You Have One Telepathic Message

This morning I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom when I suddenly had the idea that I would go for a quick cycle ride while Paul and Rick were out for their early walk.  I squeezed into my lycra, grabbed my helmet and headed outside.  I met Paul and Rick in the courtyard back from their walk.

“Oh, you got my ‘phone and text messages then?” said Paul
“Nope.”
“I called you and left a message to say that we could go for a bike ride when I got home.”
“Sorry, I was upstairs so didn’t hear my ‘phone.  But hey, I’m ready anyway!”

So instead of my short, leisurely ride to the goose farm we went at a brisk pace through the Bois de l’Homme and back.  It was a pleasant ride, not much wildlife about but I did see a hare and a giant parasol mushroom.  Not together.

Paul always keeps a record of our rides and it was rewarding to see that our timings were much the same as last year.  Clearly all this dog walking is keeping us reasonably fit.  Rick gave us a very reproachful look when we got home, he doesn’t like being left behind.

Yesterday

Our builder came yesterday to fix our leaking roof.  He hopped up onto the roof and just climbed up the tiles towards the high tower like it was a walk in the park.  No hard hat or safety harness. He gathered a whole bucketful of moss and debris from the gutter and the problem was solved.

chestnut woods

I took Rick for a walk through the woods in the afternoon.  The hives were all dotted about and the bees were busy collecting nectar from the chestnut blossom; we gave them a wide berth. I spotted a solitary mushroom, I think it was a prized girolle.  I considered picking it but Rick had other ideas and galloped straight through it knocking pieces of mushroom in all directions.

bee hives

The grass in the meadows is very high, it has been too wet for the farmers to cut but summer arrives on Tuesday and then I think they will be busy cutting and baling.

view of the house from the bottom of the hill

Happy Gotcha Day

Today we are celebrating Rick’s Gotcha Day – it is one year since we adopted him from the Refuge Centre in Cahors.  I remember the day well, he was friendly but quite nervous and unsure of his new home.  Now he is top dog (the only dog!), he runs around the house and garden, jumps up onto the terrace wall and barks at the sparrows in the hazelnut tree. His favourite game is chasing his yellow ball. He adores his routine, knows exactly what time we take him out for walkies and always accompanies me up the stairs at bedtime.  I spoil Rick terribly but, when all’s said and done, he is Paul’s dog; I’m just another member of the pack.

He is a nightmare in the car on short journeys, he chases bikes, cars and tractors, barks at traffic and needs regular grooming but I love him to bits.  He doesn’t beg for food, drool or shed loads of hair.  He is a perfect dog in many respects.

Happy Gotcha Day you hairy, scruffy, noisy mutt.

Wet, wet, wet

it doesn't rain every day

We are waiting for the man to come and repair our leaking roof.  But it’s raining again today so he probably won’t come. It’s only a small leak, probably a crack in the flashing between the pigeonnier and the house but it’s too high for Paul to safely reach with his ladder.  

It’s been a depressingly wet start to the summer but the walks through the chestnut woods are still a pleasure, we just have to negotiate the big, muddy puddles. 

Rick sporting a decorative leaf on his head after running through a bramble bush

It's hasn't all been doom and gloom, we have had some very pleasant, sunny days.  Early morning walks are a delight, a few days ago we met our Belgian neighbours out in their horse drawn cart.  The photo isn't too clear because Rick was beside himself with excitement and it was difficult to keep the camera steady.

The Bees Are Back

Many years ago a swarm of bees arrived in our garden here in France and took up residence in a concrete electricity pylon at the end of the potager.  They remained with us until they suddenly disappeared about three years ago.  Yesterday we noticed that they are back. This is good news for the potager but not so great for a dog that likes to chase bees.  In fact Rick likes to chase anything that begins with a B  -  bees, birds, balls and big tractors.  Fortunately the hive is up high inside the pylon so the bees are well out of his way.

 

 a litre of red and a litre of rose

This morning we went to market to replenish our supplies of wine, farmer’s eggs and bread. The town was buzzing (more bees?) with activity, a major cycling event is being held there today.  We did our shopping and returned to the peace and tranquillity of our little hamlet.  Salut!