Down by the River
11 May 2010 1 Comment
in The River, Uncategorized Tags: James, trieux
Trieux
Trieux
Trieux
I took these the other week when James came over. It was nice just having an hour or two shooting away with our cameras. This is just below from where we live. Beautiful.
Happy St Georges Day!
23 Apr 2010 3 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: St George
Yes, its St Georges Day everyone, so for all you ENGLISH people out there, have a good one!
First Primrose!
22 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
I saw the first Primrose yesterday as we walked down to the river through the woods. There were a few and l know now that Spring really is just round the corner! Does anyone else have wild Primroses?
Wild Primrose
Rainbow weather
21 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
I had to rush out and take a picture of this rainbow that appeared yesterday. It was so close to us and made me wonder if the end of the rainbow was directly over us, would we actually see it? Would it be like standing inside a huge prism? Or am l being very ignorant?
End of the rainbow
Adam the Gardener
08 Feb 2010 1 Comment
Its at this time of the year when l start reaching for some of my favourite gardening ‘how to’ books. I know how to sow seeds, plant spuds etc but it is always reassuring to get these books out and have a flick through just to confirm things.
Adam the Gardener is just one of those books dating back to the 60′s. It is a Daily Express publication and l remember reading ‘Adam’ as a child. The illustrations inside make Adam look quite austere but the advice given is second to none; like having a friendly old neighbour leaning on his spade giving you advice. Just what we could all do with from time to time.
What a difference a day makes!
31 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in In the garden, Uncategorized Tags: photo, weather
Doooh! Guess l spoke too soon about the weather. Mind you it did look lovely in the early morning sunshine, a real photo opportunity but a tad cold when all you have on is your dressing gown!
Late already and its only January!
29 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
Just as l was telling myself that l was going to be really organized in the garden this year, l hear from Terry on The Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2, that he is already transplanting his onions that he had sowed earlier and his lettuce’s were going great guns! Without further ado l have just spent the last 10 minutes in the greenhouse battling with the cat sowing a tray of various lettuce. I am hoping if Terry can have success at this time of the year in South Wales then l can out here in Brittany! Blowing a real gale here but not too cold. Cup of tea time.
Cutting Willow
25 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
Sta
rted to cut some of our willow. This bed is for basketry but some of it is a bit branchy as l never got to cut it last year. The other beds will be cut over the coming weeks and then the new growth will appear shortly after that. Its amazing to see the rapid growth having cut it right back to the base, an ancient method called coppicing. It also encourages the stump to create more stems.By June/July it will be 5 or 6 ft again. I will use some of the bigger cuttings to plant up new beds. Its hard work cutting each one with a pair of secateurs on your knees! I could do with a ‘Saturday Boy’!
A Fifth of the Way
22 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
Yes, l am about a fifth of the way with clearing the border and already l have taken away 2 trailer loads of roots, weeds, old dead plants etc. Its hard going but somehow l find it quite therapeutic. Maybe its the close proximity to the river. I am sure if l lived there l would never get anything done. Its constantly changing. The tide either coming in or going out like a huge bath filling up or slowly emptying. The amazing bird life. There is a small rocky outcrop just below the garden that lies in the river but within walking distance when the tide is right and three Cormorants were drying out their wings. The Dredger went by creating a huge wake. Off to collect another load of crushed seashells from the seabed. They use it to top up some of the beaches around here. I use it in the garden. Great stuff. And all the time the light changes. Turn your back for a minute and the sea mist has arrived. Slowly creeping up the river. The temperature drops and its time to call it a day. Back home within two minutes but to a different world. Cup of tea by the fire and thinking how to tackle the next part of the border.
All We Need Is A Pressure Cooker!
22 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
We had our inspection today from Clevacances, one of the biggest gite rental companies in France. It went very well. They loved the sitting room with the Jotul woodburning stove, the bedroom with the big brass bed, the garden with its array of plants so it all hung on the kitchen. Nice units, big fridge freezer etc but where, they asked, was our pressure cooker? Pressure cooker? Umm, was this lost in translation? Non, pressure cooker! But The Engleesh hate pressure cookers! Maybe, but the French can’t live without theirs. Without it we don’t make the grade. Seriously! Oh well, so be it. Guess what we are buying tomorrow?
