This afternoon's walk in my hamlet

My walk this afternoon took me past my field and then across empty pastures before coming back along the lane from the mill pool.  It was 7°C, so not cold and there was no wind or rain.  The light wasn't brilliant for photographs but I can never resist using the camera.

 

My raised veggie beds have been weeded by the volunteer worker I have here at the moment and are looking very tidy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Likewise the polytunnel. 

 

 

 

The trestles on the left and the timber in the centre are the materials for the job for the next time it rains.  The timbers we've brought in are to replace the edges of the raised beds in front of the barn need painting with preservative.  Previously we had used old beams from the cottages and these had rotted away and have now been removed.   You can see them round the back of the rhubarb plants.

 

 

The mill pool looks lovely In all seasons and I like the bush on the right with its reddening leaves.

 

 

The little bridge from this area to another lane has been a little compromised by a tree falling across it but it's not impassable. 

 

 

 

 

There was quite a colony of fungi growing on this fallen tree.  It was like this across the bridge last year but I'm not sure about before that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stream is running fast after all the rain we've had.  I can't believe how sodden the ground is considering it's just the beginning of the winter period.  I shall need webbed feet if it continues like this until the Spring.

 

 

Along the verge there were lots of fallen apples, crab apples perhaps.  I fed one to each of the horses that came to say hello as I walked past their pastures.  Saving one for the goat at the end of my little bit of lane.

 

 

 

 

The leaves are such lovely colours, particularly on the beech trees.  Although there was no sunshine this afternoon to enhance the light and colours they were still worth photographing.

 

 

 

The hazel bushes are already showing their new catkins and there was a red leaf on the verge which caught my eye.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I arrived at the end of the far lane bordering my field the hens in that area came rushing up to meet me and then settled down to pecking around on the bank created from the dug out soil from the duck pond.  In the background you can see two Muscovy ducks by the pond and two on the top of the gates.  Obviously the ducks can fly and yet they never seem to go anywhere else - thank goodness.

 

 

There was a motley assortment of four little hens in the bushes about 200 metres along the lane from my field.  I am hoping they might find their way to join one of my flocks!

 

Three things I like:

 

1.  Eating the sweet chestnuts that took so long to peel a couple of days ago.

2.  Finding that the wood shavings I was given for animal bedding make wonderful fire starters for the woodburner.

3.  Gathering hot, peppery watercress from my fish pond - I wonder how long it will continue cropping.  Apparently some varieties grow all year round.

Autumn activities in St André

It’s the time of year when the garden, veggie patch and polytunnel have to be cleared of dead stuff, weeded and dug through.   Everything is such a mess in there  I feel ashamed when I look at it.  However, I have still been harvesting salad, peppers and squashes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luckily, last week a volunteer emailed me to come here for a couple of weeks and he has been labouring on my behalf in exchange for full bed and board.  He’s from Germany, only twenty-seven and has much more flexibility, strength and stamina than I have so he's great for the work that has to be done. 

So far he’s helped clear up the cuttings from the long laurel hedge, cleaned out the chick house, brought in logs, cleared the large flower bed in the garden and some of the raised veggie beds and virtually finished in the polytunnel.  The weather has been dreadful since he arrived on Monday late afternoon so it’s been handy having the possibility of working in the shelter of the polytunnel.   The log trolleys have been filled and covered on the terrace in case of really bad weather so I have a ready supply.  The garden furniture still needs to be collected up and stored inside.

 

 

The last of the berries, which were on the honeysuckle, next to my postbox in the wall, have been stripped by various visiting birds.

 

 

On Tuesday, 19 November, we had our first fall of snow here in St André, preceded sleet and hail.  It only lasted for fifteen minutes but was proper snowflakes floating down to the ground – the earliest we’ve had it since I’ve been in Brittany I think.

 

Wednesday saw me in St Brieuc for an appointment with my gastric surgeon.  He was pleased with the healing of my giant abdominal scar.  I still have two tiny leaking holes but he didn’t seem think there was any infection or anything else to worry about so that’s reassuring.

 

On my way to the field today I realised that a pungent smell reaching my nostrils must be a goat tethered somewhere on the lane.  I found him by the calvaire.

 

 

I am always amazed at how strong the smell is from uncastrated goats and from how far away it can reach my nostrils.

 

The horse chestnut near my house has lost so many leaves now and the ones that are left have changed colour to a lovely light rust.

 

 

Underfoot there are so many sweet chestnuts in and out of their prickly cases.  My volunteer, Christian, has gathered a huge container full.  I love their polished shells and the way they fit together neatly in their protective casing.

 

 

The hedgerows are topped with bracken, making graphic statements against the sky - I love the images.

 

 

 

The last of the tomatoes have been picked before the vines were given to the chickens to pick over. 

 

 

They have also been enjoying chickweed which covered the empty raised veggie beds.

 

 

Chilli peppers and capsicums, squashes and courgettes are being stored in the polytunnel until needed.

 

I have mixed feelings about this time of year.  I thought everything seemed to be dying away but when I look, I see nasturtians and antirrhinums still in bloom on the driveway and several shrubs have little green shoots appearing. 

 

Three things I like:

 

1.   Booking a table in a restaurant I haven't tried before for Sunday lunch with a friend.

2.   Getting the garden and field area tidied up.

3.   Seeing a new photo of my lovely granddaughter, Mia, on Facebook.

 

It's a Cat's Life by guest writer Claude Chubb

This is Claude the handsome white cat (with ginger touches) writing today.  I thought you might like to see some of how we spend our days in St André. There's always something going on with people coming and going, leaves blowing along the terrace, birds eating on the bird table and playing with the rabbits is good fun too.

 

Sandra left the landing window open one morning so for the first time ever I was really brave and ventured out onto the roof.  How was I supposed to know that when I put all four paws on the glass that the window would close and leave me stranded out there?

 

 

It wasn't so bad until there was a shower.  I understand that she didn't know it was going to rain but couldn't stop this thought coming into my head ...

 

 

Luckily, when the window was finally opened she towelled me down and I was able to cuddle up with Gracie and get over the trauma.

 

 

Every morning and evening either two or all three of us walk up with Sandra to the field where she feeds and takes care of those other animals - goats, ducks and hens I think they are. 

 

 

 

We risk our lives on the lane with the traffic which comes along but we feel you need our support.

 

 

Purrdy arrived as a kitten a year before Gracie and I came - also as kittens. 

 

 

She is very bossy and likes to think that she can control us.   She usually sits in a higher position in the room and keeps an eye on what we are doing. 

 

 

In spite of this, we do love her now and sometimes all sit together on the settee.

 

 

She can be a real softie when she thinks we're not looking and particularly likes to sleep in Sandra's chair when she's out.

 

 

When the snow came last winter we messed about with the drainage pipe which the rabbits  play with in their area.  We took it in turns to go into the pipe and come out at the other end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was Purrdy's turn.

 

 

In the summertime it was really hot and it was good to chill out on the table under the pergola

 

 

and although Sandra had put fresh water in a bowl for us in the kitchen usually other water sources are much more interesting - this was particularly thirst-quenching stuff.

 

 

In the winter water accumulates everywhere and this was a bit of snow melt water which I just had to sample.

There are really nice neighbours who live on the corner of the lane and when Sandra goes in for a chat and a drink we wait outside on the terrace. 

 

 

We can't wait forever though, we have things to do and places to go especially when Purrdy's flaked out on the top of the settees and can't keep an eye on us.

 

 

Three things I like:

1.   The sound of the cat food tin being opened and I think I can hear it from the other end of the garden and run in really fast!
2.   Climbing up to the top of the pergola and lying in amongst the wisteria, vine and clematis in the hope of catching a bird.
3.   Waiting and watching with Gracie and Purrdie for a mouse that we've lost to come out from under the fridge.

Lest We Forget

 

 

And all across the Flanders fields they lay
The bodies of the fallen in the war
For us they made the ultimate sacrifice
And we will remember them forever more.

Red poppies decorate November clothes
And where there once was only dirt and mud
The summer lands are covered in the flowers
The poppies which remind us of spilt blood.

Their lives were lost to give us lives to live
Hard to imagine the horrors that they shared
Our thanks to those we lost, to all of them,
Thanks too to those who fought and who were spared.

©Sandra E Chubb

November 2013