La Metairie d'Auge

2010-03-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

Scooby is sadly no longer with us. We miss him terribly and decided that while we could never replace him, we really wanted another dog.

Max is 5 months old and is settling in already. He is used to cats and children but the ducks are quite a different matter, he seems to have taken up where Scooby left off and is intent on herding them!

May 2009

2009-05-09T06:21:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Little Owls

2008-08-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

A Round Up of 2008

We have had a fantastic summer. The weather has been perfect and all our guests have been able to enjoy the gardens, the pool and the local area.

We have now moved into "L'Ancienne" (the old house) . It has taken quite a bit of work but downstairs is almost complete. The new roof and renovation of the upstairs is ongoing.

L'Ancienne

We have added three more chickens to our little flock- the new girls are black copper marans. They are very pretty but a little lacking in the common sense department. We now average 5 eggs a day. Brilliant in the summer when we have guests but a little eggcessive in the winter.

The girls out for a stroll.

The gardens have been stunning this summer. many of the plants that we have added seem to be coming into their own.

We have also added a children's play area to the garden.

Little Owls
During the late spring we noticed our resident Little Owls became noisier (particularly when the cats crossed the courtyard at dusk).

We soon discovered why- they had chosen to construct their burrow above the doorway into our house. Apparently the biggest babies often fall out of the nest before they can fly.

On several occasions we had to pop the fledgling babies back into the burrow to protect them from the cats.

Scooby was a brilliant help- on two occasions he pointed out the little chicks and stood on guard until we retrieved them.

At least three owlets successfully fledged over a period of two or three weeks.

July 2007- L'Ecurie

2007-07-25T00:42:00.000-07:00

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.

Spring 2007

2007-03-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

Spring has well and truly sprung.
Fred and Betty are the proud parents of nine babies (born at the end of January) and they're all doing well

Early Febraury Late February March

We have added three very friendly chickens to the courtyard and after a rather long wait we are beginning to get eggs!

Marie, Marthe and Mathilde The very first egg!

We were lucky enough to spot this group of deer last week. I just happened to look over the orchard as I crossed the court yard early one morning and there they were! They stayed long enough for Nich to run in and get the camera.

Local Fetes and Festivals

2006-11-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

For those who want to soak up some of the atmosphere of the area, there are many local fetes and festivals. Angles sur l'Anglin, Poitiers and Chatellerault each host several such attractions throughout the year.

Strolling jazz band and street entertainer - Book Fair, Angles sur l'Anglin

Local Village Fetes

Firework and Laser Display- August- Angles sur l'Anglin

Fireworks on the bridge.

The Animals

2006-11-20T08:04:00.001-08:00

The animals are all doing well at present.

Fred (the rabbit) has just been introduced to his new 'friend' Betty. They're hoping to hear the pitter patter of tiny paws in a few weeks.

As the days get shorter and colder Bob and Sparky spend much more time in by the fire. (If they can get there before Scooby.)

Scooby's enjoying life as usual. He's getting plenty of walks and continues to guard us all - even the cats. Here he is pretending to be a cat (he's lying on the cat's rug by the fire).

Quassia and Pepito are making the most of the lush grass.

They seem to delight in getting very messy, rolling in the mud as soon as they're put out. We managed to take this photo before they had the chance to roll.

Birds seen in the area this year.

2006-11-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

The local area is a haven for birds- those who stay all year round and those who stop off en route to or from sunnier climates.

Early on in the year we were delighted to discover a roost for a small colony of bats in our barn. The barn also provides a home for the Barn Owl and Little Owl.

Swallows congregating for the evening roost.

The swallows made an absolutely fabulous show this year. They arrived in flocks (a little later than usual), one or two families stayed in our buildings where they hatched their broods and then come September they chose our telephone wires to congregate in their huge flock. We were treated to a brilliant display each evening for a couple of weeks during late September before they left for warmer climes.

At the moment the wren, red tailed blackstart and robin are much in evidence along with a kestrel.

Autumn 2006

2006-11-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

We have had a brilliant autumn. The weather has been much milder and sunnier than we expected with lots of misty early mornings and some fantastic sunsets.

We've been able to spend lots of time working in the garden and maintaining the outside of the buildings. The autumnal colours are spectacular with many of the trees only just beginning to lose their leaves.
We harvested the grapes in October and passed them to our neighbour who is using them to make wine.These photos were both taken in late October/ early November

An October evening sunset.

The view to the orchard with morning mist.

The River Gartempe at Vicq.