somewhere over the rainbow

i am sending you a smile 

before

i share a  RETIREMENT story that should be 

 rolling along without a hitch

here it goes:

a  good friend of ours here in France, Armand,

was beginning the restoration of a lovely simple

village 

house

THEN just  days after New Years 

he fell ILL

& his life and his family's life

CHANGED FOREVER

HE developed 

pneumococcal  purpura fulminans

 resulting 

in

 4 amputations

he lost 

both hands above the wrist 

&

both lower legs 

(NB: i could not find an image to match this devastating quadruple amputation)

fortunately this is 

not 

COMMON

 what is common HOWEVER,

 is the way
the BLOG community

rallies around people in
NEED

like
Armand
WHO IS COPING
WITH
 A LOSS
UNIMAGINABLE

HE
 used to

love to climb high  among the tree tops to prune the branches

to swim, to garden

He  was FOCUSED on his daughter and wife of many years
He was FOCUSED  renovating this old house
during his retirement years

HENCE
the

« Solidarité pour Armand » 
campaign
is attempting to
raise
monies  and awareness
 via a nonprofit
 for Armand
and his family


who need
a home
In a matter of speaking, a force of nature took his home away , like for Dorethy, in The Wizard of Oz

we are hoping the Magic and Goodness 

will help him 

get Home again

if you would like to
help
the efforts
please

contact
me
by leaving a comment!

merci

merci
my blog
friends


merci Anita  of Castle, Crowns & Cottages for contacting me about this story!

Auntie Em and Doctor knows best?

you peer out the window

from your feather filled bed

wondering

 if you can reach 

all your goals

Prince Charming is still fast asleep,

and well, you like the idea of dealing on your own

 so the white horse is awaitng 

to trot you away

 from the 

 the lumpy, bumpy

mattress 

of life 

there is

the smell of the sea close by

and 

those in your dreams

who told 

too many 

lies

have now very  very long noses

but, you ,.....in  fine fairy tale

fashion

click

your heels 

and find your way 

home

oooola

don't you wish we could click our heels???

a soak

so you begin with a bath 

hot , long bath with that good book you have been longing to read,

music is

in the back ground

home alone

The house has been tidied by the maid, 

(yeah , it is ok  to dream)

The morning sun is 

here

highlighting the beauty all around

the book lingers on your mind 

as the day stretches out in front of you

so you stop

and 

think 

what a gift it is

to breath , to believe in miracles

and  then

then you  GO  FEED THE CHICKENS!

(nope bet you  did not see that one coming did you)

have a great day!

bonjour

du

midi

one enchanted evening....

 one enchanted evening, ok it is still daylight

   but, the anticipation is killing you

you are in your fineries

midnight blues

you have rehearsed 

you can leave the comfort of the 

nest

to embark on an evening of sharing!

enjoy all the beauty around you.

Bold antiques in space and on hand!

as clear as day

as large as life

like a grand tableau

gracing the hall of an 

airy home

like an antique

ring 

full of the secrets

of lovers

each full of adventures to share ....

& challenges to climb

feeling light as a feather

in your Hermes scarf

Ready to encounter

 the good ,the bad , and the prickly 

that life has 

to offer.

yes, we have these little hérissons

in our yard

ooola 

Ups & Downs of Sweet Treats

whether French side or State side

(these fabulous graphics are from: Vahram Muratyan'

 "Paris Versus New York" [Penguin, $20.00])

at a party or alone

whether the beverage of choice is

à la Française ou à la Américaine 

whether dreaming on the sofa

or prancing about in 

in your 

favorite fantasie

fret NOT 

that you are no longer

 size ZERO

slinking about 

in the 

shadows

Rather 

HOOT 

& 

HOLLER

at the surprise of a

new DAY

Have a super day!

winter prescription:mellow yellow cocooning

Eventhough the skies in the south of France are still bright 

it it well known that this is cocooning season

full of rest, good strong coffees, teas 

lots of reading

luminous yellows 

taunt the cold winds

time to rest , 

to

risk 

chance

dream

create

open up 

&

drink it in 

l i f e  g i v i n g

do you not agree?

meilleur voeux 2012

                         
                                   May the Light of the New Year bring good health ,love and good fortune

to all

May the Traditions both old and new

offer us connections and understanding

in any weather

May we flush away the negatives ,the harsh judgements and prejudices 

we are all one

all connected

all energy

love

anticipation

Et voila - the real reason for Christmas--

note bien: that these folks portrayed  in this rendition of the famous french song : IL EST Né le DEVINE ENFANT
appear to be  from the middle east -

wonderful reasons to open our hearts to all !





and yes ,the stairs are in -- stay tuned

strong women -artful dancing and change

Amazing women of the blogosphere 

amazing women friends

and family 

have on their shoulders 

the holidays

the joy making 

from their hearts

their history

they creat great tapestries 

of 

celebrations

of

traditions

storng in body and mind

like the waters of birth 

the oceans of imagination

a film that captures this vision 

of women

their strength 

love 

and 

creativity 

for their families

and 

communities

see it sooooon 

La Source des femmes

Cela se passe de nos jours dans un petit village, quelque part entre l'Afrique du Nord et le Moyen-Orient. Les femmes vont chercher l'eau à la source, en haut de la montagne, sous un soleil...