Soar-Dream-France

Flowering Five Years Gone

 

Prior to heading to Paris for my one day birthday present to me during 2014, I had some flower fun around the Chatette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My "too much of a good thing" buddleias are always stunning.

 

 

They do tend to take over, but I love them no matter what...even when I'm out there pruning and hauling and wheelbarrowing. Their beauty and the butterflies they bring make it all worthwhile.

Now, there's another perk for me. They also carry the memories of "us" before the fire.

I may not have my wonderful old-style windows anymore, but these photos remind me of just how beautiful they were. 

 

 

 

It's good to be able to enjoy these photos, knowing full well that my new more modern windows are just as beautiful in a different way. AND, between them, the insulation, and the new poele in the fireplace...we are more comfy in the winter.

 

Happy Saturday!

 

 

Playing at the Plage

 

Continuing on our way home, Jane and I stopped at Plage Sauliac-sur-Cele to put our feet in the water and enjoy the scenery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, my 2014 birthday celebration began here too. I had given myself a day in Paris for another big birthday. Jane, Sidney, Anna and I began that celebration here with dinner before Jane took me to Cahors to catch my midnight train to Paris! Fond memories everywhere!

 

 

 

Ending up home in Cadrieu this time was as special for me as ending up in Paris was then.

 

 

Jane wandered further afield with shoes in hand. I got out of mine and straggled around in the water in my bare feet, looking for stones and soaking up the scenery. 

 

 

 

 

I had a visitor before Jane's return.

We then headed up to get a cold drink before heading back to Cadrieu. One of the things I enjoy about spending time with Jane is that she has a greater sense of the history of the area with her family.

 

She was telling me what the plage area used to be like. We pondered what it must be like for those living here who probably never expected a spot like this to go commercial...at least in the high season!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sunshine pushed us from table to table in search of whatever remaining shade we could find. It was a wonderful wrap to a wonderful birthday, and we weren't even home yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

Curves, Causses and Cabreret

 

Leaving Cabreret after our amazing birthday lunch, we headed back the way we came in the direction of Marcillac-sur-Cele. Breath-taking would be an understatement.

 

 

 

My memories of Cabreret were always beautiful and profound, but for some reason this time around they were overpowering feelings capturing human insignificance and the awe of creation! These photos speak for themselves.

What the photos can't tell you is the story of a true friendship. It's the huge gift of the friend who knows you well and "gives" you your day.

 

 

Jane knows that I don't get out these ways often without a car. All the way along the route home, she would slow and sometimes stop so I was able to get stunning shots of this gorgeous place and route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, I never had to ask!

 

Being in the Lot has always been the best for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is the first spot on my life journey where I was able to stop, center, pay attention to the flow of life, and live in the moment.

 

 

And, I know that I breathe. 

 

 

 

Friends like Jane have made that journey easier.

Is it any wonder that this is where I choose to be?

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

Birthday Belonging

 

It wasn't until Jane arrived "chez moi" on yesterday morning, that I knew what the birthday plan would be.

I knew we were going somewhere for lunch, but where and what the rest of the day would hold for us would be a surprise.

Jane was a little daunted and disappointed by the rain.

 

 

But, I love it and had already made up my mind that if it rained, it would not rain on my birthday parade!

We were heading to the Hotel Restaurant des Grottes in Cabrerets through the Cele Valley.

 

 

I had been to Cabrerets many moons ago when I spent my 5 weeks at Wendy's. Jean-Luc and I actually rode bikes there from Tour de Faure that summer of '98! Ah, memories.

We were the first ones there as is usual for Jane and I. Our table was smack on the edge of the covered terrace where we could enjoy river action, scenery, rain, and all that birthday celebrations have to offer.

 

There's so much to share about the restaurant and the day, that I thought I'd start here with lunch.

 

It began with a bubbly Amor de Paris with kir and peanuts. Jane had Os a Moelle for a starter and I had Terrine de Foie Gras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main courses were:

 

 

  

Jane's Agneau Fermier de Quercy

and

Entrecote de Bouef with a Cabecou Sauce for me.

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts were variations on glace for us both!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vin rouge and friendship flowed right along with the Cele!

 

I knew I needed to make my call to Dad at 2. He sings me Happy Birthday every year and I wouldn't miss it.

Little did I know that when I went over to the side terrace to make my call, Jane would disappear to set up a birthday surprise.

 

Here we were, after finishing our meal AND our desserts when the staff came out with a candled up piece of pie that reminded me of our New Orleans pecan pie. But this one was walnut.

 

 

Joyeux Anniversaire began and soon the whole restaurant was singing. That was a first for me in France. I felt so special and celebrated. But even more, I felt a sense of belonging too!

This was only the beginning. I have so much more to share. Merci de mille fois a Jane et...

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Birthday Morning Blue

 

 

From blue, to pink to gray and back; my birthday morning moment to moment colors so clearly reflect my life in general these days.

It's a lot about: change; paying attention to the process; sometimes seeing the beauty in the mess of the moment; and, remembering what was so that I can move forward. 

 

Looking back at my passport photo held in the palm of Dad's hand when I was six months old, brings a rush of feelings to today. 

 

 

 

That photo was included in Mom's passport as the three of us made our way back to the USA from England. Little did we know at the time, but in recent years I teased Mom and Dad that the best thing they did for me was to have me in England!

 

So many year between then and today! There is a luxury in looking back, but the biggest luxury is learning how to look at your own life in the moment as you go. 

Yesterday I was pulled to a shot on the terrace. First, I saw the mess, but then I saw the beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There have been many many life lessons for me since Hurricane Katrina and the 2017 fire. 

The lessons continue. I continue to pay attention.

Being in the moment as much as possible and appreciating those moments has been a hard earned skill for me.

 

 

 

It's an important one, but it doesn't mean that you ignore the past or throw caution to the wind with the future. Former students of mine would laugh...the key word is BALANCE!

Humor helps!

 

 

Doing what I love is important!

 

 

Surrounding myself with beauty when I can is key!

 

 

But above all, recognizing the "enough" and being grateful helps me stay the course.

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Finding Jungle Joy

 

Taking a rest from grass cutting yesterday, I decided to sit on the stone steps down to the lower terrace.

You may remember the shots from 2005  and 2017 when I was getting ready for that summer's vernissage.

 

 

I know. The comparison is shocking! 

 

 

 

A variety of factors have converged to make a jungle. I will certainly take responsibility for it, BUT not sole responsibility. Frankly, it's been times of waiting for a variety of people who never come. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sat on the steps and tried NOT to be overwhelmed by it all.

 

 

Finding beauty in the jungle helped!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also reminded myself once more that this time around I do know what is under all that growth. We are going to be an excavation nation this fall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initially, I wasn't sure what that glowing was out in the middle of my jungle.

 

 

 

I was guessing flowers or weeds of some kind. I shot a few shots and then had to get closer. The delicate movement and dancing sunshine made everything so pretty.

Once I got closer, I could see that some of my weeds were seeding.

 

 

I had visions of an even junglier jungle by the end of September. What to do when all else fails...take more photos!

 

I found joy in my jungle!

Happy Sunday!

 

Geranium Gems

 

This summer's "geranium strategy" was a good one. I purchased a few large ones and a plat of smaller ones that I could sprinkle around different spots. Normally, this side window is "flowerless" unless I'm trying out some photo shot that I want to experiment with.

The geranium in the shot above is the largest one that I purchased. It usually lives on the terrace.

 

 

 

I'd also put together some window boxes and hanging baskets with begonias, geraniums, and a colorful filler that have turned out to be stunning. The hangers are on the terraces and the window boxes are on the front of the Chatette.

 

With some of those scorching days earlier this summer, the boxes made it difficult to close the shutters and keep the Chatette cooler. I made the executive decision to move one of the boxes to that side window.

 

It's worked so well and is so pretty, that I've decided next season we will have a window box here AND a window box in my bedroom window above. 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Lusting

 

Necessities and loose ends had me heading into Cajarc yesterday morning. I always enjoy the window displays at Les Fins Gourmets. Yesterday's visit had me hovering in front of their window and lusting after this orange bike and gorgeous leather saddle bag. 

Now, Monsieur Columbus and I are very happy together, but those loud colors scream at me.

 

We have pink and purple in New Orleans...orange would be a welcome addition, don't ya think?

Happy Friday!

 

Barn Views

 

Evelyn has always teased me that she has a much better view of the barn from her house than I do. I just get a side wall or back corner from the terrace. I've been intending to get a shot of the barn from there, but I don't always have the camera with me.

 

 

Yesterday, all the circumstances were aligned...a camera and a clear view!

 

 

It's fun to see us from different angles. I'm stocking up on my before and after the new roof shots. These are particularly pretty and give you some perspective that you may not have seen.

Lately, I've taken to visualizing what the new roof is going to look like and how we are going to fit newly into the countryside. I think it is going to be a match.

Happy Thursday!

 

Just One Ruby Red Slipper

 

When I first came to Cadrieu with Dali and Sam to be full time French Girls, I had a watch with two tiny ruby red slippers tied to it. It was 2006, and my whole concept of home had been upended in New Orleans. I struggled then, and still do to a certain extent today.

When I returned to the states in 2012, one of the ruby red slippers had fallen off my watch. One sat on a stone on my desk upstairs and the other remained on my watch that I wore back.

One day, I jokingly asked Dad:

 

What happens when you only have one ruby red slipper?

He said: I guess you can't get back to Kansas!

 

 

He made me chuckle, even if his answer gave me even more food for thought. I still ponder it from time to time.

How might you answer that question?

Happy Wednesday!