Walking with dogs

Our walks have been determined by Franklin lately with failing eyesight and a tumour on his leg he prefers to walk on the road. We have also slowed down with lots of stopping, smelling the air and what looks like him contemplating. I wonder if he remembers his younger days.
One of his favoured routes is a circuit round Mazerolles, a small hamlet now only with a handful of full time residents, mostly empty shut up houses and part time holiday home owners.

We start off along our road passing Michele and Michelle, the french retired couplewho spend their summer in her family home. As Michelle sits outside a lot of the time and Michele has a thing for strimming (note very well kept verges) it's a scary part for Sorrel, who has to walk past people she is so scared of.

Continuing up the main road to La Sole we turn right at the house that has just been sold.

Soon after we have to turn down a small track (much to Franklin's refusal, a few teats help)

But then there are always new smells to ponder.

Going down hill to Mazerolles along what was probably once a well maintained cobbled path it now has a few stones missing.

There is a good view of the church, chateau and Najac castle a bit further away.

Down the path to the top of Mazerolles where we set of Isabella's dog and Bruno's hunting dog, along with geese so we try to walk quickly past this point.

Past the church

And down the lane, noting Amars neat veg patch on the way to meet the main road we started on a bit further down.

Past the small chateau owned by the Armagnac family,

And the blue Mary, who is in need of a bit of TLC,

Up the road

passing the small cemetery, which has a really lovely view.

and back up to our bend on the road

where we turn left back along our road in time for coffee.

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

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