Saturday 28 January 2017

My positive hat is back in place

This photo was taken last summer just before the bees arrived.they loved the big lavender bushes.
When I look at this picture it reminds why I chose to live here. I have regained control and tied on my positive hat.
The house looks lovely in summer and I really do have roses around the door which cannot be seen here. The roses are white. I also have a beautiful white wisteria that grows across the front.  The main house looks very different from the farmhouse we originally bought. Later this year we will build an open sided porch on the front, a place to leave muddy boots.
Today I have cleared out the shell of the utility room ready for him indoors to frame out and put in the plumbing and electrics. Then we will move the washing machine and dishwasher in there along with my battered old butler sink. Once that is done we can start on my kitchen. The agreement is that one day a week work will be done on our house. It will be slow progress but at least it will be progress.
Our second Gite, la Jonquille is almost done! The downstairs floor tiles are done and grouted. Yesterday we went to Ikea and bought the complete kitchen..and came in under budget which makes me happy. Today him indoors is finishing off the stairs, filling gaps and putting the oak on the steps. Next week the upstairs floors will be finished and the bathroom suite fitted. Exciting times.
In the dead of winter it can be hard to keep the dream alive. Today there is no frost and the frozen ponds and buckets are starting to melt. The ice was so thick on them. There is some blue sky and sun that makes the heart sing. A good to be alive day. It is possible that we are done with the freezing weather! I do hope so.
Lambs are starting to appear in the fields, always a joy to watch! There a few new calves around too.
Before long I will be back in the veg patch where I love to be.
Just need a few more bookings for the Gites!

Friday 27 January 2017

😢

sadly Auntie Elsie died yesterday. She was 101 and 4 months. Amazing to think she was born during world war 1. She saw so many changes in her lifetime but was never phased by anything the modern world brought. Up until she was went into hospital in December she lived at home alone. She did the crossword in the Telegraph every day and was always up to date with the news. I am very sad she has gone but she died peacefully, with no illness. She was just very old! When I last saw her in December she asked me to forgive her if she had ever upset me. She never has and I loved her dearly. I knew she was saying goodbye.
Today her children have started clearing the house ready for selling. It seems indecently quick but I am not surprised given the way they have behaved in her final weeks. It really is the end of an era!
I know I will feel sad for a while and am not sure I can get to the funeral.
Meanwhile I will keep plodding on trying to make my life the way I want it...as green and sustainable  as it can be.

Thursday 26 January 2017

Where did January go?

cannot say I am sorry we are nearly in February. January is an awful month here. Very cold and everyone hibernates. The cows are in the barns and the trees are bare. It is very hard to keep warm just now but I really hope this is our last winter living in a renovation project. I have said it the last six winters so feel I have earned a finished house now.
Back to the doctor with him indoors today. Our new English speaking one which was wonderful. She has asked for our notes from our former GP who has retired. Problem is the new one has not arrived yet and the surgery is shut up!  Him indoors has to have his shoulder xrayed and scanned as he is getting lots of pain. He has been given some strong pain killers that should help him sleep too. I asked the chemist about the new doctor and explained we need our notes ( my French is improving). He said the new chap should arrive in a month or so but if not the retired doctor has to return to give us our notes! Will leave it a few more weeks then ask in the Mairie. They must have access to the surgery. I have told him indoors I want a refund as he seems to have broken too soon!
Changing doctor means we have to inform others...our top insurance company, our Governmental health provider. The details then need changing on our carte vitale ( a card that has details of what we are entitled to for health care). This always get done at the pharmacy. Lots of paperwork in 🇫🇷             ( France)
I still have wobbles about living here but the longer it goes the more used I am to things. I am no longer scared going into official situations. We saw a bad car crash this week, caused by black ice and were first on the scene. The people were French. We called the emergency services and I stayed with the driver who was unconscious, talking to her constantly. When she came to a bit I apologized for my French which made her smile. We coped with the emergency team managing to explain what had happened. It shook us seeing a car ploughing into a tree but we coped. A few times I have been mistaken for French which makes me smile. I do not think it is ever easy moving to a new country, when the language is different too it is harder.
Once February is over the world will be a better place with slightly longer days and warmer weather. Then it will be full steam ahead in the veg patch! That is what I will focus on to help me through this difficult time of year.

Wednesday 18 January 2017

My name is Aly and I am addicted......

to crochet! It is official so I thought it best to own up! I have long been addicted to knitting which will continue but have now added crochet. It is something I have dabbled in over the years. I perefected a lovely baby shawl that I made many times. Shawls are no longer used so I make baby blankets now. I had often looked at patterns but they never made sense. Since finding the blog attic24 I have discovered a world of colour and beauty.  I have finished so far 8 throws, some of which are in my lounge and some have been given as gifts to friends. I have another oddments throw underway, a blanket for my new grandson due in April and of course the crochet along I am doing with Lucy at attic24. I also have a pack of wool and a pattern for another of Lucy's throws whose colours I could not resist! Whilst browsing her site earlier I found a link to a lady who shows how to make socks! Hand knitted socks! Such joy! I am trying to resist the temptation to order sock wool as I have enough to be getting on with. The world is falling apart around me but I am so happy in my world of all things woolen! I have come to realize there is just about nothing I cannot make myself.
I try never to regret things but oh how I wish I had discovered all this when younger. Although I guess I would have had little time for all this whilst bringing up three children and working.
I often curse the internet and the time it uses but it has brought so much too. I have recently done a cull of all I have been involved with, including iPad games. I would rather be making things.
This morning I have done some crochet, made a fruit cake, started the wood burner ( I have now added fire lighting to my list ) and done a quick wash of my beloved mini. A bit difficult in this freezing weather but managed with a mop and bucket! The long term plan is to put guttering on the garage that will feed into a large water butt. We can then attach the Archer to that to hose down our cars. This will control the worst of the mud and can be used by us all.
Since we removed the ducks and geese from the big pond it has settled down nicely and the water is clear. I hope the frogs and toads will return this spring. I want to get it planted out too to attract wildlife. The ducks and geese are happy with the tractor tyre pond and bowls of water to drink.
Life will always be busy here but that is a good thing. It stops me worrying about anything else!

Sunday 15 January 2017

Mud mud glorious (or not) mud

The cold snap has given way to constant rain. The chicken and duck runs are a sea of mud. Another reason to let them out in the hope the runs can recover.
The farmers now have the cows in the barns which means tractors are out daily dumping the much from the barns in the fields. Very good manure I know but it means the local roads are coated in mud. Every time I go out I get muddy! It also means it is walked into the house by both us and the dogs. Long term the plan is to build a porch front and back to house muddy boots.
We lost one of our disabled ducks recently but the more severely disabled one is still going. I have just moved her back with the ducks but do not think she can manage. She can barely walk. The kindest thing to do would be to dispatch her but I cannot do it. Him indoors has said he will deal with it when I am out. We have friends who regularly process birds for the table and have always said they will help if needed. I guess it is time to call on one of them. I cannot bear for any creature to die but know I am not being fair to her. So much for being self sufficient!
The coming week is said to be much colder which will at least harden the mud. The wood burner will be blazing non stop I think. Hopefully it will also kill off the bird flu. Still nothing near me so all the gang are out and about. They need to forage.
Life is always hard in winter and I guess has ever been so! At least we still have plenty of food! A few bees have been venturing out despite the weather. They have the fondant to feed on so not sure what they are doing. Possibly getting water. Before long I will have to think about getting a second hive, ready for the swarming season! I do not want to lose my bees, they are so gentle.
Having a lazy Sunday, nice to do sometimes. I am happy sat by the fire doing my crochet. Sharing the sofa with two dogs and a cat! Think I may have a glass of wine with Sunday dinner!

Wednesday 11 January 2017

Rebel in the camp!

It is now six weeks since my chickens were locked in. During that time I have read lots about bird flu and obeyed the orders. I have also been out and about and have seen no end of chickens, ducks and geese out in fields. I have checked with my vet who confirmed there are no cases of bird flu anywhere near. Meanwhile my poor chickens are miserable. The ducks, in the time they shared the space have reduced the run to a mud bath with no grass left. So after much thought I took the decision ten minutes ago to let the chickens out. They are now happily foraging the way they are meant to. I will not do this every day but just now and then whilst the lockdown continues. Obviously if any bird flu is found within 20 miles they will stay in!
The ducks and geese seem happy with their enclosure and as they tend to fly over the fences into the fields they are staying put! They are also happy in mud!
Work is continuing here slowly. It is very hard to be motivated at this time of year and we are surrounded by a sea of mud! The farmers are daily emptying the cow barns now and dumping the muck on nearby fields. This means endless muddy tractors on the roads that leave a trail of mud behind. Life in rural France is not all roses.
January seems to be passing fairly quickly and we are focusing very much on the end of February when the weather usually improves. I have so much I want to do in the garden but due to rain, fog and freezing temperatures cannot get out there.
The good news is though that I am getting on well with the crochet along. The first week I have to do 20  rows and I am on row 14. The next lot of instructions come on Friday. I do not usually follow patterns so this is a challenge. It is a wave pattern and there are definetly waves there! I have so much wool to make into throws it will keep me busy for months!
I am sorry to say I have drifted a bit from my vegan eating. The cookery books I bought use a lot of weird ingredients I am not happy using. My main focus is to ditch chemicals and it has rather felt like I have increased them! I am mostly sticking to it but am not being strict! I feel no chemicals is more important.
I have recently bought online some organic vegetable, chemical free shampoo and conditioner. It was not very cheap but fits in with what I am trying to achieve. As my makeup is finished I am doing the same with that. I am curently using an organic eye liner! I am still trying to make as much as I can myself. My ideal is to only buy basics from shops, nothing ready made.
I am also sticking to a tight budget in order to be able to save. It is rainy day money but I feel happier knowing I have a bit put by. I will never save as much as I did when working but am happy with this. A simple life all the way!

Saturday 7 January 2017

Life is beginning to return to normal

Saw the surgeon this week who said that him indoors can start gently getting back to work. Another 20 sessions of physio ordered and see him again mid February. Him indoors is now fully driving again which has made a huge difference.
Last Thursday the four of us went to Laval ( a big town an hour away) to see the new Star Wars film in English. They call it version original here. When we bought the tickets the cashier delighted in telling us ( in French) that is was American not English! I bit my tongue and refrained from saying that although it was an American film the language is English. Fortunetly people like him are rare.
Beside the four of us there were four others in the cinema! Daughter took a photo and sent it to friends in England! We then went and found a KFC for dinner. I had a box of chips as there was nothing for me! The others enjoyed it though. Funny thing happened..whilst we were sitting eating, a mouse ran across the floor! I seem to have developed the famous French shrug! We all enjoyed the entire evening, it felt like dipping our toes in the world briefly.
Back at the ranch we have started laying the floor tiles in La Jonquille, the other end Gite. A couple of days should see that floor finished. Then we can go and buy the kitchen...I love trips to Ikea! Will have to make sure I save a bit of money for that. With him indoors driving again he took the trailer to the dump and emptied it. A much needed job. I can now break up the old duck house and get rid of it.
The weather is still very cold and often foggy. Due to no rain though there are no problems with icy roads.
Yesterday I started the crochet along, I have to do twenty rows this week and have done five already. The project is a throw done in the colours of the Yorkshire moors. Very different for me as I usually choose brighter colours. I am enjoying it so far and the more I do the easier it is to remember where I am! I do have rather a pile of unfinished projects just now. They will all be finished at some point!
I have been thinking about our soon to be lounge. The walls will be white and the beams stained dark oak. We will probably put down dark floor tiles as it is more practical living on a farm. We plan to build on porches back and front of the house to deal with muddy welly boots. I now think that I do not want set colours in the lounge. I have several multi coloured throws that give colour. I will have to give some thought to the curtains. I am excited to be finally thinking about a finished room. Not so far away now.
The chickens, ducks and geese are still confined sadly. We lost a duck this week, due I think to stress. I miss having them around the garden. It is much better now we have seperate areas. We now have Cluckingham Palace and Duckingham Palace !
This week we have revamped our website and sent out a mailshot to all previous visitors. We need more bookings this year.
Lots of positive stuff to keep us motivated during winter which is always hard here.

Monday 2 January 2017

Here's hoping all that is good happens in 2017

A quiet start here which is normal for this corner of the world. We are in a frozen wonderland at the moment. Lots of freezing fog which is not good but the trees look amazing. Like Narnia!
The ducks and geese have settled into their new home and seem happy. The white ones still look very muddy though. I am hoping the grass gets to regrow.
So, what will this year bring? Part of me is excited and part nervous. We still have the issues of Brexit  to deal with which is difficult as we have no idea of what to expect. So far bookings on the Gites is slow but we hope that will improve. At least now daughter has a job they are viable. We have our small private pensions that we can manage on if we are very careful. We budget just about everything but in planned for things do come up.
This week I need to sort out my glasses as I am not coping too well without my varifocals. I am hoping our top up insurance will pay for a replacement lens and specsavers will send it!
Plans for this year are big but then they always are. I know we will not achieve it all but will give it a go....
1. Finish Gites
2. Finish our house
3. Build duck and goose house
4. Build garden shed
5. Build/finish polytunnel
6. Re design veg patch to increase production.
I will keep you posted as to how we do!
It is always good to plan but important to not view as a failure if not all is completed. Life often gets in the way.
This week we have the hospital appointment with the surgeon regarding the arm of him indoors, phoned this morning to book the translator as know now the surgeon will not help.
Also have to take Bruno back to the vet to see how the infection is...I think it has cleared. Then physio restarts for him indoors and suddenly the first week of this year is over. So it goes!