The English Paysanne

Last week was a bit of a non descript week, the everyday routine of farm life of checking, feeding and caring for animals was made a little bit harder with the Indian summer week we had. The sun  shone all week with the temperature a lot warmer than it has been all summer - crazy weather. We kicked back a bit, resting after a busy period and taking things a bit slower. Yesterday once animals were fed and watered we packed a picnic and headed off to St Antonin Nobel Val to the Sunday Morning market where I brought a bargain 3 euro bag of Lautrec garlic, broken and uneven sized bulbs it was unclassified not being able to be sold in a neat plat. On the way back we stopped off at a small village, Milhar, which has a picnic spot by a brook. The small park has been planted with weeping willows where you can sit under their canopy of branches or sit on seats made out of old pallets and willow canes. The sun had made everyone come out, the market wa...

This week was suppose to be a bit more restful but it didn't seem that way as there is always something that needs doing.  Sandy's piglets reached the time to be separated from mum.  So Sandy moved back to her  enclosure where the weeds had grown well since it has been left for three months while she moved to the maternity suite. It took her a few days to get over leaving her babes going off her food but now seems to be eating again while munching on a bit of greenery. The cows moved to the top field where there was a fair amount of grass even though they had to finish off last years hay possibly for a sympathy vote from passers by. Farmer J was only saying how lucky they are seeing the amount of scrappy grass some of the herds around here are on. Franklin had a outing to the vets for the day to have his blood sugar levels checked again after a few accident's at the beginning of the week after stealing half a loaf of bread. Wednesda...

I made my first sour dough loaf of bread, although it smelt and tasted really good it was a little on the dense side due to my inability to wait for the sponge dough allotted resting time and not enough time in the day to kneed, kneed and re kneed. The starter is now dormant in the fridge as this week has been too busy to care for it and make more loaves. The last field of hay has been cut and bailed for this year. Remember the vicious broody hen, well she had a chick that hatched which were both about on Thursday but sadly I think she squashed after returning to the clutch of eggs that she had left for the day. She is still sitting on those eggs and pecking when I tried to move her to see if I could find the chick. I will give her next week before getting those thick gloves out to move her ( and the gone off eggs) The piglets will be 8 weeks old next week, time to split them from Sandy who is beginning to be wound up by them especially when they try to steal her ...

 Monday at the spinning and weaving group I learnt how to ply wool using the Navajo technique, using a single thread making it into 3 ply, useful when you only have one bobbin or want lovely mixed coloured wool from blended wool batts (wool that has not been spun) Sandy it turns out is not pregnant. As she has been fed pregnant sow rations she is now just a tad over weight, back on normal pig size feeds she is being closely watched for when and if she comes into season. The first of the seasons broad beans have been eaten. Next year I think I will double the allotted broad bean patch as they seem so easy to grow here ( I probably shouldn't say that as some pest will probably enjoy munching them soon) Sadly our old mallard duck didn't come back to the barn at evening time, I like to think he flew down to the Aveyron river to find a lady friend or he made it up to the top of the hill had to have a rest after a long climb and fell asl...

Sunday morning market

An ever hopeful local waits at the butchers stall at Najac's Sunday market.