Eight Belles

It's not often that a sports story brings tears to my eyes, but yesterday's news report from the Kentucky Derby did just that. Big Brown was the winner; Eight Belles, the only filly in the race, crossed the finish line in second place, and then collapsed. She had broken both forelegs and had to be euthanized on the track. A sad, sad end to a beautiful horse. Her jockey reported that she began 'to gallop funny' before she went down, leading him to speculate that she had already sustained the fractures sometime during the race.

What makes this story even sadder? Reports that acknowledge the fraility of thoroughbreds due to interbreeding within the few highly successful bloodlines. And also reports that running on traditional dirt tracks like the one at Churchill Downs is very hard on young horses. So hard, in fact, that the state of California has outlawed them. Tracks there must have artificial surfaces.

Perhaps Barbaro's injury two years ago wasn't such an anomaly after all?

Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

The young woman at the harpsichord was Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, one of a small group of female French composers of her era. Elisabeth was a child prodigy who made her first appearance at the court of Louis IV at the age of five. She lived in the entourage of Madame de Montespan until her marriage to the court clerk, Anton La Rue. This marriage ended in divorce; she subsequently married an organist, Marin de La Guerre. She continued to compose and perform her music until her death in 1729.

If you guessed that I learned about Madame de La Guerre during one of my trips to Paris, you would be wrong! I actually first heard of her last week at a dinner party that I attended as Edith's guest. The small group are all members of St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, and these potlucks are a get-acquainted activity sponsored by the church. I had a perfectly delightful evening. Three of the group were university professors, one woman was an Episcopal priest, another, a psychologist. The conversation was lively...mostly about politics and religion. (I thought those were two subjects you didn't talk about??) True to Boulder's reputation, all of us were liberal Democrats and we debated why we backed either Hillary or Barrack. It was great fun!

My introduction to Madame de La Guerre, however, came from another dinner guest...Anna, who among other things is a professional musician. She plays the viola de gamba and is putting together a concert for later this year that will feature the music of Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre. Click here to enjoy a taste of Elisabeth's music direct from the court of Louis IV.

A Trip Back in Time

The 12-mile carriage trip from my home in Paris left me dusty, tired and irritable. As the horses clattered over the cobblestones into the entrance of the Chateau de Versailles, I muttered to myself that I didn't care if the King did request our presence at his grand soiree..."I need a bath, a glass of wine and a nap!"

A few hours later, I was refreshed. Madame, the Queen, sent her own ladies-in-waiting to draw my bath, and her servants brought me delicacies from the royal kitchen. I dressed and readied myself for the evening's entertainment. I couldn't help but feel the excitement that only comes when I visit the court of Louis.

Walking into the Grand Salon through the wonderful Galeries des le Glaces, I caught my reflection in one of the myriad of mirrors. "I look so beautiful," I thought. Hundreds of candles flickered and reflected in the mirrors; it felt magical. The other guests joined the promenade into the Salon. I saw many old friends as well as a few young men that were new to our group. Noblemen, to be sure. Handsome, eligible...or even if not eligible, well....that was their wives' problem, not mine!

As I entered the Grand Salon, I saw my friend, Marie, and joined the circle of young people chatting about the King's losses at the gaming table. We laughed and drank excellent wine while the servants gathered chairs around the harpsichord. A bell chimed, signalling the start of the evening's entertainment. Rustling silks and fluttering fans took the place of lively conversation. I smoothed my elegant rose silk skirt and quickly glanced down. My decolletage was perfect...blush pink, firm and swelling. My breasts glowed with a film of dewy moisture. I looked up, snapped open my fan, and made eye contact with the most beautiful blue male eyes....

A young woman entered from a side door and took her place at the harpischord. The crowd quieted and she began to play...

(click on the bar at the top of the page and download the file to play the music)

...come back tomorrow to learn who this musician is and why I've written about her.

Jamestown, Colorado

I spent the first three days of my time away at a customer conference put on by our aircraft vendor, Air Methods. They held it in the very nice Westin Tabor Center in downtown Denver and spared no expense wining and dining us. It's always nice to be treated well, but my favorite part of the trip was the final four days.

I spent Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday visiting my friend, Edith, who was house-sitting in the tiny town of Jamestown. Located about 20 minutes up the mountain outside of north Boulder, it's just a cute little place. We stayed in the lovely red house, ate dinner one night at the Merc, and spent our mornings walking Sonny, the house Golden Retriever.

The best part of the house was actually James Creek that formed the border of the backyard. I slept with my bedroom window open and listened to it rushing over the rocks on its way down the mountain to Boulder. It sounded so refreshing!

I managed to squeeze in visits with several friends as well as a trip to my favorite place in Boulder, the Boulder Bookstore. If you're ever in Boulder, it's a stop you must make. Support for independent, locally owned bookstores is so important. This bookstore doesn't disappoint either. It has a huge children's section, many shelves devoted to local interest books, and is attached to a great little coffee shop. Check it out!

On Vacation

Red Bell Farm will be on vacation from April 21st thru April 27th.

19 April 2007

A year ago today I was in the midst of a lovely sojourn in the south of France. The weather was warm and clear, very unlike the weather here in Iowa today which is wet, grey and dismal. According to my travel journal, 19 April 2007 was "...a totally good day. I simply wandered around the village. I hiked down the trail toward Traban to get a feel for what Camille experienced walking up to Goult to discover her story." And who, you might ask, is Camille? She is the main character in the novel I've started. It's set in the Luberon and in Paris; it spans the century of Camille's life...1900 to 2000. And just what is Camille's story? It's a story of love, lust, faith and God spiced up with war, assassination and Resistance! Most of it is still in my head...I've only written a few chapters...but I spent this day a year ago snapping shots of Camille's world....








Did Camille walk the steep path up into Goult on the Chemin des Soeurs? What was she thinking as she climbed up into the strange village in search of the real story of her birth?











When she passed the Virgin looking down on her from the convent wall, did Camille cross herself and re-dedicate her life to the Blessed Mother?








Were any of these men Camille's playmates in the early years when she was allowed to leave the convent and enjoy the normal life of a child??








Are you intrigued by Camille's story? You'll have to buy the book!

A Big Disappointment

I don't think I'm cut out to be a real estate tycoon. My deal with the sellers of the Victorian fell through today. It's a long story, but pivots around a big mistake by the realtor (theirs, not mine) and another offer by someone who did not have to sell a house to close the deal. They accepted that offer. Even if their realtor had not made the $12,000.00 mistake on the Estimate of Proceeds, I would have probably lost this house, but I think the fact that the seller was furious about it didn't help my case. I know the sellers were anxious to get this done with. After all their house has been on the market since last July! This doesn't make me feel any less disappointed, tho.

So, it's back to the drawing board. I love that neighborhood, so I'll continue to look for something to buy there. My house will remain on the market. Whenever things like this happen, I always try to remind myself that there is probably a reason for things NOT working out. Tonight, tho, it just feels kind of sad. Thanks to all of you who sent good thoughts!