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We're in late Autumn and after the significant variations in the weather over the year it now feels more settled, although we have had a couple of days of snow - but only settling in places over 300 metres (we're @ 500 metres). Some modest falls of rain have turned the parched, brown grass suddenly green … and it has formed carpets of very fine, light grass that are Spring-like. And there are many more fungi, suddenly rising from the grass and in amongst the falling leaves in the hedgerows. Readers of this Blog will know that at about this time I usually ramble on about fungi and post photographs of the more wacky examples - so, why change an established practice (see below!). The leaves are now in full Autumn colour and starting to fall - and if we have a patch of colder weather then down they will come and it will be a couple of days of serious leaf gathering.
I can see from the photos of the mushrooms I have just loaded that they don't look that striking … but in reality they are! Truly!! There are a lot of 'faery rings', although very few of the rings are finished - these faeries are just not 'completer finishers', that's their trouble.
Because of the warm conditions these last few weeks, with some rain and the 'return of the grass', it has been possible for the local farmers to put the cows out to grass again. It has been a very difficult summer for them, losing at least one grass crop and having to use winter feed in advance of actual winter - so, a 'double whammy' in terms of costs. The cattle are, in the main, Aubrac breed - very fine, large animals, with gentle 'faces' and large, usually unclipped horns'. We have taken some photographs of our neighbour's cows and have made some poster-size prints for the new Garden Studio - it seems fitting to retain the link to the fact that it was a cattle barn:
Because of the warm conditions these last few weeks, with some rain and the 'return of the grass', it has been possible for the local farmers to put the cows out to grass again. It has been a very difficult summer for them, losing at least one grass crop and having to use winter feed in advance of actual winter - so, a 'double whammy' in terms of costs. The cattle are, in the main, Aubrac breed - very fine, large animals, with gentle 'faces' and large, usually unclipped horns'. We have taken some photographs of our neighbour's cows and have made some poster-size prints for the new Garden Studio - it seems fitting to retain the link to the fact that it was a cattle barn:
Over our time here we have felt that life is still genuinely geared to the seasons. In terms of the climate, the seasons are quite distinct, but also the way in which people live their lives is still seasonal. There are many pressures on this, from climate change and from the way in which 'globalisation economics and commercialism' would have us believe that it is a benefit to have everything all the time, regardless of the seasons. We hope the attachment here to the seasons remains, it feels both 'real' and comforting.
And on the subject of what the weather has brought this year - the summer was so hot and dry that our supplier of wood for our woodstoves has had a problem with his wood getting too dry ( not an issue when we lived in North Devon!) - so, when we went to negotiate the delivery of the wood for this Autumn, he was very careful to explain that he had set aside wood that was at the correct humidity (and we trust him, and it did not feel 'propre' to stick our humidity meter into some logs. So, the wood for this Winter has been delivered, about 8 tonnes of it, and it was good exercise to get it into the woodstore:
And on the subject of what the weather has brought this year - the summer was so hot and dry that our supplier of wood for our woodstoves has had a problem with his wood getting too dry ( not an issue when we lived in North Devon!) - so, when we went to negotiate the delivery of the wood for this Autumn, he was very careful to explain that he had set aside wood that was at the correct humidity (and we trust him, and it did not feel 'propre' to stick our humidity meter into some logs. So, the wood for this Winter has been delivered, about 8 tonnes of it, and it was good exercise to get it into the woodstore:
There's something reassuring, in a primeval way, to getting the wood in …. wood stoves might be pretty 'low-tech', but they sort of just work, regardless of all the other, 'technical stuff'.
The unusual weather during the year has meant that Autumn fruit harvests have been unpredictable. Across the piece harvests have been early - with 'hedgerow' fruits (like blackberries, damsons, sloes) ripening up to three weeks earlier than usual. Apple and pear crops have been very variable in quality, with smaller fruit. However, quinces (at least in our garden) have been prolific, with larger and more perfectly coloured fruit, that has made a beautiful, amber quince jelly and syrup:
Interestingly it looks like being a very high quality grape harvest in our Gaillac region. The very dry and hot summer contributed to an early maturity of the grapes with the first plots ready at the end of August. The dry weather of September contributed to an intense and fast harvest of high quality grapes with a very wide aromatic palette. The word is that the coloured and concentrated red grapes will produce structured and balanced wines with ripe fruit aromas with degrees often greater than 13 °. The rosé wines will be intense and fruity depending on the date of harvest and the winemaking process. The very aromatic white grapes promise fresh, fruity, varietal and balanced wines. This week we tasted some 'Gaillac Primeur' - it used to be the case that 'Vin Nouveau/Primeur' was limited to red wine, but now Gaillac is producing both red and white. The white that we tasted was very good indeed, with a 'petillant' freshness, but far more body and depth than one would expect - it will be interesting to see if it keeps at all. The red too was good, very fruity and robust, but with a softness that again one does not associate with a 'vin primeur'. The wines we tasted were selling for 10 euros a bottle at the restaurant we go to (The Hibou in Albi) and are @ 6 euros bought direct form the domain. It is not easy to find Gaillac wines in the UK and certainly not the 'primeur' (I would imagine) - but if you are over here in the next month or two, I would recommend you try them. By the way, there is a good article on Gaillac wines in Decanter Magazine here.
As Autumn heads on into Winter we have the routines we are starting to get used to. We like the celebration of All Saints' Day (known as 'La Toussaint' as it is in honour of all the saints, 'tous les saints'), when people in the countryside honour the lives of their deceased relatives and visit special church services and place flowers (usually chrysanthemums) on family graves. We place some flowers on the cross on the green in Le Bruel, just to acknowledge the tradition.
As Autumn heads on into Winter we have the routines we are starting to get used to. We like the celebration of All Saints' Day (known as 'La Toussaint' as it is in honour of all the saints, 'tous les saints'), when people in the countryside honour the lives of their deceased relatives and visit special church services and place flowers (usually chrysanthemums) on family graves. We place some flowers on the cross on the green in Le Bruel, just to acknowledge the tradition.
And it is time for farmers to prepare for Winter - so, hedges and verges are cut, drainage ditches cleared in anticipation of heavy rain, and the fumier (manure) will be spread on newly ploughed fields. It motivates us to try to get the garden into shape too, So shrubs and hedges are trimmed, so they are not too wild and woolly if snow comes; the grass has the final cut (we hope!) for this year;
drains and gutters are checked and repaired if necessary. We have also been repairing some of the really old doors on the barns, so they close properly and don't flap around in the wind …. and we have tried to retain the old wood, while making frames of new, strong wood.
drains and gutters are checked and repaired if necessary. We have also been repairing some of the really old doors on the barns, so they close properly and don't flap around in the wind …. and we have tried to retain the old wood, while making frames of new, strong wood.
Yes - before you comment, these are some of the doors after repair …. OK?!
We have also been finding time to make changes to our website, to include the new barn room - 'the Garden Studio', in time for people looking to book for next year … we have already had, rather to our surprise, some booking enquiries and confirmations. We're looking forward to the fibre optic connection (we're told it will certainly be before Christmas) so the process can be accelerated somewhat, as we have to do not only our own site but also make alterations to the Sawdays and France Voyage sites.
We have also been finding time to make changes to our website, to include the new barn room - 'the Garden Studio', in time for people looking to book for next year … we have already had, rather to our surprise, some booking enquiries and confirmations. We're looking forward to the fibre optic connection (we're told it will certainly be before Christmas) so the process can be accelerated somewhat, as we have to do not only our own site but also make alterations to the Sawdays and France Voyage sites.
Wildlife of Month
Well, although there have been all sorts of creature scuttling and flying around, preparing for Winter, I'm afraid it's one creature who, yet again, features on 'Wildlife of the Month' …. having just 'moved house', from one barn to another, just 100 metres away, it is:
The couple are still together, still making quite a racket in the daytime and early evenings - not sure if there have been any young ones, but they may be at Uni!
Visitor of the Month
A few weeks ago we had some very special visitors - granddaughter Sophia, with mum and dad, Amy and Lex. Sophia charmed our French neighbours, had some excellent walking practice, and built on a considerable gourmet capacity - we had a lovely time!
A few weeks ago we had some very special visitors - granddaughter Sophia, with mum and dad, Amy and Lex. Sophia charmed our French neighbours, had some excellent walking practice, and built on a considerable gourmet capacity - we had a lovely time!
And now, it's time for:
BREXIT!
No, can't do it - as Armando Iannucci said some time ago, it's gone way beyond satire.
In this week's febrile+ goings on one moment crystallised the madness ….. cutaway to a breathless news reporter on Breakfast Time - what were we about to hear? Could it be that Dominic Raaaaab had died of hypocrisy, or perhaps Jacob Rees-Mogg had imploded after hearing shoes would not be cheaper after Brexit ….. it's going to be something REALLY crucial, because there's been a long pause and we can hear John Humphries panting ……. YES - "Michael Gove has got into his car and is leaving his house …………………………………………………..!"
No, can't do it - as Armando Iannucci said some time ago, it's gone way beyond satire.
In this week's febrile+ goings on one moment crystallised the madness ….. cutaway to a breathless news reporter on Breakfast Time - what were we about to hear? Could it be that Dominic Raaaaab had died of hypocrisy, or perhaps Jacob Rees-Mogg had imploded after hearing shoes would not be cheaper after Brexit ….. it's going to be something REALLY crucial, because there's been a long pause and we can hear John Humphries panting ……. YES - "Michael Gove has got into his car and is leaving his house …………………………………………………..!"
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