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This week




 Monday at the spinning and weaving group I learnt how to ply wool using the Navajo technique, using a single thread making it into 3 ply, useful when you only have one bobbin or want lovely mixed coloured wool from blended wool batts (wool that has not been spun)


Sandy it turns out is not pregnant. As she has been fed pregnant sow rations she is now just a tad over weight, back on normal pig size feeds she is being closely watched for when and if she comes into season.


The first of the seasons broad beans have been eaten. Next year I think I will double the allotted broad bean patch as they seem so easy to grow here ( I probably shouldn't say that as some pest will probably enjoy munching them soon)


Sadly our old mallard duck didn't come back to the barn at evening time, I like to think he flew down to the Aveyron river to find a lady friend or he made it up to the top of the hill had to have a rest after a long climb and fell asleep. There has been no sign of feathers around. He was such a character being around the farm for 8 years he will be missed. His white mate is staying in the field with the chickens and Gorgon. Do we buy more ducks to keep him happy?????????


More chicks arrived for the table, their barn is so clean after Miss F's boyfriend helped us muck it out, a lot of tractor loads later and mice running all over the place the concrete floor can now be seen.



Saturday was lovely here so we took the afternoon off, had an impromptu picnic and headed for Carjarc, a large village on the edge of the Lot river. They have a afternoon market where we brought local strawberries to bolster the 3 strawberries from the veggie patch.


With the smell of elderflower in the air I started off making cordial, its now infusing with lemons ready to bottle Tuesday, then on to making elderflower fizz. Farmer J has the hard job of drinking the beer as I need the bottles!

After loosing tomatoes to the rabbits I thought I had won with a score of 1:0 to me. Today when I went to plant the replacement plants the rabbits had got their own back. A large hole, luckily the other side of the runner beans where I hadn't planted anything (yet), more tomatoes nibbled, leeks eaten and holes semi dug between the lettuces, chard and beetroot. Farmer J has put up a temporary fence with more pellets put down. tomorrow a new fence is going to be priority. Rabbit may well end up being on the menu.

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Rabbit proof fence

In the hope of not loosing anymore greenery in the veggie patch today was spent today taking down an old fence which was put up around eight years ago. As it had a few holes in it this could be where  the rabbits are getting through. On the other side of the fence a chicken run was constructed were table chickens grew to a really good weight until we got a batch that had been, what we think were contagious with Mareks disease. Subsequently we stopped using it for chickens putting a litter of pigs in the area to get them use to electric fencing (which they did). It has been left empty for around 18months now with Gorgon and the girls have made break trough's through it last year gaining access into the veggie patch but now there's a lot of weeds. On the other side of the veggie patch is another old holey fence which has now got the recycled one that was taken down put in front of it, new posts and a trench dug to lower the wire in, earthed up and stones put on top

Happy cattle

For five months the cattle have been eating hay twice a day but today was their time to go back to pasture, they were more than ready. With two loads in the trailer going to La Contie the rest, the naughty but nice ones stayed at La Singlarie. Calves are on green grass for the first time following the herds around. Now for Spring time jobs to get started - so much free time for farmer J. Fencing, tidying around the farm, getting machines ready for hay cutting, getting the gites gardens ready for Summer and a new bathroom to fit, his feet won't be touching the ground.

Parisot lake

As it is a holiday today here in France (Bastille Day) we took the afternoon off an popped over to Parisot lake for a walk with Sorrel. It has all changed, since the lake was emptied and cleaned up this year you can now swim in it, as well as inflatable toys to play on, a life guard, bikes to hire, a new fenced in play area for small people and a total spruce up. But there is a price we were charged! 3 euros an adult, which I guess is OK if you are using the facilities but Sorrel didn't fancy a dip. The cafe is still open but that would of been too much for Sorrel to cope with being so close to people and music so we opted for a bench to sit on in the shade before walking around the lake. Sorrel opted for being Billy no mates and laying by herself, if be it for a short period of time before bikes and people went by. We are now waiting for the free firework celebrations over the chateau tonight - if we can stay up that late.😃