Tongue in Cheek

True Bleu

                                 

Friends that have been together for as long as they can remember,

never leaving each other's side.

Complimenting, without taking each other's place.

Creating concoctions, stirring up memories, adding sweetness to darkness.

"Cream, sugar...one spoon or two?"

The unmeasurable gift of knowing that you are loved...

photo: 19th century, French flow blue, sugar and creamer...that I carried from France to Willows for my friend Shelley.

p.s. Thank you Paula, the music you sent me is perfect with the white chocolate tea, Obrigado!

Peau

                     

Skin (peau,) that protective layer around your heart and soul, that when touched unites the three.

Velvet. Stone. Sugar spilled on the floor stepped on underfoot. Wind blowing in your hair. Mist. Honey being poured. Hailstorm. The ropes of a swing. Someone tugging at your sleeve. Hands of time in every season touch you, leaving a message...

more than skin deep.

What lights your fire?

Where will you leave your touch today?

photo: My family...My father, mother, and nieces hands, holding each other. Sharing tenderness.

Mon Trésor

This is the Frenchman who does extreme sports.

-who can hang from a rope in a dark cave for hours on end.

Yesterday he attempted to follow Sacha on his BMX, to ride over three bumps on his back tire only, after jumping from an hill.

He fell.

Hard.

Bruises instantly appeared shockingly close to the family jewels.

This morning...walking stiffly, looking at me seriously, he shook his head.

I'll stick to safe sports.

photo: Hey honey...I would rather you go caving in dark places.

The gift of everyday life

                              

Simple moments,

that come without expectation,

a few words that paint your heart a deeper color red.

Something noticed not overlooked,

a smile from a stranger,

words of admiration from children,

the train that sings you to sleep.

Gifts with unmeasured meaning,

as simple as a bow.

photo: my niece with a green ribbon that her mother tied in her hair.

Where do you aim your heart

                              

at the bull's eye? In the center of the matter? Or possibly... far away in case you miss; nothing will be injured? Do you take a chance on love, do you give it open handedly, is love a game, has it played its best hand in you? When you grab your arrows, your words, your actions, do you strive to strike the cord that will give way to music? What arrows do you aim at your heart?

Aiming love is the only arrow I want to have in my hand...

thankfully I have many lessons to help my aim.

I need to practice daily.

photo: At the train station in Marseille sit these (the one above is one of many,) large bronze statues, watching passengers come and go, I wonder how many hearts they have struck, how many miles their aims have journeyed? Do you know that somewhere someone is smiling at you? The arrow has been released!

Singing in the Rain (...though I prefer the warm shower!)

                        

Rain is a rare occurrence in the south of France. Out of 365 days maybe it rains five days. I could be off by a day or two. Rain in the south of France is such a sobering surprise, that when it happens the entire population stops and searches for winter clothing! Finding nothing to wear, we stay inside with reassuring thoughts of how good rain is because everything is drier than it has been in years....

Sunglasses not needed.

During the last 36 hours it has down poured, buckets and buckets of water, drenched the brick-hard land of clay, glistening the limestone, and has everyone inside pondering Hawaii! Therefore can you imagine the sense of abandonment we are feeling? We are grieving our lost moments without our sunshine!

Rubber boots are not a fashion statement!

I am not complaining.

But when I went outside in the pouring rain to go do the grocery shopping, I noticed that someone had stolen my windshield wipers! Out of 364 days of sunshine...my car had the lucky number! Today might be a good day to start playing the lottery, you know there is a silver lining to everything!

photo: Lavender grows abundantly in the South of France, without the need of too much water. This is a small pillow made with a piece of 18th century toile de Jouey fabric, stuffed with lavender. Breathing in lavender has a calming effect, I wonder if the skies could take a whiff?

Riding high even after the Fall

                            

This is my idea of a race track.

Motorcycles and bicycles have been racing around me my entire life. My Dad and four brothers popped wheelies, peeled out and have enough road burns to prove it. That being said it wasn't a surprise that my son Sacha wanted to feel his wheels too. What is the expression the bike doesn't fall far from the track?

How could I tell him no, when my husband, Mr. Have-No-Fear-Himself, (who could easily win, "Fear Factor" if he wasn't a vegetarian,) bought Sacha a helmet, shared his daring tales, and encourages Sacha to ride with the wind? I could hear the "men" talking, and the baby bond breaking. Shop talk and boys, I know that passion, I have seen it a million times in my Father's shop on a Friday night.

I waited for the first fall. It came this weekend.

Sacha came proudly walking in, showing me his wounds as if trophies! Red bloody patches, gashes and his favorite jeans riped beyond repair, could not take the smile off his face. He seemed baptized by the dirt!

The initiation to manhood. Welcome son to the freedom to fall and dust yourself off and claim in worthwhile of every ache and pain.

I am scared...but I am my Mother's daughter, and she never said no.

photos: typepad is under construction today and I'm having trouble downloading. I will add some of Sacha and his glorious trophies later in the day.

The wind rushed through my bedroom window this morning

                        

doing the tango with the curtains, and brought in a new partner called- Autumn... there was a crispness in the air that pinched my cheeks! Are the leaves changing their color, is golden the new hue? Does the wind bring changing habits from faraway places? Are the shelves of strawberries slipping away, making room for another harvest? What season yields the best fruit in you?

                        

The waves do splash colder on my feet, tighter I hold the sun-rays around my shoulders. Tell me did the roses dry up at once? Leaving me their rose-hips to gather like moments of Summer to place in the pages of my souvenir book? Does the harvest moon set a different backdrop for your romance? I wonder if this young woman knew that her hair could make a lovely setting for a rose hip crown?

Photo: Gathered on my windowsill early this morning...Au revoir Summer, bienvenue Autumn!

The Table set before Us

                        

Are you comfortable with yourself...are you enjoying the feast?

Each day the door opens to who we are. Our hand leads the way, with a beating heart it greets us generously! A like mind speaks our language telling us many tales wrapped up in wisdom.

Surrounded by what we know to be true, we sit in the soul of the matter taking a taste. Light and darkness seem to intermingle; our eyes do adjust! Two feet begin a journey we have seen many times in our dreams, like a distant aroma it stirs our senses to a memory we know and long to follow.

This moment is a gift, even if I do not like the pattern on the dish, or the food being served, even if the candle isn't lite or if the music is too loud. I believe there is a feast of holiness on the table set before us.

I plan on enjoying it, and you?

photo: table set, what will you bring to the feast?

How are you and yours today?

                          

The doctor said to my Father: If I didn't know any better I would think you were pretending to be sick, you look great! Whatever you are doing, keep doing it! My Father responded: I pray.

That is the faith I know to be true, that has encouraged my every step, it is this root of love that sustains me, grounds me while sprouting vines towards the light... trusting it is all good and carrying on...

My sister in law continues to heal, after two major surgeries on her pancreas in six weeks, surrounded by helping hands and the love of family and friends, she is starting to feel herself again.

You have heard it before, count your blessings...live your life like it was the last day....sing out loud, let your hair down, run through the sprinkler, be the miracle, hug your neighbor, use the good china, do what scares you...why wait to live or love the moment at hand?!

photo: vintage sheet that grows roses in colors that I find soothing. I have wanted to make a dress out of it, today I will wear roses!