latest bit of green

Not easy to see as the light in my old farmhouse is not good. Being built in a time when there were no glass windows, just wooden shutters, windows were small and few. The French doors in the background we put in. This end of the the big room will be our dining room.To the left of the picture is a fireplace with a wood burner, we will build a halfway here and place vertical beams along it to separate the dining from the lounge. A future project but it helps me cope thinking about our house finished.

When we create our lounge we are going to build our sofa. We want a big L shaped one. I am planning to make the cushions and with this in mind have started collecting goose feathers. They shed a fair amount so they are going into a bag ready for the day!

We have settled into having raw milk and have had no problems. Once it cools down I will have a go at butter. I need to gather a few things for cheese making which will take a while on my tight budget.

I am currently searching for a linen cupboard to house both our and the Gite bedding. I will find one at a price I am willing to pay.

The chair in the picture is one of six we found for €50. Another bargain. We want another two chairs to go with our table that can seat 12. I think 8 will be enough especially as I have 8 place settings with my best China.

I now have a pantry full of jam, certainly more than enough to last until next year. Rather a lot is blackcurrant! Still have blackberry and apple to do once that harvest is in.

I am planning to have a go at making baguette which P likes every lunchtime. Not sure if I can keep it up on a daily basis but would like to replace some. I have made two batches of biscuits for the week too which I am very keen to continue and stop buying factory biscuits.

Once the Gite business has finished I will give time to looking at further ventures to clean up our lives. I want to have some goals in place for next year.

A sorting out day

This is an old cupboard we bought a while ago. The usual silly price as this sort of furniture is no longer popular. We had filled it with books. My best China has remained packed away since moving here. P wants to have people to dinner regularly so I wanted to be able use my best China. When we finally divide our large room into lounge and dining room, this cupboard will be in the dining room to hold my China so why not start now. It has cheered me up no end to have my best stuff available again. I was also pleased to see it undamaged. I could never afford to replace this set.

I am getting more fed up with living in a mess and cannot wait until we start on our house.

The ducklings are doing well and getting big now. My foster duck is still indoors but no longer needs the heat lamp. It is eating well and enjoys a daily swim in the kitchen sink. Bruno loves to watch it swimming with his big paws up on the edge of the sink. The duckling does not seem at all bothered by him.

It is going well with our raw milk. Bought more today. Our guests in the Gite asked for another bottle too. As we now buy fresh milk as needed it has made some space in the freezer. I used to buy several bottles each week and freeze them. I still have lots of soft fruit in the freezer waiting to be made into jam. I must do it soon as before long a whole lamb will be delivered that has to be frozen. I buy from a local farm who butcher it for me. As a vegetarian I could never do that.

I have started thinking about winter clothes so have ordered some pale pink needle cord and some royal blue wool. I have some pale blue needle cord already so will make two longer length skirts that can be worn with boots. I will then knit a couple of cardigans to layer with polo neck jumpers. I will need one more length of needle cord so I have three skirts. With two pairs of jeans and several jumpers that should see me good for winter. All I have to do then is keep my weight roughly the same so it still fits! There is a bigger incentive when you make things yourself.

It feels like we have moved into Autumn already but I have to say I am not unhappy about this, it has been a good summer, sometimes too hot. I love the time when we start lighting the wood burner in the evening. Then my now very big crochet bed spread will come out again and I think this year I will actually finish it. I think then I will redo the blinds in our bedroom and bathroom and try to get it looking better.

Our big thing coming up is we are having our house re roofed. I will supply photos, before, during and after. Our current roof has been in place a long time. There is no felt as that was not used when this roof was tiled. It will make a great difference to the warmth to have felt. We have a roofer booked who will allow P to work with him reducing the labour cost.

Life feels good just now.

My little duck

Well I finally managed to post another photo! This is the duckiling I rescued as an egg! It is now four days old and doing well. Still no idea what sex it is! I tried it without the heat lamp for a while today but it was cold. It is having a daily swim in the kitchen sink and loves diving under the water. Today I put some cooked rice in the water and it enjoyed diving for it. It is amazing how they are pre programmed to do things. It preens after the swim which will encourage the water proofing oils. I plan to keep it with me until much bigger.

The original two to hatch are very big now and are white. They are pure Aylesbury. They have learned that when I clap my hands they come out of the pond and go into the house. I teach all my ducks this. The next three are mallard/ Aylesbury crosses and will I think be very pretty. Brown striped backs and heads and white tummies, like the one in the picture. Mum took them out into the field with the cows today, they looked very small trotting around with the other ducks.

I did a deep clean of the duck house today as the nest is no longer needed. It took ages and when the ducks went in they were upset with the change. I would like a new duck house as our home made one is difficult to clean out. I looked at one on line but they wanted over £300 to deliver. I hope that when we have our roof done the tiles will come on wooden pallets. I plan to use the pallets to build a new duck house. The goose house is done this way and works well. My other option is to buy a small shed.

This week I sorted out my freezer. Everything is now grouped so is easier to find. I have had a week of not doing any shopping as I wanted to use up things in the freezer. Once the weather cools a bit I will light the Esse and convert the large store of fruit into jam!

I have asked P if when our English house sells I can have a plus two for my Esse. It is a ridiculous price but it is an electric oven with hob. It will be Oxford blue the same as my wood burner and will have a new chrome towel rail to make it look like one cooker. The plinth is replaced as well. This will then give cooking facilities for both summer and winter. Perfect solution and will look good! Just hope the house sells.

We are getting on well with the raw milk, no ill effects. Tomorrow I will use some to make yogurt.

I hope tomorrow will not be so hot!

Another step forward

finally today we bought 3 litres of milk direct from our nearest farmer. We bought some glass bottles to transport it in which can be washed and reused. We are paying €1 per litre and it all goes to our farmer. This is raw milk fresh from the cows so it may take a while for our insides to get used to it. I will soon begin making butter and cheese. I already make yogurt so will use this milk in future. It is a very informal arrangement...we just turn up at 6pm with our bottles and money and they are filled. This fits very well with my green ethos!
On the duckling front we have five out on the pond doing well. I have one foster duck who hatched after the others and mum had left the nest to look after the ones already hatched. I found the egg with a small crack and it was cold. So I brought it in under the broody lamp. The duckling was very weak so I slowly broke away the shell so that it could breath. I left it in the broody box overnight. In the morning it was still attached to the remaining bit of shell by the umbilical cord. This usually dries up as the yolk sac is absorbed. The yolk had gone and the shell was hampering the duckling. It's head was down and it was not moving much. At this point I was sure it would die. So, I cut the cord! It bled a little but from that moment the duckling got going. We are now on day 3 and it is feeding well and running around the broody box. It has grown too so hopefully it will now survive. I will keep it with me until big enough to fend for itself with the other ducks. I have lost two ducklings and do not want to lose any more.
I have invested in a book about building backyard farmer things. I am waiting for it to arrive. I want to make a new duck house. I am not sure whether I am capable of doing it but will give it a go. I am hoping to get more ideas from the book.
We have a system here called amap. A farmer sets up a shop on the farm and invites other local farmers to join. There is a day each week when the public can visit the designated farm to buy produce direct from the farmers. At the moment we do not have one near us but it is a growing scheme. I will ask our farmer we buy milk from if he would consider doing it. He is working towards organic status so may well be interested. At some point I will produce more myself but it will take a while to build up to enough for all of us. I want to keep my food as local as possible. Next month we will receive the lamb we ordered that comes from a farm within our village. That will be the meat for the carnivores for several months.
I have recently converted P to eating my home made marmalade and he has realized he loves it. So no more Nutella or peanut butter. I sorted out my freezer today ready for the lamb and discovered loads more fruit. So another big jam making session is on the horizon.
In the future, once the bread oven is renovated we plan to create a bar. I will put out the things I make for our guests to buy to give a bit of money towards my projects! We have asked guests about this and many have said they would buy stuff. I put my jam, soap and bath bombs in the welcome pack, along with other things.
Today Gertie goose was in the tractor tyre pond. I hope this means it will be used now.
We had some old friends here recently and he is an architect. He suggested we use some of the hot water created by the solar tubes to run under floor heating in our lounge. Like the idea. When we get around to it that is what we will do. The dogs will love it!
Daughter has still not exchanged which is very frustrating. She cannot get a van on the ferry before 5th September anyway which makes the wait a bit easier.

Update

Sorry, still no photo, not sure what is going on but cannot get picasa to work at the moment. Will keep trying.
Bit sad today as our youngest duckling has disappeared. It was on the pond with the others this morning but when I next checked it had gone. Probably a crow although there was a heron around yesterday. Mum has had the others out and about all day which has made me nervous.
Had a migraine yesterday which has lingered into today so have had a slow day.
I have almost finished another dress, my third. Just one more to go then I have all I need for summer!
Tomorrow we are doing a road trip to collect a table I found on a French website. It will seat 8 and is Henri 2nd, a style we love. It will need cleaning and polishing but it is only €30! This will be our main dining table. We have six Henri 2 chairs so will keep an eye open for two more. We bought the six for £50! Old furniture is generally cheap here as not many people want it. Suits my green ethics!
On the diet front, I was doing well, but have once again lost my mojo. I just cannot be bothered! Oh well.
Daughter has still not exchanged. The lease extension is sorted but the buyers solicitor keeps delaying with silly questions.  It should be any day now but they will not be here until September which is very frustrating. It does give us more time to move ahead with their house though.
I am now tired of the heat, it is too much! I am happy for autumn to start now!

Ducklings in the pond for the first time

The ducklings came out of their nest this morning and spent all day in and around the pond. The other  Ducks had a little go at them but nothing serious. When I went to put all to bed the older ducks waited for the ducklings then all went into the house in a line. I feel the ducklings are big enough now not to get squished but will check on them again before I go to bed. I took a photo of them with other adult ducks but am having problems posting it. I will get it sorted soon.
Today we have bought a second hand scaffold tower ready for when our roof is done. I can also use it for pointing, much easier than balancing on a ladder!
Tomorrow our guests leave and new ones arrive. I think they have had a good holiday. I ironed all the bedding today so all is ready for changeover. Just milk and a fresh baguette to buy in the morning for the welcome pack.
Did some re organizing today. My sewing table has gone back into the kitchen. I do not have any power in the sewing room to be and always have to use my machine in the lounge. One day my house will be sorted. I am pleased to have a kitchen table back.

What a good day!

visited Emmaus to look for a kitchen table but nothing was right. Took back the shower and taps and bought the right ones!
Friend brought round our tractor tyre pond for the geese but the hose will not reach. We have another hose but need a connector to join them together. P will get that tomorrow. I started filling it with a bucket but it is too hot!
Moved the ducklings out to the duck area. They are still in the puppy cage and I have attached a run to it so they can get used to grass. I have covered the cage with a tarpaulin to keep them snug and dry. They seem very happy. It gives the ducks a chance to get used to them.
Big decision made today....we are finally going to sell our English house. The valuation is good and will give us a lump sum once the mortgage is paid off. At last we will be mortgage free!
Spotted some small butternut squash in the veg patch which is wonderful. I didn't think I could grow it.
Made another lot of soap today too ready for Gite guests. Meant I had to have the oven on! I am now saving up for a plus two to attach to my Esse. This will give me an electric oven to use in summer. It will look like one cooker and they put on new longer towel rail and a new longer plinth. It is expensive though so will take a while to save.
All the wheat is I now and the fields are being ploughed. On Friday I will be picking the first blackberries! Crazy! Will have to freeze them until the apples are ready as I like apple bramble jelly. Will mean lighting the Esse again! The produce from the garden has been amazing this year.

Missing my readers

I found the posts from my original blog and added a comment to my final one explains what had happened. So far no one has found me which makes me sad!
The ducklings are growing so fast and are now starting to turn white. I am hoping they are full Aylesbury, certainly they are looking that way. They are now in the puppy cage in the kitchen and no longer need the broody lamp. Hopefully it will not be long before they can go outside.
Hopefully tomorrow my goose pond will arrive. A friend has made it for me using an old tractor tyre and inner tube. This is true upcycling and makes me happy. The farmers have to pay to dispose of old tyres here so are easy to get for nothing. The tyre will sit in the orchard where the geese live and I will let the grass grow up the sides. I will provide a photo once it is in place.
In the cave, the support for the hot water tank is in place in the bathroom ready for the cupboard to be built around it. Downstairs the first six tiles are in place on the floor. It is getting there slowly. Daughter has still not exchanged but it should come very soon. Meanwhile they have looked at ferry crossings for a van and there is nothing available this month. Complicates things somewhat.

Big grrr

So I have my new iPad and all is well apart from being unable to access my blog. I have spent hours trying to find it and can find the blogs but not the front page that lets me write a new post. So. I have started again! I will have to retake photo's some of which will not be possible. The ducklings are no longer balls of fluff!
So to recap where I am in my bid to go green.....I have solar tubes and a heat exchanger to provide hot water. I have a wood burning oven and a wood burner to heat the lounge. No central heating! This means we have a fairly low carbon footprint. Low electricity bills too!
I grow fruit and veg, make jam and pickles and bottle fruit. I make my own cakes and bread and am working towards making all the biscuits too!
My house is an old French farmhouse built in 1832. It is granite with thick walls. We have partially renovated our house. The once hayloft is now two bedrooms and bathrooms but is still bare plaster.
Downstairs we removed the walls that formed three bedrooms to make one big room. There is a giant fireplace that we put my wood burning Esse into and I have a butler sink with draining board. I have a stretch of worktop balanced for now on the frames of future cupboards. I will add some photos soon.
I do not know if my followers will find me but hope so.