The English Paysanne

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Can't believe we have a 25 year old daughter

Ten years ago we drove to Rodez dog refuge picking out the quietest skin and boned pup named Franklin. Since then his not shut up barking, soon putting on a few pounds and settling into a happy life. Time has passed with his friends passing too, his back to skin and bone due to his diabetes and the very large tumour on his back leg. He can hardly see and for the past few days decided he no longer wants to go out for walks. At around 11 years old he has now reached old age. He and Sorrel enjoyed the doggie cake, Franklins slice was gone in one huge gulp. With a special tea of beef heart, kidney and tongue he is now driving us made by guarding his gotcha day chew, he wont chew it but no one else is to go near it either, it my be a long night unless he can be distracted by cake.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Easter baking

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Not a domestic goddess bake, maybe a bit of icing sugar will hide the Crater?

 With what looks like an Indian summer here the peaches have ripened and now in the freezer ready for compotes, crumbles and desserts where a bit of peachiness is needed. As we don't care for them they are a bit marked but still taste good (the ducks, chickens and pigs love them too).The nasturtium seeds I planted have struggled all summer but now have decided to come out in all glory. The veggie patch is beginning to look a bit bare, lots of work is needed next week to tidy it up. Weeds are still growing along with the grass which has been continuously cut. Everywhere is still so green unlike normal years when fields and grass are looking frazzled from the sun and heat.  Runner beans are still growing and the freezers beginning to get full with them. We have four large freezers where trays of blanched beans once frozen are waiting to be placed in a bag. This makes them free flowing and far easier to handle when needed. A thinner, long haired Maste...

  New Years day we had blue skies and it kept dry, a walk round Parisot lake with the dogs we were only passed a couple walking their dogs.  Farmer J celebrated a Birthday on the 2nd, ginger cake recipe by Delia - he normally doesn't 'do' cakes or sweet things good job were around to help him out eating it. Miss F and Master C came back from Toulouse leaving on the 3rd. We went out for a meal in the evening in Villefranche de Rouergue, the first time I have seen the Christmas lights illuminated, the blue is the church lite up. The square has had a face lift with many euros spent on cobbling and putting a fountain in ( the white bit in the photo). This totally disrupted the market during the summer with the square being a building site all throughout the summer and Autumn. We couldn't believe it when we saw the end result, probably the same thoughts of many Villefranchoise as the money could of gone to some really good projects. Perhaps it may get more ...

    My birthday cake made by Miss F, chocolate fudge cake with hand made flowers - she's put the pressure on in the cake making stakes.

Since spring there's been a lot of bird activity going on here. We've brought chickens to grow for meat and the wild birds have been busy constructing nests, laying eggs, collecting food for their babies now there's a bit of  flying lesson going on. I did try to take a photo but not yet quick enough to be a snappy photographer. Bigger birds have been seen as well, buzzards and  a sparrow hawk.  One of these manged to kill one of the new chickens, who are now confined to the barn until there run is finished. We've had lots of  buzzards in previous years then a murder of crows (yes I didn't know that's what a flock of crows are called, can see why as they are murderers to out chicks) came and drove them away. The next day two of the first batch of chicks went missing. Bailing twine was threaded through to try and deter the killer. Tuesday evening he had managed to get between the twine to kill another chicken, a bigger one this time and to heavy ...

Saturday 4th May It's our daughters Birthday today. Happy Birthday Freya, shes now a big 22 year old who had to come home to have her birthday cake and smaller presents. (we had already waved off miss F, her presents and master C on Sunday as they headed back to the big smoke and student life). We had lunch in Villefranche at what we think is the best restaurant around, Cote saveurs  www.cote-saveurs.fr  It's furnished very tastefully and with an informal feel. No stern looks as you mop your plate with bread Here. To start with a muse en bouche of fois gras mousse on an apple jelly and a cheese soup, it was like eating a fondue - divine. Starters followed with  shellfish and smoked salmon on a thin slice of toast with a watercress sauce. Farmer J had quail on a blini with poached egg and peanut sauce, both tasted amazing and looked pretty good too. Main course we all had confit of rabbit wrapped in courgette. The food tastes amazing...