Soar-Dream-France

Resurrecting Matisses

 

Over the years, there have been books that I loved so much that I read them more than once...sometimes multiple times. Matisse-Father and Son, by John Russell is one of those books. And yes, it's encore time! 

I first read it in New Orleans when I borrowed it from Eric. I fell in love with: the story; the artist (all over again); the father/son relationship and love; and, their lifelong communication through letters. I read it a second time from here in 2014 when I borrowed it from Evelyn. And now 5 years later, I'm at it again.

With each read, I realize that my perceptions are impacted by where I am, what I'm doing, and, how I'm feeling. I seem to learn something new each time, even though I've read it before.

The best part for me is their letters. It also appears that father and son communicated with each other more comfortably in writing than face to face, especially on difficult issues. I often mourn the loss of letter writing these days.

It's a soft, sweet, raining day here in Cadrieu today. I celebrate the joy of reading a book I love at least one more time and that love and connection of letter writing. Give them a try sometime.

Happy Rainy Tuesday!

 

Morning After Action

 

Friday night was a little rough on the road after company and the festival. Choosing to clean up my way another day meant sleeping in the rubble of entertaining. Having Festival goers camping below us on the land between the road and the river for the first time meant new problems.

 

Initially, I teased that it was like living in the middle of Woodstock OR the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. By Sunday morning, there was nothing funny to tease about. 

 

 

I was still in recovery Saturday morning when there was a knock on the terrace wooden shutter door that was closed. Et, voila! There was my friend Francis with a bucket of beautiful vegetables. He came in while I put the vegetables in the kitchen and then I could return his bucket for future use. I'd just been bemoaning the fact that this had been a lettuce summer with no tomatoes yet! As you can see, I was thrilled!

Earlier in the week, Andre had shared that monster courgette! I have a recipe from last summer in mind for very soon.

It's Monday morning in Cadrieu. I have a few more wine glasses to wash, the tents are gone, and I'm in vegetable heaven.

Happy Monday!

 

Meeting for Madistan

 

Friends met at my house for a light, early dinner Friday night and then we all walked up the road to the Chateau for the Madistan Festivale. It's always a treat to see the Chateau and run into other friends and neighbors from the village. My friends were looking forward to the production that is usually done in the ruins, but for some reason it was not available at the time. 

 

 

 

We of course had our "chef de champagne" and more nibbles and dessert than 5 people could manage to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thing I did seem to gauge pretty well was pizza and salad.

 

 

Last year the little bit of entertaining I did was on the terrace because there was very little furniture and "finished" inside the Chatette.

This season, the inside is almost perfect, but the outside garden and terraces continue to be works in progress.

 

It was fun to actually be inside with 5 people around the table and feel almost finished!

 

 

Coming back down the hill from the festival it was almost dusk. I always enjoy seeing the Chatette lit up. This time my new mailbox cover and Little Free Library dress us up even more.

 

 

I needed a day of "rest" yesterday.

 

 

Hmmm...maybe another today!

Happy Sunday!

 

Happening on Healthy

 

Jane and I deserved a treat after our mission through the Cele Valley earlier in the week. We'd talked about Bar a Plantes last summer, but somehow missed the road to take us there. This time we found it and were just in time for their 2pm opening.

Their two donkeys greeted us, as we drove the long road up to the establishment.

 

 

The upstairs open covered terrace with the shop below, was nestled perfectly in mostly piney woods...nature AND natural everywhere.

With so much new and unusual to choose from, I went with the Melisse and Jane had the Bulle d'ortie. Our host brought out a sample of the Bulle Tonique for us to try. Aren't they pretty? (Considering our usual lunch time venue, this was a very different and healthy alternative!)

 

Finishing up our drinks, we headed for the shop. I happily chose an Apricot Lavender confiture and Jane chose Quince Vervienne. But then, there was a sack I couldn't resist. You can see why it had to come home with me. It will definitely be a present for someone.

 

 

Leaving the Bar a Plantes and coming down from the direction of Marcillac sur Cele on the causse above, carried me to memories of a day with Stu in 1998.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'd had lunch in Marcillac and then meandered our way back down to the Lot Valley through the hills.

 

 

It was deja vu and another very sweet reminder of the first time I saw Cadrieu AND the Chatette.

Ah, memories!

Happy Friday!

 

Coming Alive in Imperfection

 

It would have been easy to skip the inside of this church in St. Sulpice. I was ready to get back in the car and keep moving, but Jane suggested we go in to see the stained glass windows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funny, it reminded me of her own church in Seuzac both inside and out.

 

It wasn't the stained glass that pulled me. It was a tiny St. Therese of Lisieux in an alcove beside some flowers that got me shooting. She was a little worse for wear, as were larger statues of Joan of Arc and Mary with Jesus in the back corners as you exited the church.

Sitting in St. Etienne in Cajarc after lighting my candle with St. Therese there, I often feel her eyes on me and a presence of spirit that lends itself to communication.

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, it wasn't till I got home and looked at my photos from this visit that I noticed something interesting that didn't come through with the larger statues while I was physically there. They look more human and almost alive in these photos...full of feeling.

 

 

 

I always wonder how much we miss when we don't pay attention.

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Down in the Valley

 

One of the first pieces of sheet music I learned to play on the piano was "Down in the Valley!" Now, I'm living in the Lot Valley and have the valley of the Cele River close by. Both are breathtaking.

Monday was a special day of wandering the Cele Valley with Jane, as she put notices up at the Mairies of the various villages that follow the river.

 

 

 

 

It was a treat not to be just passing through. We stopped all along the way at too many gorgeous villages to count. Most were quick drive-bys, but we did end up stopping a little longer at St. Sulpice and Marcillac-sur-Cele.

 

 

These are the days when I continue to pinch myself and ask how in the world I ended up here.

 

 

It's such a place of beauty, history, and a reminder of the power we cannot see.

 

 

 

It puts me in my place in the universe.

 

I am overwhelmed with gratefulness, and a certain sense of my own insignificance.

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Something About a Sunday

 

Saturday evening had me already thinking that a Sunday morning bike ride to Montbrun would be a nice way to start my day. By the time Sunday morning had arrived, I'd decided that more than a ride was in order.

I loaded up my journal and my nifty, red, coffee-filled thermos in our basket and Monsieur Columbus and I were off!

 

At 8am, it was cool and overcast, but still just perfect. It was nice to be without the backpack to just enjoy the ride and my Monsieur. I don't know how many times I say it while I'm riding, but I love my Monsieur. I seem to have found the comfortable ride and the comfortable gear. It's heaven.

We arrived at our favorite spot and got to observe the many moods of my favorite cliff as the light and clouds had their way.

 

 

 

 

My coffee tasted particularly good and my writing flowed easily.

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty soon wind began to blow up and it looked like rain was on the way.

 

 

 

I sat a little while longer, but headed to the archway in just the nick of time.

It felt good to get to know another spot. I realized that I am getting very good at sitting on stone. Stones...a theme to this life. And then, the rains came.

 

 

These were just passing through kinds of rain. I sat, coffee-ed, wrote, and let the angels touch me. My visitors came. I asked myself how I survived all those years of being on that workaholic's non-stop train. The gifts of the Lot have been many for me. I learned to sit with the rain...and, myself.

 

 

 

By 9:30, I was back on my front stoop in Cadrieu.

Nary a raindrop had graced my head.

I thought how nice it would be if we had a hard enough rain here to wash down my back stone wall for me.

 

The rains came!

Blessings in my life!

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

 

Almost There

 

As I've talked about this project in tiers...Tier 3 is almost complete. Not only do the stones need to be cleaned, but so does their supporting wall. Next up will be the wall under the stone that makes our train track side wall which is owned by SNCF. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Sunday. I'm pleased with this past week's handiwork.

 

 

Fortunately for me, I do know what is under all the brambles, ivy, moss, and other weeds.

I know how much beauty is screaming to be free all around "the compound!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do want to get out and wash down what I'd finished yesterday!

 

 

 

The beauty and the many perspectives of this amazing place still wow me!

 

Happy Sunday!

 

On the Edge

 

 

The top tier of the terrace requires me to go to the edge and hang over the side to reach the ivy vines and other crawly creepers that manage to sneak their way into the beautiful stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting to just that corner where you have previously seen gorgeous morning glories amidst the ivy,  meant: sitting down; butt walking to the edges; hanging over the edges; and, making sure all my tools were within reach so there wasn't a lot of up and down.

 

 

At one point, my legs were hanging over the top of the tunnel with just a bit (10-15 feet) of a drop. With the Cadrieu Chateau Madistan Festival on tap next weekend, my friends up there on the Chateau terrace way above me had doubts about my "sanity" and wondered what I had in mind. They made me chuckle.

 

 

Back out shortly to continue along the tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a big job, but with each step along the way and cleaning of every stone with a wire brush...we continue to become more and more beautiful.

Off to work!

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Our Little Free Library

 

I'm always excited when something I've ordered arrives in my mailbox. Lately, books and stamps top that list.

This week, my registration package for my Little Free Library arrived. 

I have my plaque, my registration number, and general instructions. And, my plaque is in French. Our beautiful, regional, Little Free Library constructed for me by Andre is ready and waiting.

 

 

In the time we've had together though, I realize that there are a couple of things that need to be done before any kind of an official unveiling...waterproofing and additional stabilizing to the base of the mailbox and the library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm so excited to be able to do this from France.

 

 

I'd hoped to do it from New Orleans too, but Columbus Street is just not set up or easily adaptable to install one. So, Cadrieu it is!

 

 

Participating in the Little Free Library movement touches so much of what is important to me and I love: books; creativity; and, the importance of community!

Happy Friday!