The week just gone

Monday was the last meeting of the year for the spinners and weavers group I belong to, with a show and tell of our wall hanging project (my 3d deer's head is on the right ) along with shared lunch and secret Santa i continues my donkey knitting.

Mr Fox has been calling. Sadly he got the chicken and her chick first, then during the day two of the new girls. The nine chickens left have been confined to the barn and their pen, sadly no free ranging for them at the moment. Mr Fox returned a few days later taking the small bantam hen while she was free ranging in the cows field. I have found feathers in the ditch down the road while walking the dogs so he can't be far and annoyingly will be back unless we keep the old girls, cockerel's and two ducks shut in the barn to guarantee their safety. I think they sense something as none are leaving their field at the moment.

A big bust up between our two cockerel brothers left one feeling very sorry for himself, he hid away sleeping for a couple of nights in the puppy crate now used for sick animals. He seemed to completely of lost his mojo so was placed in with the new girls who were all over him like a rash. Refusing to bed down with them in their house he prefers to sleep in the barn - can't say I blame him for not wanting to be confined with 9 hens.

I have continued to knit body parts for the donkeys the end is in sight!

The weather has been wonderful for December. Rain is fore casted for Christmas day so until then its going to be dry. I have been looking out for a bit of green foliage for decorating inside so far have found a lovely big mistole ball amazingly in the tree by the farm, only down side is its to high to reach. must keep searching.....

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2ENJ093 - FRANKLIN

Eight years ago today Franklin came into our family, a rescue dog from the SPA in Rodez we drove to see if they had a dog to re home. He had been there a month after being left tied to a bin in the town centre, chosen because he didn't bark, he came to us to say hello and was completely different from the dog we had lost days before Christmas. 120 Euros he cost, a young boy still a pup, very thin but with a look of take me home please. A collar put round his neck, forms completed, cheque handed over and a kiss from the manager and he was ours. Five minutes down the road in the car he threw up. Five minutes in the house and he had weed up the settee and collected an assortment of treasures including socks, toilet roll inner tubes, tissues and soft toys all placed in a pile under the table and garded. He ate at an amazing speed, fearing he would loose it to our other dogs. Then he started to bark, he has a fine bark on him. He barks for his tea, when a visitor arrives, the ...

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.😃

Lavender

One plant that does grow well around the gites and garden and that I don't seem to be able to kill is lavender. In the summer the bushes are swarming with bees, hummingbird moths, butterflies and other flying insects, lot of holiday photos have been taken by keen photographers, some setting up chairs and waiting for ages with big cameras and lenses waiting for the right moment and right insect to land. It does give a lovely show and smell as well, its picked and placed in vases in the gites by guests. Its very tactile and difficult to pass without a rub of a flower that's if you like the smell. I think its very much like marmite you either love it or hate it, a smell of memories of grans and old aunts who use to get given Yardley's old lavender smellies for presents. I like the smell but it can be quiet overpowering, especially when this year I have finally been able to save the dried flowers. Previous years other things have got in the way and its bee...

The English Paysanne

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