19/08/2023 Happy Birthday to me :-)

The maximum temperature here today is 39⁰C, minimum 21⁰C.  North-East winds of 14 km/h with gusts up to 27 km/h.  Luckily we have a very cool house!!

Me 1943 U.K.

1953 "leaving the UK" to live in Rhodesia.

David, Mum, Diane, Dad.

Me 1973

Diane and Nigel 19/08/2023 at L'intemporal restaurant.

42nd wedding anniversary on Monday 28th

La Rochefoucauld Chateau in the background of the restaurant

Pont du château de la Rochefoucauld 17th century vaulted arch bridge.

La Rochefoucauld Chateau.

The castle's humble beginning dates back to year 980, from a wooden camp that was built by Foucauld on a rocky spur. The word 'rock', in fact, translates to 'Roche' in French. A square keep was then constructed by his son at the same site in 11th century.

Me 19/08/2023

Menu

Amuse bouche.

Not on the menu, but this was like a gazpacho cold soup and was delicious.

Le Crabe

I forgot to take a photo of Le Turbo!!!

La Boeuf.

I forgot a photo of La Burrata as well - an Italian soft cheese.

Notre glace Chocolate/Pralin, and a candle for me to blow out.  I am glad it was only one and not 80!!

Nigel bought me the biggest bunch of flowers I have ever seen, this is half....

and this is the other half.

The same as above but from a different angle.

Nigel also bought me a charcoal sketch of Wild Dogs which is superb.  Once framed that just may appear in another blog

15/08/2023 The beginning of August in the garden. A few random photos.

 The maximum temperature here today is 28⁰C, minimum 17⁰C.  North-West winds of 8 km/h with gusts up to 25 km/h. 2mm of rain early this morning with thunder and lightning.

We seem to have a shortage of insects this month with the lavender over. I did expect many bugs on the fallen plums, but they seem to be ignoring them this year as are the birds!!  I am sure the birds will turn up when the figs ripen which will not be long now.

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) watching me watching him!

Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia).

As above.

As if we have not got enough of them around!  I think it is one of the Flesh Flies, but which one I do not know.

Bush Cricket, but again I am not sure which one.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) on one of the colder days not looking very happy...

Just look at that face.

On a warmer day enjoying the ashtray bath, far better use of it than for its original use!!

Wild Flower - Mallow Malva Sylvestris.

Belle de Nuit  (Mirabilis jalapa).  These flowers only open in the evening when all the others close for the night.

Calendula.

Geranium.

Despite having used about 3000 plums the floor is still covered!  We have 7 trees.

Quinces, a heavy crop this year, branches may break.

Pumpkins

I just like this shadow!

You saw the house from the front in the last post now this is the back 😊

That is about it folks I will try to get another post done before the end of August but we have a few busy dates, my 80th on the 19th and our wedding anniversary on the 28th.

I have been asked what I do with quinces here are my links

Quinces poached.

Quince Jam/jelly

31/07/2023 Just scraping another blog in before August!! All photos from the garden.

  The maximum temperature here today is 26⁰C, minimum 12⁰C.  North-West winds of 20 km/h with gusts up to 44 km/h.

White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)...

As above...

As above,

Bumble Bee - (Bombus terrestris or lucorum)!!!

As above...

European paper wasp (Polistes dominula).

One of the Carder bees!

Gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus)...

As above...

As above.

Southern Green Stink bug (Nezara viridula). Nymph.

I think this might be one of the cuckoo bees but......

As above,

Jersey Tiger Moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria).

Weavers Fritillary (Boloria dia)...

As above...

As above.

Colorado potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larva.

Stargazer' lily (Lilium orientalis 'Stargazer') spot the bee!!

Love in a Mist (Nigella damascene).

Bombylius  species  on a Californian Poppy.

Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Rose of Sharon Hibiscus.

Bumble Bee - (Bombus terrestris or lucorum)!!!

Cyclamen.

Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).

Eurasian Red Squirrel (Rudbeckia hirta).

A rare visitor to our garden, but he seems to have discovered our hazelnuts. Not a great photo, he was at the bottom of the garden and I was behind the window in the house.

We have just repainted all our shutters Nigel did the green paint while I painted the black hinges and furniture.

Mirabelle plums in the dehydrator.

Each shelf holds 78 plums, so eight shelves = 576 plums all de-stoned. This is the second batch and there are still many more on the trees.  We are busy!!