Preparing for winter!

The temperature this afternoon was...

and what were we doing?

Breaking up sticks for lighting our fire during the winter. The sticks are mainly dead branches which get blown down from our large poplar trees when it is windy. We collect them up and then when it is very dry we break them into usable lengths and store them in the shed..

This year we also had some of our own logs from the trees we felled. These have matured outside for the last couple of years and now, as they are dry as a bone, they have been moved to our woodpile and sheeted up.

So we have a bonus of about three steres before we get our usual delivery from M. Bourreau...

If you need any kindle we have a hole full and you are free to come and help yourself... 

But if you think we are breaking it up for you... 

The Generation Game....

When Colin's daughter, Sarah, and her family came to stay last weekend the sunflowers by the house were at their best.

It reminded Sarah of holidays spent in France in her childhood, when Colin photographed her and her brother, Stephen, in a field full of sunflowers. To them as children the countryside was a sea of yellow.

Continuing the theme, Colin took some shots of the grandchildren amongst the sunflowers by the house..

Now, if we had been organised I would be able to show the original photos taken all those years ago...

However, we know they're here somewhere, but we're not sure where!! And I think we've just found ourselves another job to do on a winter's evening...

Shared Humour...

My brother, George, often forwards humorous photos and such like which he's received and enjoyed. Recently one in particular caught our imagination.

Now we are always happy to share a smile, but I must point out that this is aimed at no-one in particular, Jim and Peter......

What a cracking tatoo! If I had a hairline like his, I'd want one of those!!

Meeting the Family..

Colin's daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren came to us for a few days over the weekend and it was the first time the grandchildren had met our 'extended family'..

 

We needn't have worried because as you can see, they got on famously. We fear we may now have three over-fed hens in need of a diet!!

A Narrow Escape for this Dragonfly!

Whilst watering the flower border with the hosepipe this morning we spotted this lovely dragon fly just in time to avoid giving it a soaking.

We are happy to defer to the experts among you for an identification, please??

Richelieu Brocante de l'Assomption

Yesterday afternoon we trekked down to Richelieu to take a look at the Bank Holiday Brocante. This year some of the stalls were located in the newly renovated market hall (Les Halles) with the remainder in the main square.

Despite it's 'Brocante status' all of the usual suspects were on display!

We bought nothing and thought is was not as well attended as in previous years with fewer stalls. Perhaps we are suffering from Brocante Blight??

Well I sincerely hope not, as Jean and Elizabeth have a forthcoming Brocante stall booked at Huismes for September 8th....

Watch this space!

Everything you never knew you wanted...

This morning we attended the annual Auto Bourse in Le Grand Pressigny, where you can buy many of the things you may one day want but don't know it yet.

Anything and everything for your old car... A door complete with bird droppings BUT if you needed one I am sure you wouldn't mind!

I wanted to buy this little machine for Elizabeth so she could get around the garden quicker!!

and this old Massey Fergy tractor took my fancy but neither of us wanted to drive it back to Braye! Yes, that's me giving it the eye! I spent hours on one in my youth turning and rowing my uncle's hay.

I would have definitely taken home these three old bikes, dating from the early 1900's. They were superb.

It was a great morning out and is to be recommended.