Soar-Dream-France

Monsieur Gaston is in the House

 

Sammie Cat and I rose to a spectacular morning yesterday, as we began our wait for Monsieur Gaston's arrival. We had a few things to do to get ready, but it was an easy morning for both of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lianne called to say that they were about 30 minutes away, so around 10:30 I went out to the front of the Chatette and sat on the river wall to wait. 

 

 

 

The horses were out and romping.

I hear a voice calling my name from somewhere. Arnaud was up there on the Chateau terrace inviting me up for a coffee. I explained that my dog was arriving and we made a date for another time since he was leaving that day at noon. It is such a treat to hear French friends say "with pleasure" in English. 

 

 

 

Of course, I'm looking toward Cajarc and they came down through the village instead.

Lianne arrived with Gaston and her beautiful English Setter Gentil. Sam took to the upstairs bannister, while the canine's explored and made themselves at home. 

I made a coffee for us, so Lianne and I could sit in the living room together and let everyone make their way as they needed.

 

It wasn't long and Gaston was comfortable enough with me to find his way to my lap. I think that faux leather golden arm chair might have a little doggie magic of its own. Both Dali and Mr. Twist liked to snuggle in whenever I was sitting there.

 

 

 

We did a little creative problem solving together: found  a place to store his food; talked about how to rearrange the furniture so he could see me from HIS bed (ha-ha); took a walk; kept him out of the kitchen; learned his commands; and, completed the "Moon River Test!"

He passed with flying colors...

no howling Moon River.

In fact, he was almost ready to curl up under Monsieur Winkelmann just like Dali used to do.

 

 

 

Lianne and I: had lunch together; got the paperwork done; and, took the tour of the Chatette, Barn, Caves and Tunnel before she was off. 

Gaston and I stood in the road to help her get out of the drive safely. My heart made a little flutter as he stood in the middle of the road and watched them all the way until they drove around the bend.

 

I would say off in to the sunset, but later that evening it was actually off into double rainbows. Gaston and I checked them out together. He was very patient with all my photo taking!

 

 

I don't think the day could have been any more perfect!

 

 

Textures and Teases

 

Layers of texture make for beautiful combinations. Here, I love the mix of wood, stone, and foliage. When you add in the teases of flowers, the hat, lace and light; it can be spectacular. The contrasts of: hard to soft; weak to strong; sturdy to delicate; and, utilitarian to beauty; speak to me.

After all my hard work, I ran around with my phone (yes, I'm actually getting pretty good at this) and took photos around the grounds.

 

 

 

The wagon is so special and a focal point to the land to the right of the lavoir. Once the commune cuts the rest of the grass that is taller than me and belongs to them, we'll be out having wines at the wagon once more.

You will generally find the door on the wagon, with flower boxes on the wheels...ready for the next gathering. We have time.

Pretty soon, I'll be out there manicuring, getting the rest of the equipment out of the barn, and just flowering up in general. It is so pretty out there once we are back in the groove.

 

 

 

For now, I hope you'll enjoy our textures, teases and easing in to home again.

 

 

 

It's in the patience and the petit a petit, a luxury of here that feels so good! AND...

 

 

...it's "G" Day today! Monsieur Gaston is arriving-TGIF!

 

Getting in the Flow

 

With so much to do, but no pressure to do it; I find that I have the luxury to get in to the flow of our lives here. Out to manicure the edges of the work that my jungle tamer had done, I discovered that the extenstion cord I use to reach the far point of the land was not working.

My tendency elsewhere is to just stop everything.

 

Here, I just do what I can do and keep moving forward. 

 

 

I'd gone ahead out to the road with my lawnmower and began to just go as far as I could edging up the road to get the rest of the weeds along the length of the yard. I heard a noise coming up behind me and there they were: the department road crew was out trimming along the road. I stopped, waved and said bonjour! They did my reach for me all the way! What a deal!

 

 

The land by the wagon was next. Not a lot that really could be done there, but I did what I could.

 

 

Finishing up, I heard a toot.

There was our postmistress Pascale with BOTH boxes from the States.

What a treat-it was like Christmas in May!

And, it wasn't even noon!

Check back tomorrow to see what the rest of the afternoon held!

 

Light and Life

 

Singing the praises of here is something that I do easily. As much as I love France; I often say that it is this very spot that makes it home for me.

Each element and piece to this puzzle comes together to make it special. 

The Chatette is tucked into the valley, beside the Lot River, on a pie shaped piece of land abutting a cliff.

 

 

 

Sam and I sleep tucked into a corner beside the fire place, surrounded by light and stone that sparkles pink with rose quartz even when we're sleeping. And, we do sleep.

 

 

Sleep...something so essential that seemed to always escape me in New Orleans. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here, I start on the sofa with my book after dinner. By 8 or so, I'm snuggled into my tucked in spot with Sam.

 

 

By dark at 10-we are sound alseep looking forward to the many hours of deep sleep and the morning darkness that brings sweet moonlight, gorgeous sunrises, nurturing candlelight, and roses in the night.

We are living a tucked in life.

 

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Jungle Taming and More

 

How wonderful to wake up to a new fresh day that is painted on your morning horizon! These works of natural art are not unusual just out my front windows to the Lot River. I'm so grateful for this place, and this morning...grateful for a jungle tamed, a Chatette almost de-cobwebbed, a Monsieur Winkelmann cleaned and polished, and an evening of nibbles and pizza with Evelyn to say a HUGE MERCI for all she does for me.

As I think you can see, this place is more than a little bit of heaven!

I was amazed at how much I got done yesterday while my jungle tamer, Willie worked on the land.

 

 

Such Success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partout!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it's my turn to get out there and "Manicure" the fine points and edges that get missed by the weed wacker and the riding mower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, how wonderful. What would have taken me a couple of days with my lawnmower(s), took Willie just a morning.

 

 

Huge Merci to my Jungle Tamer, as he rides off into the afternoon!

 

Greetings and Send Offs

 

Our sweet and loving send off from New Orleans seemed to bless the long journey that was ahead for Sammie Cat and I. We had our Moon over Columbus Street.

 

 

 

In Paris, we had our Moon over Rue d' Hopital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here we are...HOME with our Moon over the Lot.

 

 

 

 

Of course, Monsieur Winkelmann was ready and waiting.

 

 

Moon River sang out from the Chatette once more in celebration of our homecoming. We are celebrating for sure!

Happy Monday!

 

Sam Spots

 

Sam finds a way to make herself at home everywhere around the Chatette. This shot above, I'd title: "You only thought you wanted to listen to Jim Brickman!" This is probably her most favorite spot! I know she's there because the music stops. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She helps herself to cookies. She enjoys running up and down the stairs. She hangs out in just about any open window.

 

 

This is la vie en rose for Sam...me too!

 

 

Happy Mother's Day-Happy Sunday!

 

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The Palm of My Hand

 

Not only are my roses in my garden as big as the palm of my hand; their aroma would knock your socks off. They are also spectacullar against the wood, lace and stone inside the Chatette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are spoiled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know how much I missed them. It appears that they missed us too.

 

 

 

What a show, and it's not over yet.

 

 

  

 

There are even more buds waiting to bloom on both blooming bushes and other new buds on bushes that are different colors than these. I'm greedy. Maybe we need MORE ROSES!

 

 

Happy Saturday-Happy Weekend!

 

We Are Home

 

All I can say is that the pet and travel gods were with us on this trip! After all the issues we had with Sammie Cat's travel authorization related to her chip, not a soul along the way asked to see any of her paperwork OR asked me to whip out our new handy dandy microchip reader scanner. BUT, we were ready if they did.

 

For a little extra we got into our room early in Paris and got an upgraded room. We had a perfect seat on the train home...facing the direction we were heading, a seat all for Sam all the way from Paris to Cahors, close to the toilettes, AND we arrived in way enough time to catch the 1:25 bus home. We were at the Chatette yesterday afternoon close to 3:30...only because I was walking so slow by that point.

There's nothing like coming around the bend and seeing home! We are a bit over grown and a little jungleish at the moment, but we have time.

 

 

 

We got in the front door. I opened Sam's carrier and took off her jingly collar. She was off and running to claim her territory once more.

 

 

As I've said before, I am blessed with amazing friends on both sides of the pond. All I had to do was open the door and I had electricity on, water on, hot water, a working phone, internet AND nibbles.

 

HUGE MERCI to Christiane, Patrick and Evelyn for making these re-entries as easy on me as they can be.

 

 

We are here.

 

 

The roses are blooming.

Monsieur Winkelmann was waiting.

 

 

The snails are all over the terrace.

 

The moon appeared over the Lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All is right with our world.

 

 

 

 

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A Paris Window View

 

After a nap, a huge beer and visit with a friend, I scooped a few snacks and returned to our room to snuggle into the covers and regroup to get some sleep before hitting the road again this morning. Our new view, treated us to a beautiful sky at sunset with a moon rising just above the Gare d'Austerlitz.

Being horizontal with no where I had to go for the first time in almost 24 hours, was heaven.

 

 

It was fun:  to see the metro blow by;

 

 

To watch the moon continue to rise over the Gare;

 

 

To use may favorite travel cutting utensil-my Louisiana Driver's License; and, 

 

 

To snuggle with my Sam.

 

 

We're off.

 

Next time you hear from us, we will be home in Cadrieu.