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...would still find itself munched on by Lola. Those that are sitting on the round wood dinner/work table are at the greatest risk.
In addition, I've also put a pitcher full of water for her on the living room coffee table. She prefers drinking there to the water near her food bowl.
I've surrendered. Hey, it's just us. It's a sweet and easy life for the Lo and I together.
Happy Saturday!
Today we celebrate the day of Mom's birth, when she would have turned 90 years old. I shared a photo of her dolls that are now "my" dolls on Facebook this morning. Here, I want to share something else that made Mom our Mom...staying in touch through cards and letter writing.
She really was the Queen of Snail Mail...a characteristic that all four of us inherited to some degree.
Prior to leaving to return to the states in 2012, I tried to go through all the files and paper I had accumulated during our almost 6 years here. I sorted out and kept cards and letters that were meaningful to me, along with a lot of work related training modules and resources. Everything went into a box labeled "Stuff I Don't Use Much!"
Recently, the roof caved in on the storage room where I had these boxes and everything was moved out.
I began going through the boxes.
During these pandemic times, these cards and letters carried me back further and meant even more. In addition to my friends and family who wrote regularly, I found other letters and cards that stirred memories and tears. Many of the friends that wrote had passed on, as had Mom and Dad. There is something about holding the writing of loved ones in your hands. There were so many cards and letters from Mom and Dad.
The portion of writing I'm sharing below, Mom had written in 2006. This card was waiting for me in Cadrieu, once Dali, Sammie Cat and I arrived after an arduous trans-Atlantic trip. Mom welcomed us home.
Today, I celebrate Mom. I'm so grateful that I still have our many memories and many pieces of her to remind me how much she loved me, how much I loved her, and how much she is in me.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom!
Love, Laury and Lola
I have always loved this quote from Harold Bell Wright's Shepherd of the Hills. As children, my family and I spent a lot of time in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri near Branson. Season passes to Silver Dollar City, A-frame cabins at the Bavarian Village Resort on Table Rock Lake, local wood carver-Jim Maxwell, and, surrounding sites; all made for a week of memorable heaven for my family. Branson and the surrounding area has changed quite a bit since then. Today, it is hugely commercial and has become a hotbed for the Corona Virus since so many there remain unvaccinated. It hurts my heart.
When I saw this quote this morning, it jumped out and grabbed me. What has happened to us? Why does it seem that so many in our country have chosen the low trail into the darkness?
Not only are we dealing with a resurgence of the virus, but there is ongoing controversy of the deadly insurrection at our Capitol on January 6. As I watched the House Select Committee Hearing this week where 4 of the Law Enforcement Officers testified, we saw new body cam video that portrayed in graphic detail what each of these officers endured. I can't imagine anyone seeing this and other footage, and NOT wanting to hold those who incited and participated in this attack on our country and our democracy accountable.
It struck me that body cameras had been implemented in most law enforcement offices around the country in response to the rampant killing of black Americans and other people of color. In this instance, it was the body camera that was being used to help and protect law enforcement, our citizens and democracy.
Accountability is the first step to insuring this never happens again. I think we know where all roads lead.
Let's hope it's not to body cameras for all!
At the end of last week, I knew I was close to running out of my store bought cookies that I like to have with my coffee in the morning-speculoos to dip! I knew that Cajarc had the festival over the weekend and was going to be crawling with people.
I decided to ration my cookies that were left to hold me until this morning. They did, and I headed into Cajarc to try to be at the door when the Intermarche opened at 9. I had the Intermarche, Petit Casino and Besse's on my list.
I bought more than I had planned at the Intermarche, so I skipped the wine at the Petit Casino to leave room in my bike basket for the milks and some fruit, lettuce and tomatoes. From there, I headed to Besse's feeling a little more loaded down than I'd hoped for the ride home.
I sat on their bench out front by my bike and sorted through just what I had room for and could buy on this last stop.
A baguette, 2 pain au chocolats and 5 HUGE heavily chocolate chipped cookies later; I was finding stashing places for it from my bench. I'd just taken my mask off from being inside and was waving it around like a fan-for us both-me because I was hot and the mask because it was damp.
While I was waving it around an elderly gentleman had gotten out of his car and was walking in my direction. He looked at me and returned to his car...I figured I knew what that was all about. Sure enough, me and all my mask waving reminded him to go back and get his. He smiled and said he'd "oublie-ed" his mask. I smiled back and said: "Moi aussi-touts les temps," even though I rarely forget mine.
It just seemed like the nice thing to say!
It felt like a very sweet exchange.
It wasn't till I was riding home on my bike that it hit me just how much I miss seeing smiles!
Happy Tuesday!
Even after a gathering of buddleias to add to my inside bouquets, I still needed a little extra push yesterday. A bike ride was just the thing.
I thought about my morning options and headed out in the direction of Cajarc, even though I knew I wasn't going to go all the way in since we were still in the throws of Africajarc.
Instead, when I got to the bus stop I made a left and took myself down to the road/path that runs along between the Lot River and the fields.
Lots of corn and asparagus this year. I was remembering all the years of tobacco and those pretty pink flowers, but I honestly can't remember the last time any has been planted here.
I'd hoped to go all the way to the bridge. At one point I heard a motor and expected to see someone on the road. But, I soon looked up and there above me was a hang-glider with a motor attached. I'd never seen that before.
I didn't make it to the bridge. The land beside the farmer's fields was very dry to the point that the edge was powdered dust. It was too hard to ride in and got all over me, so I turned around there and headed back.
I do pay attention to the farm houses and barns around here. Since I've joined a "barns" group, I've realized that there are even more barns than I thought.
I'm always passing right in front of this farm and barn on the road into Cajarc. I'll have to get some more shots up close from the road at the base of the cliff. As you can imagine, a very different view than Sunday's.
Happy Monday!
It makes no difference if it's roses, buddleias, geraniums, or wild flowers; I love them all. The joy of here is that I have so much that I can keep fresh flowers in the Chatette for almost 9 months out of the year.
Right now, they are prolific. The only thing is, I haven't been up to my usual level of making arrangements for the Chatette.
It comes and goes, but what I do know is that when I am blue, arranging flowers brings me joy.
I began yesterday with buddleia.
Everything looked so pretty.
I wanted more.
I filled out the containers I had around.
Even Lola lended her expertise.
It isn't a blue Sunday anymore.
Happy Sunday!
Living in the country as I do and without a car by choice; getting to see friends, shop, attend events, etc. was often done on the bus.
During these COVID times, I found myself going through a whole long list of decisions where I compared how essential the activity was to the level of risk it presented. The only time I took the bus in all of the almost year I've been here,was when I went to Cahors for my Titre de Sejour in April. Once I became fully vaccinated in July, I felt much more comfortable about making plans.
I have friends in Tour de Faure who I haven't been able to see since my return about a year ago now.
We'd made plans for this past week and I'd made arrangements to leave my bike at friends' near the bus stop.
Shortly, I realized that there was a huge festival in Cajarc this weekend. People come from all over. Many of them take the bus.
I suddenly became very concerned about doing a round trip on the probably packed bus to see my friends in Tour de Faure on Friday.
I consulted with some friends and they agreed, It was too risky for me and for my friends-our ages range from 67 to over 90.
So, here we are again.
The Delta variant is surging horribly in the states and here.
It hits very close to home since both Missouri and Louisiana are the states leading the surge at the moment. Those who are getting infected are largely (over 95%) unvaccinated.
I have very strong feelings about all of these issues. For me, all I can do is protect myself, those who I love, and the others in the community at large when I can. It means that I'm back to comparing the importance of social activities, the risks, and now, I also have to factor in whether the people in my social circles are vaccinated or not.
This sounds terrible, but the only way you can be sure (if you don't know) is to treat everyone as if they are NOT vaccinated and make decisions about masking and distance accordingly.
My friends and I decided that under the circumstances, it was too risky to go to Tour de Faure on the bus.
It is heartbreaking to be back at this point. My window of hope was a very tiny one. We shall see where we go from here.
Happy Saturday!
Believe it or not, I had to work really hard back in the late 90's to be able to just park myself at Wendy's and let the world come to me.
It did!
What a treat and a life lesson!
I had a similar morning one day this week.
With the windows open upstairs I can hear everything going on outside on the river and on the road.
It can be disorienting because I'm not always sure what is going on out there and where the sound is coming from.
I'd heard heavy machinery and looked out the window. I first saw the fisher-people in their boat with their poles. Then, I noticed that the tractor had gone on down to the land and was hauling away the hay bales.
There was enough activity out there early that morning to carry us through the rest of the day.
In all fairness, it is summer and the busiest, "peoply-est" time of the year around here.
The tractor actually passed under my window with his hay bales, and it appeared he had one on the front and one on the back.
Of course, everything looks more beautiful through geraniums and running vines!
So much excitement in Cadrieu!
Happy Friday!
I tend to lean to the positive on my blog posts and always on Facebook. From time to time, I share things on the blog that I'm excited about that are happening in my life. As it turns out they don't always come to pass, and sometimes other things get in the way. Today's blog post lays out one such situation and another that has come to pass.
Let's just say that the Ami is NOT going to happen any time soon.
No use going into detail.
In addition to waiting to hear back from the Ami people, I discovered that the roof on the addition had caved in with all the rain. I have known for a long time that it had problems, but only used it for minimal storage and never really even opened the door. The evening that I was out looking for Lola I looked up and knew something had to be done.
I immediately got in touch with Didier by email that night and he was here the following day.
We are in process of getting it together and I'm having to decide what I want to do with this room.
I've never felt like I needed another bedroom, but a bedroom on the first floor of the house could be a really good idea these days.
Some of it for me as I get older, and also as friends and family talk about coming for more long term stays.
I'm still "reflechi-ing" so we shall see.
In the meantime, I have so much that needs to be removed and gone through.
It's had it's ups and downs.
I've made progress, but even though I could store a lot of this stuff in the utility cave, getting it all there could be a challenge.
Could there be another dumpster in my future?
I've teased that after Katrina, when I couldn't sleep, I'd get up in the middle of the night and start throwing stuff into the dumpster that was in front of the house on Columbus Street!
We shall see. I'll keep you posted.
I'm actually kind of excited that these steps are also part of the new and different of here that comes as we look at our life during these times! There is a lot of it!
Happy Thursday!
The subtleness of the morning pink out my window creeped in quietly before it exploded into deeper pinks and blues that bordered on purples.
It was meant to be a pink day...sky, flowers, and that pale pink I filter my life through when I'm in my "la vie en rose" or "rose-colored glasses" modes. The morning sky got my out and up on the right foot.
Especially, since I knew there was a bit of early morning grass cutting starting me off.
I was grateful. I already knew I only had the point to cut this morning because my sweet neighbor came over with his rider and took care of everything except the point that belongs to the department. I'm nuts, I know.
It doesn't belong to me, but I try to keep it up when I can.
Grass done.
Heat on the way.
The barn and the rose garden were calling my name!
Happy Wednesday!