Soar-Dream-France: September 2016

From the Clocher-Collegiale Notre Dame

Evelyn reminded me that last weekend was Le Patrimoine in France. This is a special time when you have the chance to see sites of historical significance that are not normally open to the public. I was reminded of a patrimoine weekend in 2009, when I went with friends to explore the sites that were open in Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

Dipping back into my photos from that time was a real treat. These shots taken from the clocher (belltower) of the Collegiale Notre-Dame grabbed my eye once more. Usually, we're on this square looking up. What fun it was, to have the opportunity to look down from on high! I found myself rediscovering these photos with a fresh, new eye.

The buildings surrounding the square are even more stunning from on high. They give the feeling of being individually placed, as if a child had rested building blocks side by side in perfect order. The pigeons enjoyed them too!

And then, there are the roofing tiles and chimneys

that are works of art all their own.

Posted at 11:49 AM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pressing Matters and Extreme Wild Hairs

You know when you're focusing on watching how your roses wilt (or not), pressing petals, and taking that really "arty" shot of your very pretty kir in your glass with the rose petals in the background; you need to get a little more excitement in your life!

What to do? On Friday, I got a wild hair! I already had a big bowl of penne pasta in creme sauce with artichokes, mushrooms and brocolli ready to go in the frige.

DINNER PARTY!!!

I got a hold of Tom and Adrianne who said yes. Eric and Stew were not far behind. Mike and John have so much further to come, so they took a raincheck and we'll be saving up for the next Columbus Street celebration when it will be all of us again!

I always begin with let's just make it easy and have paper plates, but end up with wanting to have a pretty table and a real celebration. I have so many sets of beautiful hand painted china and glasses that I love...USE IT, Laury! I chose: the plates and napkins that we used all the time during my 4 months in Ferguson; my pretty green flutes and glasses from the Ferguson Dollar Tree; the pretty little ice cream dishes that I scooped from 411; and, the monogrammed tableware from Nannie and Papa.

Since I'd moved on from paper plates, why not make something a little more special?

I hadn't made the lasagna roll-ups that everyone loves in a really long time. Et, voila...lasagna roll-ups, a very pretty tomato, basil, mozzarella salad, garlic bread, turtle cookies,vanilla ice cream, and kirs.

I confess, I love it when my dinner matches the table setting and I hadn't even planned it that way!

Everything was ready. Everything was easy. Everything was gone!

It's always wonderful to have friends and family over when you can still relax, enjoy the evening and be yourself. I bet I could have showed up in my pretty sundress with my curler in my hair and no one would have cared! What a nice way to ease into a fresh new week!

I'm ready for another dinner party. But, I'm not sure about Sam!

Happy Monday!

Posted at 02:30 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

From the Archives-Jean's Nescafe Magic

Back to the archives today, to visit a post from the fall of 2016 when Jean was getting ready to leave Cadrieu to head back to Ipswich. I was back in the states by then and would not see her again until this recent visit. After our wonderful visit together, I've been reminded about some of our "proper" coffee memories. Here's one to share today, and YES...that red Nescafe Anniversary mug survived the fire!

Happy Sunday!

* * *

9/18/2016-I would guess that I've written about my love of Nescafe at least a dozen or more times over the years. I can't begin to count the number of times that Jean Howling and I sat at her dining room table and shared a morning Nescafe together in Cadrieu. With Jean selling her place there to return to Ipswich full-time; she asked me if there was anything I wanted? Hmmm...

When Jean and I started having morning coffees together back in 2006, we shared them in these 50th anniversary Nescafe cups. I wasn't sure why we switched. (I'd even gone on line to see if I could get some of my very own.) Turns out, all of them had broken except one. You guessed it! I asked Jean if I could have the Nescafe Cup! Et, voila!

Everytime I have my morning coffee at the Chatette in my Nescafe cup; I'll put it against my cheek to feel its nurturing warmth and I'll be magically transported to all of our morning coffees, conversations, and the wealth of memories we share.

Jean will never be far away.

Posted at 12:05 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Overalls and More, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Settling Sam

I'm not sure if the process of settling back in to life on Columbus Street has been harder on me or on Sam. Tomorrow, Sam will have been home two full weeks. That milestone was last Thursday for me. When you think about it, two weeks really isn't a long time. At other moments, it feels like a million years.

One of my indicators of settling for both of us, is being able to actually get some nice photos of Sam. That really only happened a couple of days ago. Looks like my girl and I need close to two weeks to get plugged back in again.

How much I missed that sweet little face!

Happy Saturday!

Posted at 12:07 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

On My Way Home

Having stayed with Pat and Graeme in Cahors the night of our Banner Day, it was Monsieur Honey's job to get me to the Gare on time. I'm always walking from the city center to the Gare, so my gauge of how much time it takes to get there and what I'm comfortable with is very skewed.

As you can see, we made it in more than enough time.

The bus was waiting and ready to go at the appointed 8:25am. At 8:25 on the dot, we were off into the morning sunshine that sparkles all along the bus route that runs beside the Lot River all the way to Figeac AND passes right in front of the Chatette. I still say, it is the prettiest bus route that I've ever seen.

There are so many treats along the route that I know I look like a tourist every time. By that I mean, I am out of control taking photos. I am incorrigible! But who could resist bales of hay and fields of sunflowers...

Views of such gorgeous spots as:

St. Cirq Lapopie

Cregols

Chateau Cenevieres and Larnagol

Calvignac

And, all the spectacular, panoramic pastoral scenes that tell me...

I am going home.

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

Wandering West of Cahors

Wandering west of Cahors is a rarity for me. Most of my life in the Lot focuses east along the 910 bus route between Cahors and Figeac. On our way to Belaye, we passed through Puy l'Eveque and many other gorgeous villages.

So much of our lives in the Lot are impacted by our connections and people we've met. My friends Wendy Eloit and Stuart Brown laid the foundation for me of the Lot I know and love today. I can never be grateful enough to them for putting me on this road. It has changed my life. Pat and Graeme shared their stories with me of their "French Connection" and the people who have done the same for them. Pat and Graeme came to know Belaye when these same friends were married there. This was also another view of the Lot River from on high that they wanted to share with me.

Our interlude across the river from Puy l'Eveque, gave me a chance to catch a beautiful view of the city reflections, but having had more time in Belaye was the real treat.

It was fun to wander in the village, see the farms along the turn of the Lot, and peek inside the Eglise de Belaye. Of course, I found an old friend or two!

St. Therese of Lisieux was prominent and perfect for the gratefulness I was feeling that day for my life in the Lot, and those old and new friends that have put that life on my path!

Huge MERCI to my long time friends

Wendy and Stuart;

and, my new friends who keep that gratefulness coming...

...Pat and Graeme.

Posted at 12:57 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography, SOAPBOX | Permalink | Comments (0)

Banner Day-Nary a Vineyard

Dining at Le Caillou on our banner day, I was struck by the fact that in all the years since 1996 when I've been coming to the Lot and eventually came to live here; I'd NEVER visited any vineyards are wineries. Our banner day was the first in 20 years for me. Don't get me wrong, no one enjoys a fine Cahors better than me.

Coming up that long drive to the restaurant; those perfect rows, beautiful vines and lush grapes chanted "We are Cahors...!" Although I have my favorites, I wanted to get out of the car in the parking lot and kiss the ground. Cahors wine is NOT easy to find in the states. It can be done, but you really have to work at it.

Clare left us after lunch. It was fun to play around in the surrounding vineyard before we hopped in the car for the rest of our stops that afternoon. Most of our routes took us through too many vineyards to count. We 'd made our stop at Clos la Coutale and were on our way. I saw the sign for Clos Triguedina (a certain favorite of mine) but knew we were on a mission and kept driving.

Being surrounded by vineyards felt nurturing to me. I knew there were more discoveries ahead for us, and besides-I had my box of six Clos la Coutale in the trunk.

It's too much trouble to bring them back to the states with me, but...

...they'll be ready and waiting at the Chatette when Sammie Cat and I return in the spring. Now, that's something to look forward to!

Posted at 01:50 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

Banner Day-Friendship Drops and Glasses

I keep posting this photo. I have so many others, but this is the one I love so much. It perfectly captures the fun, love, and sharing of friendship. What you don't see here, are the pieces that swirl in the background to keep friendships at a distance rolling along when there are 5000 miles and an ocean between us.

Long distance friendships sometime take more work. Fortunately for me, these friendships have been easy. Friendship is a two way street.

Being with my friends, Pat, Graeme and Clare was a real treat that day.

When you share places you love with your friends, it's a gift beyond the atmosphere, wine and food...it is a gift of love and experience. (I don't know about you, but I love sharing places I love with my friends.) Pat and Graeme gave us the gift of their love for Le Caillau on this banner day!

Of course, the food and wine were magnificent. But, the real story for me was the glow of these friendships in this amazing place.

Look into our eyes.

These photos (and some very pretty Clos Triguedina Rose) capture the essence of those times and these friendships perfectly.

So wonderful to be with everyone...

...and a HUGE MERCI to Pat, Graeme and Le Caillau!

Posted at 12:47 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

Banner Days

I know that I have had a "banner day" when I get back to the Chatette and I have taken a little more than 200 photos. My August 25 banner day began and ended on the Cahors-Figeac 910 Bus: my lifeline in the Lot.

The bus line had changed hands and so did the schedule which didn't work exactly well for me. But, this old dog finally found a way at the end of the summer to put these square pegs in round holes-et voila...it all worked even better than I imagined.

Out at 6:30, I was ready for an early morning petit dejeuner with my friend Jean-Luc, his Mom Odile and our sweet 4-legged angel, Vanille. I could arrive in Tour de Faure at 7:20, have a nice visit, and still catch the 10:50 bus into Cahors to meet Pat and Graeme at the Gare de Cahors.

We were then heading to a favorite restaurant of theirs to meet our mutual friend Clare.

It was a banner day of...

...catching up with old friends, making more memories, new discoveries, virgin experiences, and expanding horizons.

Banner days are the days when like those cubis of wine, you milk every last drop of what it holds so you reach ultimate joy! And believe me, I milked it for all it was worth!

I'll be sharing the drops and glasses of this banner day with you over the next few days. I think you'll want to savor every drop.

Happy Monday!

Posted at 12:37 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Life of SAM at Mahogany Oaks

As I mentioned yesterday, most mornings that I was in Cadrieu, Mike made sure that I had a chance to see Sam and her life at Mahogany Oaks in photos. This black and white one above is particularly special to me because Mike turned it in to a Happy Birthday card to me from Sam.

I believe the shot on the left is a selfie and all the other photos you'll see here were taken by Mike.

Sam has stayed with Mike and John many times before, but never for more than two weeks or so at a time.

Two months was a new adventure for everyone!

Sam began to make herself right at home. With so much space to wander in, she made use of every bit of it. (Fortunately, we know where her hiding places are and know just where to look when she's decided to disappear for a bit.) She loves textured surfaces and cozy nooks and crannies. Remember, this is our girl who you will often find burrowed under the sheets and comforter on the bed! What's that lump in the middle of your nicely made bed, Laury?

And, she has a way of making herself right at home wanting to be absolutely as close to you as she possibly can.

Invade your personal space...watch me!

I'll be meeting you in the bathroom, and

keeping you company when any kind of nature calls!

Where are you John? The bacon's here and so am I!

And of course, no stay at Mahogany Oaks with Mike and John would be complete without Happy Hour at the Mahogany Oaks Bar (The MOB). That's our girl...

Treats for me at the bar! I'm ready.

And, what are you having?

As you can see, Sam had quite a life during her little more than two months at Mahogany Oaks. It doesn't matter if you have two legs or four...Mike and John make sure that everyone's stay is superbly special. Sam wants to know when she gets to go back?

Again, HUGE MERCI to Mike and John for taking care of my girl as if (or better than) she were their own. She really is our girl. After her bout in the canoe with my friend and housesitter during Katrina; I'd promised myself that no matter what Sammie Cat and Dali would either be with me during hurricane season or with people who knew and loved them and would take them along wherever they were or had to go!

As Mike wrote yesterday: our Sam is one of a kind!