Soar-Dream-France

Already Missing Lola

 

These two sweeties, Mozart and Annie, are now living with their two Dads, Steve and Carl. "Co-parenting" these two with Steve while I was in New Orleans as the pandemic unfolded was the best. Steve knows me well.

He knew how much I Ioved having my 4-legged children over the years, so he suggested that since he was hoping to get a cat eventually, we could co-parent and then the cat would go to live with him when I returned to Cadrieu.

 

 

When I saw these two, my Ollie and Opie (Les Deux Freres) former foster boys heartstrings were pulled. Since these two had been left at a bin together, I decided to take both and Steve and I managed. As it turned out, they are both now living with Steve and Carl. I will be forever grateful that it worked out as it did.

March 15 is not that far away. I will be stateside, mostly in New Orleans. What will I do without Lola for 6 weeks?

 

 

 

She's probably going to be having the time of her life with her Auntie Pam during that time. Pam is coming up from Toulouse to pet-sit with her at the Chatette. As much as I will miss her, I know that she is in expert, professional hands AND there is no way I would put either of us through the stress and expense of the travel world these days.

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Barriers and Rewards

 

There are lots of reasons not to even want to leave the house these days. They include: clouds, cold, masks, and too many people! The other day when it was sunny and warm in the sunshine, I decided it was time to head into Cajarc for a few essentials. My hunt for fire starters over the weekend was NOT successful so I went back on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

The game I play is treats for me and Lola. This trip, Lola got a mouse toy and I got a diet coke and some candied peanuts to eat along the river somewhere. I decided to stop at my usual place on the way home, afterall, I had a fire that needed to get started!

 

 

 

 

 

It dawned on me that I was warmer sitting in the noonish sunshine having my snacks, than I had been all day. So warm, my thermal vest came off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, the things we do to entice ourselves into unwelcomed chores!

Happy Thursday!

PastBooks Fun

 

Throughout my years of blogging and also using Facebook, I have found that there are some projects that I enjoy and use. I began purchasing the Social Books upon my return to the states in 2012 as a way to hang on to my memories of Cadrieu when I had to be stateside. As time went on, I began ordering the PastBooks which I eventually fell in love with. I learned that the PastBooks were best for me because my photography became the main focus. 

 

I've come to realize that they are a nice reflection of my times and photos. I've also started doing them as "annuals," so that I have a full year in each book. They are also particularly nice during these pandemic times and with me living as far away as I do from most family and friends in the states.

Seeing everyone this go round was even more fun. As Eric pointed out to me, with so many fewer social events, you notice how much thinner they are.

 

 

 

During 2020, I expected more of the barn roof photos so making 2019 this year was a must when I realized that 2019 truly was the year of the barn roof. Even though Lola came to me in December of 2020, she didn't figure prominently for me until 2021...lots of fun all around.

 

 

All this talk about photos and years has reminded me...2022 is the 20 year anniversary of the Chatette and I becoming a "we!" Hard to believe, and so much has happened.

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Paying Attention in the Moment

 

There are so many things going on around us in our lives that we miss. Often there are subtle differences in our surroundings, but sometimes they are huge. What makes them huge in my eyes is when you know that there are people around you who never notice things like graceful egrets numbering close to a hundred, swooping back and forth from tree to tree in the Sculpture Garden in City Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mine are mostly subtle...

 

 

...my beautiful trees disappearing from the bank as it erodes; the blue heron or kingfisher passing; rainbows, full moons; rising water; and, often art in nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My most recent subtle observation was when I looked over the road wall this week and noticed how pretty the water was that was making its way down the channel to the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to notice it in its extreme states: totally dry or rushing so loud that I sometimes think it's raining when it's not.

 

 

This week's water level and path were perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't have my camera, but the sunshine was so pretty that I ended up going out later in the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small pleasures and joys. This place makes it easy for me to pay attention.

 

 

It's one of the things I'm most grateful for.

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Homage of Thanks to St. Therese

 

I must say, that there was really something wonderful about having my very own St. Therese of Lisieux. Having her close felt like I was living in gratefulness and always reminded that it is the small every day things in life that are important. Both of which, I believe, escape many people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My girl really was a beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had some fun together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got out together.

 

 

 

I took photos of her in different spots around the Chatette and the Barn.

 

 

On the Wagon.

 

 

 

Stirring our Angels.

 

 

On the front stoop.

 

 

On our "rustic wall" that only Eric understands.

 

 

And, in that very special magic candlelight that you can only get here at the Chatette.

I hope you enjoyed my "merci" to my Merci Lady, St. Therese of Lisieux.

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

A Coming Together in the Letting Go

 

On January 6, I wrote a post titled "Intentions." I'd been feeling blue, stuck, and "un-tethered." I wanted to harness the power we cannot see with the guidance of St. Therese of Lisieux and la Tete, the head in the heart of Les Halles in Paris. The writing was "righting," as I often like to say.

I felt better and continued on.

I promised a report so here it is:

Monday, a friend offered to loan me her daughter's car to use while I'm in the states;

somewhere in the middle of the week I heard from a friend and colleague and we will be working together on projects again after an almost 14 year hiatus; and,

 

I received some more definitive information on a loan to help me with Columbus Street on Friday of that same week. 

 

It wasn't till I sat down over the weekend to reflect that I remembered my post and had a major aha. I said thank you.

I love it when all the pieces of the universe come together all at once, especially when you've been feeling like it's NEVER going to happen.

I felt that way again last night when the gorgeous full moon blasted inside through one of the porte-fenetres on the Lot River side. In fact, it blasted through all of them. Three beautiful (and more) full moon tableaux. 

It was Moon River Moon time again. This round, the reflections were particularly sparkly, flowing, and cut a much wider swath than usual. 

 

 

Last night, I slept like a baby with my snuggling Lola in my arms, blanketed by the light of our first full moon of 2022!

 

 

Another huge merci to my very special spirit guides.

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Excavation Station

 

 

With all the rain and high water again, I am left wondering if we will have February flooding like we did here last year.

Interestingly, now that the channel and other parts on the river have been excavated so the source can run from the lavoir, under the property and road, into the channel that then empties into the river; it seems that we're doing much better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking down at this area yesterday, I was reminded how until just recently; all you could see of the channel was where it came out at the wall.

 

 

It then appeared to flow underground.

It's path and all of that beautiful stone has been totally covered with grass, sod, and river mud from previous high water.

I love the beauty of the stone and how it gently guides the source down to the river, although the pulsing water is thundering at the moment.

This whole area, my place included, has lots of beautiful stone that has been covered up over time.

 

 

I am always amazed at the treasures you can find just waiting to be rediscovered under all that soil and growth.

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Teasing Winter Wonderland

 

I wasn't fast enough to get out to the front of the house to get any shots before most of the snow left us yesterday. What I did catch made me smile and feel just enough of a bit of a winter wonderland. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have some gorgeous snow photos from here long ago.

 

 

 

Honestly, I don't think we've had a really good snow since then.

But many years, I was away from here working during this time of year...I had my fill of snow.

I'm always grateful that I'm not having to deal with a car in the snow and all that goes with that.

 

Off to trolley some wood.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Meaning-Laden January 6!

Sgt. Aquillino Gonell; Officer Michael Fanone; Officer Harry Dunn, and Officer Daniel Hodges in a shot taken the day of their testimony before the House Special Committee on January 6, 2021. (Not my photo).

 

In the midst off all that January 6 marks in so many of our lives...Epiphany, Twelfth Night, Jean d'Arc's birthday, the start of Mardi Gras (I do realize that some of these overlap); it really only zapped me today that it is also the day of the coup attempt and insurrection. I just hadn't put it all together.

Had it not been for these for men and all the members of their departments and other law enforcement in Washington, DC, we would have lost our democracy. I will be forever grateful and never forget these patriots. I only hope that enough Americans look, listen, pay attention, and recognize that we are still in danger as a democracy. All of the other markers of this day pale in comparison for me.

 

 

That said, I did do something on the 6th to mark the day. I made my special Galette des Rois that I'd ordered from Thiriet just so it would be ready for the day. It did need to be baked in the oven. When I took it out of the box, the crown was on top in a plastic bag and it was very very flat. I was a bit bummed.

But, in no time all that puff pastry was fluffing up and I had a gorgeous almost 2-inch high treat! 

 

 

 

 

 

I ate too much. I couldn't stop. In fact, I had a piece with coffee and a second piece with tea. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was glad I enjoyed it here in France on the day.

 

 

Because from bed this morning on my morning after of January 7, 2022; I cried hours of tears as I watched speeches, candlelight vigils, and coverage of the 6th on MSNBC from the night before stateside.

The travesty of this day continues. We're going to need a lot more than a Galette des Rois and a cup of coffee or tea to save our democracy.

 

 

I hope as a people, we are up to the task!

 

Intentions

 

Summoning the spirits and the powers we cannot see in our lives, today is a day of "intentions" for me. As soon as I saw this Sainte Therese of Lisieux in St. Eustache in Paris, I knew that I would be guided in the very best way possible today.

 

 

 

 

 

My life continues to feel unstable.

 

 

 

 

There is lots floating, lots of decisions and lots out of my control.

A few days ago, I told myself that I just need to sit down and to be very clear and focus on what is important to me in the whole picture of my life.

I am generally pretty clear about those things, but money and residual anger seem to always get in the way.

I have had to worry about money my whole life.

 

 

It always seems that once I get to a place where money is stable, something happens to upset the balance.

It always seems to be hurricanes. 

So, I've decided to put money and anger aside.

I want to outline my intentions following my heart, and paying attention to what is best for me.

I haven't actually sat down to put it all out there. 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, I'm harnessing the spirit and power of St. Therese with the home of my heart in St. Eustache and La Tete in Les Halles to guide me. She knows me.

She knows what is important to me. I know what is important to her. Between the two of us, I can't go wrong.

 

 

 

I'll keep you posted.

Happy Thursday-...Happy Twelfth Night-Epiphany!