May 2009

How time flies! And so do ducks- well actually they're just beginning to try. These are our two new additions- Puddle and Gertrude (don't ask!). Nich has always wanted a pet duck, but we couldn't just get one. They live in our garden at the moment-although we are trying to encourage them to wander into the orchard and paddock. They are very cute - whenever we are outside they come and sit near us. Scooby loves them too! He seems to have rediscovered his herding skills and loves to make them do 'figure of eights' around the garden furniture.

We have been really busy working here and visiting England. We are continuing to work on L'Ancienne- our house. There is still plenty to do and I think that it is going to take quite some time to finish.

We're making the most of the sunny weather at the moment- getting the pool ready and tidying up the gardens.

We spent the early spring decorating La Maison and putting in a new kitchen.

Hattie the Hare

At the end of February Scooby "found" a new born hare in the grass at the side of the lane.

We decided that as Scooby had free access to the "form" and as he had already licked the poor little mite clean of any of its mother's scent we would have to try and hand rear it. Luckily Lizzie was here and so with her advice we began to feed "Hattie" on kitten milk- not ideal but the best we had.

She went from strength to strength and we eventually released her at the end of April.

She hung around for a few days- we spotted her in the lane and in the field and she returned to the garden several times. We're hoping that she'll continue to make the odd appearance.

I've managed to add a couple of video clips.