Soar-Dream-France

Resurrecting Matisses

 

Over the years, there have been books that I loved so much that I read them more than once...sometimes multiple times. Matisse-Father and Son, by John Russell is one of those books. And yes, it's encore time! 

I first read it in New Orleans when I borrowed it from Eric. I fell in love with: the story; the artist (all over again); the father/son relationship and love; and, their lifelong communication through letters. I read it a second time from here in 2014 when I borrowed it from Evelyn. And now 5 years later, I'm at it again.

With each read, I realize that my perceptions are impacted by where I am, what I'm doing, and, how I'm feeling. I seem to learn something new each time, even though I've read it before.

The best part for me is their letters. It also appears that father and son communicated with each other more comfortably in writing than face to face, especially on difficult issues. I often mourn the loss of letter writing these days.

It's a soft, sweet, raining day here in Cadrieu today. I celebrate the joy of reading a book I love at least one more time and that love and connection of letter writing. Give them a try sometime.

Happy Rainy Tuesday!

 

Books, Bob and Bread Pudding

 

 

How does one get ready for the Bob Mueller Report Marathon?

Even from France, it was important to me to dig in and watch Bob Mueller's testimony before the House Judiciary and House Intelligence Committees last Wednesday. 

 

 

Tuesday, I made my microwave bread pudding. I like to celebrate many of my special occasions and events with bread pudding...easy, tasty and thoughts of home. Tuesday, I also finished Where the Crawdads Sing so I could focus on the Mueller testimony. Wednesday morning, I rode into Cajarc for re-enforcements and then after my call to Dad, hunkered down on the sofa with the computer YouTubed up and ready to go.

 

 

I wanted to read the whole Mueller Report for a reason. I wanted to see the whole testimony for a reason. Both in their entirety were important. Nothing I read or saw changed my opinion, but provided MORE facts and basis for what I believe is a well-informed and politically engaged opinion.

HUGE MERCI, to former Director Mueller...Doing battle for truth, justice and the American way as an American Hero for us yet again, just this time before Congress.

 

Happy Monday!

 

 

The Joy of This Life

 

There is an unending joy and luxury in this life for me here at the Chatette in Cadrieu. It envelopes me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, that doesn't mean that it is always easy.

 

 

 

Challenges and problems still arise. Most of you know my stories of here. I still struggle. But, somehow I still manage to feel the joy and gratefulness in the the midst of the struggle! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So before I go out to cut some grass this morning, I want to share a little of the beauty and joy of just this spot. 

 

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Marion's Magic

 

It's always easy to hook me with books. Sometimes a little extra hook from the other side grabs me and it's a done deal for sure. Wednesday's trip to Figeac's Recyclerie had one of those grabs from Eric's Mom-Marion Holsapple.

When Mary came up to talk to me about the English books, she had this book by Penny Vincenzi in her hand. Marion had introduced me to Penny Vincenzi and I had read many of hers while I was in New Orleans.

I saw it in Mary's hand and told her:

 

 

"Oh, she's a favorite of mine!"

 

All the while, I was thinking that I'd probably already read it. I decided it didn't matter. Marion was reaching over from the other side to let me know that I had to have this book. And, she was right. I hadn't read it AND it was only 50 centimes. It's also a perfect read for these hotter days ...thick, interesting, well-defined characters and an intricate plot. I haven't finished it yet, but it looks like I will by this afternoon.

 

 

 

Huge Merci to Mary, Marion and of course, Eric for sharing his Mom with me. She became such a treasure in my life and she still is. 

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Re-Building a Bookshelf

 

 

I love bookshelves. There is nothing better than sitting in a room that has bookshelves covering every inch of every wall. I knew one in my lifetime, It was in Paris. The bookshelf in the photo above is my favorite. You'll find it with my guys on Dupre Street in New Orleans. I chuckle because I've probably read almost every book on their shelves. Eric and his Mom kept me in books while I was in New Orleans. I used to tease that they were my "source!"

 

 

Of course, I'd brought all my favorite books from New Orleans to the Chatette after the storm. They were sitting on the beams on the second story. Most did NOT survive the fire. As I rebuilt our life here at the Chatette, I found that incredible bookshelf at the Deco Troc. I am in the process of re-building the bookshelf...not with wood and nails, but books.

 

 

 

 

 

I began ordering new books on Amazon.fr and was in hog heaven. I still am. Right, is my political section!

 

Last week's trip to the Recyclerie  in Figeac with Jane gave me a whole new source.

Back in the corner on the left as you walk in, there was a whole corner and table full of books in English. Paperbacks were 50 centimes and hardbacks were a euro! It was also a treat to chat with Mary and Karen-two Brits who work the books. You can buy the books anytime, but if you want to chat they are there Wednesdays between 10am and noon.

Mary also makes these amazing book bags for 4 euros.

 

The Recyclerie is another community response to supporting refugees in the area with training and other services. Great prices...Great cause!

Jane and I decided this will be another regular stop on our travels. I made a haul and could have gotten more, but I tried to control myself.

 

 

It is the beginning of a special stash.

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

 

 

Beating the Heat

 

With scorching temperatures all over France, the heat has been the topic of conversation. When I looked at the map of France and the whole thing was red, I began to consider my strategies for beating the heat here at the Chatette.

 

 

Fortunately, we do cool down considerably at night.

I usually wait till dark (around 10pm) to go up to bed...open all the upstairs windows and turn on the fan.

In the morning, I come down and open everything on the first floor until the sun comes up and begins blasting into the front.

I also keep one set of front shutters closed where I usually hang out!

 

 

 

It also means doing whatever you have to do outside before it gets too hot, staying hydrated, and relaxing inside when the heat is at its hottest. These are two pitchers of tea days, eating less, rarely wine, and reading from my comfy chair.

 

 

Fortunately all the grass got cut so with heat and no rain, not much is growing.

So far so good. It's always sweet when friends in the states check in to see how I'm doing. I try hard not to whine and remind myself that I could be in New Orleans.

Happy Friday!

 

 

Rewards

 

With so much to be done all around the Chatette inside and out, I find that taking things a step at a time and rewarding myself along the way are important. Rewards come in many forms.

It may be just the satisfaction of seeing a job well done. And of course, there's always the pretty that surrounds me all along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It may be some great book I'm reading.

 

 

 

 

That gives me the chance to take a break, rest a bit, and re-hydrate with a little herbal iced green tea.

 

Last but not least is having a wonderful dinner that can be something to look forward to at the end of a days worth of work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I confess that each day has a routine daily break at 2pm France time and 7am St. Louis time.

 

That's when I call Dad to say hello...I'm thinking about you...I love you. Sometimes Dad has ideas and suggestions for me as I move forward with my projects. Poor guy...he gets to hear about the weather and all the grass cutting. Yesterday, he suggested that I set up little rest stops along the grass cutting route. I'm pondering some of those at the moment.

Talking to Dad is a daily reward.

 

 

Another day of grass cutting ahead. I'm thinking about some pretty little rest spots that should be fun beyond grass cutting!

Happy Monday!

 

Our Better Angels

 

One of the last times I wrote about a book that touched me deeply and was personally significant was In the Shadow of Statues by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Today, I want to encourage everyone to read Jon Meacham's The Soul of America-The Battle for Our Better Angels. Meacham presents the historical grounding for when our better angels have prevailed many times in the past, and how to remind ourselves so we can survive these current times and move forward with a recipe for action.

The origin of the notion of the "better angels" is found in Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861:

 

We are not enemies, but best friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

 

Reading historical events from the inception of our country to today's times, taught me things I never knew before and reminded me of tumultuous times throughout my life. It was a memory lane I needed to go down.

But, it was his recipe for action at the end of the book that gave me hope for today. Meacham implores (my word) the following:

 

Enter the Arena

Resist Tribalism

Respect Facts and Deploy Reason

Find a Critical Balance

Keep History in Mind

 

Of course, he goes into much greater detail with each of the items above. I believe that if we live by these 5 as our survival mantra for these times, we will not feel helpless and hopeless. We may be able to see our way clear to today's better angels...

...the BETTER ANGELS that live in US ALL!

Happy Wednesday!

 

Strangeness

 

Trying to get back in to writing here again, for some reason this particular photo file popped up without even a click.

This was the first photo.

Once again, strangeness strikes for me when I realize that none of the things in that picture remain.

 

Strangeness strikes at the (ha-ha) strangest times. 

It happens frequently when I finish a book. I may be coming in from the terrace. I may have just gotten up from my comfy new chair by the fireplace. I close the cover of my latest adventure and I inevitably think, "I'll just go upstairs and get another book off the beam." There are NO books upstairs. There are NO books left that were on the beams.

Of course I stop myself mid-thought and step.

 

 

There is obviously a former flow to my life here that is so ingrained that it just pops up naturally when I've finished a book. 

i'm learning again. I'm moving on.

 

Even if sometimes I feel like this little guy who is on the inside looking out through the bars at the world.

 

 

I'm not a prisoner. I am free. I am letting go.

Happy Tuesday!

 

No More "Books on the Beam!"

 

 

Back when I started the blog in 2009, I had a special side bar that I called "Books on the Beam!"

I loved it, because that was the spot where ALL of my books and journals rested.

Today, all of my beams are empty.

 

 

They look so pretty.

They show off our beautiful blue ceilings and window tableaux in the mezzanine bedroom.

They also show off the blue ceilings in the private bedroom and make that new burgundy carpet glow!

I've decided, no more books and journals on the beams of the Chatette.

 

Now, that means I need to be creative with the placement of my new books and journals moving forward.

 

 

 

I did save my old journals that you see on the beam in the top photo, but some of them are very black and some runny from the wet.

I'm keeping them all, but probably won't display them in quite the same way that I have in the past. 

It's one thing to look at my burned and battered sheet music on a daily basis because I love that particular arrangement. It's quite another to display the journals.

 

 

 

 

For now, my new books and current journals are making their home on the evier in the living room.

I've begun ordering from Amazon.fr again with John Irving, Donna Lyon, RJ Ellory, and Elizabeth George in the stash of nine books that arrived this past week.

 

 

 

 

I'm in heaven.

Happy Saturday!