July 2007- L'Ecurie

Well the cottage (L'Ecurie) is finished! It has its own garden on one side and faces onto the courtyard on the other.

From October this year it will be available for rental. It has central heating and so will be ideal for cosy Autumn and Winter breaks.


















The baby rabbits have now all moved on. But Betty surprised us all by delivering a new litter of eight last week.


The birds have also been very busy. We have had nesting- sparrows, goldfinch, blackbird and black redstarts. The picture below is of the black redstart nest in the barn wall. They fledged at the beginning of July.


At present the goldfinch are raising three babies in a very precarious nest in Alan the Albizia (right in front of the terrace).






And the chickens have finally reached their permanent lodgings ( no not the pot!) . They have a run next to the horses hanger. Nich has renamed Marie - she is now known as Houdini- she really is a great escape artiste! We let them all out to roam around the field once or twice a day but Marie (sorry Houdini) can still fly (the other two are too heavy) and so makes regular escape missions- much to the disgust of the other two - who are quick to "dob her in" by sqwuaking loudly whenever she does it!We're now up to a regular three eggs a day and are able to supply friends and guests.



The vegetable patch is coming on well. The rain in June did some damage but now it all seems to be fine- I've even manged to grow carrots and parsnips this year!!

The crops are mostly in now just the maize and sunflowers left.


Following a scorching April and May, June temperatures were a little disappointing. However July seems to be back to normal and the pool is getting full use.