While you are probably glued to the Comey testimony, I’ve been trying to film butterflies. Its tough. Maybe the hardest thing I’ve done on this trip. Taking photos is shitty too. The fuckers don’t sit still. I have NEVER seen so many butterflies of so many varieties. Sadly, however, they don’t sit still. Not for a minute. Kind of like me.
Then there are the electric blue dragon flies that hang around the river. Massives of them. That I was able to video. But there’s nothing like the real thing (to quote one of my fav Motown hits).
Jim and I have been in a fierce competition of bow and arrows. Rubber arrows. I could easily get addicted. I’m really glad I never tried heroin. I’m just the type to go down the toilet with it.
Have I mentioned the melon or the strawberries. It must be something in the soil because neither of us particularly like those particular fruits whereas here we simply can’t get enough.
We returned to Auerterre du Sonne today because we had to see it in the sunshine. This week has been pretty gray, cool and windy. Today was perfection. We walked back up the hill so we could see incredible vistas, found yet another Church from Roman times (must have been one church Catholic back in the day).
I hear Jim cheering the background. He must’ve hit a bulls-eye and here I am bull-shitting.
So this has been a day of DEEP appreciation, starting with the fact that I found my mother’s ring which I was convinced I lost. Had I not decided to scrounge through three days of garbage it would sitting inside that pristine garbage can in a black bag on the road. I see it as an omen. For what I have no idea, since I don’t believe in such things, but hell, I’m in a Catholic country. That’s particularly puzzling concept since the French present themselves as a secular society. The French are nothing if not complicated.
When I made a small purchase in Auterre-sur-Dronne today, the lovely Frenchman said, in perfect English that he loved my anti-Trump button. As I was leaving he also through in that it was wise of me to wear it. The man couldn’t have been nicer so I found it particularly interesting that he made that comment. I do think the button, particularly after Paris, has been the right thing. And it matches everything in your wardrobe!
In the background I keep hearing the sound texts coming in from the BBC with such rapidity that I’m wondering if Trump went nuclear, literally. But I chose to ignore them, absorbed as I am in moi.
I know this sounds kind of nuts, but I’ve never seen the dogs so happy. Kukla, who is now 12 years old (84 in dogs years), runs around in circles with such rapidity, that he leans to one side, like he’s a sailboat. It is utterly hysterical. Dogs, even puny ones, like grass, that’s for sure.
Jim bought an International NYT and The Guardian (“our” paper of record). I decided I’d avoid the news but do the NYT crossword puzzle. My mind had gone to utter mush. I couldn’t think of any words! Even simple or obvious words weren’t simple or obvious. I know they reside somewhere in my gray matter, but hell if I can reach them.
With every passing day I feel more and more blessed. If I can only hold onto this when I return to real life, I’d be in such good shape! Not physically obviously, I’d be a pig. But mentally, I’d be so together!! For me.
As for the Comey testimony and everything regarding Trump, my belief is NOTHING is going to change. The Republicans are beyond morally bankrupt. They’re willing put up with ANYTHING including allowing the country to be the laughing stock of the entire world.
Keeping my fingers crossed the UK where polls close shortly, doesn’t fall in line behind the US and the neo-facists.
Thought I’d throw in a few great short film clips to get a sense of the grounds. One if approaching the house; the other the spectacular dragonflies by the river that runs through the house; and the last of Tootsie meets her first butterfly. Not necessarily in that order. It took me long enough to figure out how to edit and download them!!!
