I don't usually like February. It always seems to me to be the most miserable month of the year for weather and I remember why I used to like to go to tropical climes at this time. However, this year we have had some extraordinarily warm weather which has been very welcome. The time it takes to travel to warmer places however, puts me off making the arrangements to go too far afield. By the time I have driven and been ferried back from Brittany to the UK, driven up to a London airport from Cornwall, waited for hours at the airport, done the eleven hour flight to Tobago, gone through immigration and taxied to the hotel, and then reversed all that coming home, I am ready for a holiday. Somehow it's easier to stay at home and keep feeding the woodburner.
The beginning of February saw two English Workaways arrive to help me, particularly up on the field. The weather forecast was dreadful so I couldn't see us getting much work done but luckily because of the dryer weather we did loads on the To Do List. Sunshine and blue skies have been de rigeur for a week or so. All the outside veggie beds have been prepared and the polytunnel beds too.
Pete and Ben have also replaced all the old raised bed frames with new timber which has not been an easy task as it was originally inserted when the concrete paths were poured.
Pete and Ben have also replaced all the old raised bed frames with new timber which has not been an easy task as it was originally inserted when the concrete paths were poured.
As I have been baking bread every other day with three mouths to feed, I have almost run out of Strong White Bread Flour and don't seem to have anyone coming over from the UK to replenish my store cupboard.
I may have to resort to French flour about which I had read dreadful hygiene comments in various Facebook groups. I did buy a bag of Francine multi-cereales flour and as soon as I got home I decided to decant it into a plastic lidded container. I am afraid to say that when I unrolled the fold of paper at the top of the bag, I found a live maggot wriggling free. Not a good experience and I now feel like buying bread until I find an English supply.
The girls have been laying better which is the norm as we get into February each year and I had five eggs from the nine garden hens today, the best so far this year. I have also had lots of duck eggs but am still waiting for the geese to start laying again. I have just brought in the incubator and filled it with eggs, so in 21 days ....
We had a Bowls Competition last week - each female had to play all of the other females and the same amongst the men. There was to be a final with the winning female playing the winning male. Phil won for the men but had an appointment to rush off to so the final has been deferred. To everyone's surprise, especially mine, I won all of my games with the girls and will therefore play against Phil in the final at some point.
Daffodils and crocus are popping up in the flowerbeds, just showing their colour but not open yet.
My neighbour's snowdrops are lightening up the area by their stream and are quite beautiful. I love seeing the gardens coming back into life again.
The gorse on the lane is brightening up the corner by the calvaire.
My neighbour's snowdrops are lightening up the area by their stream and are quite beautiful. I love seeing the gardens coming back into life again.
The gorse on the lane is brightening up the corner by the calvaire.
At this time of year, the mistletoe is silhouetted in the trees everywhere around here.
My unsuspecting sheep have now been shorn. The lovely New Zealand housecarers I had last April when I visited England, have returned this week for a couple of days visit and saw to Ricardo, Lisa and Martha. It's a bit early in the year, but it is mild at the moment and they do have a good shelter. Martha and Lisa are both pregnant and I can't wait to see the lambs.
Here Denis and Lynelle are attempting to get Lisa into the Land Rover
Lunch at Auberge de Guerledan with the Book Group and a good menu ...
We seem to touch on the books nowadays and the meetings now seem to be more about the lunch, which is all good!
Afterwards some of us visited the glass shop in Caurel and I seem to have signed up to do a glass fusion course when there are enough students to make it viable.
Three things I like:
1. Having surprise visit from friends - especially sheep shearers!
2. Sowing lots of my veggie seeds - seven trays are already showing little shoots.
3. Hearing the incubator in the kitchen and knowing that in three weeks there should be fluffy chicks.
