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FRANCE --March - April 2010
The end of March saw a return to France to see how the house had survived the winter months and to have an early session in the garden.
The journey down showed that, like nearly everywhere, France was also 2 or 3 weeks behind weatherwise. Silhouettes of twiggy trees - often with ivy, or balls of mistletoe - and pollarded stumps, stood out against the skyline.
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Over the next week or so blossom was more in evidence, and trees started to show green leaves. Signs that it was warming up were the appearance of lizards and butterflies. Sulphur yellow and Peacock butterflies were very evident.
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Wind power generation is now much more in evidence ........
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...................................... and ......... Cat on a hot tin roof ?
| I planted the geraniums against the
house wall behind the hyacinths and tulips, for
protection. But I doubt if there will be any further
frosts. They should be in bloom much earlier than last year, taking over with the campanula and other rock plants, as the bulbs decline. |
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Although there were some fine sunny days, most of the time it was real April style weather with sunshine and showers. Some days the wind was cold, other days fairly warm. Time was spent finishing off earlier projects indoors, and cleaning the main oil burning heating stove.
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In Gorron one evening there was a music concert, in which Megan played, and which later featured a visiting group of Cuban musicians.
Carys performed in a saxophone concert one Sunday afternoon, after a Sunday lunch, prepared in Sara and Tony's new kitchen.
| The local fioul
supplier had closed down, so one afternoon was spent
locating a new source for fioul and firing up the main
heater for a couple of days. I ended up in Lassay les Chateau, so a picture of the castle was inevitable. |
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The Mayenne Easter Monday market was well attended ... the usual fruit and vegetable market was expanded by some more interesting stalls, and livestock including rabbits, hens, ducks and more.
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Buy now for next Christmas ! ............................. Making Easter chocolate ware .....
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At the house the grass was given a first cut and a start made on the weeding, which should make future visits easier.
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The return to
Cherbourg was more colourful, the roadside lined with
with primroses, cellandine and in sunnier places the
gorse, hawthorn, apple, pear and cherry blossom was now
starting to show, with more green on the trees as leaves
started to appear. ( left ) My usual stop at St Jean de Daye picnic area and pond. |
And so back to Cherbourg .....
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Loading the Fastcraft ..... and powering home.