Soar-Dream-France

Books, Stamps and Wine

 

 

It doesn't get much better than the arrival of some of the books and postage stamps you ordered. Both feel like presents to me, just one is much bigger than the other. It can be even more fun when your stamps match a bottle of your favorite wine! All are treats to me now that the house has sold in New Orleans.

I am not a spend thrift by any means. These guys are all a splurge for me, but I've decided that I should splurge on myself at least quarterly in this new life that has begun.

Some days I lose track. Some days, I'm a whirlwind of activity.

 

 

Most days I'm learning to live into the questions, days, and my new life in general. Some of it involves giving myself permission to do just that! Routine, regiments, and plans have been a huge part of that first book.

I can tell already that Book Two-Or my Whole New Life are going to be different.

 

Eight of the thirteen books I ordered arrived yesterday. Looking at them more closely this morning, I realized they fell into three categories: personal improvement/awareness; novels that spoke to me; and pressing issues/current events.

 

The first two categories included some books that burned up in the fire. The last category was all brand new books that I've been wanting to read for a long time. Malcom Nance's: "They Want to Kill Americans," arrived at the end of last month and was hot off the press. It's finished and in a place of honor on my monster bookshelf.

The stamps are always fun for me. Little presents, little works of art, little reminders of history, and so much more; they always excite me. This batch the village/area of Sancerre was the wine matching favorite.

 

 

 

There's another installment of the Treasures of Notre Dame and something about fairies. I ordered this interesting French Post Card thing that I love but I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with it. Then there's the lure, Marcel Proust is really special. 

 

 

I am reminding myself of all the things that bring me joy and making sure that I include them in this "joyful" new life! On my way to read Eddie Glaude's book-maybe more awareness than joy!

 

Off to cultivate joy!

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Change Over Day

 

Sunday morning, I found myself on the last page of Journal #123 and on my way to beginning Journal #124. I usually begin picking the next journal long before now. For some reason, this last minute change over felt ceremonious! Here I was finishing up the last day of July and getting ready to begin a whole new fresh month too with August.

Interestingly and unusually, Journal #123 held just about 6 full months!

 

 

Journaling is something that I used to do religiously. Until recently, I got up every morning and journaled no matter where I was and what I was doing. I confess that it is less than a daily activity for me these days. Once again, I am learning to let go of the "musts" that I have set for myself and am trying to do what I feel like doing in the moment.

There had been a regimen for me...coffee, journal, play piano, bike ride, blog, and get on with the day.

 

 

I used to be so rigid that it had to be in that order and every day. Now, I've loosened up on myself. The musts were only mine to hold onto.

 

 

I have always found comfort in my routines. Learning to "loosen" the musts so that I can respond more freely to how I feel in the moment has been important for me. It still feels odd. When I feel odd, I seem to want to journal more. 

It's all going to shake out over time and I believe that I am going to discover a new freedom, flexibility, and new comfort level in the letting go.

 

Happy Monday!

 

Some Days Become MORE Special

 

This morning I was on a mission to get out before it got too hot and cut some grass. I succeeded and then retired to the terrace to journal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to text one of my FB friends with a travel question for which I knew he'd be the best person to ask. I was correct. We messaged back and forth a bit and closed with a wine glass cheers.

 

 

 

At that moment, it hit. I hadn't even opened the first bottle of my Clos Triguedina stash AND with today being Mom's heavenly birthday, possibilities were endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scooped a bottle from the rack and opened it to let it breathe for a bit.

I grabbed one of my new red wine glasses too.

I wanted shots in the piano room and in my special homage to Mom that already rests there.

 

 

Then, it was time to head to the terrace to actually drink my wine while enjoying a little nibbly plate of goodies to go with it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I toasted Mom, made a toast and a thank you to my friend, and a toast to the gratefulness I always experience in just this place.

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

 

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Mom!

 

The Balancing Act of Here

 

One might think that after being a "we" for a little over twenty years, I would have this drill down pat by now. I'm guessing I make it all look easy, or easier than the reality.

I know I don't like to spend a lot of time moaning about roadblocks, problems, and the concrete boots that sometimes make getting anything done at best, cumbersome, at worst, bordering on impossible! 

Keeping all the plates spinning requires a lot of paying attention. I'm generally pretty good at that and have so far avoided having any plates conk me on the head.

One of the things that caught me off guard, but didn't whack me on the head, was keeping up with my SmartPhone program.

 

 

Prior to leaving for the states in mid-March, I was reminded by my company that the terms of my agreement require me to mostly use my phone in the USA and since I'd been almost totally in France, my data would be terminated. I wasn't completely surprised, but was freaked out. We communicated.

Fortunately, I had 30 days and I was able to hang on to my phone and program until I returned to France from the states.

I knew I needed an alternative, so I began investigating French phones and programs available through Orange.

Fortunately, last week we became Fibre-Optiqued up here at the house, which means stronger and more reliable connectivity!

 

 

This week my neighbor and I went to the Orange Boutique at Leclerc in Villefranche and I was able to get all the pieces in place that I needed. We left with my new Samsung Android and a bag full of goodies. It pays to already be an Orange client.

With the house sold on Columbus Street, my need for communication and paying bills every month in the states is majorly reduced.

Even so, I was out early on my bike to Cajarc this morning to drop a check in the box at La Poste.

 

 

This should be the last check I have to send to the states to cover a last minute crisis. This time, to reattach the "new" blue roof the evening before we were going to final act of sale the following morning.

I still managed to have some fun and make the most of my morning time in Cajarc.

 

 

Communication is still important. As I continue to still sort out some of the final arrangements with banking, euros, dollars, and such...connectivity to the states through email, phone, and texting is still important.

 

While business stuff is reduced, there will always be my personal ties and connections that I treasure and don't want to lose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staying in touch takes work.

 

 

 

That's work and time I enjoy, especially when I can sit at La Pause with a Perrier Menthe as I write!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Feeling Complete...Enough!

 

As life has unfolded step by step with all that has had to happen to try to make the sale of Columbus Street go smoothly, it doesn't always happen that way.

With most everything done and dusted, I've felt like I can treat myself to a few things that I love and a few things I wanted. but weren't essential MUSTS.

Wine falls into the "love" category.

Oh, I can always make do, but with friends coming in the fall and remembering two of my favorites; I ordered my Triguedina and my Sancerre to have on hand. 

I hadn't really planned on dipping into any of my stash.

 

 

 

 

I went ahead and ordered a 4th bottle of the Henri Bourgeois Sancerre and put it the fridge as soon as it arrived yesterday so it would be cool for later that day. Sancerre was introduced to me by my ex-pat American love in Paris, so I get it whenever I can as a treat for me, and often others!

And besides, any wine that has your own last name in it is a wine you MUST have and keep on hand if you can!

 

 

The reality of COVID has meant not a lot of get togethers and entertaining.

 

 

As I thought about other things I felt I needed I asked myself: "But will you really use all of this stuff if you're not doing aperos and dinner parties like you used to do before COVID? I'm hard on wine glasses...I wanted enough to not worry every time one breaks.

 

 

 

Celebrating 20 years of here I quickly realized that I didn't have any champagne glasses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, as much as I loved all the dishes I cobbled together after the fire...I actually wanted a whole set of dishes that matched!

 

 

 

 

Now, I will have two full sets of dishes that match AND can be mixed and matched with what I already have to make us even more "interesting!"

WE want to feel complete as we dip and slide into Book Two. 

Love to All!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Searching for Comfort

 

While I'd been out to start cutting grass in front of the barn a while back; rain, scorching temps, and the on and off lethargy of sadness was settling in from time to time. As one of my friends put it, "you are in a time of huge transition."

All of which is true, but yesterday's overturn of Roe v. Wade knocked me off my feet. Too many disasters, pandemics, and white supremacist threats of aggression; have distracted too many from the many many other issues that have been rolling around.

 

 

Roe is one. We have known. We have seen. We have heard what people have promised to do, and now have delivered. While the House has passed a bill to codify Roe, the Senate has let it languish.

Its hard NOT to think we have fallen down on the job.

 

 

As a rabidly, pro-choice feminist; I have talked the talk and walked the walk for at least 46 years of my life.

I was graduating from high school when Roe was passed. During 1978 after receiving my MSW from Tulane, I was one of those who ushered women into the Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Illinois.

Our patients had to walk past a priest playing tapes of screaming babies.

He was not alone.

 

 

 

He was accompanied by a pack of women holding up posters of bloody fetuses while they juggled their own baby(ies) in their arms, on their hips, or in a baby carriage. 

No one should have to face that alone.

 

 

Shortly after I returned to New Orleans to work, I learned that our clinic Doctor had been kidnapped by a rabid, radical, pro-life group who I believe were called "Operation Rescue!" I was devastated. 

 

 

Yesterday, I heard from friends and family from all over the world. We cried. We commiserated. We remembered. This is only the beginning. I don't have the energy to go there at the moment. I am despondent and heart-broken that our country has arrived at this place. This is one of many layers of dismantling of many hard fought and hard won battles for so many. Too many I love are rolling over in their graves today, including our Mom and Dad.

 

So, I cut grass. I took pictures. I explored the floor of my barn again, that appears to have more gorgeous stone than I had even realized when I first started digging  and cleaning. There is peace and comfort in my barn, even though it is a time of regrouping and reorganizing to fight these fights again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back when I was working in HIV/AIDS, I went to see a client at a residential facility regularly. I would always ask him how he was.

 

 

His response was always the same:

"I'm upright and moving forward."

Honestly, that's exactly how I feel today. We're putting one foot in front of the other, upright, moving forward, and doing the very best we can with the hand that has been dealt.

 

Here's to being upright and moving forward!

 

Shadow and Shutter Shenanigans

 

With all the extreme heat these last few days, sometimes black and white gives the illusion of it being a little cooler than it is. At least, I tell myself that sometimes. Ah, the tricks we try to feel more comfortable in the heat when cool isn't really possible.

Another of those tricks is to close the wooden shutters over the already double glazed windows, for even more protection. Since this side of the house is insulated, but the guest room/bath room side isn't, I also shut the door between them and the atrium.

 

 

That lasted all of the first day. Lola doesn't like when she can't go where she wants, so the last two days she has managed to open that door on her own. It's best to surrender that one.

 

 

She's also found a new spot that teases her to see if she can escape through the closed wooden shutters. This one, I won and she surrendered!

 

 

 

With the shutters closed the light and shadows are different.

I seem to be learning to flow with whatever makes the seasons work.

It's making me live even more in the moment than usual and just responding and reacting as I go along!

All good!

The less resistance the better these days!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day!

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Spontaneous-Sometimes

 

After cutting a nice chunk of grass yesterday morning before it got too hot, I began to spend the afternoon on the sofa reading.

I thought I'd get some paperwork done eventually, but was still waiting on some needed items.

Then, Jane called.

She had some time and was going to Grealou for yogurts and was hoping to come by. While we'd seen each other since I've been back, she hadn't been in.

 

 

And, I had the big news on the sale of the house to share! I suggested I buy a bottle of her champagne from the epicerie and we could celebrate together when she arrived! Et voila...a spur of the moment unplanned afternoon visit and celebration.

It ended up being even more fun than I imagined. Jane brought a bottle of champagne from Harrison's and Melanie's wedding, that I'd hoped to attend, but hadn't. I had a little something special for them, but hadn't wrapped it yet or put the other bits and pieces in.

 

It was fun to show Jane the goodies that I had delivered from the states.

The little bisque bride and groom were part of my family goodies that I hoped would find a home. I'd fallen in love with them and they came to live on Columbus Street after Mom and Dad passed.

It dawned on my there was the Jolly June wedding here in my future, so I set them aside to give as a gift. They are the cutest-and, since they weren't wrapped I could show them to Jane.

 

 

The other fun thing was it was the first time I got to use my twirling pewter serving tray. It made it into one of the boxes I sent and now, it's been christened in France.

 

 

I am enjoying the "special" of these guys who came to France with me from the states.

Happy Wednesday!

 

Tour de France Memories

 

When the Tour de France went through Cahors in 2007, it truly was fast, furious, and a blur of a pass! By that time, Dali, Sam and I were living in Cadrieu full-time. Jean and I became close since in 2006 she'd lost her partner and we'd returned the same year.

 

I enjoyed the Tour de France experience with our good friends who were mostly here in the summers and some of Jean's family who'd come to visit.

Coming into Cahors on the bus, the city was festive and ready, and I for one was really happy that we hadn't driven in.

 

We'd probably still be sitting at the round-a-bout at the bottom of the hill that brings you up to Rue Gambetta!

 

 

We found a restaurant on the Rue Gambetta route to wait for the flash of a pass. It was perfect. We had a place to sit, drinks and nibbles and still had time to finish up before it was time to catch the bus home. What a day! What memories!

I look at these photos above and below and am caught up in a flood of emotions. Fifteen years later now, we are all still in touch. There has been a lot to celebrate and some to mourn. We lost Jean during 2020 and many of our 4-legged children along the way. But then there were the weddings, babies, grandkids, and more. Life does goes on.

Happy Wednesday!

 

The Window on the Lot-A Gift for Dorian-#2

 

I am alive in le Lot. I feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my cheeks, and my toes tingle. I can hear the woodpecker tap on the bark of the tree. The owl hooting in the attic brings good luck to my friends' home in Tour de Faure. The church bells toll on the hour and the quarter and the half. They are the keepers of my lazy days of reading, writing, and wine. I have vacation eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A four-legged guy remains by my side. Lester is often better company than the two-legged variety. Resting his nose on my leg after a sloppy kiss, he looks up at me with his playful beckoning brown eyes, and I can't think of a thing that could make him more perfect. He is my French Professor.

 

 

I have learned that couche means lie down assis means sit, and arret means stop.

When I say bonjour, Lester gives me his paw.

Just when you forget that he is really a dog, you find him chasing the bumpers of cars at full speed down the dirt road of a nearby farmers land, swimming and fetching in le Lot, lifting his leg on the mailbox, and greeting you at the gate with is huge metal dish in his mouth. Lester is multi-talented.

I know he would say j'ai faim, if he could.

 

What do you see when you have "vacation eyes?"

Happy Sunday!