and it’s all going well.

Blog 31 / December 2015

 

 

Although our life in France is mainly focussed on our garden, our home and our dog it is important to acknowledge that our children do fill the gaps. This week we got this picture from Australia. Our grandson Toby crossed legged on the floor hand rearing an abandoned kitten. Our daughter Debbie volunteers to care for abandoned animals at all stages of their lives and she seems to have new born kittens in house most of the time. There is an old dog watching Toby who Debbie has already repaired and cared for after he was abandoned and I believe he may find a home with her as he is so old and has slipped comfortably into the Pearse household. We love to get news from our children and although ­we can’t hug, and physically support we can still love and be proud.

 

An invite out to dinner at Carol and Trevor’s and at the end of the meal, which was delicious,  Trev wanted us to see his latest Christmas decoration.  Mike and I can be a little humbug at times, especially as December has only just reared its head, but this sort of yule tide enthusiasm is contagious and I did find myself loving the Christmas village all lit up with Christmas tunes to sing along to .

 

 

 

Mike got into full swing and I caught him talking about ‘the one that got away’….let’s hope he was talking about the fishing,  a good night out, full of fun and laughs.

 

 

 

St Mere Eglise had a Sunday afternoon concert at the Biscuiterie so we decided to show up and see what’s what with Graham and Ann.  We were however, certainly not disappointed as Mary and the Bugs were playing and a good crowd were there to appreciate the spectacle. We found a table and sat together on a blustery, grey Sunday having a hoot

 

 

 

My big boy here wants to know what we are going to do with these huge pumpkins because they make great play things. Sadly, the truth is, I have no idea.  We’ve decided we do not like pie or soup. Pumpkins are great fun to grow and we will collect seeds for next year from one of these but what to do now ? …….decorate with tinsel for Christmas seems like a good idea.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike made a good start on the new camper parking and dug his way into the potager to start preparing the entrance

 

Once he was through he cracked on to get the gradient right so we can back the camper in. As I watched him digging, it occurred to me that we would never have been able to consider this level of landscaping without the digger. Many years of mike’s pleading and convincing has come to fruition and I have nothing but good things to say about it.  Mike is now getting skilled up to face something big and beautiful and extensive in the garden in 2016…….

 

 

We can now see the space available to get the camper in and although Mike feels it will be tight, it will not be impossible. Come the spring, when we change the barn roof this job can be completed and give the covered area we need with all the vehicles Mike is accumulating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally I am back on the window painting game. I tried to motivate myself all summer to get the downstairs windows repaired and painted but it just did not happen….. Too many other lovely things to do while the sun is out. We decided to set up the middle bedroom as a workshop again and things are now rocking and rolling. These here will be done for Christmas and then I have two other sets to complete the house. There are two doors and my sewing room but a fresh strategy will need to be agreed before we can start those.  Mike has got a fundamental hate of white gloss paint and although he wants to help we have discovered that if he prepares I can finish so that is the way it is going, and it’s all going well.