Soar-Dream-France

Place and Spaces as Works of Art

 

As most of you know, I have always seen my sweet, gorgeous stone barn as a work of art in and of itself. I admired it from afar for eight years before I was able to make it part of our we in 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I confess.

It wasn't until after the 2017 fire that I was able to look at the Chatette and think about it the same way.

 

It's truly been a step at a time and feeling our place as I go. There is the struggle to find balance between too much and not enough...sometimes from stark to cluttered.

 

I think I'm getting there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each day is different. Each focus comes as I'm wandering around in between grass cutting, watering, reading and playing the piano. Yesterday, it was cleaning all the paper and clutter off that very pretty antique student desk in the top photo.

 

Then, I could wander back and forth in front of this blank furniture canvass and think and feel what would be pretty and appropriate there!

 

 

I also wanted it to fit in with other areas that they shared. The two little open ink wells were a challenge, but I really had some fun there...a rose in one, and my ice cream cone bubbles in the other.

I know, I'm just a big kid. Who cares, it was fun!

Happy Friday!

 

Beyond Grass

 

 

After finally finishing up the last bits of grass that needed to be cut on this side of the tracks yesterday, I found myself focused on flowers once more. First, I so enjoyed how that beautiful flowering shrub draped lacy sweetness over Sammie Cat's spot. I always have a little chat with her when I begin and when I finish. 

It always feels good to finish, even though I know I still have to head over to the barn.

 

 

I will, but in the meantime; I enjoyed the beauty everywhere close to me inside and out.

The roses continue to be gorgeous.

The remaining geraniums got potted.

And, the barn, lavoir and chateau continue to be a backdrop that shows the roses off beautifully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the afternoon light at full force on the side and behind the Chatette, those gorgeous reflections of color snuck inside once more.

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

 

A Work of Art

 

 

Even though I bought the Chatette in 2002, the barn behind us belonged to the neighbors who were rarely there.

I fell in love with this beautiful, ancient, falling down, stone barn and "divined" it to come to us.

Eventually, in 2010 it did.

I have always said that it is a work of art in and of itself. 

 

 

 

With the impending new roof work to begin in September, I've been trying to capture as many beautiful photos of our barn as I can.

At the moment, the roses are in just the right spot to highlight their soft, delicate beauty against the beautiful stone and the sliding and tumbling roof.

I leave you with a photo of the barn that was taken back in 2002.

It will always be a favorite of mine.

 

 

You can see why I gave the barn the name: La Grange Dentelle-The Lacy Barn. It is a magic place. More on that another time.

Happy Friday!

 

Flowers for the Barn

 

Look at that grass!

Getting both sides of the Chatette cut and all along the road with Evelyn's cord too, I was feeling like we were pretty beautiful.

But, I was also pretty weary. So, Tuesday turned into a ride into Cajarc (mostly for my demanding birds and their bird balls) and then...no grass, just laundry. That made yesterday morning a grass cutting necessity.

I truly could cut grass everyday SOMEWHERE.

 

 

Maybe I should just make it a part of every day's activities.

 

 

 

Yesterday's cut was difficult...wet, mud caking the mower, rocks, stones in the ground, and just plain high AGAIN. Being a holiday, I stopped to take a break and then came back to do a little more later in the afternoon.

Inspiration!

Cutting aside, I wanted to pay a little more attention to the wagon and the barn.

 

 

I still managed to do both.

 

 

I've said that I want to spend time with my barn as is since this summer is the last summer before the new roof in September.

 

 

 

Remembering our history...the rest was a breeze!

 

 

Flowers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

 

Aha Adventures

 

 

After a full week of mostly rain teases from heavy over long periods of time to  rain sun rain sun rain sun...yesterday morning dawned with le SOLEIL! I immediately got on my bike and headed into Cajarc for a few essentials. Those gray heavy clouds were swirling above me on my bike ride home, but it didn't dump again until about 2:30.

Once it stopped (and didn't start again) I headed out to the garden to look around. I already knew the wisterias were even more gorgeous and fuller since last week.

 

 

I take all my photos on my phone. This one seems to be more touch sensitive than others, so I frequently stumble on the video button by accident. Yesterday, I decided to use it. I ended up taking a long one at first and then a shorter one to correct a mistake I discovered.

I need to learn better movement, captures and PAY a little more attention to my wandering sing-songy voice!

 

 

It was still fun. I posted the long one on FB and found so many of my friends who actually enjoyed hearing my voice-maybe it was that big glass of red wine!

I still got some stills that I loved. The top one says to me that:

 

"Yes, Laury...you do live in the country!"

 

The rest of the grass is saying:

 

"We've been waiting all week...it's time"

 

And an old friend is saying:

 

"I'm still here, don't forget about me!"

 

 

SOLEIL again this morning. I'm going to be running out in my overalls to crank up the lawnmower in a little bit and see how far I get. It's about time to hurl the lawnmower across the train track wall and cut those small, but treacherous pieces of land over by the barn.

 

 

Now that I know what to do with the video feature, I may share some videos of here from time to time.It is going to come in particularly handy as we go through the summer with the barn and Septembers new roof work,

 

Happy Monday!

 

Roads Home

 

So many events and happenings occurred on my road back to the Chatette last year. On my way into Cajarc this morning and on my way back home, I remembered how every trip last year between the two (no matter which direction) was full of mistral type winds on every journey. It was as if the universe was saying:

Just how badly

 

 

 

 

 

do you want to get home?

 

 

And then, there were the reflections of waking up on a Sunday morning in a REAL bed that was MY bed. And, a comfortable one at that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sat on the front steps that first morning waking up home again. I remembered other trips back.

 

I especially remembered the day I sat on the same front steps and realized for the first time that just being able to sit here and look at OUR VIEW was enough.

I didn't need anything else. I smiled to read these words in my journal from that day:

You aren't in Cajarc, Laury!

I am home 

 

 

And, I am!

Happy Sunday!

 

Days and Dates and Anniversaries

 

Even though the date of my return to the Chatette after the fire was April 28, 2018, it was a Saturday last year. Thinking date...tomorrow would be the anniversary. Feeling day...Saturday-today-would be the day. For some reason in this instance, I feel the day more than the date!

That Saturday last year, I'd moved what I had at the apartment to the Chatette with Evelyn's and Christiane's help. Very little was here besides the coffee pot, microwave, some chairs, and of course, my Monsieur Winkelmann.

 

 

That day, we had our first appointment with Monsieur Jolly to tune, repair, and generally show me what I could and needed to do to get Monsieur Winkelmann back in shape. A year later, we are still a work in progress. He may not look so pretty, but my Monsieur still sounds grand!

 

 

That day was also the day that my bed was delivered from BUT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Eric told me before I came home:

 

 

"all you really need is a table, chair, coffee pot, bed, your Monsieur and that beautiful place."

 

 

Snuggled into my brand new bed upstairs on Saturday night, I knew that Eric was right!

 

 

I made my first journal entry on Sunday morning. And what a morning it was. Of course, it was only the beginning of a very long haul that in some ways still goes on.

This is when I am really pleased that I journal. As much as I try to be an in the moment person, there are answers and strength for me in looking back. I'll be sharing some of that with you over time. For now...

Happy Saturday!

 

In the Shadow of the Barn

 

Holidays are always a little bit different for me in France. I always try to find a way to make them special, even it I'm on my own. As I described Christmas on my own in Paris last year, I realized that from Thanksgiving to Easter I was working for many years away from home and got very good at making each one special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday evening's dinner invitation was so much fun.

 

 

My little chick at the top was one of that dozen that I contributed to the evening. Making my way down the hill in the dark with my phone/flashlight, I realized that a Sunday Easter picnic would be fun. I have a couple of favorite picnic places, and could easily throw late lunch/early dinner into my backpack with a bottle of wine and go.

 

As the day progressed, it looked like picnics weren't going to happen. I knew that for sure after my second trip to the poubelle beside Eddy and Helen's house.

 

 

 

 

 

Taking some pix of their place, the gorgeous lettuce of Jackie and Yannick's, and on the construction road home, I was plopped with a few big drops.

 

 

 

 

So, how about Easter with the Barn this year! That would be fun. A little table inside...all very pretty and colorful.

By the time I was ready to take everything down the tracks and out to the barn, it was raining pretty hard AND it was getting chillier. 

Instead, I made a few dramatic flower arrangements and pondered.

 

 

 

I decided that I'd eat on the covered terrace from the swing and gaze at the barn from there.

It would have to do, and did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I began with a little guacamole inside while I wrote a bit in my journal and did some cooking for into this week. 

 

 

 

 

Then, it was off to the terrace with my dinner of stuffed meatloaf, baked potatoes, applesauce, salad with beets and mushrooms. 

 

That chocolate bunny will live to see another day, since other chocolates and cookies made a fine dessert all their own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a special place.

 

 

 

I love having so much pretty, romantic, historic, and so many CHOICES to make my holidays, days and my life special. What could be better than Easter in the shadow of my barn, lavoir and Chateau with my bittie birds singing in the rain?

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

One More Summer Together

 

This is the first shot that I ever took of the barn that led me to call her: "La Grange Dentelle!" Over those eight years from 2002 when I bought the Chatette, to 2010 when I bought the barn, I would: sit inside the barn; sometimes kiss her beautiful doors;  talk with her; and, generally divine her to come to us. And, she did.

When the barn became part of our "WE," I knew she needed a new roof then. I tend to live on a wing and a prayer financially. These years together with the barn were no different. Every time I looked at the roof was bittersweet-I loved the beauty of her roof, but knew every year that she needed a new roof. Every year I asked myself how I could pay for a new roof when the reality has been that just last summer I finally paid off the last remaining bills from Hurricane Katrina.

Putting this together financially has been a struggle, but an important one. I love our girl. She speaks to me just as she is. 

One day during 2017 when I was particularly despondent about the roof and the ongoing lack of money to do anything about it, she spoke to me as I was heading back to the house from the lavoir. When I stepped up to the train tracks with tears in my eyes, there was a voice/an overwhelming feeling of: don't worry; it's okay; and, the money will come. The message was so strong that I came in and wrote it in my journal. I hoped it would be true. I try very hard to trust the universe when it speaks. I've learned to pay attention to these messages.

So, last night when Monsieur Feres told me he wouldn't be able to start on the roof of the barn until September; I was initially disappointed. I'd labored over how to make it happen financially now for quite a while, but none of that goes away. September it is.

And besides, I may not be quite ready yet. At the moment, I am happy to be savoring another summer spent with my love just the way she is.

By September, we'll both be ready to move on.

Happy Thursday!

 

 

Without

 

This is a view you could never have seen during all of the 17 years of me and the Chatette.

One of the things that needed to be done whether or not I was able to piece together the money to put the new roof on the barn, was the removal of the huge walnut tree.

The walnut tree damaged the barn roof, leaned across the tracks and was quickly coming way to close to the terrace roof and the roof of the Chatette.

 

This view without the walnut tree is amazing. I hadn't even noticed it until I tried to capture the fruits of my labor with the staircase on film in the shot above!

 

 

Sometimes, less is more!

Happy Wednesday!