Soar-Dream-France

Seasonal Endings and Beginnings

 

Earlier in the summer, I had a visit from a friend who over the years I've come to teasingly call the "Salad Man!" He frequently shows up with lettuce and other vegetables for me.

If I'm not home, he leaves them on the terrace. If I'm home, I get to say a HUGE MERCI. I think you can see why. My friend has amazing vegetables.

 

Sometimes it's way too much for me, but I can share with friends which is always nice. 

 

Yesterday turned out to be a day of visitors.

While I was out cutting the grass, my friend WIllie came by and we've made the plans for him to start de-jungling us early Friday morning.

Then, just as I was hauling the heavy lawn mower up the 10 back stones steps so I could cut the rose garden...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Francis arrived with end of the season goodies.

 

Those 4 aubergines (eggplants) and almost a dozen tomates were just so pretty!

 

 

Then, I had some wild blackberries of my own to pick down on the point, and I remembered a bit of red that was just beginning on the vine in front of the house. We are going to be pretty too this fall!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willie had already told me (and Francis confirmed), that the forest fire above us over the weekend had been started by cigarette butts either thrown out of car windows are just on the ground.

 

 

I hope all these outside and driving smokers will remember this horrific fire, and think twice about what can happen by being so careless and inconsiderate in nature with cigarettes!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Box Boys

 

One might think I have "angels" here when you see these sweet little faces. They are. But, they are also little boys who like to have fun and play.

Little did I know that all my delivery boxes from Amazon would turn into a huge kittie playground.

 

Up a little earlier than usual this morning, I've been glued to the computer with ongoing reports from the forest fire here and Tropical Storm Gordon heading for New Orleans.

I heard a lot of box movement and playing going on behind me.

I didn't give it much thought. Ollie and Opie love playing hide and seek and wrestling in the boxes. 

 

But when I turned around, my nice pile of relatively contained empty boxes was spread all over the area around the kitchen, the front door and the piano.

I surrendered. Let them play.

I guaranty that in moments, they will both be sacked out on a chair or the sofa. Or coming over to curl up in my lap together as I write, and feign angeldom again.

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

From the Air

 

 

Saturday afternoon and evening brought strange activity in our part of the village.

I'd heard that there was a vegetation fire up on the causse and saw a photo of the billowing smoke that a friend posted.

From here, all I could see was the Gendarmes stationed by the turn off to the village beside Evelyn's and planes. 

 

 

It didn't dawn on me till later that the Gendarmes were NOT there to finally do something about the speeders on our road.

They were there to prevent people from getting up into the village and then onto the road that takes you to the highest part of our village on the way to the Grealou Road. 

Even though we have the cliff behind us and it is probably close to a mile up to the location of this hundred hectar fire, this fire was already huge and these fires can spread rapidly.

 

Once again, our volunteer Sapeurs-Pompiers du Lot were hard at work from land and sky trying to contain this fire.

 

 

 

Most of what I learned I saw from postings on Facebook. I was grateful to see the progress and determination in containing the fire. Once again, help also came from outside of the Lot...the Aveyron, the Tarn, and even as far away as Canada. 

Yesterday afternoon, the fire had been contained.

These last 3 photos  were taken earlier in the summer from the terrace of friends who live very close to the fire. Being reminded of the peace and beauty of that area then, makes me even more grateful now.

Knowing that dear friends and neighbors high up in that area of our village of Cadrieu, and Cajarc and Grealou were at risk, but are safe now is important.

 

HUGE MERCI to our Sapeurs-Pompiers de Lot and everyone who came from everywhere to help.

 

 

I am now grateful times two-grateful personally from our fire at the Chatette last year and grateful for our village of Cadrieu.

 

 

A Place of Light

 

I have always said that this very spot...this place...the Chatette...is Magic! Part of the magic of here comes with the light. It's special. But, when you can capture it on film (and sometimes in the ears of puppies and kitties); it is spectacular and almost angelic!

Some of that magic also comes in the ability to just BE here.

For me, it's an ability to love this place and be present with this place in a most human way...as if this place were human.

This is when I know I'm in true communion and relationship with this place.

 

We communicate.

 

 

Sitting on the sofa with my book yesterday afternoon, I noticed the light through the window between the fireplace and the new big armoire.I'd just put my birthday flower from Annemaire and Gerard in a favorite pot I'd gotten from Wendy ages ago.

 

It was perfect...

...another one of those playing to the natural beauty of this place that works.

I took a shot and realized that something spectacular was about to happen.

 

I sat and watched, knowing that the universe was about to gift us with something that I can only describe as joyous, holy, lovely light.

 

 

And, it was. 

 

These are the moments when I know: that we are a WE; I am supposed to be here; everything will fall into place; and, our heaven on earth will continue.

 

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

VOTE-VOTE-VOTE

 

It is soap box time again! This year particularly, the mid-term elections are critical to the life blood of our country.

I shudder to think how many Americans who can vote are not even registered to vote.

I shudder doubly, at those Americans who are registered to vote but don't even bother.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

I make no secret of my beliefs and values. I am a registered Independent. I have often been called their "favorite liberal: by many of my very conservative friends. We have agreed to disagree.

I encourage all to vote.

 

I have often facilitated getting my more conservative friends registered to vote or put in place for absentee ballots so they could vote when abroad or working away from home. 

Sometimes it takes a little more effort, but it is a MUST. EVERYONE SHOULD VOTE who can.

 

My notice came from the Registrar of Voters last week for our New Orleans/Louisiana elections coming up in November and December.

You might think it's early, but I don't want to let time escape. My ballots are completed, signed, witnessed (by Monsieur Jolly), and in their envelopes stamped.

 

When I'm in New Orleans, I ride my bike to my neighborhood polling place. From France, I ride my bike into Cajarc to put my ballots in the poste to the states.

Obviously, voting is VERY IMPORTANT to me. 

I hope it is just as important to you.

Happy Saturday!