Ho Hum

Okay, I have been here for two weeks now and feel like I am settled in.  The worst of the jet lag is behind me, I have my knives--hallelujah--and I have pretty much gotten the kitchen stocked and equipped.  I have been doing nothing but some writing and tending to household chores these past few days: marketing, making pea soup, laundry, unpacking a couple of boxes, straightening cupboards and organizing the "pantry."  No more or no less than the things everyone does in daily life.  No matter how much one "lives the dream," the dishes still need to be washed and the toilet bowl needs a weekly scrubbing.

Compare to the price of Brie in Brookings.  And is it ever DELICIOUS!

I have also been doing a lot of thinking.  Every time I make a purchase, even though it's something I feel like I need, usually for the kitchen, I worry that I am back on the path of accumulation.  After all the agony of dismantling my life and making my load on the planet so much lighter, I worry that every "thing" I buy is a step in the wrong direction.  Hopefully the pendulum will swing back to the middle. 

I may take the train over to Albi tomorrow; there's an antiques show that I would like to attend.  And then tomorrow night, there is free Jazz on the Canal.  It's a kick-off event to a work party I plan to attend on Sunday, to clean the banks of the Canal du Midi.  What a great idea--to have a party to celebrate upcoming work!  

This week's bouquet--happy happy sunflowers

I believe less and less in coincidences as I get older.  I had planned to make one or both of two things my "project" once I got here.  One is the train station and the other is the Canal.  And there in the paper was the article about the work party.  So, when asked, I can just tell people that I came halfway around the world to pick up trash!

View of my dining room