey. Hmm, it really was ten years.

Posted at 02:40 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Paris, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 16, 2015

Cheers to Kirs

With Jazz Fest looming and hot summer days right around the corner, it's going to be apero time in New Orleans soon. Our wonderful kirs in Cadrieu flow so deeply in my blood and soul, that my first summer back in the states; I actually paid $5 for a shot of cassis at Cafe Degas during Jazz Fest. It was just enough cassis for my white wine to have a couple on the porch while I watched the 100,000 plus festers head home.

This year-I'm ready. I've found a very reasonble white wine that I like and the cassis is in the cabinet above the stove. Oh, there will be photos. The challenge is going to be finding a way for them to be as special as these "kir" shots taken from the upstairs bedroom window of the Chatette with the Lot River shining through the pretty concoction.

I'm sure that many of you will be joining me. Don't hesitate to stop by on your way to or from the Fest!

Cheers to Kirs!

Posted at 01:22 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 15, 2015

Only One...

...of my many windows on the Lot looking out from Cadrieu. There's nothing like wildflowers, the artwork of village friends, and dancing diamonds on the Lot; to make me wish I could click my ruby red slippers and appear there! I imagine that you can see why!

Posted at 12:40 PM in France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 14, 2015

Departure What Ifs

Leaving home last summer, I had a list of things that I wanted to get done to make sure that everything would be okay until my return. Even though I expected to return this summer, I did find myself asking: "What if we can't?" Good thing.

One of the biggies is pruning back the budhleia. We have so much all over the property.

It is stunning and we often have hundreds of butterflies surrounding us. Between the budlheia, lavender and roses; it feels like heaven. Pruning it is hell, but necessary. It also looks even sadder when it's time to go.

At a garden center here in New Orleans recently, I was on the hunt for budlheia. I found it for $15 a pot. I couldn't bring myself to buy one yet. I kept thinking about all I have at home and how it just sprouts up all over the place once it's in, going and comfortable.

I'm grateful I spent all that time pruning. Let's see if there's a budlheia in our future in New Orleans. I confess, I am a spoiled girl!

Posted at 12:17 PM in Barn of Our Heart, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 13, 2015

A Showering Sunday...

...was made much more "fun" with an "Iced Irish Coffee".

Of course, it's the whipped cream that makes it special.

And, sharing on a showering Sunday with Sam is always the way to go!

Have a good week everyone!

Posted at 12:21 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 12, 2015

Finding Cahors

Anyone who has spent any time with me at home in Cadrieu and returns to the states; knows how truly difficult it is to find Cahors wine here. There'd been a run back at the turn of the millenium and you could find it at a specialty store on Chartres in the block before the Napoleon House and Dorignac's was also carrying it. These days, it's almost impossible to find...unless you're Eric Holsapple.

What a treat to arrive for a visit yesterday afternoon to discover, he had a bottle of Cahors wine. Eric and Stew had been to dinner with some friends at Crepe Nanou the night before and they were able to have it there. Wise men, my friends...they also bought a bottle to bring home.

Cahors Carry Me Home to Cadrieu!

HUGE MERCI-Eric and Stew

Posted at 02:29 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 11, 2015

Oh So Different

As we're getting ready to have more change on Columbus Street, I've shared with our exiting friend and tenant just how different this place was before the storm. There are many differences, but the biggest for me has always been that:

We were colorful!

I ran across some of these photos taken in our very colorful kitchen before the storm. It is very very different today, as I've shared in this photo on the left of the same spot at the top.

Even if we don't have color at the moment, you can see that my Sammie Cat has staying power-color or not!

Special thanks to "Michel" Kelly for the wonderful shot of Sammie Cat and I!

Happy Saturday!