Showing posts with label #atozchallenge2018. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #atozchallenge2018. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 02, 2018

May, IWSG, and Beginning our "Tour de France"

IWSG WEBSITE

MY APOLOGIES ALL!!! For some reason my post didn't go up on the second when it was scheduled to, so, I'm making sure it's up now. So....

France is still a dream, though a more real one than before. I thought perhaps once I'd been here long enough, my lust for living here would abate somewhat, you know, living everyday life here instead of "being on holiday/vacation". But no. I am more in love than ever, want to live here more than ever. Uh oh.
So, I will enjoy the time I have left knowing it will end soon, but that I have been here longer than I'd ever thought I would be.
My mother in law is having hip replacement surgery in the beginning of June and thankfully we will be here to help out in the aftermath. She is a precious jewel to me and I am honored to help as best I can, mostly, I'm guessing, with my father in law, who will be a bit out of sorts with her in the hospital and in rehab. Not that he would admit to that! So, my husband, brother in law, sister in law and I will all step in to make sure our jewel will have little to no stress outside of her operation and the reeducation she must deal with herself. We will take care of the house, cooking, washing, her husband, etc. so she can concentrate on herself and getting back on her feet.
Before that, now that we know when the operation will be, my hubby and I will take off for a jaunt around the country to visit friends. Our "Tour de France" will take most of May, and involve heading east to the Mediterranian, then north to the Drome at the foot of the Alps, then perhaps farther north to Lyon, then south west to the Limosin, then to Bordeaux, then the Gers, then back to Toulouse! And that isn't even including going to the Pyrenees this weekend. Whew! We are SO blessed to have such wonderful friends and family here. We are looking forward to seeing as many along the way as possible, and hopefully have a break here and there for me to write, ha ha.
So, once again, I have nothing to complain about. I can find reasons to feel insecure, but I'm too busy right now being present, in the now, in the here of France and its lovely language. I'm still in wonder at how much I love both, sigh.
I wish you and yours a wonderful May, and, congratulations to all those who made it through the April AtoZ Blogging Challenge! Hopefully I'll do it in 2019!


Co-hosts in this lovely month of May for IWSG are: E.M.A. Timar, J. Q. Rose, C.Lee McKenzie, and Raimey Gallant
Please drop by and thank them for co-hosting this month! 

"Let your heart have the last word..."

St Bertrand de Comminges in the Pyrenees

A bee hive sculpture on a building wall in Toulouse

A Market in the Place Capitol Toulouse

Jacobins in Toulouse

The whole path is covered with paintings from local artists

All in Tile!

A field of "Colza" which is "Rapeseed" or "Canola" in the States

The biggest peonies I've ever seen! Blagnac, France!

Wednesday, April 04, 2018

April is here! IWSG and A to Z

IWSG WEBSITE
April has arrived, and so have flowers, greenery and my husband. He got here mid March and we spent a week babysitting a friends house, alone, together, getting to know one another again after 2 months apart. Our little dog, Boney, made the trip across the big blue with no fuss, in spite of a flight attendant bent on not being nice about him being there. We were proud of his no-issue journey. Boy was he glad to be on solid ground!
I took a few weeks off, basically, from writing, to spend time with my loved ones, and am back on track. My goal is to finish this draft before I head back to the States in June. So far I'm on track. I hope those of you participating in the AtoZ Challenge this month are doing well and keeping up!!!

This post is also in honor of the French policeman, Col. Arnaud Beltrame, who gave his life in trying to save others during an attack in Trebes, France March 23, 2018.
We were in Carcassonne at the time of the attack there and in Trebes, locked down in a restaurant in the old city, but were released later, safe and very thoughtful, aware of our mortality. I am deeply saddened that it turned out the way that it did, and hope wherever he is, he knows he is honored and his sacrifice remembered...
Below are some photos we were able to take on our short jaunt into the old city before...

Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Renee Scattergood, and Tamara Narayan are our co-hosts for April 4th! Please drop by their blogs and thank them for helping out...
Staircase up to the Old City, "La Cite".

My husband and Boney going up to the old city

Carcassonne...

Us in front of the "Chateau" in the Old City

In the restaurant where we were locked in. Great food!

The Old City from the New City