Soar-Dream-France

A New Week Begins

 

Before getting busy on his own once more, Monsieur Feres and I sat down on the terrace wall to look at the two blog posts I'd printed out for him with photos! It was fun. We spoke a lot of French and I could see that he really enjoyed seeing the photos of him at work. I've promised more!

 

 

 

The best part for me was when he said: Elle est belle...and yes, she is so truly beautiful! He also enjoyed the rose filter I'd used on one of the photos. I knew I had the right guy for the job. Really, there was never any doubt!

 

 

The two top show you where he started yesterday. I got a couple at the beginning and the end of the day on our side. I still need to go around to the back and see that progress. 

I shall return.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Slow on the Uptake

 

Hoping to get our full harvest moon last night, turned into just sound asleep on the sofa with all the activity around here!

 

 

So instead, did scoop this shot early this morning as the moon creeped over the causse behind us and shined its light straight in on me to remind me.

And, then there was the barn!

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

All Quiet Across the Tracks

 

When all was quiet Wednesday night, I went out to lock up the barn. Being camera-less, I decided that I'd be back in the morning to move the ladder, plows, and other farm equipment over by the manger so it would all be in one place and have a little protection just in case. Ah, so many memories.

 

 

I got lots of photos yesterday morning early...good thing!

 

By the end of the day, we looked like this! 

 

Yesterday was a day of work on the other side I couldn't see, but hear. I heard the monster truck come and I saw the shingles on the other side of the barn were being removed because I could see light through the holes in this side of the roof. 

As you can see, from morning to evening we had big change.

 

 

 

 

There was something awe-inspiring again about seeing our barn in progress.

It was especially beautiful in the early evening dappled light that was sneaking in.

Once again, I felt I knew her better than before.

 

 

I was even more grateful to be able to get her a new roof or "chapeau" as some of my friends in the states have been calling it!

As Didier told me the first time he looked at her before even giving me the devi..."Elle est malade, Laury!" I told him: "Je sais"...I've known ever since the May purchase in 2010 that she was sick and needed special (and expensive) attention. 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm trying very hard to feel each step along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know in my heart that this about a whole lot more than a new roof for our girl. I'm sure the universe will share its plans as we go and feel our way.

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

It Has Begun

 

So much for days of rest!

Yesterday morphed into much more than I had planned, but who would say NO to the beginnings of the work on the barn? Sitting in my comfy chair with Hemingway's Boat open for enjoyment, I heard clanging metal that sounded close by.

I was right!

 

There was Monsieur Feres with his truck on the tracks, unloading all the scaffolding to get us set up to begin the work on the barn's roof.

It was amazing to watch Didier's progress all by his lonesome.

I learned even more about the structure of our barn and its beauty.

The stone is stunning and climbed much higher that the edge of the roof. You can see how high the stone goes in the photo on the right!

 

 

 

 

 

Watching the old roof come "undone" down to her bones and listening to the tiles crashing below are bittersweet for me.

I've been hoping to get our girl a new roof ever since she became part of our "WE" back in May of 2010. It'll be almost ten years soon! 

 

 

And, here we are!

Of course, I'll be back!

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Call Me "Racine!"

 

Yesterday was a day of "big stuff" on the road and a lot of work for me. Fosse-Septique day began with the buses encountering each other in front of the Chatette. It's always interesting to watch. As you can see, this is a narrow country road and it isn't the narrowest their route!

 

I've been working hard the last week or so to unearth the fosse-septique to be ready for our "apres-midi" appointment.

But, the phone call came through early and he was here at 11 or so.

Good thing it was after the bus encounter. 

I'd hoped that the new numbered address and road designation would help with directions here.

 

 

 

No such luck...to the point where I had to go over to see if Cedric could rescue me. Between the two of us, we soon saw the huge orange and blue truck come around the corner from the direction of Cajarc.

Turns out, I'd unearthed the protective cover for the fosse-septique, but beneath it there was more unearthing to be done.

 

 

Eventually, everything was cleaned and cleared out so we were flowing once more.

However, I was left with instructions. Call me Racine Bourgeois.

 

 

 

I needed to clean around the fosse-septique and pull out all the roots...racine in French. Then, I had to fill it 75% full with water and recover it.

Getting to work after he left, I got most of it looking pretty good. I was able to put the lids back on.

 

 

I will have to come up with another idea for protective covering. There is still more to clear around the fosse-septique. But, I'm proud of myself and feeling accomplished!

I made the executive decision to do the essentials and then I will pretend that de-rooting and cleaning over there is as much fun as working on the cliff and the barn.

 

 

 

Ha-ha! I should be able to get us in shape before the end of the weekend. But, today is going to be a day of rest!

Petit a petit as I say regularly! 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Sweet Discoveries

 

 

It never fails. When I'm working out on the cliff, I find interesting things during the unearthing process.

One of these last times, I looked down and saw what looked like a tiny Christmas Tree rooted and hanging over the stone beside the spot where I was taking a break. I dug around it a bit with my fingers and unearthed a nice sized root with smaller ones attached.

It was easy to pull up, but what to do with it?

 

 

I rested it on a cleared spot as I continued to work. Before I headed back for the evening, I put it in the front pocket of my overalls and zipped it in so it wouldn't fall out.

 

 

I found a sweet little pot for it and stabilized it with some of my birthday rocks from the plage. It may be a tiny tree or maybe an herb of some kind. I'm no expert, but it will be fun to see how it evolves in its new life on the evier!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Taking Breaks

 

Just as I was going out on Saturday morning to continue clearing ivy and unearthing the fosse-septique, Jane called to see if I wanted to join her and Yves for lunch. We settled on noon so that gave me a little morning working time, and then Yves would pick me up. I was very pleased with myself...look at the results!

 

I brought a bottle of wine and some crackers and dip to add to lunch.

It was fun to nibble on cheese, olives, cucumber, pate de campagne and a duck pate from my favorite boucherie in Cajarc. True confessions...I'd served Jane Danois salami so much at the Chatette that she actually had Yves buy some for us at Monsieur Escrozaille's! (I had never noticed that he carried it!)

Add two favorite pastries from Roux's and we were on a roll!

 

 

 

At two, we were getting ready to move to the movie room, but first I headed outside to give Dad his 7am stateside call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend Gyp joined me. He had other things beside calling on his mind. Dad had a little wine trivia for us...a new wine has an aroma. What does an old wine have?

 

I got it and so did Jane and Yves...a bouquet! Dad said I should give them a bottle of wine if they guessed it. Trivia fun across the mile...and, how appropriately WINE trivia!

 

 

 

 

We watched a movie with a minor wine theme called Sideways and then had to listen to a little Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young which took us to Neil Young as a soloist. Mon Dieu, trips down memory lane for all of us.

Love the One You're With brought memories of a walk down the Santa Rosa Island National Seashore beach with a friend back in 1974, and you can imagine what Neil Young's Like a Hurricane evoked for me.

 

 

Gyp was beside me the whole time. I love that boy. I know I let him get away with jumping, nuzzling and kissing more than I should be the Jolly's humor me. They know how much I miss my Dal and Sam.

What a great Saturday together! HUGE MERCI, to Jane and Yves, and of course Gyp!

 

Happy Monday!

 

Simple Pleasures

 

Finding fun around the Chatette is easy. There are always discoveries and new things appearing that I've never noticed before.

 

 

This yellow rose from the front of the house seems to have a little sun all its own blooming out of the center.

 

 

This gorgeous guy came to visit me at the end of my birthday.

 

 

Both are just a couple of the gifts that appear all year long...not just on special occasions.

Happy Sunday!

 

Three Times the Beauty

 

All summer long, I sat on the terrace swing gazing at the barn and the majorly overgrown land behind it-thinking about what it used to be and whether I could ever get it there again. The buddleias were so pretty, even if they were late summer bloomers back there behind the barn.

 

I wanted to go pick them, but did I want to face the jungle? This week, I was ready. 

After working all morning on de-ivying a spot along the tracks, I decided to head on over and at least scope out what would have to be done to get us back to where we were.

It's a big job, but not near as big as what I started with in 2010. It can be done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After my recon mission, I picked a few of the buddleias to bring inside. (I actually purchased those brilliant purple and white ones for that spot!) All the while, I promised myself that each day I will do a little more back there.

 

You see, de-vining is no fun for me. There is so much more to do that MUST be done. But, exploring our cliff with all its nooks and crannies again, allows me to love on this place more. Touching it again feels good!

Happy Saturday!

 

 

Gaining Ground

 

 

During the summer of 2010, we were celebrating the purchase of our barn.

Prior to that time, I had no idea that the land behind the barn, a swath on the side, a circle above, the land to the right of the lavoir and an alley along the train tracks were included in the purchase.

I began my work on the barn, but eventually moved to the area behind the barn that was totally overgrown and began to clear it. 

 

 

 

These days, it's overgrown again, but not near as bad as it was back then.

The huge walnut tree in the photo has been removed so the roof of the barn can be repaired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view of the cliff and the rock outcrops make it worth clearing again. I'd planted three different colors of buddleias back there and a couple of yuccas too. The wall and stair steps of the cliff are stunning once the moss is removed and their beauty shines through.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, I was back at it out there again. I have some major ivy to clear along the tracks that is best done in the morning.

The land behind the barn is best attacked in the afternoons. With the cooler weather, we're all heaving a sigh...and, I'm back to work.

 

 

All of these shots are befores. I'll be back to share more as I make progress.

 

 

Looking back at these old photos from 2010, I confess that I desperately miss my partner in crime, Dali. She was always by my side when I worked. Sometimes she's pop up and over to let me know it was time to come in and not over do it. What a girl!

 

Happy Friday!