Feeling hot,hot,hot

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 to look her age as is her fleece. Why has she bald knees? because she kneels on them.

Tonight there is a breeze in the air, a welcomed cooler walk up along the plateau with Tyser and Sorrel we encountered a solo deer, which not sure who was more surprised, so it ended up being a hot walk as the scent had to be followed at top speed by Sorrel. Tomorrow is suppose to be a bit cooler, we can only hope!

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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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