Soar-Dream-France

From the Archives: Nannie's Hands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holidays have different feelings and depth of meaning depending on the family.

When we were growing up, Thanksgiving was our big holiday that we spent with our Nannie and Papa.

Today, I share a post from the archives that speaks to memories, holidays, and holding those we love close...

 

...even when they're gone.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

From the Archives

1/8/2012...Even though my Mom often tells me that I have her Mom's eyes, I've always felt that I have my Nannie's hands. I look down at my hands when I'm writing, working, or playing the piano; and I see my Nannie's hands.

I feel her touch.

I wear her band of diamonds that Papa gave her when they got married.

She wore it on her left hand, but I wear it on my right. It often captures the light and brings Nannie close.

She is never very far from me.

She is especially close today.

 

 

 

 

I'd guess she feels closer to me today, because she (and many others) would be welcoming Uncle Bud.

It reminds me of a Thanksgiving when I drove up from New Orleans to St. Louis. I'd stopped to stay with Uncle Bud and Fran when they were living at Lake Wawanoka near Pevely, MO. We had a very nice meal and visit together.

 

 

There was lots of talk about family, stories, and history shared.

I went to bed remembering that Thanksgiving was always a huge holiday for us with Nannie and Papa. I loved her turkey, lace tablecloths (that are now at the Chatette with me) and especially her shrimp cocktails. 

Very early the next morning, a tiny girl hugged her Nannie, with her head in her lap. Nannie patted my back, brushed my hair out of my face, and I hugged her tighter. A tear fell on my pillow that morning...another Thanksgiving shared.

 

I Want Some Red Roses...

 

...for a Blue Lady. Mr. Florist take my order please! 

 

 

This first line to the tune Red Roses for a Blue Lady ran through my head all the while I was choosing my Canseco roses, paying for them, and carrying them home in my bike basket. A little further on it goes: "I hope these pretty flowers chase her blues away!"

 

 

 

This was one of the first more popular tunes with a very basic arrangement that I learned back when I was taking piano lessons as a child. I still have the sheet music-it's in the vernissage cave with all the rest that had been more safely stored. I'd sent over 30 pounds of sheet music to the Chatette for my Monsieur Winkelmann in 2006 and when Jean returned to Ipswich during 2016 I inherited a lot of her sheet music too.

 

 

My Monsieur is a very special guy (piano is masculine in French). My sentimental and meaningful quotient is off the charts here for this inanimate object that comes alive at my finger tips and the finger tips of many others! He supported me, held my sanity together, and loved me back when I was still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

 

I love him. At the moment, we are on a long road together. When I think of him I'm blue. Along with the Chatette, Dali, Sammie Cat, the Barn and St. Therese of Lisieux...we had what I liked to call our "WE!" 

 

I will not surrender my Monsieur Angelus Winkelmann!

 

 

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story!

Happy Friday!

 

 

Wandering Well

 

 

Although Vicki and I had started our road trip off yesterday morning with plans to go to Calvignac and wander around in that beautiful place we'd captured from the distance the day before, it was not to be. Oh, we got there, but the mist and a huge cloud had settled on that part of the valley making impossible to see the village or even the side of the road. It cleared as we went higher. Then, we'd seen a sign for Limogne as we were climbing up and up and I remembered that there is a Sunday Morning Market there.

Et, voila!

 

 

 

It's a small market, and a fun thing to do on a Sunday since it is close to Cadrieu. I've gone with friends many times in the past. Some of you may even have joined us!

After our wander through the market and some hot-spiced wine,we stopped in at the Tourist Office.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a Lotoise scene in a room in the back, and when I asked about it we discovered that it was part of the "free" museum upstairs.

 

 

The museum honored life in the valley at the turn of the 19th century. We went on up, where I discovered LOTS of the same kind of old farm equipment that had come with the purchase of my barn. 

 

We then pit-stopped outside of Chateau Cenevieres to see what their hours were to return on another day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there, we wound our way back toward Cajarc and took some shots of home from Saujac before we headed up to the Belgian Cross and its magnificent views.

 

Vicki had packed a nice picnic lunch for us, so Vicki, Lucie and I also had our lunch up there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way home to regroup, we found a corral of donkeys and had to stop for photos!

 

 

 

Home by 2pm on a Sunday, with thoughts of continuing on to a couple other spots...we ended up cozy by the fire with a glass of wine (or two or three), nibbles interesting conversation and happy to just be planted for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

What a nice way to spend your Sunday!

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Little Treasures

 

 

Sometimes in the midst of all the hard work that is required around here to keep us beautiful and moving forward, I find some little treasures that makes me stop. Of course, I have to take a photo. It also makes me even more grateful for this very simple, close to the source kind of life that I am able to live here in Cadrieu.

Just this sweet little leaf on the terrace table during a break in moving wood, et voila!

 

 

Prettier than a broach you might pick up at Tiffany's!

 

 

 

I bet if I had those rain drops in diamonds, I'd have enough money to put a new roof on my barn.

 

One can dream, huh?

 

 

 

 

Wishing you a day of simple pleasures and finding gratefulness and value wherever you look in your life.

That, is true wealth!

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Thinking Back to the Barn...

 

 

...Dali pops up again and again. She and Sam were right beside me all the way, as I worked and struggled to do what I could do with the newest addition to our "WE" back in 2010.

Seeing that dirt on her nose again made me smile. She was my big-nosed, big-pawed girl for sure.

 

We miss her every day, but she's never very far away.

 

 

I know she'll be even closer today as I work out in the barn and begin to finally give it more attention this season. Take a peek at the stone in that photo of Sam above. Imagine it covered in a foot of soil.

I spent a lot of time in my overalls that summer of 2010, out in the barn digging up all that soil to get to this beautiful stone underneath.

 

 

I have lots more to do, but it will get done. 

 

 

It just feels so good right now that I am able to pay attention to my loves here that have been neglected in my absence. On to the day...overalls and more.

As I'm sure you can imagine, some overalls looks are more chic than others. Then, there are those that are down right disgusting, but necessary. These overalls photos are of the last category. Caps, masks, and overalls...but, we got the job done!

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Between the Chatette and the Barn...

 

...Train! After yesterday's post, I knew I had some more train photos that would give everyone a much better idea of just what the train in between looked like! This shot below was taken head on from under the covered terrace and really gives you an idea of just how close the train came.

 

It's a little blurry, but I just got too excited!

 

 

Then, there was the day that Stuart stopped by with his daughter to do a couple things he'd promised to fix, and there they were: the SNCF track people coming along to check the condition of the tracks and to clear them if necessary

 

 

Come back tomorrow for another piece of our past that is no more!

Happy Saturday!

 

Le Chat de la Charette

 

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I was making Sam's breakfast and my first cup of coffee. Looking out the kitchen window there was this cat who in the dark could have been Sam. I turned around and she was still on the kitchen counter...none too happy, but still there. The hissing and spitting began inside beside me, but this guy wasn't budging. Then he headed over to the ledge outside of the evier sink and I had Sam hissing and spitting and hanging from the inside screen! I got myself together a little later when he was still hanging out on the terrace.

 

 

 

We wandered down the train tracks together...and I mean together-I looked like the cat pied piper or something. He walked right along with me, sometimes circling my feet, and was just lovey, lovey, lovey. No one knew him.

He was very thin and looking either hungry or horny, or maybe both. Sam's an old girl who detests other cats...maybe he was hoping to turn her into a "cougar!" He has not been neutered.

I've given this collage to Christiane to post up at the Mairie and she said she might do an email blitz.

 

 

 

 

I'm hoping he has a home and is just visiting us for a nibble from time to time.

He does come and go and hasn't tried to move in, so that's a good thing. I leave food and fresh water for him under the wagon so it's semi-protected. 

He is such a lovey boy. He listens well.

I'll keep you posted.

He's also a pretty photogenic guy. 

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Chateau Cloud Capturing

 

After a few intense days of grass cutting, I always enjoy taking a break and wandering around so I can look at my handiwork. From the road above the barn, I can look down and see if I missed any spots.

I can also make decisions about areas that are just impossible to cut because of so many rocks!

 

 

This last round, I wandered a bit up the road where I had just finished the last bit. I looked at the windows in the Chateau and wondered why in the world they would have two different kinds of glass?  Silly me!

Upon further inspection, I realized that what I was seeing was the reflections of the clouds. I zeroed in and had a little more fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It really was a spectacular sky!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature's Creativity!

 

I leave you with a fun shot of me from this summer's event at Chateau Cadrieu. They seem to be doing this picture frame thing all over the world.

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

Evolution of the Vernissage

 

 

When I bought the Chatette back in 2002, I had a completely empty canvass to take and do with as I chose. I'd been writing in my journal from the first moment I saw the wine cave:

This would be a beautiful gallery!

 

 

I would go downstairs and just sit here during those years when I could only steal snippets of time, and then during those months in 2005 before Hurricane Katrina. After I excavated the terrace that summer, I'd sit and think about what I'd like to do in the cave and began thinking about a vernissage for village artists. I'd visualize the cave full of love and creativity. 

 

 

Returning in 2006 after Katrina, I hadn't given up on the idea. I'd talk to friends about it, and by 2007 I was certain I was ready. So much for certainty, my contractor walked off the job in New Orleans and I was forced to return and spend a much longer time there than expected to make sure everything on Columbus Street was on target. Needless to say, I returned with very little interest in trying to organize much more.

During 2008, Christiane, Patrick and Josie made a trip to the states with me. We did St. Louis, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and saw Elvis in Memphis before returning to St. Louis. It was quite a trip for all of us, one that we were very grateful happened when it did.

 

 

 

I began to get ready for a summer vernissage when we returned. I'd been talking to village artists and friends. Christiane put an article in the village brochure for me, and I offered a fruit collage class for the village too.

 

 

It would have just been any old run of the mill cave with overhead florescent lighting, but Patrick and Josie offered to make a gift to me of building and installing the beautiful lighting system you've seen. I was and still am so touched.

 

 

I offered the space to village artists and also offered them the opportunity to sell their work the night of the vernissage and beyond if they were interested in overseeing the cave as a community. No one was interested in selling their work, and no one was interested in a community gallery so the vernissage became a one night gallery opening and apero.

From 2008 through 2012, we had a vernissage in La Galerie dans la Cave. In 2010, the barn became part of our "We" and I would do special themed small exhibitions over there that were primitive, but beautiful in a very different way than the cave. 

 

 

Those five years gone were hard for me. Every year, I'd think that if I were in Cadrieu we'd be having the vernissage. That made this year even more special for me. I knew it was important to have the vernissage this year, that it was a symbol for me of return AND I can really say I AM BACK!

As you have seen, La Galerie dans la Cave was gorgeous. We tried for the first time to ask for donations for a worthy cause. But, compared to other years, the attendance was very small. 

I've tried to sort out what the reasons for the small numbers were. I believe that:

It was the first time that the event had happened in 5 years;

I wasn't as visible in the village this summer and some people didn't know I was here;

I didn't participate in village events this summer with some dangling personal issues; and,

Other events in the village were scheduled for the same evening.

 

 

We're already talking about next year and making plans. I'm excited and artists are too. The Barn will be back. Regardless of the numbers, this vernissage was a success and we've learned some things for next year.

 

For me, I am back!

Happy Thursday!

 

Helping Homeless Hounds with Jane

 

 

When I began to think about this year's vernissage, I wanted to have a special theme for the barn like I have done every year since 2010 when the barn (La Grange Dentelle) became part of our "We!" I'd decided that we would have a focus on animals in art and ask for donations for Helping Homeless Hounds in Figeac.

 

 

As the summer went on: the train tracks needed a lot of attention and the grass had not been cut by the village on their piece of that side of the tracks, I made the executive decision that this year we would only focus on the cave. (Besides, I had the lower terrace that needed to be excavated again.)

 

 

In addtion to the cave wall beside the road being designated for "animal" work; Jane had a wonderful idea.

She had some beautiful scraperboard pieces that had been done by her Mom and Aunt-The sister's Black and Ridgley.

I confess, I wanted them all.

But, if I had to choose, it would have been these little hedgehogs (Les Herissons)!

There was just so much from which to pick!

 

 

 

Jane had quite a collection which she made available to those who made a donation in a certain amount, plus two of the works hung in the vernissage: Le Chat Blanc and Le Cheval Changer to the left of the window.

 

 

We were ready for the evening. I'd put together some information on Helping Homeless Hounds and the Refuge in Figeac. We had a donation jar (actually a vase) all ready for euros, but alas...low attendance and doing something new without a lot of explanation brought no donations during the evening. 

We're going to rethink this approach and try again next year!

HUGE MERCI to Jane!

Happy Tuesday!

 

Don't miss the Helping Homeless Hounds page on Facebook. San Barto is your volunteer contact. They are always looking for volunteers and donations! Check them out!

 

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