Soar-Dream-France

Devestation Sensations

 

 

Playing with the rose petals is so much fun! Fortunately, most all of them were ready to fall anyway and did we go crazy?

We did NOT stop at roses!

Buddleias were up next-a brand new arrangement!

Besides, who can resist kitties romping among the flowers alone and together?

 

 

It can all be great fun...until the vase full of water gets knocked off the table too!

I knew immediately that the buddleias were not long for this world.

They are too long, floppy, and flexible to NOT be way better to play with than roses.

 

 

 

 

I left the boys napping away pleasantly on the table beside the green vase, when I walked down to Evelyn's to scoop some more reading material.

We visited a bit over a glass of rose, but when I got home...the table was empty and the boys were wandering through puddles on the tile.

Even though the vase had emptied-it had fallen on a chair and NOT the tile.

 

At least they were not wandering through puddles filled with broken glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was grateful for that.

After a day of laundering black stinky stuff and very unsuccessful on-line ordering-I surrendered.

 

I sat down to finish my last book, have some dinner, a rose with pamplemousse kir, and then clean up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just can't be mad at them. 

 

 

 

 

 

They really are such angels.

Happy Angel Sunday!

 

Midge Minus Martini

 
Midge has finally found her place of honor in the Chatette. She is resting on the new monster bookshelf along with Hyacinth, Jackie and our Russian girl! Yes, the monster meuble has room for everyone!

Midge is enjoying her French countryside attire, but is still patiently waiting.

 

 

I've promised her a straw hat and something to go into those two martini glasses she is hanging out with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thing is-I don't do martinis.

Midge learned her martini madness from the masters at the Mahogany Oaks Bar (MOB), John and Mike!

Look at that first Martini Midge enjoyed at the MOB. Those olives are bigger than her hand!

But, Midge is a patient girl.

She knows she'll get her straw hat and maybe even some shoes...but, she's going to have to wait till Mike and John come to visit the Chatette to get that Martini.

Then, maybe we'll both feel like we've finally settled in.

 

 

Here's to Martinis and Settling In!

Happy Saturday!

 

From Then to NOW

 

I took this favorite shot above back during 2002, the summer after I first bought the Chatette that February. Note the chair.

As you can see from the shot on the left, I actually had two of them...until recently.

One burned in the fire...but now I have 5 more.

 

 

 

It's an interesting life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

 

Back Lighting

 

Some days, it's just enough to watch the morning sun backlight the geraniums in the front window boxes.

The delicate, glowing buds make me smile.

I run for my camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bus passes.

 

 

Ollie has the same effect!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So does Opie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

You Know it's TOO HOT...

 

...when it's TOO HOT TO DRINK WINE! We've been having the hottest week of the summer here for the last week or so. Tomorrow we are promised it will be a bit cooler and then by the end of the week we should be back to more normal temps for here. 97 and 99 Fahrenheit are very unusual!

 

 

When I saw these winter shots of red wine beside the fireplace this morning, I realized it's even too hot for wine.

Red especially right now, but even the whites and roses are unappealing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots and lots of iced teas and water!

 

Stay Cool.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Happy Tuesday!

HE IS THE ONLY MAN IN MY LIFE

 

For those of you who know my "Monsieur," you will notice pieces of him and his insides in this artwork created by Lola Favre for Les Archives Imaginaire for the Madistan Festival at the Chateau de Cadrieu this past weekend.

 

 

I was honored to be a part of the event, but more than that...Lola's art and Constance's audio captured ALL for me of this life and times in Cadrieu.

We were only a very small part of Les Archives Imaginaire created by Constance Leon and Lola Favre.

Hearing my own voice (in French) speaking about Katrina and the fire with my Monsieur and I playing Moon River in the background, brought tears to my eyes. They kept on coming. I went on to talk about how when I play-everyone comes to visit from the other side.

 

 

And yes, it's true. There's nothing like seeing Mom and Vann dancing together to Moon River!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's the floating of Katrina, the matches and the fire, and the piano keyboard on my overalls. We are rising from the rubble-twice.

 

 

We have risen.

 

 

I teased both Constance and Lola as we finished up Moon RIver on my Monsieur,when I told them that he is the only man in my life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see-it stuck.

It makes me smile.

It's funny, but it's true too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huge Merci to Constance Leon and Lola Favre for their beautiful creation...and from our own Moon RIver we say-

 

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Breakfast at Tiffany's Weekend on Our Moon River

 

 

The boys and I are having a Breakfast at Tiffany's Weekend! Once I finished up Elizabeth George's A Banquet of Consequences...I moved on to the Breakfast at Tiffany's Official 50th Anniversay Companion by Sarah Gristwood.

Never having read the Truman Capote novelette, this all began with my intention to purchase it.

I ended up going to hell with myself and never actually buying that book. (It's on the list for the next round.)

 

 

 

 

I actually made a haul of other items that were not the novelette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm now loaded down with notecards, a journal, and 3 notebooks in addition to my anniversary edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been fun for me.

 

 

I'm learning about the history of the movie, its stars, and of course...the birth of OUR song: Moon River by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.

I particularly loved seeing the note that Audrey Hepburn wrote to Henri Mancini, thanking "dear Hank."

It's particularly poignant because Moon River (a la me and Monsieur Winkelmann) has been serenading Cadrieu all weekend.

Friday, Les Archives Imaginaire began at the Festival de Madistan at the Chateau de Cadrieu.

 

We were up first in the series that includes interviews and art. Our interview segment was set to Monsieur Winkelmann and I playing Moon River!

To say I was "full" and touched is an understatement. Much more on the Festival and Les Archives Imaginaire tomorrow. For now, I'm going to keep reading. I might need to take a break to play a little Moon River on my Monsieur. 

It's looking like our Ollie Boy may be a little more of a Huckleberry Friend than Opie.

Happy Sunday!

 

Rainbows or Hay Bales?

 

Although those irrigator rainbows are pretty spectacular, I have trouble choosing between them and the gorgeous hay bales. 

We're having out hottest week of the summer so far these last few days...Il fait chaud for sure! 

Say cool wherever you are in the world.

 

Click on the photo of the rainbow for a little animation show!

 

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Double O Chefs

 

The Double O Chefs were at work with me yesterday afternoon. Not only did they help me with potato salad preparation, but that juice from tuna salad preparation had them ready and waiting for a nap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They curled up on a cool spot on the table and snuggled in.

 

 

All that Ollie and Opie brotherly love is pretty special.

 

 

Sometimes they just present you with some of the cutest shots.

 

Happy Friday to All!

 

Hustle Bustle Takedown

 

With the boys here with me this summer, lots of activity is added to the already hustle bustle of summer fetes, concerts, aperos and other activities that get crammed in. Holiday makers are here. Friends and sometimes friends of friends have arrived and EVERYONE wants to do something. I, on the other hand, often want to do NOTHING!

Today is my NOTHING day.

 

 

 

Of course, Ollie and Opie are running around like mad men, sleeping, eating and more madness. They are such good company. But, this morning I did something I haven't done since I've been home. 

I sat at my table, journaled, coffeed, AND lit my candles and enjoyed my roses in the morning darkness.

The rhythm to my life here is different now. I sat in the darkness and drank my coffee in the quiet.

 

 

 

A bat visitor flew in, but I remembered to turn all the lights on outside and he left. Dali was here with me. I kissed her sweet big nose and felt the feel of her when I oftened hugged her big self in my arms. Sam was here too, but she sat in the background like she always used to do when Dali was with me.

 

This dark and cool in the silence of the morning here just before dawn is amazing. I've been missing it, and so much more, from upstairs.

 

I am feeling the flow of here again. 

Happy Thursday!