Soar-Dream-France

Lamp Up the Light

 

Until just this past Thursday, I've been playing a game of musical lamps. There are some on the walls on the first floor that help. With winter approaching and for just plain old convenience, I knew I needed more, bigger and different. I love this lamp in the photo above that survived the fire. But, I'm sure you can see that it is more decorative.

 

It's wonderful to be able to get a combination of 10+ floor and table lamps at the Deco Troc in Villefranche for what you would pay for just two floor lamps at regular stores. I am a fan!

I'm not rushing out to place them all over the Chatette just yet. Some clearly had a designated spot when I bought them. Things like that have a way of screaming: "Look at me, Laury...I'm going to be perfect behind that new gray chair!"

 

Or as Jane says: "You have an eye." 

 

It's not the first time someone told me that. When I saw the Chatette for the first time back in 2001, I was able to see beyond the junk, clutter, and poubelle of the renters. I saw the beauty of the stone, tile, and views; and, felt the romantic feel and history of this place.

I have some thing to work with now. Feeling into the lighting magic of just this spot is an adventure all its own.

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Paris Parfait

 

Some days, the best thing you can do is think about all the things that make Paris perfect!

These are favorite shots of mine from long ago trips.

Put yourself in a shot. You have choices!

You can get in that car with the dog...or, head into Berthillon for some of their famous glace! 

You can sip your beverage of choice beside the Stravinsky Fountain.

You can hop on a Carousel Horse in Les Halles for an amazing ride.

 

Which would you choose?

 

Close your eyes and imagine yourself there.

Tell me about it!

 

Happy Friday!

 

After Taking the Long Way Home...

 

 

...last week, yesterday's morning mist pushed me to start my errands into Cajarc along the Lot River instead of ending there with a loaded back pack and exhausted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was every bit as beautiful as I expected it to be.

 

 

 

Those early morning mists are haunting, but soft, colorful, and sometimes begging for black and white!

Wouldn't you like to join me on my bench for a bit?

Sometimes it feels good to just sit and soak up the color.

 

 

It felt good to shoot from the path and soak up more red and more fall along the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually... 

 

 

 

 

...we're pretty beautiful at the Chatette right now too.I'm spoiled for beauty. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many visual treats to this life in the Lot.

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Birdwatchers WE

 

 

With the bird balls back out on the terrace for fall/winter; the birdie birds are back in force.

I love watching them, and so do the boys! And...I like watching them watch the birds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They dash back and forth between their spot by the door to the evier in the living room.

 

Jackie is feeling jealous and left out!

 

 

 

Now, Opie has discovered that the best spot in the Chatette is the kitchen window. 

These boys are NOT outside cats for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They aren't really mine so I'm cautious with them.

I don't want to lose either of them.

It's also probably a good thing for the birds.

 

 

 

After a hard afternoon of bird-watching...it's rest time!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Slow Change

 

 

 

As the front of the Chatette began its journey of red, I began taking photos.

Oh, the yuccas and the window boxes were a little icing, but over time no icing was needed.

I always hope for EVERYTHING to be red at the same time.

But remembering last year, the red sweeps in from the right of the photos and ends in the tunnel.

 

 

 

 

These days, I'm contemplating pumpkins (poitirons) in each of the three downstairs windows. That red and orange will look really pretty together. Carved and lit, I'd say we'll be spectacular!

 

Happy Tuesday! 

 

Wonderment

 

Look at these sweet, inquisitive OLLIE and OPIE boy faces!

For me, these are days of looking up to the heavens and screaming: What in the world is going on? These guys, they're just looking up at some long pieces of grass. 

Ah that it were only blades of very long grass in my gaze!

 

Happy Friday!

 

Windows on the Lot

 

Usually up at 5am, that view out one of my windows on the Lot is pitch black. Sometimes the moon is smiling down on us. Always, the kitchen behind me and myself reflect back at me. It's as the sun begins to rise on most mornings, we color. Some mornings we are soft blue, some misty gray to olive green, and many...brilliant pinks. Facing the river as I write and work has been a very good decision.

I think you can see why.

 

 

I marvel at the different views that can be seen from these three windows on the front of the Chatette that face the Lot from the first floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the color and the mood are spectacular, I am often energized to run upstairs to see what my floor to ceiling french door/windows have to offer.

 

Yesterday, I watched the clouds quickly rolling by. I love the movement.

From subtle to speedy, it reminds me that even when it seems like nothing is happening and the world is stagnant, change and movement are everywhere and still possible.

 

 

I kept an eye on this little gray cloud in the photo below. He was a speedy fellow.

 

 

I am spoiled and blessed in this place of my heart. 

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

 

Window Shopping Fun

 

One of the hazards of taking photos of shop windows, is that I usually end up with a reflection (or reflections) of me in there somewhere. Sometimes they're fun...others, they just get in the way!

There's a private window in Cajarc that has incredible displays from time to time. I understand from Evelyn that it is the Cajarc Mayor's wife who is responsible for these gorgeous works of art! I always check it out when I'm riding by on my bike.

 The other window I enjoy is Les Fins Gourmets.

 

 

They usually have a theme in their window so I photograph it regularly. They shared a musical theme my last pass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, I had to stop at both.

 

 

 

 Between music and dolls and doll houses you can't go wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a window-shopping treat.

 

 

Of course I had my doll and doll house favorites, and it didn't cost me a penny.

 

 

The pleasures of little things.

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Upstairs Homestretching

 

With fall knocking down the door and cooler temperatures, I'm finding that I'm happy to be upstairs doing what I can do to continue to get us back together to livable and usable after the fire.

The first floor is cozy, comfortable and feels like home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm wondering how much cozier it is going to be when I crank up our poele au bois for the first time.

 

 

Of course, one of the very first things I did was to get my bed purchased, delivered and set up at the end of April. For the longest time, it was just the bed and a lamp and table upstairs. Soon, we added in the chest, but over the weekend I went even further.

Then, there is the private bedroom/guest room on the other side of the Chatette. Between both bedrooms is the master bath and a very nice foyer that is big enough to put a kitchenette in if I wish. The jury is out on that one for the moment.

 

 

I am so pleased with the way the guest room has come alive.

The colors on the walls, ceiling, closet, beams, and the tiny window have all come together nicely with the gorgeous "mouquette" that I chose. 

The bedspreads I found on-line with Amazon.fr are "parfait" and reversible!

I sometimes push the two twins together when I have company who prefer that...and, I was able to find the same patterned spread to fit the two in that configuration.

 

 

I was so grateful to see the beds stored in the utility cave. They weren't a bit smokey. Evelyn helped me get all the pieces in the house and upstairs over the weekend. The headboards even matched the wood on the tiny repaired window!

 

 

Then, I could go to work.

Of course, there's still work to be done. Some of it is mine, but most of what's left is out of my control to artisans, workmen and waiting on deliveries. 

 

 

So far, so good.

 

And besides, with beautiful views like these and sweet kitty boys discovering birds through the windows for the first time...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I can't begin to complain.

 

 

 

I may be a bit like my snails, but we're moving!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Kitty Games!

 

From Deviled Egg Football, to Apericube Toss, to Rubber Band Heist; who needs television or internet news when you have les deux freres to entertain you with their constant antics?

I can tell you that there is no need to buy those little stuffed mice from the Gamm Vert.

Ollie and Opie continue to find creative ways to have fun and sometimes reek havoc!

After our champagne and foie gras party, I had a few of the deviled eggs left. We did some damage. Usually there are more. I had this plate in the top photo sitting on the counter as I was cleaning up. In no time, each boy had their own deviled egg on the floor and was batting them back and forth and then nibbling!

 

 

They were having so much fun. I just let them go and cleaned up when they were finished. Of course after so much fun, they need a nap so it's perfect clean up time!

 

Then the other day, I look at Ollie who had stolen an apericube out of the bowl on the kitchen counter.

These perfect little squares of cheese are wrapped in colorful foil with the flavor labeled in French and in English. Inside, you will find a trivia question (alas only in French).

I LOVE APERICUBES!

Apparently, so do the boys.

 

 

 

While they batted and shuffled a variety of colors on the floor, I was amazed. Then a couple went sailing through the air and Ollie began eating one through the foil. It was time to stop. I don't think the cheese would hurt them, but foil in their tummies is probably not a good idea.

This morning, Opie was at it again. They both love playing with rubber-bands. Playing is one thing, but Opie gets up on the counter and steals them from their little lidded china container on the side wicker shelf.

 

This morning he had his whole body on the shelf as he got the lid off and stole the last of the rubber bands. There is nothing to eat in there. You'd have thought there was something more than rubber-bands the way he was behaving. I've moved the empty china container elsewhere so it doesn't break and will have to go search for rubber-bands on the floor when I need them.

 

 

Thanks for humoring me today. With the insanity in the states, these boys are a wonderful diversion and my little angel therapists. They continue to make me smile. Maybe you're smiling too!

 

Happy Saturday!