Soar-Dream-France

Making Do and Making Easy

 

Not only am I a messy eater, as you can see from above I am a messy cook and baker too.

I began making my Sables Normands with the cookbook on the counter.

 

It didn't take me long to realize-wait, I have a cookbook stand. Usually my France-The Beautiful Cookbook just rests on this stand looking pretty on the buffet.

This time around, I put it to very good use.

Trying a new cookie recipe, I experimented some.

I realized that I was not hot to separate eggs so I could use just the yolks.

 

And then,  I didn't have a rolling pin, cookie cutters, or cookie sheets. I was able to make do with: an empty Cahors wine bottle for my rolling pin; a sweet espresso cup that had been a gift from my sister; and, tarte pans. 

 

NO, I was NOT drinking that wine while I was baking. The gang turned out pretty well. Some I brushed with a honey and egg mixture before baking. The last batch I baked "naked" and threw in a couple of balls to see if they would stay balls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've tried to make pecan balls in the past that were flat every time. Now that I've had success with these guys remaining round...I may try pecan balls one more time!

They are my favorites.

I also need to remember that this is a new and different stove! So much to consider.

 

 

This may end up being a Christmas Cookie kind of Christmas on both sides of the pond this year!

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Cookies are Winning

 

And there my big old squash still sits. It does look very pretty in its basket, but I'm not sure what its chances are of actually being turned into a wonderful soup. What is its "purpose in life?" Will it fulfill its "purpose?" Could it have dual purposes? Maybe its enough for it to just sit in its basket and look gorgeous!

 

For now, I can tell you that cookies are winning. I did finally make Mom's wonderful coconut oatmeal recipe over the weekend, and it looks like I may go for the shortbread recipe that I found in my France-The Beautiful Cookbook the other day.

Those of you who know me well will remember a time when I was on a pot holder terror. For a couple years in a row I must have made 30-50 potholders.

I'm starting to feel about cookies the way I was feeling about potholders back in 2013 and 2014!

Of course there are challenges to baking here. I have a gas oven that is basic with no temperatures of any variety on the dial.

 

 

And, sometimes I need to get the dictionary out or have a personal consultation on some of the ingredients.

 

We shall see. 

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

On My Own and Proud

 

After a couple of dry days, I'd gone to bed planning to spend my Monday morning moving wood and cutting grass.

Snuggled in and cozy in my bed Sunday night, the rain began hard on the skylight and I knew my plans were foiled.

Ah, but there is that big ladder in the utility cave.

Because it is so big it is rather unwieldy. I got it out of the cave and then evaluated my next steps.

Initially, I thought I could just lift it up and over the wall-ha-ha! No way!

Instead, I did a rest, flip, and then pull across the tracks.

 

 

 

 

I got it over with less struggle than expected, but then it needed to be angled up the hill so I could ease it into the barn over the stones.

Then I would figure out how (or if), I could get it up onto the wall as I had planned.

You can see how the ladder bows in the middle, spindles are missing, and it's the middle that is major charcoal,

This ladder has never lived in the barn before...it was always inside the Chatette.

As I mentioned yesterday, my two ladder ladies are going to be barn roommates!

 

 

 

 

I sometimes have a way of making things harder on myself. Finally, I opened the other side of the doors, et voila!

I got it hauled in and tried to measure up to see if she would fit where I'd hoped to hang her and if the iron and wooden pegs were placed strategically enough for her to hang easily.

 

 

 

 

 

She's just a little heavy, but I did manage to get her up off the stone floor and then hoist her the rest of the way up on the second end.

Even so, that bow in the middle made her look unsteady. 

I took her down and turned her around.

 

 

 

 

This hanging was much more complicated and she dropped twice as I tried to stabilize her at each end. We shall see. For now she's resting on the stone. I may try again, or I may wait for Didier's return.

 

 

I'm always proud of myself when I can do these things on my own, but I do know when it's time to ask for help. Or as Dad says: Maybe asking for help sooner is better than asking later!

 

Thanks Dad, and Happy Tuesday!

 

Ladder Ladies

 

Yesterday's post dangled an "s" in parentheses after the word "ladder" in the title. That's because touching and beginning the cleaning up process on our barn ladder, made me shed a few tears over our other very tall special ladder that had been in the Chatette during the November 2017 fire. The top photo here shows you both ladders in place inside the Chatette.

It's also interesting because these photos give you an idea of us before the fire.

 

I later found our tall gal down in the utility cave. Like our beautiful staircase, she was so black something special would have to be done. She was also missing a few spindles. So, there she rests.

You can see from these shots, she reached all the way from the first floor up to the ceiling of the mezzanine.

I think I have a plan for her. Our ladder ladies are both going to be barn babes!

Stay tuned!

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Ins, Outs, and Ladder (s)

 

I'd been planning to go out and see about closing the loft shutters that blew open after all of our wind and rain last week.

That meant opening up the barn and moving her own personal ladder back into place so I could get up there and do the deal. I'd also been wanting to get up there so I could see Didier's handiwork from the other side.

I knew it would be beautiful!

 

 

Once I got out there though, I realized that cobwebs had taken over many surfaces. The barn ladder had a few of its own, but was mostly dusty with saw dust and other stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd varnished her in the past, and would bring her inside the Chatette in the winter when she was no longer necessary to scale barn heights. Both strategies worked well. Brushing her off outside before re-installation, I decided that varnishing time is here again, not just at that moment.

It felt good to touch and feel the barn again.

 

 

I brushed and cleaned the open stone windows. I brushed and cleaned the big beautiful barn doors. I also brushed the manger and other ancient farm equipment that is stored in the barn. I don't want to do too much until after Dider returns in November to repair the water-logged beams for us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, grass needs to be cut...but, I've reviewed the area and have a plan in place to begin to get us back on track AND protect us for the winter!

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

An Enduring Question

 

Yesterday's decision of the day was: cookies or pumpkin soup? I'd been thinking about baking Mom's coconut oatmeal cookie recipe for a few days now. Then, I scooped this huge squash that Evelyn wasn't going to be able to use. I was set with ingredients out for both!

Neither got done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When all else fails...just take pictures.

 

 

They may not be as tasty, but they can be just as satisfying in other ways!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhere between pretty, cute, very French, and very fall...

 

 

...you can see I had quite a bit of fun of the staged and un-staged varieties.You don't have to do much to throw something into a pile of pretty leaves.

 

 

That big old squash snuggled right in and choose a little red fun friend all its own.

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Angels Smile in France for Elijah

 

 

I didn't intend to watch the celebration of the life of Congressman Elijah Cummings that began with lying in state in the House of Representatives.

Part of it was because every time I saw something about him in the news and/or on social media, I burst into tears.

Once I began, I was riveted.

So much touched me so deeply that I actually began writing notes in my journal through my more tears.

 

 

The passing of Congressman Cummings in these horrific and tumultuous times, made the celebration of his life more poignant and profound. 

 

 

I would like to share a bit of my poignant and profound:

Chuck Schumer closed by saying we have "lost a giant!"

I believe it was Mark Meadows who talked about how they were both PKs "preacher kids," and that it was more important to "see a sermon than to hear one!"

Having grown up in Missouri, watching Emanuel Cleaver who is the representative from Missouri's 5th Congressional District preside and speak throughout made me proud.

 

While the many "words" were important, it may have been the "seeing the sermon" or the actions of those in attendance that touched me even more. You can learn a lot watching how people respond to death in public. 

On more than one occasion Congressman Cummings was surrounded by groups. First, Representative Cleaver and the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus surrounded Congressman Cummings, sometimes 2-3 persons deep. (Congressman Cleaver is also the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.) Both of the choirs who participated followed suit. They were huge liftings up.

 

Of course, the individuals filed by as well to pay their respects. I confess, I watched to the end. I'm glad I did, or I may have missed what I consider to be the most touching moment of all with Congressman Adam Schiff. When it was Congressman Schiff's turn, he stopped and faced the patch of blue with white stars at Elijah's head. He leaned down so close that I thought they were surely having a conversation and a kiss was imminent. That kiss didn't come, but my heart was in my throat. That would have been the photo I would have wanted to capture, had I been there. 

 

I realize that I was there in spirit. Today, Congressman Cummings will be eulogized by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton.

 

We have lost a giant, who is already sorely missed!

 

Medieval Busy

 

I seem to do a lot of looking out to the river from the upstairs guest room. My room has screens on the porte-fenetre and no gorgeous red vine winding its way up, so the guest room is my view of choice. It is also the last room to really come together for us since the fire.

Part of it is that I don't really use this space, so I've ended up using the beds for done laundry and other homeless items.

 

 

 

It also has two huge walls on either side. I wasn't really sure what to do with them, if anything. Then, I found a gorgeous tapestry. Another larger one screamed by name again. It is going to become the tapestry room!

 

 

That last tapestry turned out to be bigger than the first. So big that it wouldn't fit in Jane's car. It's been hanging around at the Deco Troc, but today it came home to me.

It had been a while so I didn't really remember it. It is a little paler that the first. It is very pretty and what I decided is "Medieval Busy," but pastoral in its own way.

First, you have the "fishing" boys!

 

 

 

 

 

Then, you have the Troubador lovers!

And, Courting workers!

 

 

You get to see windmills and castles, but those sweet sheep might actually be my favorites!

 

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Deeper Beauty

 

Being an "on-the-roader" and right on the Lot River, the view from the Chatette is stupendous. Having dessert and coffee with some friends at one of the train houses a bit off the road and not as close to the river; I enjoyed hearing them talk about the beauty from their spot too. There can be a deeper beauty to being home.

 

 

The beauty of home is inescapable!

Happy Wednesday!

 

Seven Year Something

 

This morning I woke up feeling October. More than that, all morning I've been feeling the exact date...October 22, 2019. Wandering around and watering, windows open, immersed in my beautiful reds; I decided to go out and get a few shots. It can be really different with the windows open. 

I sat on the wall and shot my shots. It was fun because I had a light on in one of the windows.

 

 

It glowed.

 

 

I took another shot before I came in and it hit me, this is around the time that Dali, Sammie Cat and I were returning to the states in 2012. It felt like the exact day for some reason.

 

 

Maybe it was that bottom photo that shook the memory banks, but I had to come in and see if I could figure it out. It didn't take much. These are those moments when I'm so grateful that I didn't surrender my scorched journals to the fire.

There it was:

October 21,2012 and we head back to the states for a longer time tomorrow morning...so much swirling, but we're getting there. I'm trying to look at it all as an adventure...

 

 

 

 

My next entry was from the Motel 6 in Chattanooga Tennessee with Dali and Sam on October 23, 2012. Motel 6s are "pet friendly" AND they "left the light on" for us.

You should be able to see the blending of 2012 and 2019 here. The top and bottom shots for this post portray the morning of 10/22/2012 when Evelyn was taking us to the airport in Toulouse. The bottom shot is this morning!

 

It's been a long, eventful, seven years!

 

 

Happy Tuesday!