What a wet end of April we have had. The month started out lovely with warm, dry sunny days but turned to a partial revival of 40 days and 40 nights stretching into May.

 It was quite miserable and disheartening during the rainy days but in every cloud there is a silver lining and ours turned into a tranquil lake across the lane. 

We know the wild life was not deterred by the showers as we could hear the pheasants Awk Awk-Yak in the field next to us. Also, Brian and Angus came across quite a few on their early morning walks, startling the heck out of each other. The doves are very vocal, morning to night and we often hear cuckoos singing KU- coo... they apparently have not all been made into Swiss clocks.

This is an Hoopoe which is a little smaller than the collared dove but much more attractive. They breed in central and southern Europe and winter in southern Europe and Africa. We had a few visits to our lawn where they pierced the ground with their long beaks in search of insects, but I couldn't get a decent photo. The males and females are identical and so exotic for a non tropical locale.

The side and back of our house were in need of pointing. Pointing is the art of removing the grout by chiseling it then brushing it out. The new mortar is spread into spaces between the stones and onto the stone themselves, then brushed off. The lime in the mix bleaches the stones making everything look newer. This process is necessary to maintain the integrity of the building and help to insulate the stone walls. Michelle, the artisan,  has been here longer than she had anticipated due to the bad weather and May holidays - more about those later. These are the photos of before and after of the side. The before pic looks a bit warped as I took four photos and stitched them together plus the stone looks a bit more yellow than it is. Nonetheless, the end result is very good.
Click to enlarge the photos

BEFORE
 

AFTER

                                  Michelle working on the side

Michelle working on the back

of the house   

 

 At the beginning of April we were invited by Penny and Robin, whom we had met in March, to lunch at their home in the next village. The food was wonderful - four courses  - the conversation fresh and interesting.


We purchased 2 lights for the kitchen and successfully - First Time Try - installed them all by ourselves - Yea! A major accomplishment for us. Brian repaired and stained some of the outbuilding doors making them darker with more contrast to the stone.


Once the days warmed Brian was finally able to mow the grass and I weeded, hesitant to pull anything which was unfamiliar. As the weeks have gone by it has been a treat watching the flowers which grow in the lawn change from just daisies and dandelions to include buttercups, tiny pink, blue and purple faced blossoms and now clover, white and purple, is flourishing. We have so many bushes, trees and plants it is almost a full time job looking after them but the gardens are starting to shape up and new plants seem to appear every day.


In the middle of April, on their first visit to France for the year, holiday home neighbors Judy and Ray dropped by one day to introduced themselves and invite us to aperitifs. We sat in their front lawn admiring the buds, drinking wine and soaking up the sunshine. They left a few days later, regrettably for us, taking the sunshine with them.

After the rains, the weeds are rampant but again I am careful to leave the unknown. I don't know the official definition of a weed but in our garden it is a plant which is intrusive and is of no interest to the bees. 

Not pulling everything has paid off in the form of strawberry plants, poppies, numerous perennials and wild flowers aka flowering weeds which help keep the obnoxious ones at bay. Snails are ever present munching the plant leaves and we have been told  the old folks of the village can be seen on their morning collections with buckets in hand. The snails are then 'cleansed' for two weeks feeding on herbs and lettuce to void any toxins, then may be enjoyed as Escargot de Bourgogne, a parsley, garlic and butter sauce. 

Our first harvest was rhubarbe picked this past Friday. One hour later Brian had made a rhubarbe crumble topped with crème fraîche which we and Michelle enjoyed in the warmth of the afternoon . Michelle took the rest home to cook for her family. Today Brian picked more and baked a rhubarb bread pudding topped with richer crème fraîche - it was soooo good.

       Tres yummy!                                          Brian and Angus w/BBQ

Brian had ordered a BBQ/Smoker. After it arrived and he had assembled it, he deemed it to be a piece of Chinese built merde and so he sent it back. He has subsequently purchased a BBQ which he hopes he can adapt to a smoker. If it is raining (rain? here?) the barn provides an adequate weatherproofed space to fire up the barbie.

We met Linda and Rod, owners of the gite where we stayed for four months, their daughter and a gite guest at the annual Château de Verteuil Exposition Florale with its copious, colorful plants for sale in the château parc. 

It was a cloudy, windy day with moments of sunshine. 

11th Century

We had agreed to meet after the show at a local restaurant, La Porte Bleue, but as we congregated the rain began sweeping sideways with the a grande finale of plummeting hail. We decided to forgo lunch as there were no inside seats available so Brian and Linda set off for the cars. We left but the rest stayed and were able to be seated at the bar. Maybe next time.

National holidays in France are usually celebrated on the date of the holiday not the Monday or Friday closest to the date. Businesses are closed so shopping has to be planned around these days.  There are many holidays in Mai . May 1st is La Fête du Travail or as we know it LaboUr Day. Traditions live a long time here -  On May 1, 1561, King Charles IX  received a lily of the valley as a lucky charm. He decided to offer a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became custom to give a sprig of lily of the valley, a symbol of springtime, on May 1. As is custom now, the day before, the supermarché cashiers handed out lily of the valley stems to each customer. Brian brought one home for me - sweet.

Next was the 8th which celebrated Victoire 1945,  Victory in Europe Day. On this day most villages put on a 'repas'  (a meal). We received a flyer with all the information - times, menu, cost. About a week before the 8th Coco, a village employee, visited each house to collect the fee of €22 ($28) each. 

We arrived at noon and were bonjour-ed by everyone and double cheek kissed by some. Penny and Robin sat across from us and another English couple and their french neighbors were next to me. 

After hors d'oeuvres and a glass of kir, geiser (gizzard) salad was served.

Robin enjoying his salad.

There was glass of a sparkling drink, possibly mango tasting,  served after the salad.

 The main course was quail stuffed with raisins and mushrooms.

It, and the accompanying roasted vegetables were delicious.

  Rosé and red wines plus soft drinks were always available on the tables.  We then had - Trou du milieu (literal translation 'hole in the middle') lime zest sorbet with vodka poured into the dish - wow what a taste sensation. A choice of two cheeses and a strawberry dessert with champagne, coffee and cognac completed the five + hour 'repas'. 

The young lady who entertained during the afternoon with typical french songs had the old timers joining in and clapping their hands. 

  

Just a little said Penny to Coco - I am going to be flying this plane soon.               

A very good time was had by all and we met some of our neighbors. 

This year the next national holiday is Mai 17th, Ascension Day observed 40 days after Easter. Since it falls on Thursday many people will take the Friday off as well.

Then Sunday the 27th is Pentecôte (Whit Sunday) and businesses will be closed on Monday.

Many of the holidays are extended by the schools so the children are off many more days than just the four national ones. 

The brown fields have faint lines showing a slight green pattern, others with weaving seas of green wheat and barley.

The rapeseed/canola 'colza' that was so small in October survived the snow and rain is in full bloom throughout our and other regions.  It will be cut in September with the oil mainly turned into clean burning bio diesel.  Many of the country verges are colored by stray yellow blooms contrasting well with the purple wild flowers.

A vast expanse of yellow......

For the past month and more I have been planting and nurturing vegetable seeds. Some I purchased and some Michelle gave to me from her vast collection. Some days I felt like a kid at the beginning of December, impatiently waiting for Christmas day to arrive... Seeds do not give you instant gratification.

The most gratifying is the edamame (soy) Michelle bought on the Internet - it germinated within days.

All things being equal and the creek don't rise, we will enjoy the fruits and vegetables of our labors. Pesticide free.

 This is our new life. And, so far, we love it!