March 2023

Almond tree flowering

Little rain since Christmas is not looking good for farming, although apparently the Tarn has had its average rainfall.  I still think we will have water bans due to the dry summer of last year.  The farmers agricultural ponds are low still and we will need a month or so of rain to fill them up.  The lake at the bottom of the hill is at last filling up, better for the fish and farmer.

The good news is I found my first duck egg today, so hopefully the other three ducks will follow the lead.  One duck Bob" now Bobby has flown out of the enclosure a few times,  I have too remember not to let out the dog at feeding time!

Cowslips

Almond Blossom

Spring is well on the way with violets blooming, the scent wafting on the breeze as you get close. The first celandines are appearing on the banks and cowslips are appearing in the ditches.  Daffodils have sprouted up and are flowering.  There are buds on the apricot, almond and plum trees, and all will bloom soon.  The cherry tree will bloom this month.  I heard my first warbler, a Blackcap singing on 21st.  It's a great time of year with longer days and more outdoor activities.  I have noticed a proliferation of orchids in the grass, on banks and think it will be a bumper orchid year!

I had planned a trip to Portugal, in April for a friends 64th birthday, but the weekend coincides with the school holiday, so will stay at La Bastide and we will plan some fun trips out instead.

All the kids are growing up fast.  Tom will be sixteen this year, Charlie fourteen (both are taller than Janine)  Evie will be twelve.  It is Charlie's birthday on 16th and he has a new phone from us.

Last night we had a little rain and a thunderstorm with lots of lightning.  Windy today, but dry.  The weather in the UK is a lot worse with disruptive snow over most of the country.  Friends went for a trip to the UK arriving in Ramsgate the first week of March, they plan to drive to Wales, which seems to have some of the worst snow conditions!  Today is warmer, but more rain is on the way.  The top temperature this week was 26 degrees so apero was outside.

Laundry room

I am getting ready for the season and have ordered a new slide and swing, trampoline cushion, gazebo roof and new recliner cushions.   They should all arrive next week.  The trampoline will get a new lease of life as it will also have a new safety net.  We have nine bookings starting in May and I am answering questions from prospective holidaymakers most days.  I have added our gites to AirBnB, so we now have VRBO, AirBnB, our website and France for families.  I think we will have a good season with more bookings soon.  Before the season starts, I plan to paint the play barn,  linseed oil the wood furniture and play tower, so I had better get my finger out.

I am doing yoga every few days and walking the dog.  Yesterday, we walked to Bald Hill and saw that Sounal the local farmer, had planted a new hedge.  It was being watered by Sounal and his mum (in her seventies).  I hope it survives the drought!  On the other side of Bald hill he has planted six rows of trees.  I'm not sure what they are yet, but will ask him at the Easter Pâques.

Roe deer buck and four hinds

After the surprise of the male merlin, I keep an eye out for other winter visitors, this week I saw a Black winged kite hunting over La Bastide, a Great white egret and a warbler passing through (it looked like a willow or chiffchaff).  Roe deer are often seen in the field below the house - grazing.

Chicken and duck update

The ducks are laying sporadically and with the chickens, I get around twenty plus eggs a week.  I am sure they will soon be more reliable, as the days lengthen.  I have even started to give some away to my neighbours.  I am pretty sure Bobby is laying small white eggs, so there will be up to four ducks and two chicken eggs once they start to lay daily.

Good news is that the defective laptop will be delivered back from HP today, it has now arrived with a scratch on the screen!  HP will recollect and replace!  Tom will be pleased when it is returned.

As I write the sun is shining, daffodils nod slowly in the light wind and the almond tree has flowered and the sweet smell of almonds is on the air.  I have been up since 6:30, watched the Oscar winners, had coffee, now yoga, before breakfast.  Duck eggs of course.

The clocks go forward tonight, so I will not be up as early tomorrow.

Focus on Puycelci

What a view from the ramparts

My photos could never do justice to this amazing village, I visited with friends last May, so I found a video on YouTube.  Watch here :- Puycelci.  

According to Wikipedia:  Puycelsi is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.  It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association.  It had 449 inhabitants in 2017.

Puycelci is a Bastide town going back to the 10th century, and rebuilt after 1950.  It is perched on a high hill, it's under an hours drive from La Bastide, and a short uphill walk, but well worth a visit for the amazing views and architecture 14th, 15th and 16th century.  We wandered, exploring this old Bastide for a few hours, enjoying the views and architecture.  Always something interesting around each corner.

Pork with chimichurri

Beetroot starter

The restaurants are great.  But you will need to book as they get very busy even in May!  I used TripAdvisor to pick one and we were not disappointed. "Au Cabanon" was justifiably Number One in Puycelci, the beetroot starter, unusual but delicious!  I had the pork with chimichurri, yum.  It has a great vibe, the staff friendly and informative with fantastic recommendations for food and wine to enjoy with it.  What a location, great to explore after a superb lunch.

Typical street

Up the hill and back again

Another restaurant