All the ducks are swimming in the water

All the ducks are swimming in the water - not

When I brought our ducks in May last year there was an idea to put a pond in for them. It took a while thinking about it and in the mean time the ducks wandered the farm finding their own water sources be it a puddle, stream or other animals water troughs.

A deal was struck when farmer J spotted an ideal pond base at our friends yard down the road, the top of a Renault traffic was swapped for a couple of home made cakes and eggs. Complete with light fittings (under water lighting for night swimming?) it was loaded on the trailer to bring back here.

While another neighbour was digging up the road for new pipes to be fitted he was asked to dig out a hole for the roof to fit in, this time payment was pork. Once dug and roof put in place soil was put back around the sides and large plastic sheeting reused to make it water tight before filling up. The lights were removed before hand, apparently the ducks would not be doing any midnight swimming so no need for lighting. Hose put on it took a while to fill with no ducks watching by the sidelines.

Once full the ducks would be in for sure, however by morning walking past the pond it didn't look as full as the previous evening. Yep it had a leak, a couple of small holes in the plastic let the water out which then needed to be emptied and new plastic ordered. Once collected we had a supervisor on hand to help/ hinder us, Gorgon the pig, with his tusks was not an ideal helper, thankfully once he realised food was not in the offering he moved on.

Relined, refilled and waiting for water fowl it waited, and waited and waited. Not one single duck has entered this pond. After the storm last Thursday water gathered next to the pond and yes the ducks were in it. With the amount of rain water coming off the hill it has meant the chickens barn being flooded from water flowing through a pipe into the barn which then exits by a drain in the floor going under the barn ending up coming out of a pipe in the wall and into the field.Taking advantage of these free flowing water for the pigs and sheep it also turned into a shower and bath for the ducks. And they still haven't been near that pond!

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