Are You a Groupie?

Tom thinks that when he moves to France that no groups will find him.

Ha!

Bonsai, “Don’t Mall Williston”, Choir, Habitat, the town council, Save the Steeple, Save the Horticulture Farm. Not sure that I can remember all the good causes and frantic needs he’s participated in. For someone that thinks he doesn’t like people he has had a lot to offer and talents to share. They will find him in France no matter his intentions to hide from humanity. And as we learned from our lovely experiences in Williston, what better way to get to know our community, our friends and neighbors.

In the meantime I will continue to participate in any happy group that comes along. We’re going to be in France. Let’s join in!!

Once he said the next time we move to a new country we’re not learning the language……. too late for that.  And I’m not moving to Siberia.

no guilt...

From Perfume to My Antonia I have had such grand adventures with The No Guilt Book Club.

No guilt for sitting on the sofa and being served like a queen, no guilt that husbands have been left at home to help the children get their homework done. Or worse yet, that the entire household of the hostess has been banished to entertain themselves for the evening so that the girls can meet in peace. Peace among wine indulging women being a relative thing.

The husbands and families are shooed away, because we don’t want to reveal our shameless lack of attention to guilt. There is no guilt for a little extra wine tonight. No guilt that the noise level of our chatter is about to raise the roof.  And, to those who may not have actually read the book, no guilt from the righteous few that just might have. There is no guilt for not finding elegant words to describe why you liked or disliked the book.  And mostly no guilt for the fact that with such great cooks in this group we eat way too much tonight.

We could be called the Really Great Cooks Group. But that would cut out the experiences gained through books. Where the authors transport us emotionally, physically or historically. We may not talk about them much during the evening, but these books are a shared world that we journey through.

Maybe in the next year or two we’ll write our own adventure story. We’ll call it No Guilt in France.   (Assuring our abandoned families that the guilt will arise from any especially untoward behavior.)

Maybe others of you want to join in on that one. Keep tuned in for opportunities to be had in the small village of Bourdeilles.  I plan to be organizing week-long adventures in our region of France for women’s groups (whether well-read or not). 

Therapy at its best.

The No Guilt Book Club

If You've Got It Flaunt It

If you’ve got it flaunt it. That is a statement Tom said to me many years ago. I don’t remember the exact context, but let’s just say that it’s not my style to flaunt.

Yet once a year I bask in flaunting. Flaunting the peonies that come in waves from our garden. I luxuriate in the early morning collection of peonies. Also the collecting of other flowers or greens ripe for mixing into lush bouquets. It’s the one time a year when I can understand Tom’s love of getting up early, doing his work while the world is quiet and fresh. The cool damp air gives me time to handle the flowers without the need for water. They sit out on the porch while I wander around looking for more filler, something spiky, just two more stems of blue or chartreuse. Just thinking the word chartreuse as I wander around makes me happy.

All this and the best part is yet to come. Imagine the great sense of satisfaction to be had as I go around the neighborhood delivering these grand bouquets.

I’ll never bake cookies, and rarely remember the actual date of their birthdays, but once a year I get to delight my neighbors and friends as I indulge myself in flaunting The Great Abundance.  This is one of the sweetest rewards born of our years of work in this amazing garden.

PS  If you are a peony, chances are that you are raised in either the American Midwest or in France. (This must be peony’s attraction to Tom). We already know of two amazing peony farms in France. This fall we will begin the passionate pursuit of replacing our collection. Next fall we will head over to the holy grail of Rivoire Peonies. If you are a French peony chances are you were created here. Chasing peonies and traveling in France. Now there is something to look forward to!

Glorious Peony Days

I am sitting down to write about the peonies and suddenly find myself wordless. At first I panic that I am afraid to talk about something that I am so involved with. Reluctant to explore myself. Then I realize that indeed I am reluctant to find words. There is no need for them. What a waste of energy when I can be out there with them. 

Enjoy!