Soar-Dream-France

Wood-Read-Wood-Read-Wood-DAD

 

No wine glasses or pumpkins today.

I was on a mission on this round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paulette Bunyan got to work!

 

 

I also made the executive decision that there was no need for the bigger, heavier logs to be carried up the steps until it was absolutely necessary. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, we're pretty well stocked up top with smaller ones for the moment so I focused on organiizng the logs and getting them covered down below.

 

 

 

I asked my Dad: "Did you ever think you'd have a daughter who'd be living in the south of France and humping logs up ten stone steps to heat her house in the winter?"

Dad's comment was: "Well, not when she was in her 60s!" 

So, we get a good giggle every once in a while. And yes, doing all this when you're in your 60s is different from when you're in your 50s, but I've learned to pace myself, stop when I get tired, and go back again when and if I'm ready.

 

 

 

By the end of the day yesterday, that emply plat you see in the photo was almost competely full. By then, I was tired and returned to read. When I went back out, I just covered everything up and came back in to make myself the nice dinner I deserved for all that hard work!

There's a little more left to do, but the grass is calling too for its last cut of the season! 

 

 

I must say, the wood is very pretty!

Happy Saturday!

 

A Habit I Can Live With!

 

For someone who has droned on and on about how much I love my "real" books (and, I do), I must confess that I am seeing the light in the device departments. On more than one occasion, I have been the "inheritor" of "loaded" devices. A hundred to a hundred and seventy-five books can go a very long way! It makes that reading almost a book a day a much easier prospect.

 

 

A couple of years ago, I decided to start listing all of the books I'd read under the books section on my FB page.

Earlier this year, I hit the 200 book mark. Just this week...

 

... I hit book number 300! 

 

 

 

While at times I feel like its become an addiction all its own, I don't worry. It's certainly better than televsion, keeps my mind turning, and is easy to enjoy on a break from moving wood.

These last few days its been wood-read-wood-read-wood! And then, maybe a little wine in there too!

Huge Merci to all of my lenders and dealers! Each and everyone of you has enriched my life immeasurably.

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

Last Hurrahs Along the Lot

 

 

Yesterday morning was my last morning walk with Lucie before Evelyn's return last night. We hadn't walked along the river at all during her visit, so we set off yesterday morning on the main road, hung a right to walk along the donkey road, took a left to walk down the long road to the river that crosses back over the main road and passes by the bus stop.

 

 

 

Although most of the road along the river is paved, heading back to the Chatette there is a chunk at the end that is mostly mud and grass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I came home with wet feet and dragging wet overalls bottoms.

 

Seeing the photos, you might agree with me when I say that it was worth every bit of it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucie is obviously well trained.

She was patient with my picture taking and always easy...even if she prefers NOT to walk on acorns and insists on HER routine side of the road!

 

 

It was fun to have a last leisurely morning walk together, enjoying each other's company and soaking up the countryside.

 

 

For a moment, I thought I might actually be out wandering the grounds at Mahoghany Oaks.

It would have been wonderful if Mike and John had met me by the road. Now that would have been a surprise and a day-maker!

 

 

We could have walked home together!

 

 

No walk for me today. Besides...it's raining AND no Lucie!

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

Almost Winter Wistfulness

 

Along with wood and such, there are things that I like to do around the Chatette to begin to get us ready for winter. I'm wondering if I'm going to be as wistful about winter as I've been about fall so far?

The answer is YES! 

As with all the rest, this is the first time in five years that we'll be here for the winter. Putting the comforter and heavy velor spread on the bed, it hit me that the last time I was doing this Dali was with us. Dali, Sam and I were always all snuggled into our tucked away little corner beside the fireplace during the winters together!

I miss her. We miss her.

 

Having Lucie with us brings Dali closer too. We'd often be walking together, so there have been spots along our routes these last two weeks that were just full of Dal. Sometimes, she was walking along with us. It was grand. We just go on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though Lucie is going home today, I have a feeling that Dali will be hanging around.

She has imprinted on my heart!

 

 

 

 

 

So, we keep moving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's becoming wood-read-wood-read. I'm feeling us as our best fall selves and looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas here again too.

 

 

 

 

We've got International Overalls Weekend in there too, but we'll have to see what that weekend before Thanksgiving brings.

 

 

You can bet that Dali will be beside Sammie Cat and I all the way!

Happy Wednesday!

 

 

Just This Place

 

The list of wonderful things about here is endless, growing every day. New discoveries are wonderful. They are those surprises that you just can't plan no matter hard you might want to try. It's that moment when each piece and circumstance comes together to give you a gift. 

My most recent gift came the other morning when Lucie and I were walking around the bend towards home.

 

 

That top shot gives you and idea of the gorgeousness in front of us. Zero in on that reflection of the cliffs in the Lot River. Usually, that reflection is either not there or unseen by me.

 

 

I realized that usually I'm walking beside the wall that runs along the river. I like to walk there because there is more room and if a car comes, Lucie and I can get out of the way. Evidently, that is NOT Lucie's habit with Evelyn, because every day she pulls me to the wall that runs along the causse and the train tracks. Part of it might be that her tiny paws do not like walking on those fallen acorns, but no matter how hard I try to hold her to "my" side of the road she crosses over.

 

 

That was when I saw this beautiful reflection for the first time. Thanks, to Lucie (and, Evelyn)! I got Lucie in and came back to get a few shots! 

What a treat and a huge MERCI to the universe!

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

Pumpkin Madness

 

This is the shot I've been waiting for ever since I saw that vine creeping up the wall and window.

 

 

There are others that I'm still trying to be patient about, but here we were with this one and it was time.

Sometimes there are just too many choices: from inside, from outside, windows open, windows closed, and then pumpkins AND the wine glass. 

Then, we are having some fall blooming yuccas around the place that can't resist joining in.

 

 

 

I confess to being totally out of control. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have other still life plans.

 

 

I have placement around the property plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, I haven't even carved them yet!

 

 

 

 

Of course, there may even be a soup in our future. 

You can also bet that seeds will be drying so that we might have our very own pumpkins at the Chatette next year.

 

 

Have a great week everyone.

Happy Monday!

 

Devestation Beyond the Train

 

 

In all my ramblings about the train these last two days, I didn't want to forget that there were other casualties to the human error that caused the flooding (inundation en francais) that winter of 2003. Of course, homes on the river were flooded, long stretches of traintracks along the river were ruined, and farmers' fields were damaged.

And then, there was the Schmilblick. The Schmilblick was a large, covered, open-air pontoon boat that took tourists from Cajarc along the Lot River all the way to the weirs before Monbrun. That meant that the Schmilblick passed in front of the Chatette on a frequent daily basis during the summers.

 

 

It was fun to hang out the windows, wave, and listen to what they had to say as they were cruising up and down the river.

It was also something fun to do with family and friends when they visited.

I'll never forget the photo a friend sent of the Schmilblick in the flood waters, almost as high as the bridge in Cajarc. 

It didn't run for a while, but came back during 2005. 

 

What I didn't realize was that many of the patrons for the Schmilblick came from the QuercyRail, so when the train stopped running their main source of clienits dried up. It wasn't long and the Schmilblick stopped running too.

I always enjoyed the trips. My French is so much better now, I bet I could even understand more of the history that was shared by our guide along the way!

And of course, there were always photo opportunities to be had.

Happy Sunday!

 

Between the Chatette and the Barn...

 

...Train! After yesterday's post, I knew I had some more train photos that would give everyone a much better idea of just what the train in between looked like! This shot below was taken head on from under the covered terrace and really gives you an idea of just how close the train came.

 

It's a little blurry, but I just got too excited!

 

 

Then, there was the day that Stuart stopped by with his daughter to do a couple things he'd promised to fix, and there they were: the SNCF track people coming along to check the condition of the tracks and to clear them if necessary

 

 

Come back tomorrow for another piece of our past that is no more!

Happy Saturday!

 

Train at My Fingertips

 

 

This photo on the left sparked lots of questions about our place, and about the train tracks that continue to be a huge part of our lives. This shot was taken when I first bought the Chatette back in 2002. I've tried to give a little history and story below to some of the train questions. 

Back when I bought the Chatette in 2002, the Quercy Rail ran as a tourist train in the summers during the morning and the evening. Little did I know those first two summers of 2002 and 2003 were to be cherished. During December of 2003, human error caused devestating flooding of the Lot RIver throughout the valley. The train hasn't run since. 

 

Looking at the top photo taken from my terrace, you can see how clear the property was and how truly close to the Chatette the train passed. That first summer, I was out on the terrace polishing some cane seated chairs. I could hear the train coming around the bend. The conductor passed and hung out the window saying: "Bonjour Madame," and we reached out to shake hands. All those tourists just waved and smiled. What fun for me, and maybe for them as well!

It got to where every morning, if I listened closely enough from inside the Chatette, I could hear the click, clack, click back and forth on the tracks as the train approached...if I was "decent" I'd run out and say bonjour to everyone. It was fun and such an amazing way to start my day.

The tracks are no longer maintained by SNCF. When I was here full-time, I worked really hard to keep the tracks behind us as clear as possible. It was always a big job, but if I kept up with it, it wasn't so bad.

Having been gone more than being here these last five years, the tracks behind me have become very overgrown. BUT, they are on my list. I don't think they'll ever look as gorgeous as they did when they were maintained by SNCF, or my first round of full time, but you never know. That's the beauty and the glory of being back here AND being back here full time! 

I should also say that the wheels are turning! For those of you who know me well, you know that that can be dangerous!

Happy Friday!

 

Making More Magic

 

This sight as I come around the bend on my way home, takes my breath away daily. It makes no difference if I'm taking a walk, on my bike or in a friend's car, I am stunned and awed! I still pinch myself. It's particularly poignant when I returning after long absences stateside.

Imagine all that daily morning awe rolled in to one great big smack of stunning beauty, peace, history, romance and magic.

 

 

Between the morning mists and a little filter help, we feel even more magical! 

 

 

Eventually, I get my head out of the clouds...

 

 

 ...and, I'm home!

 

 

Happy Thursday!