Soar-Dream-France

From the Photo Archives-Cadrieu Snow

 

It's been rare in my experience to actually be out while it is still snowing and take photos. That's what happened on one of my first Christmases in Cadrieu. I believe that these shots are all from Boxing Day in 2008. I wandered all over the village that day, all bundled up and shooting to my heart's content. I don't even remember being cold!

 

 

What I enjoyed most about these shots was that it truly was a winter wonderland.

I sometimes got snowflakes stuck on the lense of my camera.

Others were so close, the effect was magnificent!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lot was absolutely stunning!

These are the best gifts for me. 

They don't cost a penny.

They are there to enjoy!

Beautiful winter blessings...

...in my life!

 

 

 

I leave you with a few more gorgeous gifts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

 

...Melange-ing France New Orleans Magic

 

 

As you know, I've called this blog SoarDreamFrance, but what you may not know is that following the heading title it says: ...Melange-ing France New Orleans Magic! It's that last part that I've struggled with over the years. I often feel pulled and in between, to the point where there have been times when I've felt I have to make a choice. The fire has shown me that "no," I don't have to make a choice.

 

Having both places seems to be part of what is making my life work at the moment. I'm finding interesting bridges that are making me stop and think. I've said there are messages for me from the fire and the experiences that lie ahead. I'm realizing now that they are Cadireu New Orleans messages that are bridging these two places in my life and, "Melange-ing the France New Orleans Magic!"

 

Yesterday, I began the rearranging that is required for me to hold my upcoming workshops here on Columbus Street. I knew it would be a lot of work. Everyone offered to help, but it's better for me to do things myself when I don't really know what I want. You certainly can't advise others.

 

 

One of my first chores was removing all of the contents from two bookshelves that were in the back room.

On one of the tall ones, I have stacked my pretties art books...you want them high and dry in case we flood-ha-ha! Low and behold, there was my coffee table photo book: "Putting Pen to Paper From France!" I was so excited. I'd taken a copy to Cadrieu and it burned in the fire. I was getting ready to order another, but here was this one waiting just for me.

I'd forgotten all about it.It's the little things like this, these tiny messages that are letting me know that both places are important to me in my life.

 

The bridge that I've struggled to make all of these almost 16 years next month, is coming together for me now as a result of the fire.Every time my tiny childhood ballerina twirls, she is melange-ing that magic for me!

 

She also screamed at me: Don't forget the BARN!

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

Related articles

Soar-Dream-France: Homing In

Soar-Dream-France: "C" is for More than Christmas

Soar-Dream-France: A Table

Soar-Dream-France: Good Things to Carry...

Soar-Dream-France: Dark Departures

A Golden Path to the Moon

Soar-Dream-France: Mardi Gras May Be Coming...

Soar-Dream-France: Only in New Orleans ...

Memories and Moving On

A Birthday of Favorites

New Beginnings

ALL Photos by Evelyn Jackson

 

Today was the day that seems to herald new beginnings and thinking about life and living in whole new ways. With so much change swirling around me, it's a MUST! 

So, today I want to share a bit of the very concrete "new" and some of nature's new with you.

 

 

 

ALL, are thanks to Evelyn who has been keeping up her wonderful habit of sending me photos of important happenings around the Chatette when I'm not there.

As you know, there is a lot happening at the Chatette in my absence as the work is being done to repair the damage from the fire. The skylights are in the process of being replaced at the moment. What a great shot from Evelyn!

And then there are our favorite winter flowers: snowdrops. It makes me smile to know that they're out they're growing near where Sam is buried and the dumpster used to be.

 

Up next, the plum tree will be blooming. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be back in time to see it this year...we shall see. If not, I'm certain I'll be back in time for the wisteria.

 

 

Here's to new beginnings and a HUGE MERCI to Evelyn. The first photo is from this year, but the snowdrops, the plum tree and the wisteria shots are from years gone by that Evelyn sent.

Happy Thursday!

 

Related articles

Soar-Dream-France: Sam's Place is...

A Golden Path to the Moon

The Floating Window

A Birthday of Favorites

Memories and Moving On

Mardi Gras May Be Coming...

 

...but not everyone is always in that spirit. Between the weather and the layers to my life at the moment, it is a very delicate balance. I keep moving and do the very best I can. No one need handle me with kid gloves. 

Even so, there are times when I  have to remind myself why I've returned to the states at all. 

 

That is when I focus on the people I love who love me back. and love me back with an unsurpassed gusto that you can't find just anywhere...my Dad and my wonderful friends.

And, they aren't just in New Orleans. The globalness astounds me.

Never the less, here I am, caught in the middle again...

 

 

...Somewhere between floating confetti and my head in my hands!

 

 

Gentleness is not required, but mean and nasty can stay away!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Only in New Orleans ...

photo by Harlee Kutzen

 

...can you have fried catfish with your over-easy eggs for breakfast!

 

From the moment I'd returned, I've been craving catfish. Yesterday morning was my meant to be. When I saw "lightly fried catfish" with a two egg breakfast on the menu at the Cake Cafe and Bakery in the Bywater, my decision was made.

Beyond the breakfast though, was one of the major wonders of Facebook at work in my life. Harlee and I had worked together in the HIV/AIDS arena for a large part of our careers and had met there. We were acquaintenes then, who became friends recently and followed it up with making our coffee date yesterday morning.

 

  Lots of years since we'd seen each other, but we've learned how much we have in common. Yesterday was just further confirmation. It was as if we'd been on parallel paths that finally met up. What fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a little fun with some inside/out photos, but the glare and reflections made it a little difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way back to the car, signs of Mardi Gras were everywhere!

 

After all, 'tis the season!

 

Happy Tuesday

 

Coffe, Coffee Everywhere

 

Being back and catching up with all of my wonderful friends has been amazing. I guess you could say that I'm "coffee-ed up!"

While some friends just come here when I'm in a happy to be on Columbus Street mood, I've managed to meet and go other places from time to time.

While at Mahogany Oaks, Mike and I made our way over to the Giddy Up in Folsom for a coffee after a really successful morning at the Office of Motor Vehicles in Mandeville.

 

 

(I'd considered having Midge do all those M's but decided not to get too carried away!)

Folsom is always fun and then I've hit CCs on Esplanade as well. There've also been breakfasts and other events, so I'm glad to be able to catch up and have quality time with my friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off to a new breakfast place this morning with another friend.

 

This is a "C" place so I think Midge will stay home.

Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King Today!-Raise your cup of coffe and do something special to honor this amazing man!

Happy Monday!

 

Homing In

Photo by Eric Holsapple

 

Sitting here in New Orleans, while work is going on at the Chatette is strange for me. Even if I were there, I'd be at the studio apartment with little for me to actually be doing until we get closer to beng finished. With Christiane as my point person, and Evelyn reporting in on happenings and location progress from time to time; I know we're moving! We would NOT be moving so well without them.

At the moment, the closest thing that I have to a comfortable place to be is Columbus Street. I've realized that during the aftermath of Katrina, the Chatette was a life raft for Dali, Sam and I. It was our comfortable place and became home.

Photo by Mike Edwards

 

Now, in the aftermath of the fire, Columbus Street is a life raft for me and a comfortable place.

I have struggled over these 15 (soon to be 16) years with blending of: Columbus Street and the Chatette; Cadrieu and New Orleans; and, family, friends and work across all. 

This event has clarified most of that for me. I'm noticing reactions. I'm paying attention to the feelings of being here in New Orleans. There's a huge sense of success in the blending. We are melange-ing magic together. It's all still perking and will continue, but I can truthfully say that I now know we are almost there!

Happy Sunday!

 

Midge Does Mahogany Oaks and the MOB

 

I always have fun when I go to visit Mike and John at Mahogany Oaks in Covington. Some of you have joined me there and many of you have read about our escapades over the years.

Once I had Midge "doing" Montmartre, I decided that she really needed to "do" Mahogany Oaks and the Mahogany Oaks Bar (The MOB) with us this visit!

 

I know, I know; I'm just a very big old kid! But we had fun!

 

MIdge made her way on over with me in the pocket of my back-pack and had decided to bring along a couple changes of clothes-2 outfits Mom had made and one was that infamous strapless, black sequined number, wth the ruffled peplum and rose around the ankles.

 

I do need to get the girl some shoes that go better with her outfits, especially if she is going to be traveling with me!

We had our fun while we waited for John to get home.

 

 

In the meantime, Carmen and EJ came over to hang out with us too.(Ah, that Sammie Cat could be hanging out with all of us as usual.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a fun way to end a day of chores that were successful, but the real fun came when John got home. It was then that we discovered he already knew Midge well...

 

...and, that Midge not only does Montmartre, Mahogany Oaks and the MOB... 

 

 

 

...but, Midge does Martinis too!

Birds of a Feather!

 

 

Happy Silly Saturday to All!

 

A Table

 

I love a pretty table. When I'm in New Orleans there is no shortage of nice silverware, table cloths, china, napkins, and all the other fixings since so many of my family things are here. I often pine to have some of these pieces with me in Cadrieu, but getting them there undamaged and ridiculous expense stops me.

I've realized on this trip that there are just some things that need to stay here. But even more than that:

 

I have a life in New Orleans.

 

 

This one phrase in English..."A Table" became a "joiner" for me.

When you put an accent on the "A" in French, it becomes more than just a table. It becomes "To the Table!" That's when you are surrounded with your friends, chosen family, and those you love!

 

And so, I have a beautiful table on Columbus Street and wonderful and amazing friends who come to my table to enjoy.

 

 

You've already seen the gang who came "to the table" on New Years Day. Three of that gang had birthdays within the week. It was fun last weekend to call them "to the table" on Columbus Street again to celebrate their birthdays.

And what a pretty table it was for them, and that bacon wrapped meatloaf, stuffed with mashed potatoes and cooked in a bundt pan!

Happy Birthday one more time to Stew, Eric and Ron! Wilson and will just have to wait till later in the year!

Happy Wednesday!

 

Midge Does Montmartre

 

Before I left for Cadrieu earlier this year, my friend Kate asked me if I wanted the "Barbie Collection" back. After the storm, I'd given Kate and the girls all of my Barbie stuff. I'd actually forgotten about it. Honestly, I can't remember what I've done with most things that I parted with after the storm.

Feeling the "too much stuff" factor, but then remembering how Mom had made almost all of their clothes: Barbie, Ken, Midge, Skipper and a pack of Barbie varieties...I asked her if I could think about it.

 

 

 

Well, as you can see they have all come to live with me again. Ken didn't make it. He was already going bald and on his last leg when I gave him to Kate. (Probably, too much competition with G.I. Joe!)

Looking at them all laid out on the sofa for their photo shoot. I looked at my pillows and had an idea:

 

 

Midge does Montmartre and LETS Barbie come along!

 

 Midge was always my favorite. She seemed more like a "real" girl and had brown hair like mine. I could easily see her wandering the streets of Monmartre on her own...having her portrait painted in Place du Tertre, stopping in at the Dali museum, listening to our colorful accordian girl, and then meeting Barbie later for a grand creme. 

 

Both Midge and Barbie are wearing outfits that Mom had made for them.

 

I kept having to pull Midge's dress up to cover her cleavage. It's a blue corduroy jumper that is supposed to have a white blouse under it. It was fun to think about Midge, her outfit, and her now potential "power" over Barbie in a whole new way!

Nothing like a little "Barbie" happiness, coming through my Midge!

Happy Tuesday!