During the time that Jane and I seemed to be solving the problems of the world over coffe at the apartment in Cajarc and the end of lunch at their place in Seuzac; we had every season except snow.
Sunshine...rain...sunshine...rain-did not bode well for any of the grass cutting that has been niggling at me to get done every day this week.
Instead, I enjoyed the company of friends. We had our fun and easy lunch while we listened to a lunchtime French radio trivia show. They even knew the answers to some of the questions. One of the Jolly cats joined us to make the perfect "Still Life With Cat" for me to shoot.
Each visit I am surprised by more moody French country moments that are only caught in the here and now.
All of my bike rides between Cadrieu and Cajarc are along the Lot River. Some portions are closer than others. If I cut off the road by one of the train houses before I get to Cajarc, I am smack dab on the river.
It's a spectacular ride in any season. The light, the water, and the reflections can be beautiful. And then there's the mud from so much rain.
Last Sunday, I decided to chance the mud and the puddles on my bike.
I was glad I did.
Sometimes it's the cloud formations that really make it for me. Constantly moving and changing beauty, reminds me of the natural flow to life and the currents that carry us along. I find my supreme being in nature and the natural. Or, maybe that is where I am found.
These are the times and places where I find peace. I feel nurtured. I am able to regroup and go on.
I am often asked to join in various versions of the 7-Days 7-photos of something that I always enjoy. You're asked to nominate someone else you know to participate. I generally only do that during the first round. I don't like asking more often, or feeling like I'm asking for more than people might really be willing to do.
Today is the eighth day after my 7-Day 7-Black and White photos illustrating your daily life-no people no comments. I actually prepared myself and had so many more to share than just the seven days.
Looking through them this morning, I realized once more how much I love black and white photos. I shot black and white 35mm film regularly before digital came along.
Now, it's easy to filter shots that you want to become black and white. Some lend themselves to black and white more than others. I also enjoy the moodiness of black and white photos, as well as the time travel that black and white AND sepia photos can provide.
As I prepare and ponder my return to the Chatette, I have some of the prettiest, cleanest, smoothest walls we have ever shared together.
As much as I love my artwork, I realize that this time around I will think long and hard before i hang anything on those beautiful walls.
That said, there are some special things that I've been thinking about that are meaningful way beyond the art/photo itself.
And then, there are the number of friends and family who have commented on enlarging and hanging my own photos. During our now 16+ years of being a WE, we do have many gorgeous photos of our life together.
I try very hard to be grateful and show my appreciation to everyone who is helping me so much. While some tokens are meaningful and appreciated, I find it's easier to give a bottle of Cahors wine or do lunch and/or breakfast together. It makes days of fast French and swirling numbers easier.
My most recent hunt has been to choose a method of heating the Chatette.
Christiane and I did Villefranche one day-followed by treating her to lunch at La Pause in Cajarc.
Then, yesterday Jane and I began our Figeac poele a bois quest with the breakfast buffet at the Pont D'Or.
Starting with what is often called an "American" or "English" breakfast here is unusual for me, but can be fun. It's especially fun for me to see my friends enjoy these little "mercis" so much.
I confess, that the Pont D'Or is most beautiful in the warmer weather when you can sit out on the terrace and have your petit dejeuner. Yesterday's breakfast was almost as pretty. One of my favorites (and apparently everyone else's too) is the fancy schmancy hot drink machine.
Yesterday it went on strike
I got a couple of cups and Jane got a teapot full of hot water before it began acting up. Everyone who came to see it out of order was disappointed. Other arrangements were made for hot drinks for all.
Afterwards, we had three stops on our list. Weldom, Halle de Cheminee, and Bricorama. Once we finished, we threw Aldi and Easter items in for good measure!
Each trip brings me closer to a decision. My original hope for granuele was dashed immediately due to expense. The poele a bois that I found that I liked best was not going to be big enough to heat the space I have, so I went on line and found something I liked and had sufficient "puissance" to heat the living room and mezzanine area.
The people at Weldom were incredible. Next week I'll be meeting them at the Chatette so we can measure the Cheminee and the flu to see what will be needed for installation and what we're looking at total cost-wise.
Petit a petit as my friends and neighbors say. For now there are things that MUST be done, but once they are finished I can take my time with the contents and truly see what I need and want.
I love that I am here and can take my time to feel this new space and not hurry into decisions, purchases and filling up the Chatette.
As I often say...even empty, it is beautiful and just enough for me.
I don't always mean to stir the magic at the Chatette. These days, It often just happens in the process of clean up trial, error and discovery.
That last trip, I wanted to see if my dolls were going to clean up. With china, composition and rubber, you just don't know how each material is going to do with the stains from the smoke. Plus, I sometmes have to pay attention NOT to rub so hard that paint, designs, and first layer surfaces poof away.
I probably have close to a dozen dolls that are going to need some kind of attention. Midge is still keeping the smokey girls company. They were closest to the fire of all the rest, so they got the worst of it.
I found myself saying outloud: Where are you Mom? I sure could use your help right now!
I made a test on each variety and it seems the stains will wipe off easily, The clothes are another story. That's going to take a lot more thought. Buddy Lee may be coming out of his Lee Overalls for the first time in his life!
I'd also picked up my Children's Golden Treasury Song Book to take inside and play a bit with my Monsieur.
As I was walking up the front stone steps with my chair for the piano, some papers fell out of the book. I'd forgotten that I'd put some of the snippets of memories in there from Mom's services in 2016.
Chasing the school parade the other day, I followed the drum beat on the circular road to my right, as I cut up the ancient center of Cajarc. This very pretty cat was just hanging out and scampering around.
I hadn't seen this particular one before.
I began take photos from a distance, but pretty soon the meowing began and there was this sweet, beautiful, soft, long-furred, cat wrapped around and circling my legs.
Easily scooped up, like I used to scoop Sam...this sweetie rested in my arms and let me hug just long enough to get my fix.
The jump and moving on gave me more photo opportunities, but it was that brief hug and sweet nurturing feel that made my day and brought my Sammie Cat back to me a bit. Ah, to have regular cat hugs in my life again!
After finishing the chores and communing with the Chatette and my Monsieur, I decided to make a wander around the land. Once the barn came into our lives, it brought a lot of other presents along with it...land, equipment AND more grass cutting for me.
Spring is springing.
WIth all the rain we've had the lavoir is rushing.
The tiny well within the resevoir near the Chateau is swirling.
Flowers are popping out.
And yes, that grass is calling my name.
I can see that if I don't get there soon it is going to be even more of a bear to cut than usual.
We are green.
Thursday, it was as if even our space was letting me know they need me.
I'm considering: 3 more roses for the rose garden;
look at hanging flowers for the lavoir;
hangers, pots and baskets for the barn;
cutting back the buddleia even further; and,
of course, attacking weeds and moss.
There are also projects that are going to need more skills and better equipment than mine. I'm making a list for Willie. Hopefully, he won't have to play king of the jungle this time. That part will have been tamed by the time he gets here.
We are ready to be pretty again. Dali and Sam are stirring our magic energy. Sam has her spot. Dali is out there in the universe sans urn surrounding us with her love and courage.
Having the Chatette to myself on my last visit, I decided that once I finished the work work stuff I wanted to do in the galerie cave, I would spend some time with my Monsieur
He sounded so pretty when I played him a bit before getting to work that I made another decision: I was going to open him up and let him shine. He did.
The insurance pieces and my less than stellar knowledge of the French Language have had me on a roller coaster at least one point every week. This past week I told Eric:
"At the rate it's going with the money, it's going to be me and Monsieur Winkelmann in a basically empty (albeit very beautiful) Chatette."
Eric brought me back around when he wrote:
"You, Monsieur Winkelmann, a bed, table, coffee pot and a microwave...with that incredibly beautiful view out those windows you don't need anymore!"
Once again, Eric reminded me of what I'm sometimes way to close to see from where I am. I reminded myself how many times over all these months I sat on that stone front porch and said:
"Just this is enough. Me and my empty Chatette and this view are enough!"
I soldier on.
Lots of spirits were moving on the Lot on Thursday. The Chatette and Monsieur Winkelmann were speaking to me. The new windows do produce quite a view even when they're closed, but it was when I began to play with an open door and an open Monsieur that the aha hit!
I've never played quite that way during the day. Playing to the open door to the Lot River in the sunshine with that view made all the difference.
Yesterday was an amazing day for me back at the Chatette. Last trip the painters were there, which was grand. But yesterday, I had the place all to myself. I could plug myself right in. Truly BE there, and just feel the US again.
There's so much to share, but I'm going to start today with one of the biggest decisions I've had to make about the house...what to do about our beautiful now crispy critter staircase.
Look above to see how black!
Even though the rest of the staircase was in much better shape, it had to be uniform. This broke my heart. But, as I thought about what would look nice, I decided that using the darker gray so it would stand out from the very pale gray walls would be pretty.
I think I was right.
That black section is probably going to need MANY extra coats to get it to where it needs to be. Even so, you can see how beautiful it's all going to be...
...and we even have our delicate blue under the staircase!
I should add that this is not the first time that the two shades of gray have worked well for me. Before Katrina, my living room and dining room in the house; and, the living room and bedroom in the apartment; were all a pale coupled with a darker gray. The only differences are that I used a pale kiss of pink for my ceilings there, AND I painted it all myself
If you look at the contrast between the doors and the rest of the closet in the other bedroom, you can see the difference clearly. It's subtle but just enough for it to stand out.
When Jane came for coffee yesterday morning, she looked at my windows and said: "You can tell a girl lives here! All these beautiful flowers!" I chuckled, but I guess it's true. I so love the flowers in the spring and for now, this is the best I can do until I am able to get back to the Chatette again.
I've thought about planting some flowers on Sam's special spot. But I'm not ready yet.
I really want to wait until I'm sure there won't be anymore huge trucks in the yard...AND, I'll be there to take care of them.
The pansies that I have inside don't get the same attention as those on the outside ledge. That said, the sun through the petals called my name the other day and I was off and running with photos.
Everyone was screaming: "I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille!"