To paint the portrait of a bird or Pour faire le portrait d'un oiseau

Nearly a month ago I was meant to be taking off for 9 days. It seems that every time I go to Wales, I come back only in body, and my (freshly upgraded) mind remains in Wales for a good couple of weeks afterwards.

In the mean time, I have returned to Glorious Spring. Homeschooling outside. Painting outside. Life outside. And birds, eggs and birdlings everywhere ;-) It's literally a bird watcher's paradise on our very own doorstep.

Needless to say, we have been inspired. Libellule found this poem by Jacques Prévert*** in one of her homeschooling books. We decided it would be a welcome change to the very dry content of the rest of the French program we had initially elected to try.

Paint first a cage

with the door open

next paint

something pretty

something simple

something lovely

something of use

to the bird

then put the canvas near a tree

in a garden

in the woods

or in a forest

hide behind the tree

say nothing

don’t move…

Sometimes the bird comes quickly

but it can just as well take many years

before deciding

Don’t be disheartened

wait

wait years if need be

the pace of the bird’s arrival

bearing no relation

to the success of the painting

When the bird comes

if it comes

keep very still

wait for the bird to enter the cage

and once it has

gently close the door with the brush

then

paint out the bars one by one

taking care not to touch any of the bird’s feathers

Next paint the tree’s portrait

choosing the loveliest of its branches

for the bird

paint likewise the green leaves and fresh breeze

the sun’s scintillation

and the clamor of crickets in the heat of summer

and then wait until the bird decides to sing

If the bird does not sing

that’s a bad sign

A sign the painting is no good

but if it sings that’s a good sign

a sign you can sign

so you must softly pluck 

one of the bird's feathers

and you write your name in a corner of the painting

Libellule can't stay in one place for more than five minutes, so the rest of the poem (another painting for example) may never be completed. That however, is of  little consequence. This first part was enough fun. We will move on to other things...

Yikes!! There is a howl coming from the cherry tree. That must mean my break time is over. Sigh...

Bisous to you all …

PS.
I have been busy WORKING! Which is why you have had no news from this corner of the woods. Photos to come…

***Jacques Prévert (1900-1977) was a French poet whose poems are often about life in Paris after the Second World War. He also wrote several classic screenplays for film director Marcel Carné, the most famous of which, Les enfants du paradis (The Children of Paradise, 1945), is considered one of the greatest French films of all time. 

"His satirical attacks on rigid French education and the Catholic Church and other institutions of authority expressed France's post-war disillusionment and defiant spirit."

Patience ...

is a virtue.

Now who was the wise saint that came up with that one??

Abandoned in Cyber Limbo by Orange (the new name for France Telecom but never-the-less still my favourite colour), I have been stranded for over a week with no home telephone or internet connection. Just in case you were wondering why I haven't dropped by...  Of course if I was a non-patient homeschooling mother, I could be driven round the bend with no internet connection (read: no blogging). But today's theme is patience isn't it? So we shall continue to focus on that ;-) with a glass of wine.

And here we are on the eve of my next trip to Wales. Yes - I do leave tomorrow again for 9 days, during which I will once again be deprived of all internet access. This time, however, it's for a good purpose. So there you all are, on the edge of your seats waiting for me to FINALLY give you the low down on the last Wales trip - and here I am off again on the next one. There you all are... You are still there aren't you?

Sigh. I still can't give you the story tonight. You see, it's all a question of breath - and trying to find the time to stop and catch it. Something along the lines of Peter Pan's shadow, my breath has taken off without me and taken on a mind of its own. If you see it, would you mind snaring it, calming it down and keeping it safe until I catch up? 

In the mean time, I do have some news. While all external links to La Rivière were on the blink, this is what has been going on: 

With the help of Beaker, we finished clearing EVERY SINGLE ITEM out of the garage.

(Photo of the garage NEARLY cleared) 

Seeing my new studio (be still my palpitating heart) was built into the right hand half of the garage, we had to fit everything that had been on both sides of the garage into the remaining left hand side. A big hurray to Beaker for the mammoth effort used to efficiently transform a truck load of 'bazarre' as we say in French, into some resemblance of purposeful arrangement within a significantly reduced garage space so he could still get his golf clubs out easily. APPLAUSE!!

And of the right hand side??? 

 Thought I'd try my hand at laying a very liquid concrete floor. I know there's a technical term for this in English but pfffed if I can remember it ;-)

Then painted the ceiling ... Over ceilings for this year! Très passé!

Then rendered (I think. That's what you do with a mix of extra fine sand, lime and acetate isn't it?) and varnished the walls in one day with the extensive help and expertise of one of my very dearest friends.  Needless to say, there was no possibility of reading up on homeschooling curriculum that evening. The zzzzzz stacked up before the head hit the pillow.

  

Below is just an early photo. The render is now finished, dry - as in WHITE, not sand colour - and varnished. I've also coated the floor in resin to waterproof it and allow it to be cleaned. Housework, did I mention housework? 

Where was I? Oh yes. So the studio/atelier is now finished except for the small task of putting in two doors. One of them was promised to me by the end of July (this year). I think we've already touched on the fact that French artisans don't have quite the same concept of time that I do. When my 'door' artisan passed by the other day and promised that I would have said door installed soon, I asked with a facetious friendly smile, "Soon, as in before the end of the year?" Quite seriously he responded, "Ouaaaaiiii, I think that should be possible." Sigh. Sigh again. Patience I tell you! Patience.

Ok - apart from said door this is the current state of affairs at La Rivière:

Atelier/Studio painted and ready to inhabit, decorate, OWN: Check. 

Homeschooling started: Check. 

Kitchen and dining room ceilings painted: Check

Two new kittens: check

Shelves built for all homeschooling folders: still waiting for the wood. Artisan only two weeks late on promise so far. This is probably a blessing as a minimum of sleep has actually come in handy during the GIC (Great Internet Crash).

So finally dear friends, this afternoon, I wanted to write to you about Wales. I duly sat at my desk, rubbing my little hands together in glee at the thought of telling my tale. But it was not to be as to get to Wales I have to take you through Paris, and that takes time. Patience 

This afternoon we had a minor disaster that was revealed to me when I picked up my newly operational telephone on its very first ring for more than a week. Sad news. My poor little Libellule had managed to slam her thumb in the door at the neighbours so we ended up spending some unplanned time at A&E reassuring her that she was neither going to die, nor lose her arm, in spite of the immense pain. Love. And Patience.

Beaker now has a mixture of vertigo and lumbago, Libellule is miserable with a thumb the size of a house and my bags aren't packed... Not entirely optimal circumstances for a serene trip. Patience. 

Like I said, if you find my breath, keep hold of it for me. In the mean time, I think I'll just pack a big case of patience to take on board.

When I return, all I have to do is cook for 60 people and finish organising the GBB (Great Birthday Bash!!). Then all can go back to a normal routine of homeschooling, sport, calligraphy projects, BLOGGING and housework.

I do hope you'll all still be here when I get back so I can finally grab that whisky, wine cuppa and enjoy a good visit.

It really is you who I must thank for your eternal patience!!

Much love to all.

xxx

 

Right under Washington's nose!

A slender acquaintance with the world 
must convince every man 
that actions, not words, 
are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.
George Washington

If you've been reading recently you'll know that I've been on a lucky streak. This lucky streak has been going on for most of my life. Well - that's how I see it anyway. But recently, things have really been picking up! Life has been even more full of surprises than usual... 

 For example, I won my very first giveaway. (OOPS! It was my 2nd - so that means I'm extra lucky. Cheers and applause!!) I knew the parcel was coming ... Ma chère Gigi had forewarned me. What she had brilliantly kept secret was it's exact contents, so  I wasn't prepared for was the beautiful aroma when I opened the mailbox. It seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger (or nose) on it. The day the box arrived, the messmonsters were all jostling each other to get to it first- it's nearly Pokemon's birthday you see... 

'PAS TOUCHE!' said I in very bad French, 'c'est pour moi!!'

To the messies' disgust, I took my time opening the parcel. They just couldn't understand why I didn't rip the paper off and fling it on the floor in wild abandon like they would do. Actually, although I'm  annoyingly precious about conserving wrapping paper, I confess to wantonly throwing myself onto presents  food, art, supplies, food, life, exquisite clothing, brocantes, food... with wild abandon - so 3 pairs of inquisitive little eyes eventually left digusted, in search of more promising adventure. But not before Libellule threw  at me in her usual flippant manner, 'Maman, I smell lavendar!' What can you expect from a child who has Provençal genes? 

So that was it! And right under Washington's nose at that, for the said lavendar was beautifully encased in a small glass bottle and wrapped in a fine beige tissue paper, which was humbly adorned with a tiny red stamp. That tiny red stamp wore nothing but Washington's face! 

I spent a while contemplating that stamp.

Before I unwrapped the parcel...

I then spent a while examining the BOSTON bottle inside from every possible angle, before letting myself discover the rest of the box, which in itself was a visual feast. A vibrant rainbow of blue, yellow and red that took me all the way to the Dominican Republic and the back streets of its cigar industry. From France, to Boston to the République Dominicaine... Two extra countries without leaving my sofa. Travelling in the mind's great for the morale, not to mention the bank account!

 

I could just tell from the whimsical and careful way everything was wrapped, then placed inside the box that Gigi did not become a poet, but was born one. Poet is as Poet does. Poetry is not merely about writing words. Many of us are word mills. Ahem ... (blushing)

A true Poet feels before she thinks.  This shines through, not only in the delicacy and poignancy of Gigi's prose, but in the regular, imaginative musings and snippets she shares of her daily life in her blog The Magpie's Fancy. And for me, (blessed I be) it was oh so present in the thoughtful arrangement of  goodies she added to the exquisite photo that was the initial prize. I have one of these typewriters ...I wish I could type butterflies with it.  

There were many other wee treasures in that vibrant cigar box: a little red notebook, more of the polished sea glass I love so to add to the collection I started with Fearless Nester, hearts nestled safely within the folds of a woven nest, vintage cards, precious beads to adorn the simple string bows... 

...and two of my favourite words: 

DARE 

(TO) FIND

They just ooze challenge and adventure, don't they? 
Conjures up all sorts of fun ideas, like treasure hunts...

Now Mr Washington, I dare to agree and not disagree for once. Should I consider intently this slender acquaintance, I am certain to find that the attachment of friends is both defined by words and sealed through actions...

In other words - you've won a heart!

Merci Gigi, 

Je suis sincèrement touchée.

For more secrets and fun ideas from artists around the world, don't forget to pop over to Seth's Secret Sunday at the Altered Page ... it's up there on my sidebar.

The absence of alternatives ...

...clears the mind marvellously

Henry Kissinger

I have been sitting here staring at this empty page now for nearly half an hour (if you don't count diverting myself by popping off to read your blogs!). It's time to write.  After two weeks of plagued children, night and day,  clear mind or not - I need just five minutes alone with no one wanting anything. Beaker thankfully understood this as soon as he walked in from the look of sheer desperation on my face and quickly retired to his apartments for the evening. So far so good for sending all three to school tomorrow with a clean bill of health. Et moi? Just need a good footing along the forest paths alone to recharge the ol'  batteries and I'll be back to my affable self.

In the mean time, Christmas has arrived at La Rivière. Still, it just doesn't feel like Christmas. Is it because I'm taking it slower this year? Less rushing. More simplicity? Being mindful and calmly going about my Christmas shopping online so I can buy handmade as well as making my own? Is it because the Messies have been poorly? Whywhywhy???

I mean, were you to drop by La Rivière, on first observation you would think the opposite! The TREE finally arrived (photos next Monday for the Vintage Christmas party at Joan's) so we have been gleefully decorating the whole house! The kids pumped up the Christmas carols and I have gone hoarse singing 'Wombling Christmas' (Pokemon's fave),  'Santa Baby'  (Libellule's fave) and 'Silent Night' (Chickpea's fave). Don't worry - no need to call child welfare - I supplied all three with earplugs. Having said that, they were singing louder than I! So what's not right? Lemme get my list out. Now let's see...

1. Christmas Tree with that lovely pine needley smell: Check

(Beaker chooses 2.5m tree in accordance with instructions. Ange wops off 30cm of the wonky trunk that makes said tree dangerously lopsided in pot and takes with it two rungs of bottom branches..  Make that a 2.2m tree! Still - No Souci)

2. Joyful decorating and carol singing: Check.

3. Pokemon has eaten nearly all the chocolates from his advent calendar and it's only day 3: Check!

(Only one advent calendar in the house as I have been planning on making a 'très chouette hyper design' one with big pockets now for at least 3 months but never got it finished in time. MiL felt sorry for youngest so he got the Spiderman special from Carrefour! I agree, it's better than nothing - to his mind at least)

4. 6 Christmas carol CDs installed in car: Check

(No I do NOT dress my kids up as angels - the little devils ;-) were enjoying themselves wearing the decorations I was hanging in the hall! Pokemon letting himself be dressed as an angel was a photo opportunity I couldn't miss...)

Christmas time has always been a magical and joyous time for me. I remember it being magical as a child. I'm sure that mine find it magical... That's IT! No other adult around me - apart from in Blogland, is talking about Christmas! The JOY of Christmas doesn't exist yet in the grown up world I live in here... We are talking about Christmas fêtes for school and the corresponding preparations. We are talking about the drag of 'Christmas shopping.' But more people are excited about their ski holiday in February or the New Year's Eve celebrations than the upcoming Christmas ones...

Well TANT PIS! THIS is the FIRST year that I'm getting Christmas in my own house ever since it's actually mattered and I'm going to make the most of it. It will be simple! Yes! But ever so Merry! Christmas music, which you hear very little of around France has become mandatory at la Rivière!   (Note to self: Google the dates for the British Carols by candle light evening, must be soon.) 

The fresh mistletoe is going up over the front door as from tomorrow so gare à vous anybody who crosses the threshold under my sparkly mistletoey lights... ;-) Who's next?

The mulled wine is going on as soon as I find a decent recipe on the internet, or from any of you who would be kind enough to let me benefit from your excellent experiences - Lulu are you there??? (Note to self: Google mulled wine recipe ...)

Tonight at the dinner table Libellule who's 8, mentioned that we must leave some hay and a carrot for the reindeer as well as chocolate bikkies for Père Noël. Pokemon (nearly 6) agreed! Chickpea (10) looked at me with big round eyes, alarmed! Chickpea knows about Santa... "How in Rudolph's name are you going to pull that one off Mum???" I could read in her eyes.  Bit by bit I'm going to let her in the really fun secrets about 'making' Christmas for littlest ones. A bit like the time she helped me write a note in tiny writing FROM the tooth fairy to Libellule when I forgot to place 'the pressie' under her pillow in exchange for the wee tooth...

Hey! I already spent a happy hour on my roof a few weeks ago collecting moss (no rolling stones up there) for my christmas display and crêche so it could be fun climbing back up to leave a whole pile of hay there far enough away from the chimney for it to be safe... Then again - that may be taking Christmas decorating too far. And I had promised myself to keep it simple this year! That is, until the kids pounced upen the boxes of decorations. I even purposefully downscaled my wreath!

Quite clearly, Mr Kissinger, I obviously have no alternative but to sow the Christmas spirit around the French countryside!  Now, if it was just warm enough to leave the car windows down so I could bring some festive music to these sleepy country towns...

Rose hip hip hooray!!!

Sweet Libellule Mobile

Aujourd'hui ma Libellule fête ses 8 ans.
Party time donc avec 11 copines et sa grande soeur, dont toutes giggle non stop.

J'avoue que j'aime les bonbons autant qu'elles (moi grande enfant!).

J'ai essayé de faire les meringues comme Manon21 ...

mais j'ai fini par faire les mini pavlovas roses.

Parce que, you can take the girl out of NZ but you can't take NZ out of the Girl!

(NB Waiting for comments from the Aussies on this one ;-)

Nous nous sommes promenées joyeusement dans la boue.
J'ADORE CA!

(désolée les mamans - lessive ce soir!)

Nous avons traversé le petit pont Apy

qui nous sépare des kiwis

 (ouvert à la cueillette pour celles qui sont intéressées)

sous une douce pluie fine (j'aime PÔ le mot crachin)

pour aller voir les beaux chevaux de Fleyres 

(entendre des cris de joie de treize choupinettes passionnées de chevaux!)

Et de retour à la maison pour ... LES CADEAUX!

Ooh la la - bien trop nombreux pour les prendre en photo!

Puis un atelier 'création de MObiLe'
"C'est quoi un MOBILE, Ange?"

"Mince - ce n'est pas le même mot en Français?

Et bien un mobile, c'est ça...

plus ça

puis finalement - ça!

C'est ce que je fais avec les jouets cassés que je trouve encore trop jolis pour jeter..."

"On peut faire pareil?" demandaient-elles.

"Oui les filles - ramassez bien les jouets cassés, tubes de peinture, et petits objets divers éparpillés au sol dans vos chambres et vous aussi,

vous ferez un super 'mobile!' "
N'en parlons pas de l'aide que ça apportera à Maman... chut...

A 18h30 : 13 petites filles ravies (MERCI!)

A 20h30 : mes 3 messmonsters lavés, nourris et endormis ... sans cris!
Et une maman totalement épanouie, sinon un peu épuisie!
(pardonnez la fantaisie)

Bonne nuit!