De Toulouse à Caridan
Monday we left my parents’ house to travel to Toulouse. It is always good to travel on weekdays in the summer in France because the weekends are notorious for their bad traffic.
Monday afternoon and Tuesday we spent time in Toulouse visiting friends. It has been two years since we last saw these sisters and brothers and the distance makes the time we get to spend together precious. So in the last couple of days we took full advantage of a rare chance to enjoy each other’s company. Toulouse, La Ville Rose, is still so fun and beautiful to me. I love visiting here. We stayed in a hotel in town which made it easy to walk everywhere.
Full of love and excitement we were ready on Wednesday to leave for Caridan, near Marciac in the Gers. The country of foie gras, armagnac, croustade and more. We have been visiting Domi here every time we come to France, it is like a second home for me and a home to Brian. Patrick, Domi’s husband died about seven years ago and we miss him dearly. Brian and Patrick had a powerful friendship.
The house reminds me of my parents’ house. Both houses are old farm houses remodeled by urban folks who fled the city. My dad is a carpenter by trade and Patrick was a framer by trade. He built homes with traditional methods using gigantic oak beams with wooden dowels instead of nails. No metal involved. Wood, stone and sometimes metal have always been my favorite building materials. I feel so good in between these stone walls, with wood over my head, concrete floors with rugs in the winter and large windows everywhere.
We always meet up with amazing people in this house of Caridan. This year Zora is with us and that is a bonus. She always has prefered to stay at my parents’ house in the past and this year she is tagging along with us. Brian plays guitar, I knit or sew, Zora reads, we play Scrabble, Tarot, carry on long conversations, philosophize and eat delicious meals together.
This trip is replenishing my well and I am feeling all inspired to come home and let my hands make things. letting the energy flow from my heart to my head down to my hands…