Capturing the moods and energy of the same place in different seasons is always fun for me. When I'm home, I enjoy the bike ride between the Chatette and Montbrun. I've also walked it many times over the years with Dali, family and friends. I don't want to forget the too many bus rides to count, passing through on my way to Figeac. This structure on the Saujac side of the river always catches my eye. Rediscovering the shot above was fun.
While I tend to prefer these more dramatic shots in shadow, mood, and reflection; it was a sweet remnder of "lusher" times in the Lot.
I sometimes use these shots in articles I write for the Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers (LACSW) Newsletter. The newsletter requires NO color. Then, you get the shot on the right.
It's very early Sunday morning in New Orleans. It's already hot and sticky. Ah, to be on my bike on the road to Montbrun, with my camera in my pocket. These photos are the next best thing.
Having a new tenant moving in upstairs, has pushed me to downsize, pitch and purge once more. Since I had 3 plastic containners and a number of empty technology-related boxes in one of the upstairs closets, I went to work yesterday. Two containers are full of dolls, and the third was full of photos. Many, I'd forgotten I had and some were stunning. I pulled out my favorites as I went along. I'm sure I've missed some. We've gone from a huge blue plastic container full, to two long photo sized boxes that will easily fit under a bed. And, they are organized by location.
This shot is a very pretty angle on Tour de Faure taken from what used to be Wendy's tower. This window and its shape had always been favorites of mine, so capturing this shot and finding it again makes me smile.
Lots going on around here as one tenant leaves and another tenant arrives soon...lots of up and down the stairs and in and out of the house. Along with a number of "surprises", I'm discovering muscles I haven't been enjoying for quite some time. It's good to know that they are still there and functioning, albeit a bit out of shape!
Garden creature timing is at its peak! After my beautiful dragonfly the other morning, I discovered a relative from one of the guys at Mahogany Oaks hanging from the closed parasol out in the yard. They must all be enjoying their "glamour shots." Each one has waited patiently for me to return with my camera and take their photo. Come by any time guys, and bring your friends!
Dinner at Mahogany Oaks with Mike and John is always a treat. Last week's Wednesday night dinner found me screaming when I picked up the bottle of wine on the table: "My God, Carcassonne, how wonderful!" They both looked at me like I was a little crazy, but when I oozed on to describe some of its history and my love affair with the Cite de Carcassonne; they got it. They'd never been. They'd made my night.
Having Carcassonne on my mind, I began this post yesterday-May 27, 2015. Wth my journals between New Orleans and Cadrieu, I'm often unable to find what I'm looking for; but yesterday was different. There on the shelf was my travel journal from my three week trip that was scheduled to include Paris, Barcelona, Cahors, Venice, and wrap up in Paris.
It didn't exactly go that way. A train strike "de-railed" my plans in La Tour de Carol, so it instead went: Paris, Barcelona, Tarascon sur Ariege, Toulouse, Cahors, Paris. Tarascon sur Ariege and Toulouse were not part of the plan. I spent five days in Tarascon sur Ariege, waiting (or so I thought) for the trains to run again.
From Toulouse, I was able to make some side trips. Carcassonne was one. Returning to my journal from that time, I was able to: relive those experiences; remember the friends I'd made; and, feel Carcassonne again. Interestingly, it was exactly 19 years ago to the day that I had been in Carcassonne-May 27, 1996.
Although it was on my list for return last summer, time flew and I didn't make it back. You can bet that it's on my list for my next return to Cadrieu, and a must for John and Mike's first visit.
Mike sent me home with two of my very own bottles-one empty for a candle and another full of the red. Esprit de Sarrail-Cite de Carcassonne offers both red and white. I particularly enjoyed the red, with its melange of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.
Wait for us Carcassonne, we're coming!
In the meantime, we'll be enjoying your wonderful wine.
All of my hopes of getting the garden pretty this summer just multiplied.
Our Columbus Street garden began again upon my return in 2013, with beautiful plants from Stew and Eric, and Ron and Wilson. Then, there was the stash I brought down with me from Ferguson. (Aren't those 411 Tiger Lilies happy and pretty?)
Last week's trip to Mahogany Oaks and Barbara's weekend visit, loaded us up even further. Summers when I'm here, Barbara usually brings over her plants for me to babysit while she is gone. This time, she brought a few for me too.
Mike had already warned me that there were lots of "Laury" plants waiting for me at Mahogany Oaks. We are now all ferned and geraniumed up. But, when I saw his beautiful buddleia's, I had to have some cuttings of each color. I've had great success with rooting them in Cadrieu, so I'm hoping for the same here. They're looking pretty happy at the moment. The old reliable trumpet plants are trumpeting, our wanderers are wandering, but I'm wondering if our wildflowers have gone the way of the snails and other creatures.
It's hard to blame them. Not only has everyone else appeared to survive the ranging, grazing creatures of spring; we have new pals stopping by to visit and hang out a bit.
Whenever I have a big project to tackle, I find that "reframing" it to something more positive always helps. I usually turn it into a piece of "art" for the moment and keep moving.
With a new upstairs tenant on the way, I wandered around to look at what all needs to be done and what MUST be done. I also triaged the projects, generally putting the easiest ones first. That way, I get in the groove and get things accomplished. I like feeling "finished" and "successful" a step at a time, even when I know there is MORE in my future.
I began my quest, with this "flower pot drainage" art on the upstairs window seat. I began with Kaboom! As you can see above, MAGIC. From Kaboom, I moved on to a spray can of Kilz that covered up what was left so I could paint. Having success with the window seat, led me to cleaning two window units, scouring 2 sinks, and painting 5 doors. I'd say that's a pretty productive day, wouldn't you? And, pretty was my reward!
Journeys that surround us fascinate me. It makes no difference if it's flowers, creatures, or people; each has a story. Sometimes the stories are shared.
The gardenias at Mahogany Oaks told me their story while I visited, and reminded me that they share a story with Mom and Dad.
At the urging of his brother, Dad left LSU and came to St. Louis where he met Mom. These two southern boys moved north, and both married local girls.
Mom loves flowers. She and Dad had many occasions to get dressed up in evening clothes. He'd always bring her a corsage or bouquet of some kind. I loved listening to Mom tell me about the time that Dad brought her a flower she didn't know. He'd told her it was a flower from "home"...a gardenia. Gardenias are not easily found in St. Louis. (I'd bet that men like my Dad weren't either.)
Having hunted for them in St. Louis; finding this huge shrub of gardenias at Mahogany Oaks made it even more special. If it weren't so wet, I'd have found a way to get in the very middle and just sit there. I'd close my eyes, soak up their aroma, and let the breeze brush my face and soul with their lush, white, velvet flowers. I wonder what other stories we'd conjor together?
From south to north, from bud to white that wanes to yellow; gardenias will always say Mom and Dad to me.
Some evenings are just perfect...perfect friends, perfect ambiance, perfect views, perfect restaurant, and a perfect waitress.
You can't go wrong with any evening that begins at Mahogany Oaks. We began John's birthday celebration evening at the Mahogany Oaks Bar (better known as the MOB) and then carried the festivities on over to Friends in Madisonville.
Friends had been a favorite of my gang. The stories they did tell. Flooded out twice and recently reopened, we had more to celebrate than John's birthday. We celebrated that re-opening of a favorite, memory filled location that had been "face-lifted" and enlarged. Being right on the Tchefuncte River with a view of John Goodman's home nestled into the others on the other side of the river, didn't hurt either.
After fun and food at Friends with friends, the moon lit our path back to the car and all was right with the world. Congratulations to John on his birthday and Friends on their reopening! I'm sure we'll be back! Happy Saturday Everyone!
Having just written last week about Monet's Nympheas at l'Orangerie after Pat and Monsieur Honey's visit in Paris; the lily pond at Mahogany Oaks screamed my name. I've seen very few of these ponds that are on a piece of land where they can sprawl and "live" uncontained by a structure of some kind. I had visions of a Japanese Bridge reaching across the middle of the pond, as I stood on the back veranda watching the rain.
Fortunately, I'd just been out and taken my shots before the afternoon deluge of thunderstorms hit. It was already soggy, but I was undaunted. Had I been any later, I'd have needed my waders.
It was easy to have visions of Monet and Giverny as I wandered and shot, but John's Momie was right there along wth the rest of us. So much of Mahogany Oaks is a tribute to Momie, that it just seemed right that she'd be walking right along beside me. Thinking of her gave me patience, helped me pay attention as I walked into soggy bogs, and encouraged me to get the very best shots I could. I realized that this too, is a tribute to her. She always makes me smile.
I leave you with a special TGIF from Momie, Monet, Mahogany Oaks and Me! Special thanks to John and Mike and a Happy Weekend to All!