For the Friction

When we renovated the kitchen of this old farmhouse we installed two sinks because generous guests are forever asking, “what can I do to help?” So all through this glorious month of bounty – fruit, vegetables and convivial gatherings – cheery teams have put those workstations to good use.

blackberries
blackberries for the teams

The teams migrate as projects are conceived. One morning someone wakes up and says, “let’s build an extension to the deck.” And out come the power drills.

building the deck
building the deck

On the hottest afternoon of the year our neighbors Nikky and David * arrive with expertise and physical prowess to help move the huge custom doors on the extension to our winery.

a team to move the huge winery door
a team to move the huge winery doors

Another day it’s “let’s finish the rock garden and Japanese fountain,” so an army of muscles drags a 700 pound, carved silex stone into place, using logs, ancient Egyptian style.

moving the stone Egyptian style
moving the stone Egyptian style

One morning the team is at play in this garden, quietly creating cairns of rock upon rock, delicately balanced risings that defy gravity. When the wind demolishes these ephemeral sculptures, no one weeps, for the ongoing game allows for another artist to muse, puzzle and arrange a different tower of balance.

stone on stone, the cairns
stone on stone, building the cairns of the rock garden

philippe's prowess with cairn

cairns, the next day

Bea's perfect concentration
Bea’s perfect concentration

On a group outing into the woods the team discovers a wall of ripe blackberries – “un mur de mûres mûres…*  Two hours later baskets are laden for tarte making. The berries are barely off the vines before someone organizes an expedition to the orchard with an out-size chariot to collect all the fruit there, and then a dozen hands cook up a years’ worth of apple-pear compote or fig chutney or plum jam.

le mur de mûres mûres
le mur de mûres mûres

For a week we are treated to al fresco dinners of 14, meals lavishly prepared by our Brazilian guests and followed by midnight playoffs in the pool.   And let us not forget the serious semi-finals of petanque which revealed all manner of national hilarity – on this evening it was Brits vs. Yanks and Brazil vs. France.  John worked as referee by serving up cold rosé.

the petanque discussion
the petanque discussion

 

John the referee, serves rosé during petonque match
Referee John, cools down the match serving rosé

So much fun, so much delightful community – it’s enough to send one scurrying to the convent!

In fact, this all starts to remind me of something I once read about life in a cloistered order. The monk or nun complains they’ve come to this place for quiet and peace, not conflict – which inevitably rises in community, even a community dedicated to spiritual goals. The wise Mother Superior reminds the novice that it’s “for the friction” that we come together. For that rubbing up against the other. Collegial or delightful is terrific but it’s the moments of conflict that force us to learn about ourselves.  And hopefully arrive at some semblance of self-mastery.

blackberry tarte with creme patissière
blackberry tarte with creme patissière

I’m the first to admit I am no saint, so as the teams of petonque players and deck builders swirl around me, I muse about my inner demons and concentrate on a high frequency blackberry tarte embellished by an almond pâte sablé, and crème patissière.   Then I collect my pruning scissors and head for the vineyard. The grapes need extra air and sun before harvest and it’s my pleasure to oblige.  In return I find sanctuary, a sort of working meditation, my only companions the long and silent, leafy rows.

Mary finds sanctuary in the vineyard
Mary finds sanctuary in the vineyard

 

*Our neighbors Nikky and David Field – Chateau Champs de L’Ombriere – wonderful white wine!

https://www.facebook.com/chateauchampsdelombriere

 

*Another team game, a word game:  “un mur de mûres mûres, rammassé par des gens mûrs qui murmurent. ” (A wall of ripe blackberries, gathered by murmuring mature gents.”)

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