June and lots of things have been happening

In spite of the lack of alcohol consumption, I have fallen twice since my last posting and am a little handicapped at  the moment.  The first time was just over a week ago when I got off my chair on the terrace and caught my flipflop in a leg of the stool and took a tumble.  There wasn't much space to fall into and as well as grazing my toes on my right foot, thumping my right knee  to a lovely bruise and bump and twisting my left foot, it seems from the pain in my right upper chest that I may have cracked a couple of ribs.  I am trying hard not to do sharp intakes of breath which are painful.  

Apparently, not content with this fall, I then tried climbing over a fence on the field to open a gate which had been wrongly closed.  I caught my trousers on the top of the fence and after friends has disentangled me I then fell backwards down the grassy slope trying to save myself by extending my left arm.  The pain from my wrist was something I never want to experience again.  After seeing my GP, piggy-backing on appointment a friend had, she wrote a letter for the hospital as she was sure it was broken.  We spent hours at the hospital waiting around in various departments.  The x-ray showed no fracture but apparently a fractured scaphoid bone doesn't necessarily show up for about ten days.  A splint type support, very effective, was applied to my wrist and a prescription for an icepack and painkillers were given, together with a letter for an x-ray after ten days had passed.

  

I can't believe how much I, as a right-handed person, depend upon my left hand.  Opening a toothpaste tube, a cat food can, grinding pepper and salt, cutting bread, hanging laundry on the line - everything seems to rely on the fact that we have two hands.  As I write, I have no pain from my wrist unless I do something with it, so that is an improvement - I am having to type with one hand though.  End of moan!

Apparently, France has more roundabouts than any other European country.  I love the way the Bretons do their roundabouts. This is one in Carhaix where they have a well-known music festival each year - Les Vielles Charrues - I love it!

My neighbours are very interested in life in the village ..

Other neighbours have goats tethered around to keep the grass and brambles in check. This is Blanchette with one of her three babies.

They're very nervous and won't be stroked.

Everything is taking off in the polytunnel now and I have been eating strawberries most days.  Here is a giant one amongst the normal sized.  I have learned to put the developing fruit on upturned plant trays to stop the slugs getting to them.

I found the one Indian Runner duck I have on the field unable to stand at all and had to bring her down to the kitchen for a while.  I kept her first in a cat carrier and then in a dog carrier.  This prevented her from trying to use her legs.  After  4-5 days of enforced rest she recovered and is now back on the field and pond again.

It has been a month for bird problems.  Two hens who had been fighting over sitting on some eggs finally hatched a chick who they both chaperone everywhere - very funny watching their attentiveness.

Unfortunately, when a second chick hatched they attacked it and I had to bring it down to be with me in the house.  She is named Annie (orphan Annie) and spends the night in a brooder in the kitchen but the daytime finds her either sitting on my shoulders or following me around in the garden and house.  She is very sweet and has totally imprinted on me as her Mum.

The three cats, Claude, Purrdy and Grace are afraid of her which is amusing but good news for her.   Hopefully in a month or so I will be able to put her in with the garden hens without her being mortally wounded.  

Here is Purrdy feeling like I often do.

Lots of lovely blooms in the garden and the village at the moment 

SuperU, my local supermarket, had a quarter of their fish counter devoted to spider crabs when I visited last week.  They are sold live, but I asked if they could cook one for me as they were so large I didn't have a pan big enough at home.  I collected it the following day and dressed it .  I had it mixed with piment paste and Hellman's mayo - heaven!

And lastly, my grandson, nine years old and his first real haircut - he's going to break a few hearts further down the line.

Three things I like:

1. Finally getting the strimming done on the field by my latest Workaway, from Switzerland.

2.  Getting the confirmatory all clear for cancer after my colonoscopy on Friday.

3.  Sunbathing in the beautiful Brittany sunshine and getting the first layer of tan!

Hearts and flowers

On the Tuesday before last the weather was horrid so perfect for doing a craft course with Annie Winch over near Merléac.  Charlotte, one of my Workaways joined me and we had a happy time learning to make hearts out of paper napkins, wood and ribbons.  

We were just a small group and it was a lovely atmosphere.  Annie runs lots of different workshops and I would recommend her for a really pleasant crafting time with coffee and cake too!
















We've been working hard clearing up the field and finding bits and pieces which just might be useful in the insect hotel project. 

Earlier last week, my two Workaways carried the extremely heavy case down from the barn where it had been used as a perch for the hens, so needed quite a bit of glueing together and cleaning up before being painted in the garage.

It's 228 cms high and 50 cms wide so a large

structure and it will take some time to find all the bits and pieces to insert to make homes for lots of different bugs. 




I have two clematis flowering in the garden now against the house.   The third, which has a tremendous amount of growth is later flowering.  




















The wisteria is just beginning to bloom and the red hot pokers are flowering in the main bed in the garden.

We, by which I mean the Workaways, have taken the field rubbish to the décheterie and then driven on to collect twenty 20kg sacks of animal feed. Unfortunately, the French highways department failed to put a sign at the exit on the N164 before the one we wanted, to inform us that the next exit was closed.  We had a huge diversion down uncharted territory to get to the supplying farmer.  Luckily it was dry and we didn't have to cover the sacks with a tarp.  We spent the rest of the morning driving back and unloading the feed before loading the trailer again with a very old and very heavy freezer, previously used for storing feed, for another journey to the tip.  The only thing that needs sorting now is the old storage caravan.

We went over again to friends to collect yet more of their horse manure which had to be shovelled into the trailer and then out again on our return.  I did no shit-shovelling but felt for those who were having to work so hard!

To finish, photos of the French chap who takes his three little Shetland ponies, goat and dog for a long walk often past my field.  Here they're grazing on the verge while I chat to their owner.





Three things I like:

1.   Drying my washing outside in the open air again now the warmer weather is here.
2.   Getting rid of all my current rubbish to the décheterie.
3.   Having all my animal feed containers full to bursting again.

May - warmer weather and things getting done

I'm glad to say I have Workaways here again,  and here they are by the pergola with Gavin who has undergone a bit of a makeover, and not before time.   So here are Ashley from Brooklyn, Gavin from St André, Johan and Charlotte from the UK.  

I think he's looking rather dishy now ...

Saturday, 7 May was World Naked Gardening Day. Never one to shy away from a challenge - although perhaps I should have done - I was photographed gathering rhubarb - scroll past this bit quickly if you are of a sensitive nature!

It was also the day of a bowls match between my club St Gelven and the other Brittany indoor bowls club at Ploerdut.  I played in a triples match with Mavis and John.  We won our match and I understand that overall St Gelven had the better competition day on this occasion.

In the middle of the week, I had another visit from my two new bee friends, Jane and Alan.  We put honey supers onto the three good hives, marked a queen and they also brought me four, what are hopefully, fertile hen eggs which I have put under two broody bantams in my garden chicken house.  Fingers crossed.

Today was the annual Plant Sale with Crafts at Silfiac.  I took precautions this year and placed three collapsible crates into the back of the Land Rover to prevent soil spillage in case I bought anything.  Lol - obviously I succumbed as usual and came home with cistus, echiums, cotoneaster, wild garlic, Batavia lettuce seedlings etc. etc.  Suffice to say that it needed three trips back to the vehicle during the visit.  I have planted out the lettuce but now have a garage full of plants for the Workaways with me to plant out during the apparently rainy day we're going to have tomorrow.  In fact from the BBC Weather forecast it doesn't look like a good weather week at all for Brittany.  I also met again the American lady who collected my sheep fleeces last year and she will be happy to have them this year too - a little more room in my garage.

I am very pleased to report that my dear friend, June, has returned home and is feeling much better than before she had her stent fitted nine days ago.  It looks as if she may well be on track for her visit to Brittany in June.  I've also just booked the ferry for my oldest son and one of his housemates to come over at the same time as we all get on well and had a good time last year together here.

With the strong arms of the Workaways we went over to friends, Jac and Ken to collect a trailer load of manure to compost down, courtesy of their heavy horse.  Here is Oscar being rewarded for his production!

The watercress dropped into the fish pond in April is growing well and I'll soon be able to harvest it.  It came from a neighbour's stream which is absolutely burgeoning with it and really seems to do well amongst the fish.

One project I am hoping to get underway is that of making an insect refuge for the garden.  I just happen to have the cabinet from a grandfather clock - currently in the barn - and rather like the idea of using that as the outside casing.  It is more than two metres high so I am trying to find the most suitable location for it before starting on the renovation of the cabinet and the construction of the inside compartments.  I am really looking forward to embarking on this and am busy gathering suitable materials to house the various bugs that I hope will be attracted to what will be a very superior dwelling.

Three things I like:

1.   Having Workaways again - the company and so many task being completed.
2.   The trees getting their leaves and my world here turning a beautiful fresh green.
3.   Being able to plant out the veggies which I started off in the polytunnel.

Bees, bees, bees and other happenings in St André

Yet another six weeks has zipped on past and I see that I didn't manage to get anything into this blog in April.  Not sure where the times disappears to but I never seem to have much of it spare.

I had a surprise call from the daughter, Fiona, of an old friend at the beginning of April.  I used to babysit her years and years ago and had only seen her once since she was a child - she is now 50! although she certainly doesn't look it.  She, her partner and two dogs arrived to stay for a night and it was lovely to see her again and reminisce.

On 5 April my first two bee hives arrived, courtesy of collection by Johannes from the Lanrivain end of my lane.  He has Warré hives and so is used to dealing with bees in transit.  These are the usual French Dadant hives and I was so pleased to see them in the designated area which is fenced off in the corner of the sheep field.  

A new bee friend, Lorna, came and gave her help and expertise the following two days, as we dealt with hives which were really in poor condition.  The grey hive has almost no bees and certainly no queen.  The vendor should be ashamed the way he has kept these hives, never mind selling them on to a new keeper.  We went shopping and bought new perforated baseboards, crown boards and other bits and pieces which have almost all been incorporated into the hives.  I was stung twice on the left foot having soft boots on instead of wellies, not a mistake I will make again.

As I usually do, I returned in early April to Cornwall to see the family and celebrate my birthday, 69 this time.   I stayed with Matthew, my oldest son - he gives up his ensuite room for me - there are advantages in being old!

He has been doing major construction work at his new home and I am really proud of his achievements.  His friends have been working hard there too - although here is a relaxing moment.

My daughter's main pressie to me was my first bee related item for the house, a beautiful jug covered in bees, which has pride of place on my dresser.  Later in the week I found a beehive honey pot in a charity shop and couldn't resist it.  

I had a busy but good week there with lots of eating out and in, seeing friends and working a little on my daughter, Libby's new allotment.  

The weather was kind and when I returned to St André my tulips on the terrace had come further into bloom and were making a wonderful show.  I just love this colour.

A couple of weeks ago, I managed to contact a couple, Alan and Jane, near the north coast who thought they would have a nucleus for each of my new bright pink painted hives.  They came down on the last Saturday in April, bringing the bees with them and lots of advice and help.  

I was extremely jealous of Jane's beautiful pink beesuit - I had no idea it was possible to buy this colour.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed spending most of the day working in the hives and watching the bees going about their daily tasks.  Quite a few of them had pollen on their legs so they are already managing to find suitable flowers.  There are lots of dandelions and celandine out on the verges and fields so they should be fine as more and more come into bloom with each warmer day.  I spent the rest of the day cleaning off a honey super ready for painting and gave it three coats of paint along with another new bare wood super.

I have been painting supers ready to go on top of the brooders and this morning I painted the wooden part of the roof on the blue hive as it hadn't been done.   Three coats of eco paint done in the early morning sunshine and I'll be able to put it back on the hive this evening.

One of my dearest friends, June, had two heart attacks this week and I was very worried as she went into Harefield Hospital's operating theatre for a stent procedure.  I am glad to report that she was sitting up and smiling soon afterwards and all my worry was for nothing.  I am very grateful to her daughter's for keeping me in the picture.  I do hope she will be recovered well enough to come over for her usual June visit to me.

My lovely Breton neighbours, Ronan and Fanny, had a new baby on Monday this week.  He was nearly 4 kilos, born by Caesarian and is called Nathan.  He joins his two brothers, Nolan and Ewan and this morning I was invited over, with other neighbours, Paulette and Christian, to wet the baby's head with champagne.  I was allowed to cuddle him for most of the visit and he was just lovely.

Glad to report that I have two lots of Workaways arriving this week.  A young Irish couple who will be here for a few weeks and an American girl who is just staying for two days.  I have a long list of things for them all to do and can't wait to be able to cross off lots of items.

I saw the proctologist (bum consultant) last week and he has booked me in for another colonoscopy for 3 June.  This is just to check out the bowel inflammation I have.  I am assured that whatever may be causing it will not be malignant as nothing showed up on the Petscan I had.  I feel well, in spite of the rotten cold I managed to catch in the UK, and seem to have boundless energy again.  Life is good.

Three things I like:

1.   Holding new babies who smell just delightful.
2.   Watching my new bees flying in and out of their bright pink hives.
3.   Making new friends with my new interest in bees.

Chicks, veggies and better weather

The weather has moved on, thank goodness, and we have had several dry days in a row. Not only dry but actually sunny and pleasant enough to sit out and talk to the hens and duck on the field or to enjoy a drink on the terrace - I can almost believe that Spring really will be here soon.

This warmth has encouraged the seeds I have sown in the polytunnel and there are lots of green shoots in most of the trays. 

The tiny lettuce plants are growing and my purple sprouting broccoli is continuing to provide me with delicious plates of gorgeousness. Leeks and beetroot planted last year are still going great guns and now the rhubarb is sufficiently long to pick and simmer to luscious tenderness.  I love this time of year.

Martha and Lisa have each given birth to a ram lamb.  Lisa's lamb is an enigma as both she and the Daddy, Ricardo, are large white sheep, yet her lamb is a small black Ouessant type, as Martha's is but then Martha is a small black Ouessant - the indigenous Breton sheep.

The seven chicks born on 11 February are thriving and now enjoying the barn and field. This week I've had more eggs hatching in the kitchen incubator and so far the count is up to twelve with possibly one more egg looking as if a chick may emerge.  

They are so fluffy and round - I just love them!

Two donkeys in the lane whom I saw on the way back from Bowls 

and a very full stream along the side of the road.

A cow and some gorse in my hamlet in the sunshine.

I have a fairly good sized duck pond but for some reason Domy likes to wash and enjoy herself in an old bath which is really for collecting water to irrigate the veggies.

Having aperitifs and a serious conversation with neighbours in St André.

One thing we didn't discuss was the American elections.  I sometimes wonder what the collective IQ of the US might be?  Horrifyinging to think that this ignorant man just could become the most powerful man in the world.

Apart from the seed sowing, lots of planting has been going on in both the garden and veggie patch during the last few weeks. I've planted onions, shallots, garlic, broad beans, thyme, a fig, a plum tree, a cherry tree, a thornless blackberry, raspberry canes and lastly,  these strawberries, in prepared pallets in the garden.

I am used to large eggs, obviously the goose egg at the right back is big - 152g - but I was amazed at the size of one of the hen eggs this week, front centre, which weighed in at exactly 100g!  I presume it will be a double yolker, but will probably blow it to be able to keep the shell.  I have blown ten goose eggs so far this year and have another ten in the rack waiting for some time to spend on doing them.  I have a decoration idea which I found on the internet - watch this space - one day!

My first two hives with bees will, hopefully, arrive during the Easter weekend, via a new friend who lives locally and who is an experienced beekeeper.  I will be going to my first class at a garden centre in Loudeac on Easter Saturday.  Getting excited now!

Three things I like:

1.   The warmer and drier weather.
2.   The sounds of cheeping in the kitchen.
3.   Receiving a pile of English newspapers from English neighbours who have a holiday home in the hamlet.