Circles within Circles!

The time finally came to say our goodbyes to our dear friend who was an excellent guide and ambassador for her city and the surrounding area.

On our final evening after another full day of the sights and sounds in New Orleans, we joined Laury at her home for some delicitable nibbles, a good bottle of wine and an evening of tintalating conversation.

                            

                        

We met some interesting people both real and not so real.

The butcher, the baker but not the candlestick maker ... the city is adorned with masterful bronze sculptures.

                             

And a new circle of friends, circles within circles which leads to the story of how we met Laury!

Of course, there is a "French Connection"!

         

In 2012 shortly (within a month or so) after our return from our first ever long stay of three months in Gourdon, France which was a truly amazing experience (magnifique!); we were already starting to plan our next adventure.

While searching the rental websites, we found a cute stone cottage named "Beaucaillou" in the small village of Dégagnac located only 12 kilometres from the town of Gourdon.

Late July 2012 we sent an enquiry to the owner regarding the property's availability for an extended stay of three months in 2013.

The pictures, description and details on the website showcased a lovely property and it was located in the Lot Valley, one our favourite areas in France.

As we did not know much about the owner and property, etc. ... we "googled" the cottage and village name "Beaucaillou Dégagnac".

Our search results found a blog post that referenced "Beaucaillou" translation "Beautiful Pebble".

The post was titled "A "Beautiful Pebble" in Dégagnac" in a blog named "Soar-Dream-France".

Reading this post we got our first glimpse of the owner "Clare"  through a photo along with some history of her and the writer's friendship.

The writer being none other than "Laury".

Msr. Honey enjoyed reading the blog about Laury's French life and her other happenings. 

He followed it regularly and it became part of his morning ritual along with reading the daily newspaper.

Fast forward, we did rent Beaucaillou for the three months of April, May and June 2013 and actually met the owner ... and via email she introduced us to our "Belgian Connection" friends ...Madame M. and Msr. Guy ... another circle within a circle.                 

During our return trip in 2014, Clare invited us all for dinner at Beaucaillou.  

Over the course of the evening, Msr. Honey asked Clare "How is your friend who writes the blog?"

Clare responded "She's coming to visit next week."

The stars collided and the rest is history ... we finally met "Laury" in person at an alfresco dinner hosted by the Belgian Connection.

I have to tell you Msr. Honey expected to see Laury dressed in her "overalls"* but that was not the case that evening ... But she did not disappoint him when we arrived at her place on our first day in New Orleans. (*Only those that know Laury will understand this).

A big "Merci beaucoup!" Laury for sharing your time, friends, knowledge and the wonderful places in your "town" of New Orleans!

It is a small world after all!

"Digging in" Degagnac.

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden"... Ruth Stout

The sunshine and warmer temperatures created a real buzz at the markets and garden stores this past weekend.

Everyone was out Saturday buying plants, seeds, bags of potting soil and planters.

We have made several purchases on behalf of our landlady over the past week.

Our first buy was twenty-four lavender plants in six- inch pots for some foundation plantings and a flat of ten Garnet coloured ivy geraniums to use in some clay pots.

We found these plants quite by accident one day when went for drive in a different direction at a large Supermarket in Fumel.

Before our market shopping Saturday, we visited the farm store in Gourdon (similar to TSC stores - Tractor Supply Company in Canada) to purchase garden edging, however, we did not find any of the plastic variety.
We found six healthy Hollyhock plants (in French "Rose Trémière Simple / Ficifolia") that are drought resistant which make them the perfect easy care plant for the hot French summers.

At the Gourdon Market, we were searching for Hostas.
We visited a market stall we were familiar with from last year, and we spotted several varieties of Hostas.
As we needed a large number of plants, I asked the proprietor what the price would be if we bought twenty plants.
We agreed upon a price and "Cathy" said as she did not have enough plants with her, she would bring them to next Saturday's Market (Talk about service).

As we were leaving her stall we noticed that there was a "Fête le printemps"... literal translation "Spring Festival" at the Greenhouses the next day.
What could be better, we now had an outing planned for Sunday.

One more stop at another store for edging with success, and a wander through the colourful display of planters.

Sunday morning was a beautiful day for a country drive to ....

"Le Jardin de Cathy"
Boulegan. 46340 Salviac
Tel. 05.65.41.18.51 Port. 06.61.33.92.79

www.le-jardin-de-cathy.com

We wandered the greenhouses, received helpful information and found some additional plants suitable for "Beaucaillou's gardens".

Once we've done the "digging in" and the plants have had some nurturing and a chance to grow we hope they will look like our Hostas and lavender that are planted in our garden in Canada.

Garden gloves and shovels are you ready?

Surprise, Surprise!!

After a long day and night of travel  by car from home to Toronto, then  by  a  Boeing 777 to  Paris, an Airbus 320 from Paris to Toulouse ... we finally disembarked at Toulouse Airport and as we exited the automatic doors at the arrival area, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by our landlady.
She was waiting for her return flight to her other home in San Diego and there she would meet her new grandchildren.

Our final leg of travel from the Toulouse Airport to Degagnac was via our  rented Volkswagen  "Polo".
When we arrived at our home away from home for the next three months " Beaucaillou " ( name of the cottage), we were again surprised when we discovered a bottle of local red wine, a bar of artisan chocolate made of milk chocolate, caramel and sea salt along with a warm welcome letter from our landlady.

Stay tuned!