I know that this blog is sheep, sheep and more sheep, but I just couldn’t resist this view from our garden yesterday evening.
Up until now, I’ve always wondered why I never get anything done when the sheep are grazing next to the house.
But after a bit of soul-searching, I think it’s probably due to the fact that I just want to sit on a lounger on the terrace all day and watch them…
Happy Sunday!
Posted in a glimpse of France.., Counting Sheep, Farming | Tagged Farming, mountains, pastures, sheep | Leave a Comment »
There’s something deeply calming about our strolls to bring the sheep down from the mountain every evening. With only the dogs to keep us company it feels like we’ve escaped to another planet.
A very quiet planet where the Mistral gusts all year and nobody else exists.
The sheep are never in much of a hurry to come back down to the barn and reality. They would much rather stay up there for ever.
And sometimes I think I can understand why.
Posted in a glimpse of France.., Counting Sheep, Farming | 2 Comments »
The house has just been flooded and I can think of nothing that could bring me out of blogging hibernation quicker. Coming home from work and shopping to find neighbours sweeping water out of the front door has that sort of effect on me.
A localised storm to end all storms hit us on Thursday evening. Hurricane force winds, chunks of ice and from what I have heard 2 inches of rain all hurtled from the sky in the space of 10 minutes. The drains blocked almost immediately and streams overflowed. All the water and mud from what seems like half a mountain came straight in through our front door and out the back.
Driving up the lane avoiding uprooted trees, the extent of the devastation didn’t really hit me. Nor did it when I brought my shopping into the porch and saw my mother-in-law mopping up the hall. A bit of water must have seeped under the door I thought. It didn’t really hit me either when I picked my way through the sediment and bits of straw still floating in the lounge.
It was only when I made it to the bedrooms and opened my wardrobe door that gale force shock kicked in. The shoes at the bottom of the cupboard were hidden in silt and muck. And it was the same in every room.
I don’t remember putting my shopping down. Apparently I left it on the floor in all the water and mud. Somebody kindly put it outside for me and when I found it much later the ice creams had melted.
I can’t say I cried. I made myself a cup of tea, found a mop and snivelled for the remaining two hours it took to get rid of the water and clean until the tiles on the floor were visible.
We were very lucky – the water hadn’t risen above the height of the plinths. The house had been saved from greater damage by our front door and a neighbour. When he saw the 15 inches of water accumulating in the porch he’d grabbed a bucket and started to bail. A team of us cleaned 12 hours yesterday and the house has probably never been cleaner. Today I will sort through all the damaged stuff which is out waiting in the garden.
At the moment I’m still in shock, but I hope that one day I’ll be able to laugh about it and say to the kids “It’s going to storm later, don’t leave anything lying on the floor…”
Posted in a glimpse of France.., Desperate Housewives, Family Stuff | Tagged Alps, flood, flooding, hail, house, storm, water | 3 Comments »
It’s hard to believe that this little chap..
looked this just a few weeks ago..
In a very short time he has become one of the more endearing aspects of the farm, as if 280 lambs weren’t enough. Don’t be taken in though. It may not seem like it, but but all this joie de vivre hides a darker side. This is a dog on a mission – cute enough to break your heart one moment…
and your piggy bank the next..
What is it about dogs and new shoes?
Lucky they were sill attached to my feet at the time. In a few days, I’ll probably have to start searching the surrounding fields for a water-logged left shoe, with missing sole, chewed-out laces and extra breathing room for toes.
If anyone finds it, please let me know.
Posted in a glimpse of France.., Dogs, Farming, the Alps | Tagged Alps, Ariegois, Dog, France, puppy, shoes | 7 Comments »
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