The English Paysanne

 The weather turned today, wet and cold with snow forecasted tonight (we won't get it as it misses our sheltered valley) but it it chilly tonight. So with Christmas nearly here and the Grinch still being Grinchy and not paying for a tree we made a secret trip in the land rover over to the pine woods below us where Sorrel and I have a daily walk (or run depending if deer and wild boar have passed by) where I have been eyeing up a suitable tree. The Christmas ones of past years all looked a bit bare of limbs and once a few baubles are added said limbs would be dropping to the floor and each year Freya complains of have thin trees. So this year I found a spiky one (that had been planted) so sorry Mr woodmen  but I made farmer J chop one of your trees down. Hopefully you won't miss it too much as you don't really look after them, which if you did would help my walking off track so much easier than fighting through the brambles in tow of a long line with a dog o...

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Selecting and collecting the Christmas tree.

Hoping your festivities may be merry and bright love from all humans, furred and feathered and hairy creatures at La Singlarie

With Miss F working in Toulouse today she can't be here to be the Christmas fairy that she does such a good job off. Decorating the tree, putting decorations around the place, decorating the cake, making the chocolate log, shopper and chief cleaner are a few of her jobs (not to mention wrapping farmer J's presents up for him) so it was up to master C, taking the role of master elf to step in her boots (or fairy shoes). So he put the tree up and decorated it with a few helpful hints along the way, took me shopping for last minute forgotten bits (although he was suppose to be helping with the shopping a phone call got in the way), the wrapping of presents for farmer J was left to him, the little elf needs a bit of guidance in this department which meant i would be wrapping my own presents up). However he did come into his own as sous chef and master baker. I decorated the cake this year, a snow storm effect in the kitchen left a snow scene ...

Today was the last day for us delivery our Christmas pork and beef, last stop was Saint Antonin market where we swapped a box of beef for a turkey, a free range turkey that has been foraging on grapes at  a winery while it has been growing, we also got a couple of bottles of wine as well in the exchange which are now in the fridge. So now its time to take a breather, with big jobs now done we can start to enjoy the lead up to the festive period (cows and chickens still need to be cleaned out tomorrow and four enclosures of pigs moved) but things can slow down a little (the moving of pigs will be very slow i fear). Master C returned home this afternoon, just in time for beans on toast and hunt the Christmas tree. You see Farmer J, still in humbug mood (he will chill out very soon) was not prepared to pay for a tree this year so a trip over the woods was on the cards this afternoon (a treat for Connor, he doesn't know about the other jobs lined up for him...

 The cows were looking forward to being let into the middle field over the festive period (farmer J was looking forwards to a break form the morning and evening routine of feeding too). Unfortunately rain put a stop to that as their big feet wreck the fields when there sodden with water. Up until this week it has been dry - still incedibly mild for nearly the end of the year. Cow days are spent waiting for breakfast and tea of hay.  A Christmas meal has been eaten, the kale and swizz chard have been striped. No foot prints could be seen so this time it wasn't Gorgon and his buddies as whoever was the culprit left the parsnips alone. (Gorgon would of not left the parsnips!!) Christmas was celebrated with the four of us, pasties eaten Christmas eve in front of the TV. The usual family time of playing cards, DVDs, listening to music and vegging out was needed after a busy week before. Connor's girlfriend came to stay Boxing day, a normal day here...

Were getting excited, presents are all wrapped and under the tree, dogs only allowed under supervision as tasty treats will be found. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Franklin spent the day at the vets having his blood sugar levels monitored. At last levels are going down his still on a very high dose of insulin but with the next vet day in three weeks we may at last be getting a balance. This week has been meaty Christmas pork orders and getting the beef back mid week meant feeling a bit chilly in the butchery and cold room. pick ups and deliveries made and a turkey/beef swap this morning our meat is sorted. The tree was in Figeac car park, a beef pick up point. knitted presents have been made. Wreath making from my collected greenery while walking the dogs. Each  year the mad English woman scrambles up banks with seceters, dogs on retractable leads which get tangled in shrubbery. all pleased when back home, it would be so much easier without dogs but I do get two jobs done at the same time. A bargain Christmas tree brought for 12 euros, normally our artistic director dresses the tree but as she's not back t...