The English Paysanne

Here in the Aveyron we have had no rain for weeks, it has been hot, hot, hot. It is all looking a bit dry around the countryside, except for the weeds that seem to survive - how do they do that? Yesterday the cows at La Singlarie were given hay, thankfully we have a good stock for the winter so we should be OK, it's around six weeks earlier than when they usually start to eat hay. Were not alone nearly all the framers around are feeding hay early. Our Internet stopped working too, no phone, no emails, no Internet and no radio but thankfully wee are back on and we did have a little bit of rain this morning. Nothing to make a difference to the dry fields and gardens but it has been a lovely cool day with no sun so weeding in the veggie garden was lovely, just hope those weeds that have grown so well don't reappear.

Oh it's been a tad hot here with no rain predicted and fields looking a lot less green than in June it may mean grass will be running out and the cows will be munching hay. If this dry spell carries on our cows at La Contie will be heading home as although the grass seems very nutritious it is a lot sparser than here. The pigs are feeling the heat. It is a constant job of filling their water troughs for them to tip over or lie in straight away. Even though they have been given water in their wallows and either hosed down or a bucket or two thrown over them it does get a little tiring. Were on mains water now our source has run dry for the moment until the next rain.Two lots of pigs are suppose to be moving to new enclosures, we tried so hard to move them to but no amount of bread or coaxing would they budge, I think its just to hot they cant be bothered. We just got very hot and bothered trying to move them. Rob's ewe has also been shorn, she's beginning ...

With a glut of eggs fresh pasta, chocolate ice cream and fresh custard have been made, along with a few attempts at trying to make mayonnaise, which I will persevere at and am not to be beaten over a couple of eggs and a dash of oil.  The ducklings are enjoying the outside, the three Pekings are growing at a fast rate. They are so messy and noisy, I've had to place their run away from the house as there driving the dogs, well the dogs barking at hearing the ducklings is driving us mad. I think they are going to be full of character as they get older. Maude and Mabel made a brief appearance outside (after being shooed out of the barn) but again once my back was turned a swift waddle back into the barn there they stayed.  The weathers been mixed with showers and sun, which when out its  a bit hot to be working in the outside. The lavenders in flower now attracting loads of bees, butterflies and moths.  Farmer J's been tidying the hanger ready for this...

With sporadic snippets of time spent weeding and caring for the veggies, watering each evening and still battling with rabbits I did get to the stage of thinking is it all really worth the effort. But I've battled on through with beads of sweat falling in my eyes (that really stings) having to scrub away the mud stains from my feet each night and ease an aching back, fighting with the hose pipe to let me have the water contained in it (you know how when you move it it gets twisted up) and being attacked by ants as I unearth a nest, the tiny brown ants seem to be the most vicious freely giving a bites should you not see one crawling up your leg or arm. And now the benefits of growing your own veg can be seen.The first broad bean plants have finished with a mass of beans in the freezer making way for three melon plants, each protected by a car tyre at the moment (I'm getting wise to these rabbits). The small crop of garlic has been dug up, t...

June, it's a busy time of year with lots of different things needing attention on the farm. The gites are occupied so deep cleaning has been needed with the gardens also needing attention, grass is growing at an incredible rate, good for the pigs as they eat the clippings not good for me as I end up hot, sweaty and with green feet due to getting too hot and having to wear the faithful summer Birkenstock's I love so well. The hay is ready to be cut, farmer J has to grease up the machines while keeping an eye on the weather forecast for five days of unbroken sun/ dry weather in order to cut, turn, return, line up and bail. Also ready to cut are the sheep's fleeces, when we had a small herd a sheerer done the job for 2 Euros a piece, a bargain for the amount of time and back ache farmer J suffered from but now with only two old girls, one who's fleece probably counts as half a fleece now as bits are falling off her as I write we would be hard pushed for a shearer...