The English Paysanne

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Day three of farmer J's new toy and his still alive!

It is heating up here in the south west of France, this week a heat wave is on the forecast with temperatures predicted of 35 degrees on Wednesday, which probably means  little higher in the sun - ouch far to hot to be outside. With hardly any rain predicted on the long range forecast farmer J is getting a tad worried that the grass will dry out, which it is already starting to do and the cows will be eating hay a while before winter. Worrying we will not have enough hay to last through to next year as although it has been a OK year it has not been as good as last year he has looked to cut and make a bit more.  A hay field at La contie owned by a horse breeder (hay not good enough for the horses) has been cut turned and tonight baled as well as couple of fields en route, owned by a lovely old French couple who took Milo and Franklin in many years ago when they were out on a "run". They were so nice Milo wasn't fussed about leaving and I'm sure he would of q...

A moment from the week at La Singlarie I didn't make him.

 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...

farmer J top left, running for Maire Suzanne Deleris in the red coat and the opposition In each commune if France today it has been polling day, we had our first vote after being here nearly ten years and being asked to go on the electoral register back in December last year by two ladies who wanted to discuss Najac. We later found out by attending  a meeting the following week this was the beginning of a new party wanting to bring Najac out of the dying village that it is. What we thought was a public meeting wasn't. It was the coming together of like minded Najacoise. It was a long meeting where my brain switched of at around10.30pm trying to understand the local accent (and french). Being invited to the next meeting (farmer J seemed to have some good points he put forward - I had kept quiet) declining with excuses of time / language etc it wasn't until a few weeks ago that we had a visit (or three) from different members asking for farmer J to go on the list of can...