Maude and Mabel the muscovies

Mabel and Maude

The khakis and Peking ducklings


The old Mullard

The noisy ones

Mabel on her wall

Watching the world go by

Since their arrival here to replace our old mullards mate, a male mallard Maude (grey) and Mabel (black and white) haven't mixed as I would of liked. Maybe foie gras ducks they think they are a cut above the rest. The rabble of 4 khaki Campbell's and 3 Peking's maybe too much for them as these seven are continuously busy waddling round the farm making a noise and investigating everything.

They spend their days sitting up on the wall outside the barn overseeing what is going on, occasionally they will fly over the field kind of crash landing and making an appearance when farmer J is milling cereal as do all chickens and ducks but most of the time they spend in a pair.

All chickens and ducks find their own way of an evening back to the barn for a night of safety. Last night was no different, or so I thought. It was dark when I closed their door and didn't see that Maude had no come back in until this morning when she wasn't there. Ive searched but cant see her, only hoping she has found somewhere safe and is not sitting on eggs, as these will not be fertile, i did find Mabel's 6 huge eggs in the manager, so at last we have duck eggs- these are the first after the initial two they laid since coming here!

Poor Mabel has been on her own today, wondering around, I wonder if she thinks 'wheres my mate'. I only hope I am not in the same situation before getting these ducks which were brought to keep one old mullard happy for now to have two old ducks lonely (if only they would be friendly together).

Comments

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

Search This Blog