Soar-Dream-France: December 2016

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December 2016

December 30, 2016

An After...

...birthday celebration breakfast!

Posted at 12:33 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, New Orleans NOW | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 29, 2016

Days of Wine and Roses

Nothing like having dear friends over for a nice lunch to celebrate a big birthday. Tuesday was Steward's big day with Eric's just around the corner, so we did double duty.

The table was so pretty, with a menu of spaghetti and meat sauce, stuffed tomatoes, special garlic bread, chocolate chocolate cake from Canseco's AND what was left of that wonderful Clos la Coutale Cahors Christmas present!

We always have a good time no matter what. I was particularly happy that Stew and Eric took half of that whole chocolate cake home with them!

Cleaning up after Christmas dinner and again on Tuesday, I noticed something very interesting.

I looked down into the silverware to find reflections of the wine and the roses.

Such a pretty discovery in the midst of what would have been more of a clean-up chore without it!

Simple things make me happy!

HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to Stew and Eric, and

special thanks to Eric for the shot of me and the Birthday Boy!

Posted at 12:06 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 28, 2016

Being Pet Prepared

It's no secret how much I love my Sam. I do my very best to make sure she's well-taken care of. She loves her uncles Mike and John, but the night I was whisked away for jury sequestration...I couldn't get her to them within the hour we had to go home and get our stuff together to be gone. I was really grateful that my upstairs tenant/friend Rick was there and I could get things worked out for her with him for the time that I was gone.

I've considered what I would do if I were to become ill, or heaven forbid die. But, do I have anything formal to make sure that she is taken care of in case something happens to me?

NO!

She's a special girl, but she is older and looks just like a million other cats out there. How often have you heard she's "just a cat". We need a plan!

I've been seeing so many older dogs whose owners are passing away, with no plans for them and their futures. Often, families are unable to take care of them or won't. Not only do they lose the people who have loved them and cared for them, they are left to shelters or worse.

Today I saw RIKKU for the third or fourth time on Facebook shares. RIKKU's owner passed away and the wife has health problems. RIKKU is looking for a foster or forever home. RIKKU is a beauty-about to be 13 years old on January 5, 2017.

Although I've already posted a plea for a foster or forever home for RIKKU to my friends in France, I figure it couldn't hurt to write a bit here too.

Look at that sweetie all nestled into the chair by the fireside. Can you imagine having all of that yanked away from you during the holidays ...losing your love, your people and your home during the holidays and during those golden years of your own life? It hurts to even imagine what this sweetheart could be going through.

And so, friends in France and elsewhere...do you or someone you know have room in your heart to make a plan for RIKKU this holiday season. Ah, to be welcoming in the New Year with a foster or forever home...

If so, you can check out my post on FB or contact Nathalie Tixhon de SPA on [email protected]

Let's find RIKKU a sweet basket to curl up in during those "golden years" of retirement.

AND, MAKE PLANS FOR YOUR PETS!

RIKKU photos courtesy of FB POST.

Posted at 01:55 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography, SOAPBOX | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 27, 2016

A Foggy Favorite

This shot above from City Park was taken many many moons ago-"before the storm" as we often say around here. It has always been a favorite of mine...a shot that brings comments like: "Hey, that looks like some kind of bridge in Europe!" Even though it does, it really has a personality all its own.

I shoot it regularly, but not enough for the bridge to be screaming like I'm sure the Eiffel Tower does whenever I'm near! We have morning peace.

I have a favorite foggy bridge vantage point, that is often full of foul distractions as well...ducks, geese, honking birds and pelicans, to name a few.

The light and the fog melange to make a special kind of magic in this spot. Timing is everything.

Blend the ancient oaks and palm trees into the mix...

...and, you have nothing short of-

-SPECTACULAR!

Posted at 11:19 AM in Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 26, 2016

Magic Christmas Morning Mist

When I looked out my window yesterday morning and saw the mist hanging low on Columbus Street, I knew I had to get out on my bike and head to City Park where I knew that the gift of shots like the one above would be waiting just for me.

Strangely, passing St. Louis #3 memories of an old favorite friend pulled me in and down the main route to the back of the cemetery where I knew she'd be waiting. Flying a little quicker than usual, I passed Mary at one of the crossroads. Something red in her hand pulled me back around.

Someone had left a single long-stemmed red rose in her hand.

The contrast of the deep red, soft, aromatic, almost living rose against the stark, hard, white cold stone of Mary on a Sunday Christmas morning; was meaningful and message-ladened. My favorite girl pulled me in, but it was the rose in Mary's hand that held profound love, peace, and Christmas grace for me and those I love who are anywhere in the universe.

As you can imagine, it was quite a way to start a very special day.

It was a day that I knew had to be a solitary day.

But, I was not alone.

Posted at 11:24 AM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 25, 2016

Columbus Street Christmas Morning Magic

With the insanity that began in early November and went right on through to the end of 2016 for me, I knew that I would be having Christmas on Columbus Street this year. There was no energy left for any more travel. I'd overdosed on people and crowds during sequestration and I'd missed Sam desperately. Quality time during the holidays for me and my Sam were at the top of my holiday wish list. It was wonderful to have invitations from friends (I'm usually in St.Louis), but all I wanted to do was nest and nurture on Columbus Street.

Sam had already helped me open our box from Aunt Kathleen. We'd stashed the wrapped gifts under the tree to save for this morning. My favorite spiced rum from Mike and John was already in place. Gifts from Ron and Wilson were still wrapped too, so I saved them as well. I didn't know what to do with myself this morning since I didn't have a door to open on my L'Occitane Advent Calendar that I treated myself to this season.

And then, there's that very special bag from Eric and Stew that holds a bottle of Cahors Clos la Coutale and another Paris-themed book that I opened with them yesterday.

There was still lots of unwrapping to do.

Do you see the themes?

Knowing me, they are hard to miss.

Books and booze make me happy!

Sam and I love those many meeses to pieces!

I'm missing that Mr. Twist!

And, I decided to treat myself to roses to celebrate the holiday and love on Columbus Street some too.

Wishing everyone a magical Christmas morning. The days not over yet-who knows...there could be more magic to come!

Merry Christmas!

Posted at 02:36 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 24, 2016

Egret Fun

Wrapping up my Daytona Beach fun with Marina, we headed out to the riverside dock where her condo sits. The sun was setting. There was a pack of guys at an umbrellaed table. And then there was this charmer! It was clear, he knew what side his bread was buttered on!

He was waiting for fish!

Quite patiently!

Even if he paced a bit!

When they got lucky...

...he got lucky!

Posted at 11:32 AM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 23, 2016

I'm Dreaming

Those of you who know me well, know how I struggle with defining "home". The heres, theres, and wheres of my life span two continents. For that, I will be forever grateful. One of the first elements to my definition of "home" is being able to be "comfortable".

I am generally a person who can find "comfort" in most places. "Comfort" for me means freedom to be myself...a self that I've worked very hard on throughout my life. I am no longer interested in: trying to put square pegs in round holes; wasting valuable energy; expecting people to change; beating my head bloody against a brick wall; and, allowing others to control me.

I choose: peace; silence; timelessness; boundarylessness; accepting people for who they are; living a simple life; standing firm on my values and beliefs; plugging into the natural flow of life; and, (the best that I can) allowing the meant to bes to come to me. Therein lies a process. A process and a flow to life that often only makes sense when you can take a minute (or more), stop and reflect, and see: "Oh, this is what that was all about!"

These stateside years in New Orleans and Ferguson since 2012 have been difficult. They have not been comfortable, but they have been necessary. We needed to be stateside. Life here is the polar opposite of our life at home in Cadrieu.

Although Sammie Cat and I have been planning our 2017 return for quite sometime now, recent events and experiences solidified that decision.

I don't need to dream. I can now say: ..."this is what that was all about!"

We are going home.

Posted at 01:24 PM in France Life, Just One..., Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 22, 2016

Bittersweet 2012

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day of 2012 were uncharted waters for my family. With Dad in the Care Center continuing physical therapy and Mom home and visiting regularly, we faced new celebration challenges. Christmas Eve turned out to be easy, The Hidden Lake Care Center staff had a celebration. All we had to do was join in.

I stumbled on these photos this morning from that Christmas Eve celebration. It really was a wonderful celebration. Everyone tried to be upbeat, in spite of the hell that each and every one of us was going through in our own way.