Soar-Dream-France: August 2015

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August 2015

August 19, 2015

Saying Thank You

After a long driving haul with the piano, it seemed only right that I make a nice dinner for us to relax, celebrate just a bit with Rick and Brian, and to say thanks once again to Brian for bringing my sweetie home,

The hugeness of this event for us on Columbus Street still leaves me searching for the words to describe it, but I'm sure I'll find them somewhere along this path of these times of ten years too long.

Somewhere in this gratefulness, the words will come. TIll then, we're in New Orleans, so saying thanks often means food and drink. I'd chosen a favorite wine for us to share for the evening. Alamos is a very nice red Argentinian Malbec that is as close as I've been able to get to a Cahors wine in the neighborhood. We had back up and beer too, but the guys were heading to Tipitina's to hear some music, so I have enough of the reserves left over to have another party.

I offered my usual marinated pork tenderloin/roast, tomato/basil/mozzarella salad (with tomatoes from Kate's garden in Tennessee), my signature potatoes, applesauce, garlic bread, and caramel ice cream and cookies for dessert! If I say so myself, it was quite a feast!

And, very pretty!

Posted at 01:23 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 18, 2015

No Beignets Today

Saturday morning Brian and I scooped a table very close to where Rick and Willie were playing at Morning Call in City Park. Morning Call is one of the competitors in my "Beignet Contest" I like to hold with my friends and family who are here from out of town. Although it is mainly a beignet place, Morning Call does have other offerings.

Brian decided on a lemonade and I opted for a frozen Cafe au Lait, with our beignets. The waiter comes to take our order, and then says:

"We don't have any beignets."

Me: You don't have any beignets?

Waiter: No.

Me: What do you mean you don't have any beignets?

Waiter: We're out.

Me: I can't believe you don't have any beignets. This is a beignet place.

Waiter: We're out. But, they're making more. It will be a little while.

I turned to Brian. We instead, decided on a plate of 3 tiny muffalettas (which were actually fun and excellent).

Communication and charm were NOT this guy's strong suits. We ordered beignets. We obviously wanted beignets. How hard would it have been to say: "If you want beignets, it will be a little while?"

I know that the waiters tend to work for tips, as do our friends Rick and Willie. (That's a conversation for another time, especially where musicians are concerned.) Despite the waiter's poor communication skills and surly attitude, I gave him a very nice tip. Shame on me, but I learned a lot. That waiter did everything short of pander to us after we paid and left that tip.

Next contest time, I'll steer clear of that waiter. I live here. Waiters like that give establishments a bad name.

Posted at 12:58 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, New Orleans NOW, Photography, SOAPBOX | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 17, 2015

Turkish What?...Warning!

When Brian pulled up with the piano on Saturday morning and then circled to park across the street, many of us between Tennessee and around New Orleans had one question on our minds: What is a Turkish Snooze?

I'd set up a group conversation on Facebook between Brian, Kate, Rick and I called: "Piano Travels." It's been working well for all of us to keep up with plans, directions, menus, arrival/departure times, etc. over time. The message began in Piano Travels as "Turkish News" and then Brian corrected it to "Turkish Snooze," but still left many of us wondering what in the world was a Turkish Snooze? Hmmm, I'm thinking it must be like a Turkish Toilet, those wonderful contraptions where you must stand to go.

Once we got settled and the piano unloaded, I asked him what in the world was a Turkish Snooze? I thought it had to be something some kind of sleeping thing standing up! Well, Brian confessed that he was using the voice feature and was trying to say: "I took a snooze." It kept coming up Turkish even after he tried to correct it. Voice feature users beware! We got lots of giggles out of this most of the day. Turkish will never be the same again!

Brian is already on his way home to West Virginia...what a trip to make for such a short time. We are happy he did! Safe Travels Brian and we're all looking forward to your return!

The shot below was taken at the Morning Call in City Park, where RIck and Willie were doing their regular Saturday morning gig. More on that sometime soon. We're just full of stories!

Posted at 02:51 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 16, 2015

A Piano Morning

Yesterday morning we were ready. I'd chosen the piano's new home and cleared the way. I had tools, WD-40, and was out on the front porch fighting with rusty screws around 8-something when Brian pulled up. I was shocked. I hadn't expected him quite that early, but in my book...earlier is better. I didn't even need my sign!

I'd originally thought we'd come in the front door since the aluminum bannister comes off. Well, the bolts were so rusty that they wouldn't turn. Even with Mr. Percy's drill, they were hanging tight.

Great Minds! Brian and I agreed that by the time we got the bolts out, we could just as easily come in the back door. Et, voila!

The piano was in and set up in no time. We took turns pretending a Vanna White presentation for the camera. And then headed out to City Park's Morning Call to hear Rick and Willie play their regular Saturday morning gig.

What fun! And, this was just the beginning of our day on Columbus Street!

HUGE MERCI to Brian for this special trip he made to bring my sweetie home. I know that there was lots of hard driving...and even more giggles to share soon!

Posted at 12:25 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 15, 2015

Timing and Discoveries

Where to begin? Here we are. Piano day is upon us. I still have furniture to move, an aluminum railing to take down, and a sign and barricade to put in the front of the house so Brian, his truck and the piano will have the easiest access possible. If all goes to plan, with the tailgate down, we should be able to roll the piano straight out of the truck onto the cement front porch and into the house. Fingers (and everything else) crossed! As piano tales and trails have unfolded, friends and family have joined in my joy at many points.

Henry Kubicki is one of those friends. I wish I could tell you that I'd met my new friend Henry Kubicki at the world premiere of "Upstairs Inferno" here in New Orleans. We didn't meet. I remember seeing him and David, but that was as far as it went. So near, but yet so far. After I'd written about the event, he contacted me by email and pretty soon we were in regular contact and a llittle later became friends on Facebook. We are now in almost daily contact there, which I am loving. Writing about the piano, snails, and old sheet music; he posted a beautiful tune for me from youtube called: "Let the Rest of the World Go By." It was so beautiful, I teased him I'd have to see if I could find the sheet music.

It wasn't long and he wrote to tell me that he had the music and would send it to me. Yesterday, it arrived! Isn't that a beautiful, old antique cover? But his letter had more surprises than just the beautiful music...I discovered that Henry and David live in LA, not New Orleans. Here, I'd been thinking we'd meet one of these days for coffee they might come for dinner, and they would of course have to come to the Welcome Home Piano Party!

Although I'm disappointed, there is a wonderful meant to be meeting in a little less traditional way here with a kindred spirit. In the flesh or on Facebook, our friendship was ignited by our commitment to fairness, positivity, and equality for all. Our friendship grows because of our passion for creativity, music, sharing and friendship. Ain't life grand?

Huge Merci to Henry and David! Love to you both!

Posted at 01:25 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 14, 2015

Whine No More

Earlier this spring/summer, I whined profusely about my inability to find basil anywhere. Banting's nursery had none; Rouse's had none; but, I did find a pitifiul little plant at Walmart to bring home. It took hold nicely in a pot. Enter my friend Pattie Redenbaugh Tierney who had done a post about rooting basil. Huge Merci!

It wasn't like I didn't know I could take cuttings to root. I just hadn't done it in a while and needed a reminder. I now have a nice little patch of basil growing outside in a medium-sized pot, and the cuttings keep coming. Look at the roots on those babies! What great results!

Next season: basil everywhere!

Posted at 12:23 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 12, 2015

Special Spots

Hunting for some garden photos this morning, I stumbled on these that I took at home in Cadrieu last summer. There's always so much to do when you first arrive after being gone so long. It's only a matter of time and Sam finds her old familar spots. One of her favorites is sitting on top of the CD player. I'm not sure what that's all about, and it isn't usually a problem. That is, unless there's a CD playing in there and she decides to move elsewhere. At that point, the lid opens and ALL music STOPS! I'll be gardening and rolling along nicely with one of Marina's piano CDs blasting...suddenly silence!

When I bought the Chatette back in 2002, this window over the evier was a favorite of mine. It looks out on the uncovered terrace. I can put the screen in and it NEVER rains inside. Good thing, getting that screen in and out can be huge ordeals. Last summer, it took me almost a month to remember where I had put it when I left.

The seasonal arrangements are different. Outside is perfect for resting wine cubis during parties and vernissages and the speakers turned to the terrace echo musical favorites off the cliffs and along the railroad tracks. Yes-I can hear it from the barn and lavoir too!

Last year, Dali rested on the evier in the black velvet bag that Steward had made for her, until we found her beautiful spot out on one of the ledges in the cliff behind the barn. She's back inside now, settled in and waiting for our return and her return to her spot on the cliff shelf.

One of the sweetest things about sorting through the plan for a place for Dali's ashes, was discovering some old photos of her. I also found favorites of her with Carol's son Zack from when we stayed with them in Covington, until we were ready to return to Columbus Street after Hurricane Katrina.

Memories everywhere and our very own "Merci Lady" to thank!

Posted at 01:24 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Overalls and More, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 11, 2015

My Lion...

...the peristyle and me!

Posted at 01:26 PM in Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 10, 2015

Out by the Lavoir

It seems to be scorching all over the world this summer. Even my friends in Cadrieu have heat tales to tell.

When I'm home and it's hot and scorching, I have the choice of going to the river to cool off or I can also go back to the lavoir and dangle my feet there. The only problem is that if there's no rain, there'll be no water. Doesn't the wagon umbrella make for a pretty reflection?

As you can see, during the summer of 2014, there were times of lots of water. With the shelter, it's also cool water. Just looking at these shots cools me off.

Most of us are looking for all the cool we can get these days, no matter where we are in the world.

Happy Monday and Stay Cool!

Posted at 12:53 PM in France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 09, 2015

You Can Almost...

...feel the heat and humidity oozing out of these photos! I keep hoping to get a day that's cool enough to get out and finish the pruning and weeding in the garden. I get a start, but always have to stop before I'm finished. Maybe I'll have enough starts and stops between now and the end of the month to get it done. Or, I'll just carry on into September.