Farewell OSKAR

Our beloved Oskar,  my dearest friend, the most wonderful companion,
a beautiful and pleasant "member" of the family for 13 years, 
has suddenly decided to leave this world 2 days ago, February 4, 2019.

*May 2006 - 06 February 2019

Whitout any warning, no sign of any illness - simply out of the blue,
 it looked like his heart has suddenly stopped.

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“When I play with my cat, 

how do I know that she is not playing with me rather than I with her?

― Michel de Montaigne

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When tomorrow starts without you,
And I am not there to see,
If the sun should rise, cannot find your eyes
All filled with joy and love for me;
I wish so much I wouldn’t cry.

While thinking of the many things,We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you will miss me too;

A cat owner knows what's the feeling like when he lose a beloved cat. 
The memories of this gentle being will always remain in the heart. 
The cat is not only a pet but also a intimate company. 
It is not easy to go through the loss of a cat that has been so dear.

When tomorrow starts without you,
And I am not there to see,
If the sun should rise, cannot find your eyes
All filled with joy and love for me;
I wish so much I wouldn’t cry

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you were thinking of me,
I know you've missed me too.
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But now La Pouyette without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I’d always thought,
I didn’t want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It almost seemed impossible

 That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I’d say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

 

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

So now you start without me
Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I’m right here, in your heart.

Watching the sunsets...... 

...Oskar's favorite spots.

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Goodbyes should be not for ever, they should be not the end.

They simply mean I'll miss you until we meet again.

xoxok

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Welcome to 2016

For the upcoming year 
I wish all my readers only the very best.

 What does 2016 hold for us? 

 What will the upcoming year bring?

 "The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you,
whose presence calls forth your best."
Epictetus 
Greek sage and Stoic philosopher, AD c. 55-135

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No matter what surprises fate may have in store for us, 
we definitely have an influence upon our health and our behaviour,
having enough sleep - ha-ha.

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Even if already seven days of the new year are over, 
"we" wish a healthy and successful 2016 to all of you !

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Oh Yes! - Spring is around the corner....

.....finally....

blue sky, bright sun!!!

...my   
Rose de Noël  (Christmas rose - Hellebore) 

in second flower

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Oskar is happy again.... 
sniffing around.....



Helleborus foetidus
started flowering in January  here   and  keeps flowering....
...and flowering...
 such a grateful "species"!

And.....


...do we hear the sound....????

That distinctive and unmistakeable sound?

The calls from a large flock of cranes
signal undeceptively the transition into:

Spring!





The whole air is filled with that wonderful sound echoing from the valleys!

 The migration of cranes from southern warmer climates has started,



  passing over La Pouyette!
Like every year - since I can think back!










In huge flocks  les Grus Grus  fly over the countries
 heading towards North-East to their breading grounds,


 


and group themselves into V-shaped formations.





Why do they fly in a V ?

Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation 
that cranes and wild geese use when migrating serves two important purposes: 
First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, 
resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. 
The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. 
In this way, the birds can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest.
The second benefit to the V-formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group.
  Flying in formation may assist with the communication and coordination within the group.
Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.




Chaos???....complete disorder???



No...No...
just resting a bit on the thermal above La Pouyette,
...having discussion about the next leadership...
rebuilding the formation....
 


...and off they go!

 The typical trumpet-like calls of the cranes which go all over our countryside,
their impressive V flights which glide over Men's heads…

These moments remain magic! 
And rhythm my Spring activity.

The long trip of migratory birds 
is surely one of the most fascinating spectacle that Nature can offer.

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Oh Yes!
Spring is certainly around the corner....

...and we're so pleased to watch a lovely sunset - yet again!

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My next post will be:

 

Old Linen - Monograms

 

from A...

 

 ...to Z

A bientôt....

 

info:

Common Crane - Grus Grus:  here

and   here

My favorite Brocante - Finds....

"I prefer the company of peasants because

 they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly"

Michel de Montaigne

A few finds at my favorite Brocante in Rouzan

a few weeks ago:

"L'été remplit sa grange, affaisse ses greniers;

L'autone d'un doux poids fait gémir ses paniers;

Et les derniers soleils, sur les côtes vineuse,

Achévenent de mûrir les grappes paresseuses."

Citation de l'abbé Jacques Delille

It's basket time....

'Presentoire de lavandre'  - Provence  -  Lavender basket

'Van'  -  Corn wing, a shallow oval basket,

 from Val d'Aoste et Savoie, France

in the size of 95 cm by 75 cm

"Le grain, une fois battu était amassé dans le van,

seconé à l'aide des deux poignées.

La balle trés légère était alors emportée par le vent."

I've never seen a basket like this one

and had to have it!

small collection of fishing-net floats

old vegetable baskets

rare in this large size and with four handles

Oyster baskets from Ile d'Oleron

a few old chopping boards

Confit pot and water- or wine jar, 19th Century

love the chipped glaze which gives an interesting texture

19th century unpolished marble morter...

...with a wooden pestle

large milk-creme-water jar, also 19th century

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And I was so lucky to find...

the most beautiful  chanvre  -  linen hemp!

  

in amazingly good condition and wonderful natural colors...

creme white, oat meal and beige.....

real 19th Century farmers linen!

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'Nappes de vendange'

tablecloths for the 'wine tasting ceremony' after the grape harvest

more chanvre

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Pair of 19th Century cast iron Medici urns with remains of original paint

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On my way back home from the Brocante in Rouzan...

...as announced...

a quick visit to the village and Château of

 Michel de Montaigne

The Château de Montaigne is a castle situated on the borders of Périgord and Bordelais,

near Bergerac and Saint-Emilion in the Dordogne.

This fortified castle dates to the 14th century

and was the family residence of the Renaissance-philosopher

and thinker Michel de Montaigne.

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The small village Montaigne with the nearby Château,

 just 10 km east of St. Emilion

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Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

February 28, 1533 - September 13, 1592

Michel de Montaigne 

was one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance,

known for popularising the essay as a literary genre

and is popularly thought of as the father of Modern Skepticism.

He became famous for his effortless ability to merge serious intellectual speculations

with casual anecdotes and autobiography

and his massive volume   Essays   

contains to this day, some of the most widely influential essays ever written.

Built in the heart of a majestic park,

whose layout was designed by the philosopher himself,

the residence was acquired in 1477 by the great-grandfather of Michel de Montaigne,

Ramon Eyquem, a Bordeaux trader,

who thus acquired the hereditary title

of Seigneur de Montaigne

read more    here

Michel de Montaigne,

 most famously known for his skeptical remark

'Que sais-je?'   -   What do I know?

You can read The Complete Essays

here

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"When I play with my cat,

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...who knows if I am not a pastime to her more than she is to me?"

Michel de Montaigne

Bon Dimanche...

et

Bonne Semaine a tous!