Soar-Dream-France

Window Wonders

 

It isn't always easy to tell what's just outside my windows. I've struggled  to construct works of art at every turn here in the Chatette and to allow our new windows to remain curtainless so they bring the outside art inside. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As hot as it's been the last few days, our mornings sometimes feel soft, cool and restful. It's these kinds of Sunday mornings that I take it slow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is often when I revel in my handiwork and know my decisions over time and space have been in line with this beautiful place and who we are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, I feel the "intentional!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

 

Life With Barn Magic

 

I know how special our barn is. I've shared many of our stories over time. Sometimes, it's comments by others that remind me once more what a blessing this barn and this place are in my life.

Just this past week one friend and one brother said: "I'd live in that barn!" I'd also included its photo in an email to a colleague who said she loved the barn and evoked the "M" word..."your barn is MAGIC!"

Interestingly for me...the magic is the easy part.

 

 

The energy moves. The stone speaks. I listen AND pay attention!

 

Magic is easy when there is so much history, romance, power you cannot see, timelessness, and boundarylessness all in one place!

Living in the barn? That would be a little harder to affect, but not impossible. With the shape of the world these days; family, friends and I often tease about everyone coming here. It's certainly possible, but I must confess to really loving living alone. I wonder which would be the bigger impediment; me, or the concrete details?

 

 

 

I guess that only time will tell.

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Wallow or Choose

 

Some days, the best thing you can do is look to the sky and let go. On one such day this week, I also decided to follow a suggestion I hear regularly. In the face of adversity, I would choose how I would react. I often ask myself why these things happen to me? It can be exhausting.

 

On that Wednesday, I set my frustration, anger and weariness aside.

Instead, I problem-solved with friends. I enjoyed an "overnight" with friends. How wonderful to spend time with Jane's sweet family and the four-legged children that I've come to love and enjoy so much. (We decided that I need to do this more often.)

The following day, Jane helped me do what I could do to solve these challenges.

 

We were already set to go to Villefranche together anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was just tagging along.

Now, it became a much more important trip for me.

 

 

I had no way to know that so much "amazingness" was in my future!

I'm beginning to think that there is a lot more to this letting go! More soon!

Happy Friday!

 

Barn to Match

 

In addition to cutting grass, I've been making a point to spend a little more time with the barn too. Some of these photos and ahas come just sitting on that chair in thee shot above.

It's become important to get out and moving early. By 10:30 or so the sun and heat become daunting. You need lots of water and lots of rest stops, if you choose to go anywhere past noon.

Yesterday, I had a head start from the day before so it was an enjoyable morning. I was energized to do more.

 

 

In the midst of greener than green and so pretty, I realized that once the barn gets its new roof...its tiles are going to match the tiles of the lavoir.

Interestingly, the roofs of the barn, lavoir and the neighbors are all going to match.

I like it.

I think it's my way of easing into change!

Happy Wednesday!

 

 

 

Tunnel Time

 

One of the most interesting features of the Chatette is the T-Shaped tunnel on the ground floor. Running around back and forth and up and down yesterday, I found myself passing through the tunnel. I couldn't resist a couple of shots.

These shots are of the base of the T. The first shot is taken from the top of the T looking out to the route. The last shot is taken from the route looking back to the center of the top of the T.

It is a stunning structure with lots of undocumented history. It's time for the tunnel to receive a little more attention. I'll keep you posted as we go!

Happy Tuesday!

 

Rewards

 

With so much to be done all around the Chatette inside and out, I find that taking things a step at a time and rewarding myself along the way are important. Rewards come in many forms.

It may be just the satisfaction of seeing a job well done. And of course, there's always the pretty that surrounds me all along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It may be some great book I'm reading.

 

 

 

 

That gives me the chance to take a break, rest a bit, and re-hydrate with a little herbal iced green tea.

 

Last but not least is having a wonderful dinner that can be something to look forward to at the end of a days worth of work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I confess that each day has a routine daily break at 2pm France time and 7am St. Louis time.

 

That's when I call Dad to say hello...I'm thinking about you...I love you. Sometimes Dad has ideas and suggestions for me as I move forward with my projects. Poor guy...he gets to hear about the weather and all the grass cutting. Yesterday, he suggested that I set up little rest stops along the grass cutting route. I'm pondering some of those at the moment.

Talking to Dad is a daily reward.

 

 

Another day of grass cutting ahead. I'm thinking about some pretty little rest spots that should be fun beyond grass cutting!

Happy Monday!

 

Survivors

 

We can find lessons everywhere when we pay attention. This sweet climbing tea rose was taken from a cutting at my friend Wendy's house in Tour de Faure by my friend Joan not too long before Hurricane Katrina. I struggled with where to plant it, but when I found a sweet little flower box on the lower terrace I knew that was the spot.

It's never quite grown to the size of the one that was in Wendy's barrel on the terrace, but there are many reasons for that. First, it may not be the best spot in terms of sun. Second, each year this sweetie has had to start over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the things that happens when you're not here is that in the lust of grass cutting and garden tending by others, things get rolled over and whacked. This little guy has been a new survivor every year.

This year, I was here so I could make sure it was okay. When I headed out to Carcassonne, I put stones around it and covered it so it would be seen and out of the line of fire.

 

 

 

 

The morning sun makes it glow. You don't need rose colored glasses to see the beautiful rose pink reflected on the stone!

We are on the road this season. This is one of my projects...to nurture this little beauty and see how far we get this summer.

Me and my rose...survivors!

Happy Sunday!

 

Parched...

 

...and needy, I asked Jane if she knew of anywhere that we might be able to get a cool drink on the way home from Figeac. As we passed Faycelles, I knew there was a place there but too late. Jane suggested a place on the town square in St. PierreToirac.

 

We stopped there and what a treat. That bierre pression hit the spot and we got the chance to enjoy the view, the establishment cats, the establishment people, and each other's company. 

 

 

We bemoaned a bit that we didn't have these intimate squares in Cadrieu or Larnagol to do just what we were doing in St. Pierre Toirac, but that didn't last long.

 

 

Just being able to enjoy this St. Pierre Toirac spot is one of the things that makes you fall in love with the Lot.

 

 

When you get off the beaten path and explore, you never know what you'll find.

We know how fortunate we are to be able to live in this amazing place.

 

We are lovers of the Lot!

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Bird Parenting

 

Earlier in the week I'd posted about my terrace birds big and small. I confessed, they really are my new pets.

As I've mentioned before: they let me know when they're out of balls by tapping on the evier window; they harmonize nicely with Moon River while I'm playing our Monsieur; and, we communicate!

 

 

I love these guys, big and small. Imagine my horror when a friend mentioned that they have been known to be killed getting their claws stuck in the mesh on the balls. And, that the green plastic mesh has been known to get stuck on their beaks and get into their digestive systems. 

I consulted Jane. She told me about a system she uses with boards, nails and balls taken out of the net. On our sojourn into Weldom in Figeac yesterday, I'd decided to implement her plan. The birds were NOT happy, so I needed to get busy.

I had my last remaining store credit at Weldom that I planned on spending yesterday.

 

 

 

I had my list and hoped to get everything, but it didn't quite turn out that way.

We found a sales man/consultant who was wonderful.

He found extra stock that I needed and problem-solved an air compressor issue.

But, best of all...

 

 

...when we couldn't find the bird balls Jane told him about the birds knocking on the window when they were empty, and I told him about them harmonizing to Moon River. We also told him about worrying about "bird safety!"

We must have made an impression...he came back with this wonderful contraption you see above.

Once I got home with it, I was ecstatic and so were the birds. 

I think there is another trip to Weldom in my future. I figure I need at least 2 more of these guys. I'm noticing bird rivalry from time to time so spreading out a bit with a few more will be a good thing.

Happy Friday!

 

Looking Back From Fresh

 

 

There's a lot that has been happening to me in the process of recovering from our November 2017 fire here.

Having purchased the Chatette in 2002, February 22, 2020 will be 18 years together.

A lot has happened in those almost 18 years.

Journaling through all of them helps me remember.

But, there are somethings you never forget.

 

 

 

Within those 18 years, I faced the tumbled levees and flooding from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans AND the fire here. Both were disasters of monstrous proportions and huge losses way beyond "stuff!"

Even so, I knew that out of the disasters and loss, can come positives and new perspectives.

 

 

I found them after Katrina. I'm finding them after the fire.

 

I've been very deliberate in our recovery from the fire. I learned some lessons from Katrina. The biggest lesson has been take your time, don't rush into anything until you're sure, and pay attention as you go. So far, so good.

Yesterday, Jane and I went back to Villefranche to see if some chairs I saw last week would still be there that would have been perfect for the Chatette. They were a very good price and I was in luck. It was another 21 euro day for me, and what a haul.

 

 

 

 

 

Once Jane left, I was wandering around this amazing place with everything in its place. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It all felt so good!

That was when it hit me.

 

 

 

Jane and I were doing what I'd hoped to do back when I first bought the Chatette...wander the second hand stores, markets, brocantes and vide greniers to get things I loved that would make us home.

 

 

At that time, I didn't have much money. I wasn't here all the time. I didn't know the area well. Now, I have the gift of doing today what I'd hoped to do almost 18 years ago.

How special is that? It sure feels good.

Happy Thursday!