Soar-Dream-France

I Want Spaghetti!

 

Ever since I returned to the Chatette, I've discovered that there may be things that I need but don't have.

Making poorboys in the oven one day, I needed toothpicks. Hmmm, I ended up breaking appart a wooden clothes pin and using it instead. It was a little thick, but it did the trick. I have since bought toothpicks.

Everytime I thought about having spaghetti, I'd remember that I didn't have a colander. Yesterday, spagetti won. I began to look around for what I could use to drain my spaghetti...et, voila! Piles of plastic plant pots with nice holes in the bottom for drainage. It was amazing. It worked so well.

 

Maybe I don't need a colander after all!

Happy Saturday!

 

 

Double Moon Quest

 

 

Last night I found my double moons, just not in the sky! I pushed myself to stay awake way past my bedtime.

 

 

 

 

 

It seemed to take the moon forever to get itself over the causse. I watched it for a while. I got more tired and went back to bed.

I got up again, figuring that if I didn't do it now, I probably never would.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There it was...my Moon River Moon.

 

 

While beautiful from the side window, I decided to go to the far bedroom to see what I could see. Interestingly, there was much more moon reflection from that window view. I could actually see the whole moon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reflections in the Lot with the movement of the breeze on the water were stunning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I realized last night that those moments when the moon first creeps over the causse are my Moon River Moons.

 

Timing is everything. Staying awake and watching helped too. 

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

Tomorrow is Another Day

 

Yesterday I had a plan. "HAD" is the operative word here. I'd been working on painting this hutch for the kitchen, and was ready to give it a second coat and paint the inside that gorgeous ceiling blue. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That delicate blue is becoming a decorating thread that pulls all our other pieces together

 

 

Heading out to the terrace, I discover that someone had knocked over the bucket of paint I'd been using AND the empty plastic mesh bird ball holders were spread below the trash can. Someone or someones had been busy.

Suffice it to say, I spent my morning trying to figure out how to get this paint off my beautiful stone terrace.

 

 

I'll spare you the details, but it seemed to come up if the paint hadn't yet dried. A little artwork has been left behind, but I'll see what I can do about that another time. 

Who knows, maybe it'll grow on me? I decided painting was NOT on yesterday's agenda.

Overwhelmed and out of the mood for much, I retired to the sofa, swing, or terrace table with my book.

 

It was a "be good to me" day.

 

I had my first boiled shrimp dinner sans Sam, missing her all the while.

 

 

I gandered at the sunshine through the leaves.

 

By the time I headed up to bed to read into the darkness and sleep, I remembered double moons were supposed to be on their way. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My day ended wih beauty everywhere.

 

 

Some days, playing Scarlet is the best decision. 

 

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

Pretty Plays of Light

 

This recent photo favorite shows easily why less is more at the Chatette. Oh, there will be some art on these walls at some point. But, I want what I choose to be special, something I truly love, and (in most cases) meaningful.

This natural play of light in the Chatette is often lost in the midst of hung photos, paintings and the like. My goal is to capitalize on these special moments so I don't lose them in this process.

I'm also realizing that part of this new discovery is that these new windows do NOT have any cross bars so that the window panes are long and open and invite the light to make its magic on a larger canvas.

 

Here's another for you!

 

 

Any guesses on where this pretty play of light was found?

Happy Wednesday!

 

Side Window Wonders

 

From the garden side of the Chatette, the view is completely different than the one you catch facing the Lot from the front.

Here you get, bikes, birds, birches, buddleia soon, and the amazing moon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need to get in the habit of having my phone charging closer to the bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, in the middle of the night...

 

...I can catch the moon in all its glorious beauty while it is hanging out above the garden.

 

 

I understand that tomorrow-June 27-we will be able to see a double moon. Depending on the weather, I'm hoping for a clear night and maybe a capture of the double moons!

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Pastoral if You Please

 

The singing was not the only thing that made Thursday evening in Seuzac special. As soon as we arrived, I noticed these beautiful horses in the field beside the church. They were peacefully grazing, wandering, and... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

..."non-resistant" photo subjects.

 

 

When the performances were over, we enjoyed an apero and nibbles in front of the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ran into old friends and made new ones.

 

One of my friends from Cadrieu sat on the wall with me while we "apero-ed," nibbled, chatted, and sang. We talked about the horses and the beautiful view. When I said it was: "Pastorale," she smiled and share it with others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just below the wall, I noticed the electric wire barrier in place for the horses.

 

 

I have been caught before myself when I wasn't paying attention. It seems that it not only keeps the horses in, but keeps onlookers out!

There are so many pieces to this peace in the Lot.

 

Happy Monday!

 

Self Promises

 

When I looked out my side bedroom window yesterday morning, my bike, the yard, and the stone wall were glowing. It was just so pretty and something I'd never seen from here before. I seem to be having a lot of these experiences as I wander through these days at the Chatette. There has also been the realization that I am living my life here differently now.

 

 

First, I notice that I'm living my life MORE outside, if that is even possible. I enjoy the terrace even more and often wander from the umbrelled table over to the porch swing under the covered terrace.

Sometimes, it's the heat. Sometimes, it's a change of scenery. And, sometimes it's needing a nurturing rock. I also have an amazing view of the barn, lavoir, wagon and the Chateau from just that swinging, rocking spot! I'm continuing to find joy in the smallest things.

The birds like it too.

Often, there's a show a minute as they soar from the trees, sing their tiny hearts out, bathe in the lavoir, and dance on the wagon.

 

 

 

Sometimes, Gene Kelly joins them and they're Singing in the Rain-and dancing with Gene and his parapluie (umbrella for the rain)! 

Second, I notice that I am better at no plans-no musts-no schedules kinds of days. That, allows me to be very much in the moment. I like to say that I'm plugged in to my own life. 

That leads me to my number three; I am able to respond to requests from friends and be available.

 

I have been a very organized and well-planned person my whole life. I love routines. I have always found great comfort in plans, schedules, and routines. Spontaneity was not my strong suit. Of course, I haven't surrendered ALL of it, but I decided the other day that from now on: When I'm invited, I'm going.

Had I not turned over this new leaf in my Chatette life, I'd have missed the music with Christiane in Seuzac Thursday evening and roaming the countryside with Jane yesterday.

I say it's all good!

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Bridging Busy

 

 

Most days I'm home petit a petit-ing at the Chatette.

There's so much to do: always grass; tiny pieces of window pane glass all over the grassy driveway area that surrounded the dumpster; banishing the black; waiting for workmen; and, on and on.

Thursday turned out to be a different story.

 

 

I headed in to Cajarc with mail to be posted, a list for the Intermarche, a pastry pitstop at Roux's, and another call for help at L'Electron Bleu since the potholder I dropped into the bottom of the stove beneath the oven was still there. As I told Antoine: Je n'ai pas de la chance avec feu!" I am not lucky with fire!"

It was already hot, so I took my New York Times and a birthday card for my brother-in-law to La Pause. No coffee today...I treated myself to a Perrier Menthe while I wrote the card and then went ahead and posted it while I was in town.

 

 

Home by noon with all my goodies, I was texhausted. But, there was French at two with Christiane. She'd also invited me to go with her to hear her chorale group sing at the church in Seuzac that evening.

 

 

I coasted right on in to Friday morning's visit to Tour de Faure for a very early coffee with Jean-Luc. Odile joined us a little later. It was also fun to get a chance to say hello to both of Jean-Luc's brothers.

 

 

 

 

 

Catching the bus to Tour de Faure at 6:50 gave me just the right couple of hours for coffes, pastries, visits; and still be home by  10:30.

 

 

 

 

It was important to get home on Friday.

 

 

 

 

Antoine was coming by to rescue the potholder, I was still set to call Dad at 2:00, and Weldom might have been passing to repair the roof of the Chatette where a few tiles had fallen during the installation of the poele.

By the end of the day yesterday, everything was accomplislhed and EVERYONE came!

 

 

 

 

I was MORE exhausted, but I'd had two full and productive days that were also full of friends and fun!

It's Saturday. I should cut grass. I should, I should, I should...we shall see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may just sit on the terrace in the sunshine, hang out with my bittie birds and flowers and read John Irving's Until I Find You!

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Timing and the Light

 

 

I've made no secret of the fact that I love music in ancient Catholic churches in France.

Last night was no exception.

But, it wasn't the music that first captured my heart and soul...it was the light.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

I'll be back with more soon.

But for now, enjoy the play of the 6:30 pm light through the stained glass windows from the church in Seuzac last night

What a rainbow of colors and wide swaths of brush strokes.

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

A Whole Lot of Heaven

 

It makes no difference what time of day it is here at the Chatette, I am in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For years, I've been going to see Otis Biggs who is MY tarot card reader at the Bottom of the Cup in New Orleans on Decatur Street. When I first started going to see Otis, he was on Royal Street. That was in the early 80's. I try to make at least an annual visit, but it seems I missed last year. He has predicted many major events in my life.

 

 

 

He reads the cards I choose, but we chat too. I told him I'd found heaven on earth in Cadrieu. He told me that he'd found his "place in the sun" in New Orleans. Whether it's a little bit of heaven or a place in the sun...it's good to be and feel home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More importantly, I feel the peace.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunrise, sunset, all around the Chatette; beauty, romance, history, timelessness, boundarylessness, and peace abound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you see it in my photos.

I feel it in my heart and soul.

 

 

 

 

Happy Thursday!