Snakes, heat and baby waiting

The swallows were flying close to the ground here yesterday which usually means rain is coming in but we only had a few minutes of it after hours of continuous rumbling thunder.  They were swooping over the studio roof and across the terrace before wheeling back up and over the same roof again.  It’s the first time I’ve seen them behaving like this since last year.  Sometimes when the cats are in the open garden, instead of being in the flowerbed or lying against a wall or under a chair, the swallows dive bomb them which looks quite bizarre. 

It’s 35°C in the shade here at the moment and there are no cats to be seen.  I expect they’re all lying in the cool of the tall plants in the herbaceous border.  Although there’s fresh water down in the kitchen next to their biscuits and cat food dish and more under the terrace table, they insist on drinking out of the barrel fish pond or from the main fish pond by the pergola.  Why is that?  Why are puddles and ponds more tempting than fresh water?

The pool has come into it own this year.  It’s nothing posh, just a framed above ground 16ft diameter 4ft deep one, but I just love it and in this incredible weather have been cooling off every hour or less in there.  Today the temperature is 25°C in the water and I’ve really enjoyed swimming about and just floating on a body board.

The garden continues to suffer in the heat and in spite of my evening watering schedule there are definitely going to be some casualties amongst the plants.  A this year planted rose on the driveway is not at all happy and I notice that a neighbour has an umbrella over one of her roses.

I got a shock when I walked out into the drive a few days ago when I nearly trod on this.

 

I now know that it is a harmless grass snake but I didn't at the time.  As usual I had a camera in my hand and so took some photos before 'phoning my neighbour to come and identify it.  He came armed with shears and a forked ended stick as he thought it was in the house and might have been a viper.  The snake had disappeared during my 'phone call so it was lucky I'd taken photos before I rang him.

 

 

My small harvest this morning from the polytunnel and field was destined for my lunch.  I podded the broad beans, sliced the courgettes and cooked them in garlic and butter before adding them to roast chicken wings - lovely!

 

 

I am waiting to hear from England that my granddaughter is on her way.  The due date was yesterday and I’m really looking forward to her being here and trying hard not to keep asking her Mum if she thinks it’ll be today!  Here's Emma five days ago - come on Mia - time to face the world!

 

 

Last night I went with a friend of my son's, spending a few days at his French house, to Le Pelinec, my favourite restaurant around here for dinner.  I meant to take photos of each course but only managed to remember once I'd started tucking into my pudding.  It was a lovely meal with crab galettes to start, then trout in beurre blanc with puff pastry, cheeses and then this lovely desert of three different sorbets and fresh fruit.  All from the €18 set meal menu - scrumptious!

 

 

Three things I like:

 

1.   Finally harvesting the veggies and eating them within the hour.

2.   Having a rare night out at a lovely restaurant.

3.   Knowing I'm going to have a granddaughter in the very near future.