Snaps

Non-Photos:

Oh the times one Longs to have a secret camera in hand, able to snap moments that will be embedded forever in one’s visual memory, but which will ever evade apt verbal description…

Monsieur and Madame Drovet (M and Mme ‘Pappy’) have just left, having come for an early evening visit. Although we were told that Mme never leaves the house, I suppose our invites and a peaked curiosity, combined with feeling ok, helped her to be up for it: Pappy came by two nights ago, asking if he could bring her around for a visit some time – and, as he blithely pointed out, it was much better to do so at a time when Greg was around, as ‘Madame Canadienne’ doesn’t speak enough French yet for easy flow of conversation! (though…Greg would be the first to point out…there are plenty of comic and blank moments none the less!)
So it was arranged that they would come at seven tonight. But half way through the day I contacted Greg, suggesting that he come home in time to go pick Mme up – for she walks less than Pappy does, and doesn’t bike. (as said earlier -- she rarely ever goes outside her front door) At least, we could roll down my wheelchair...we weren’t sure how else they would get here. So Greg came home a bit early to be able to pick them up. But minutes after he had left for their house in the car, he rolled back in – followed by a large tractor. Pappy was driving the tractor.

Of course – a logical means of transport (they don’t have a car)…but I didn’t see Mme in the cab. And as the tractor turned past me, I realized why. There she was, 82 years old, smiling in her shawl and dress, hands clinging to a huge bouquet of lilacs, legs swinging over the edge….of the tractor bucket! Oh how I wish you could see how lovely and wonderful that picture was! Humorous too, yes. But something more as well. Wonderful and lovely is as best as I can do at the moment.
Do we like living in the countryside in France? Yes, very much.
It suits us.
(and the house smells wonderfully of lilacs)



Photos:

Madame admitted that the ride was not the most comfortable – she’s done it for over an hour in the past (!), but her body is not as spry these days. So Greg insisted on driving her home, and putting Andy in the bucket instead (when she attempted to demur, Greg offered the hatch of the car with the back open, if that made her feel less indulgent!). I tried to sneak a long-distance photo of Andy enthroned, as a ‘second best.’ Greg’ll put it up soon, along with some updated garden shots. Each week the garden undergoes total transformation. Everything is in leaf now – the walnuts, which are the last to green, are just beginning to fill in. And even Pappy was afraid that all the fig trees in the neighbourhood had not survived the cold of this winter – but just today I noticed leaves on all the top branches. Sadly the lovely Bay tree did not make it – the trunk splitting top to bottom…probably the same night our water pipes froze. We’ll also put up some photos of Greg, Andy and Wolfgang installing the rain-buckets – we plan to water things completely by rainwater and well-water this summer. Make use of that massive barn roof SomeHow. (Hmmm – also gotta get a photo of our Dauphinoise waterspout, on the pump Greg and Loren reinstalled.)

kj