July.....already

Early sunflowers

The days are already getting shorter already!  We have seventeen bookings and it's going to be busy, all gites will be occupied at the weekend.  We have a few quiet days before then, so I am taking the opportunity to clear the solar farm area and pool bank, as the orchids have flowered and have produced seed.  Also the odd dip in the pool!

Road from Lautrec

The swimming pool is 28 degrees, and a must on a hot day.  Temperatures are building and we will be well over 30 degrees this week, with the odd thunderstorm cooling us down.  We have had rain in the night and the grass is still growing, well, the weeds, another mow!  Today is a beautiful clear blue sky with a promise of 34 degrees.  The valley is very green and crops are growing fast.  Combine harvesters are everywhere and the grain crops are being harvested. 

Fab fish

Market under the Cathedral

Great fresh produce

I had a very successful trip to Le Mans, saw Charlie in his play (he was excellent even though I say it myself) and we all spent time with Grandad.  The drive up was fine, I stayed in Limoges on the way and had a great supper at Le Provencal.  On the way back I drove the whole way in about nine hours with a few coffee breaks and lunch,  Tom really enjoyed his burger with chorizo!  However, some urchin managed to get in my diesel tank and when I filled up diesel went everywhere, but in the tank.  I managed to push the blockage into the tank (probably a sweet wrapper) and fill up.  So far no issues.  

I enjoyed the Market Des Jacobins, which is huge and held in the large square under the Cathedral of Saint Julian of Le Mans.  We bought fruit, macaron and empanada to have for breakfast at the bistrot des jacobins.  There was also a vide grenier opposite where I purchased a small glass cabinet.  This will house my nature finds. 

Lunch today at the chateau, I have heard that beef bourguignon will be served with plenty of wine.  It should be a fun afternoon.  The sad news is one of my group of friends will not be there as he has been diagnosed with cancer.  I collected him in mid June from Toulouse airport, where he appeared tired.  Now he is mostly bed ridden, eats very little and has lost a lot of weight.  The outlook is not great, the doctors will treat him and his sons and daughter have spent the past few weeks looking after him.  I drop in for a chat most days.

The golden oriole is whistling across the valley and a lot of birds are nesting with second broods.  This year, a white wagtail has nested, at La Bastide, I think in the roof of the Grange.  I see the parents catching flies for their chicks.  The nest I found in the box elder tree turned out to be a goldfinch, when I found it there were two eggs, however, since then the chicks have fledged.  Partridge now have young in the lanes and we had five hoopoe on the road to La Bastide.  A second family group!  The bad news is I lost a chicken then a duck in their run, probably a beech martin.  I found a hole in the wire (now covered up) so I hope that stops the marauding.  In the future, I will get another running duck and two Coucou de Rennes (Marrans) to replace the losses. 

Fish and prawn stew with saffron potatoes

The gites are busy and I am still getting bookings for August.  I offer guests a first night meal, either bangers and mash (Toulouse sausage with mash and onion gravy), cabecou goat cheese on roasted vegetables, roast chicken with lemon, garlic and flageolet beans and a fabulous fish stew, care of the Hairy bikers.  It will be a great season with all gites in use. I am very pleased with the gardens that I re-planted, lavender of different types are now flowering and smell divine.  I have heard they help you sleep, so have planted some in all the gite gardens.

Pork with cannelloni stuffed with truffle

Great cheese

The end of the month meant a visit to my favourite restaurant in Lautrec " Le Jardin du Clocher" with friends from the UK (they live 40 minutes away some of the time) and Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.  The food, wine and service as impeccable as ever.  We enjoyed gazpacho and garlic soup, great duck, fish and beef and super desserts.  I had a great pork dish and of course had the cheese plate, as I have stopped buying as much at the market.

Cheese of another kind

This weekend is the three day Puycalvel fete, starting with a night of Belote (similar to whist).  Then two days of bands, and DJs.  Saturday night - sausage, chips and apéro food plates.  Sunday apéro, lunch, skittles then more bands into the night.  We will leave at 3:30 as Tom has a 16th birthday bash, with friends.  Swimming, trampoline, BBQ then gaming, probably through the night.  Monday a full English breakfast once they all emerge!

August will be busy with guests and the bread and garlic festivals and my favourite tractor fair in Cuq with old cars, beer, food and fun.

You can never have enough sunflower pictures