The English Paysanne

This concrete structure was used to store silage made on the farm for the dairy cows. The last time it was full of wet grass was twelve years ago. We do not make silage, it is very time consuming and needs lots of man power to work as quickly as you can cutting collecting and preparing the grass in the pit by compressing it with a tractor. It is then covered with black plastic and tyres, lots of tyres. The whole lot can be ruined if it's not properly stored making it unpalatable for the cows to eat. It is also not very organic with the amount of plastic and tyres used and as our cows are outside on grass all year with hay fed  in the winter they thrive without it. So for the past years the pit has been used for storing stone and rubble from when the building work started, so much stone and concrete that was removed from inside the barn and around it. Over the years some stones and rubble of various size has been used for structural flooring of the sows cabins, holes...

We have two peach trees outside the back of our house, seeded 12 years ago from the previous farmer throwing his peach stones, they were only tiny when we moved in and now over the years they have grown into fruit producing trees. We had a bumper crop this year, they may be smaller and some a little bit gnarly in places but the they taste amazing. We are nearly peached out now,with just a few left on one tree waiting to ripen .The pigs who have had the many windfalls have enjoyed them too. Our largest black sow skillfully eats the peaches leaving the stones in her bucket, the other you hear crunching the stones to get to the seed. So peaches have been roasted and frozen for the winter months, jam made and curried peach chutney to go with a curry or two (or maybe 22) I used this this recipe which is rather tasty .(apart if your Miss F and you have to extract all the raisins first).

Up our drive way we have a line of conifers, they have steadily grown over the eleven years we have been here with a little trim now and again on the driveway side. The other side is the field where the chickens, sheep and pigs are at the moment. On top of the conifers and growing down them were some very big bramble bushes. Both brambles and conifers have now gone. In order for a delivery of gravel arriving on Tuesday for work to be done on extending the hanger the conifers had to be trimmed for the lorry to get down the drive. Farmer J doesn't really do trimming, he does chain sawing and tractoring and getting carried away. We started of Friday afternoon and soon decided the trees had to come down. They had grown far too big and wide and rather than trimming it was far easier to cut and start again. We now have two rather large piles of brambles and conifers to be burnt and a very open drive. The tractor came handy by pulling down the brambles and ...

Yesterday we had a whirl wind trip taking in Isle sur tarn to pick up a generator, Albi for flour and Giallac for Brico depot (with a short coffee stop en route).Farmer J had to back to get bailed hay in before a heavy downpour and storm that was for casted stated. Just as we got back home the heavens opened, eventually stopping enough for the hay to be stacked in a hanger. During the time we were out we lost our live box. meaning a emergency dash into town to replace it. Throughout the night it pored with rain but not enough to drown out a meowing from outside. This morning downstairs in the workshop a little fluff ball was found. Strict instructions from farmer J that it wasn't coming in the house the puppy cage was used (as per usual for small animals, It has certainly paid for itself that cage) to contain it once Miss F and I caught it. Such a cutie, full of fluff with a loud meow and a healthy appetite its a lively little thing. Our gite guests had heard a meo...

So my surprise happened on Wednesday afternoon. No it wasn't a great big juicy bone, a long hike or a new toy to destroy. It was a dog trainer, a man, I don't think much of men they are too scary so I wasn't that impressed nor was Ali as he had already re scheduled this meeting and he eventually turned up 45 minutes late. The long and short of it was a discussion after he had left between Ali, farmer J and Miss F on professionalism, or rather the fact he didn't show any and we will not be signing up for his classes. Ali wasn't impressed that he left his Doberman puppy in a crate in his van for the three hour visit and probably the two before when he was travelling and seeing a client before hand (who's contract he tippexed over ((with our tippex)) as he didn't have anymore contract papers) Ali had to plug his phone in to charge and he asked Miss F for a beer while Ali was selling two chickens (dead tasty ones) to a customer. He didn't really have m...

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Pig moving with Miss F

So as I have paws and find it difficult with keys Ali said she would write this post for me. Yesterday was suppose to be a surprise day but it wasn't as the surprise has been rescheduled to Wednesday afternoon. Ali is a bit relieved as it meant a couple of more days to look my best, get rid of my new bout of fleas and perfected my sits and downs a bit more. So as there is no news of this surprise I am going to tell my side of living with the Sticklers so far. They seem to be a quirky family, with lots of animals around where I am sadly  not the center of attention. I am accepting this now with my anxiety of being left beginning to fade (a bit) as long as I am left with my best mates Franklin and Tyser, although Tyser can be a bit grumpy at times, Ali says this is cause his on a diet and beginning to feel his age. If I am left on my own I tend to get into mischief, so its best for everyone that I'm not. We have rules to follow, some of which I am finding very hard ...