Soar-Dream-France

Irrigation Sensations, Meats and Treats

 

Beginning my bike ride into Cajarc yesterday morning, I was a little stressed. I started out later than I'd planned and then I'm still learning how to put air in my bike tires without losing all of it first.

I was successful and pretty soon I was off.

I knew as soon as I saw my irrigation rainbows (albeit at a distance) it was going to be a good trip and day.

 

 

 

It was an easy ride in to the Intermarche. I locked Monsieur Columbus up in front and went in. With high season, I still managed to arrive when there weren't too many people. By the time I checked out it was wall to wall people and long lines. Hamburger was on my list, but there was none on the shelf.

 

I decided instead to add the hamburger to my list for the butcher.

 

As I've mentioned before, I only recently started going to one of the butchers in Cajarc. La Boucherie Escrozailles has become my new favorite place for my usuals-the roasted potatoes and 3 breasts of chicken. But today I was looking for steak hache. I didn't see any but when I asked, the assistant put the prettiest whole piece of beef into the grinder, et voila!

 

It doesn't seem right to use this beautiful ground meat on pizza or in spaghetti sauce. Hmmm, maybe a pretty meatloaf stuffed with cheese and mushrooms! On verra!

 

For a while I was the only customer.

It was fun to discover from Philippe that they had seen my last post that I'd written about them.

It was fun to chat a bit and I promised to bring the actual post and photos in the next time I'm in Cajarc.

Philippe then cut off a piece of saucisson as a little present for me!

 

What would have felt like a little lagniappe in Louisiana, felt like a HUGE MERCI en France. Hmmm, maybe it would be fun to do a little photo shoot with them! Another on verra!

 

Pulling up in front of the Chatette, I got us unloaded again on the front steps.

All the while, I was admiring my new post box and Little Free Library by Andre. I got my Monsieur Columbus locked up again and came inside to get everything put away.

 

Every time I looked at my goodies from Escrozailles, all I could think is why would I want to shop anywhere else for my meats and boucherie treats?

 

 

 

 

Shame on me, but their butcher paper itself is enough for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's just so pretty!

 

But all that aside: friendly people; beautiful meat at the right price; other regional products; and, local producers are all important too.

 

 

Another great morning in Cajarc. Who cares if I didn't cut the grass? It's still here and not going anywhere!

Happy Wednesday!

 

French Friends Fun

 

Spending the day in Figeac isn't unusual for me, but actually hanging out with French friends who live there is. Guy and Patrick showed up on my front step a few years ago and told me they were friends of Antonia who was a friend of my friend "Totsy!" I had NO idea who they were talking about, but after some iced tea and some straining of my brain and my French...we figured out that "Totsy" was Joan.

 

Since then we've become friends and when we are all in the Lot we get together when we can.

This trip the plan was that I'd come into Figeac on the bus and meet them at the Gare Routiere and they'd bring me back to get the bus home.

 

Turned out Jane was going in so she gave me a ride. I thought the Gare Routiere was at the Gare. Turns out-NO-that is the Champollion stop that I get off in the center of town. Fortunately, we found each other. Now I know!

 

 

We had such a nice lunch together...

...a little champagne apero to start, a curry chicken and rice with potatoes, goat cheese "en croute" on lettuce from their garden, a sweet summer whipped cream pie, and not to mention the rose wine, frozen pear palette cleanser and coffee. 

 

I enjoy being with Guy and Patrick because they force me to listen/hear/understand French and speak it. We all try and everyone is open and non-judgmental. We just have fun.

 

 

At one point, after families, politics, city/country preferences, and travel...we got on to favorite songs/musicians and favorite films/actors. It reminded me of traveling to the states with my Cadrieu neighbors in 2008 and talking about Elvees and Memphees! It took me some consternation, but I eventually figured out we were talking about Elvis Presley and Memphis, Tennessee. Pretty soon I realized that I needed to take the American names and sound them out in my head with a French accent so I'd understand. It worked well and we had lots of giggles along the way!

 

We're already set with plans for August. They will join me for the Festivale du Madistan at the Chateau du Cadrieu.

The fun just keeps coming! HUGE MERCI to Guy and Patrick!

Happy Friday!

 

Stepping Out and Up

 

Today is a big day for me here at the Chatette. I've made arrangements for big events to happen here this morning. You may be able to guess what from the photos I'm including in the post. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of late, the sunshine has once again provided me with natural art to enjoy.

 

We are coming together slowly, step by step. It's good that my snails have taught me patience over the years of here.

 

 

In the midst of this process, I'm learning a little more French too.

I've always said "pas a pas" for step by step but then called steps of a staircase a "pas!"

Talking with my neighbor this week about some projects he could help me with around here, I learned that the step to the staircase is a "marche!" 

Enjoy mes marches!

Happy Saturday!

 

 

Road Wrangling

 

Sometimes it's fun for me to enjoy all the different angles and sides to this place. Of course, it tends to happen when I'm out cutting grass or doing other chores.

 

 

 

Smack on the road, I have to be careful because there are speed demons among us. Coming back down the road towards Cajarc from the other side of the house on Monday, I stopped and moved closer to the side of the road. A huge pack of bicyclers was passing with an impatient speeding car behind them.

They did something I've never seen anyone do...the whole group lined up one behind the other and rode straight down the middle of the road on the white line.

 

 

 

The car stayed behind them. When they got passed me, they moved to the side and the car passed. It was the first time I'd actually felt protected on the road.

Huge Merci to these very considerate guys. Wish I had gotten a photo!

Happy Wednesday!

 

Dandelion Dandies

 

Let me start by saying that I have absolutely NOTHING against dandelions.

A little bit ago I wrote a post and titled it "Death to Dandelions" because as I was out cutting grass everywhere, I was rolling over millions of them with the lawnmower. As I'm sure you can imagine, when the grass is a foot to a foot and a half tall...they are impossible to miss. I was surprised that not just one, but two of my friends as of today encouraged me to "Save the Dandelions!"

I'm not sure exactly how you can do that and get your grass cut too.

 

On this last round of cutting on Saturday, I left a little dandelion patch at the point of my land.

 

 

I'd planned to tease John Saunders that this was the honorary "John Saunders Dandelion Patch!"

 

As of this morning, I'll have to put Anne Davis in there too.

 

 

It's only a tiny point in all the land I have to cut. I must confess, the only real reason it was saved was because my long cord would not reach that far.

It looks very pretty. I will enjoy it until the next round of grass cutting must ensue. Overall, we are looking very pretty. No matter how hard I try, we will always be just a bit sauvage!

 

Happy Monday!

 

Team Cookie

 

 

Making cookies at Jane's turned out to be even way more fun than I expected.

I've made cookies here at the Chatette, but without a big oven and all the best tools it is more of a job.

Then, the wonderful ambiance of Chez Jolly and its inhabitants add even more to the "mix" (no pun intended)!

We'd talked about making cookies last year, but it just never seemed to happen.

Maybe we needed stages...last Friday we shopped for ingredients, cookie day we shared lunch, and then we got busy.

 

 

I had two of Mom's recipes that were my favorites-peanut butter cookies and oatmeal coconut cookies.

 

 

Of course, there are the conversion and ingredients issues that started with cups and Crisco. I've always improvised at the Chatette and we did the same Chez Jolly, but we also weighed everything so we'd have a guide for future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane and I discovered that we are a good team...

 

 

...along with our 4-legged helpers!

 

We complement each other. She is happy to mix away and NOT get the spatula caught in the beaters, and I'm happy to get my hands icky with ingredients and rolling dough into balls for baking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm always learning some new wrinkle to British English.

 

 

Of course there is the old reliable "proper."

 

At one point as the cookies were baking and flattening, Jane said: I can't believe we're really making "proper" cookies.

I just laughed since I'd already mused on about proper coffee, proper fish and chips and so on.

But then when I was rolling balls of dough, Jane commented on their size and said that I wasn't "mean."

The only reason I knew what she meant was because I'd just finished reading C. J. Sansom's most recent book of the Shardlake series-Tombland. "Mean" refers to stingy or not generous.

 

 

Jane considered herself "mean" because her cookie balls would have been much smaller than mine.

At the end of our session, we had more cookies than we knew what to do with.

They were tasty and gorgeous and we were happy.

 

 

I packed up my share of the cookies and remaining ingredients to take back home. Walking out the door to load up into the car; a gorgeous, moonlit, lotoise night awaited us.

HUGE MERCI to Jane!

Happy Friday!

 

She is Sick!

 

 

Ever since I bought the Chatette in 2002, I fell in love with this beautiful barn behind us.

When Dali, Sam and I came in 2006 to be full-time French Girls after Katrina, I was often the only person on the road. I believed and felt that the barn should be part of us!

All that pondering, kissing, conversations, and divining worked. In 2009, the barn was offered to us for a very good price.

From the get go, she had problems with her roof, some of the inside beams, and vines were everywhere. I do what I can.

 

 

The Barn or "La Grange Dentelle" as I came to call it (Lacy Barn) became part of our WE during 2010.

 

 

 

 

Most of you know the many stories.

At the moment, the biggest issue is seeing if I can afford to make the repairs on the barn.

For the first time in a long time...

...it might be possible!

 

 

When Monsieur Freres was here on Friday, I asked him to look at the barn and give me a devis (Estimate) for what the work would cost. Of course, WE are special. The train tracks run between the Chatette and the barn. The barn is on a hill and surrounded by cliffs and other stone structures.

 

He didn't know that the barn was mine. His first words were: Elle est Malade! (She is sick!) All I could say is: Je sais! (I know!) The first thing he told me was that the walnut tree has to go. Then, he looked around to see if he would be able to get materials in. He measured. We talked tiles. The wooden supports on the front and the back for the roof will need to be replaced and 50% of the beams in the back will need to be replaced as well. I will need to be sitting down when I get the devis, I'm sure. 

I was feeling a little grim as we walked back. Monsieur Freres then asked about the train.

I told him some of my train stories from the early days, but his were better!

 

Monsieur Freres grew up in St. Pierre Toirac and still lives there today. As a child, he often rode the train and passed by US regularly.

He told me how as kids, they would catch the train at the St. Pierre Toirac train station and ride to Cajarc for school, shopping and going to the piscine (swimming pool) in the summer. He painted such a sweet and romantic picture of life in the Lot for me, that our place was and is a part of.

 

 

Let's hope there is a way for me to scramble and scrounge the money together to save the barn. There may need to be more workshops in my future. Send us all the positive scrambling and scrounging energy you can muster for us!

Happy Monday!

 

Upstairs Homestretching

 

With fall knocking down the door and cooler temperatures, I'm finding that I'm happy to be upstairs doing what I can do to continue to get us back together to livable and usable after the fire.

The first floor is cozy, comfortable and feels like home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm wondering how much cozier it is going to be when I crank up our poele au bois for the first time.

 

 

Of course, one of the very first things I did was to get my bed purchased, delivered and set up at the end of April. For the longest time, it was just the bed and a lamp and table upstairs. Soon, we added in the chest, but over the weekend I went even further.

Then, there is the private bedroom/guest room on the other side of the Chatette. Between both bedrooms is the master bath and a very nice foyer that is big enough to put a kitchenette in if I wish. The jury is out on that one for the moment.

 

 

I am so pleased with the way the guest room has come alive.

The colors on the walls, ceiling, closet, beams, and the tiny window have all come together nicely with the gorgeous "mouquette" that I chose. 

The bedspreads I found on-line with Amazon.fr are "parfait" and reversible!

I sometimes push the two twins together when I have company who prefer that...and, I was able to find the same patterned spread to fit the two in that configuration.

 

 

I was so grateful to see the beds stored in the utility cave. They weren't a bit smokey. Evelyn helped me get all the pieces in the house and upstairs over the weekend. The headboards even matched the wood on the tiny repaired window!

 

 

Then, I could go to work.

Of course, there's still work to be done. Some of it is mine, but most of what's left is out of my control to artisans, workmen and waiting on deliveries. 

 

 

So far, so good.

 

And besides, with beautiful views like these and sweet kitty boys discovering birds through the windows for the first time...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I can't begin to complain.

 

 

 

I may be a bit like my snails, but we're moving!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Kitty Games!

 

From Deviled Egg Football, to Apericube Toss, to Rubber Band Heist; who needs television or internet news when you have les deux freres to entertain you with their constant antics?

I can tell you that there is no need to buy those little stuffed mice from the Gamm Vert.

Ollie and Opie continue to find creative ways to have fun and sometimes reek havoc!

After our champagne and foie gras party, I had a few of the deviled eggs left. We did some damage. Usually there are more. I had this plate in the top photo sitting on the counter as I was cleaning up. In no time, each boy had their own deviled egg on the floor and was batting them back and forth and then nibbling!

 

 

They were having so much fun. I just let them go and cleaned up when they were finished. Of course after so much fun, they need a nap so it's perfect clean up time!

 

Then the other day, I look at Ollie who had stolen an apericube out of the bowl on the kitchen counter.

These perfect little squares of cheese are wrapped in colorful foil with the flavor labeled in French and in English. Inside, you will find a trivia question (alas only in French).

I LOVE APERICUBES!

Apparently, so do the boys.

 

 

 

While they batted and shuffled a variety of colors on the floor, I was amazed. Then a couple went sailing through the air and Ollie began eating one through the foil. It was time to stop. I don't think the cheese would hurt them, but foil in their tummies is probably not a good idea.

This morning, Opie was at it again. They both love playing with rubber-bands. Playing is one thing, but Opie gets up on the counter and steals them from their little lidded china container on the side wicker shelf.

 

This morning he had his whole body on the shelf as he got the lid off and stole the last of the rubber bands. There is nothing to eat in there. You'd have thought there was something more than rubber-bands the way he was behaving. I've moved the empty china container elsewhere so it doesn't break and will have to go search for rubber-bands on the floor when I need them.

 

 

Thanks for humoring me today. With the insanity in the states, these boys are a wonderful diversion and my little angel therapists. They continue to make me smile. Maybe you're smiling too!

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Bats-Boys-Bells and Views

 

Is it any wonder that the boys run to just this spot when I open our Porte-Fenetre (Door/Window) to the Lot for the night? We began with only a screen at the bottom. The color, the moon, the clouds, the tolling bells...are all things I love about being in this place.

Being able to keep a window open upstairs was particularly important during the summer when it was so hot. It worked well for a while.

 

 

Then Opie jumped up to the cross bar. Unlike other cats I've had, I was afraid he might actually jump down into the road from the second story. I closed it once he got half-way.

Recently, he got half-way but he didn't look down, he was looking up.

He scales the beams in the living room regularly and it absolutely appeared that was what he had in mind. He pondered and I knew if I didn't grab him, he'd be scaling that beam to the roof.

Then, I'd be calling the pompiers for a whole different reason!

 

I don't want to lose any of these silly boys!

 

Now, I have also installed one of the old screens in the top window. No worry about the bats or the kitties now. I can fall asleep with the window open no worries. But, photos through the screen just don't work. 

 

There are always upsides and downsides to actions. 

 

 

As much as I have come to love my double glazed windows, I can no longer hear the church bells chime. I am also unable to hear the phone ring from the house if I'm sitting on the terrace.

 

Adjustments everywhere!

 

Happy Thursday!