Maximum temperature today 15C, minimum 11C. 36mm rain measured this morning and it is still raining; 27km/h North-westerly winds gusting up to 61 km/h.
In the last two days, we have had 51 mm of rain, and a total so far this year of 935mm despite having had one of our driest ever summers. Last years total rain for the year was 739 mm!
Christmas in France only arrives in December, not like so many places that seem to start decorating in October - Our local supermarket with animated bears.
I saw this in a shop window in our local town...
This was in the next door window, inverted coffee and tea plastic mugs, very clever I thought.
The Mairie (Mayor's office) in Chasseneuil.
Choisya ternata, taken through the window in the rain...
Hydrangea in the rain
This morning's drive to the Physio for my back in the rain and mist, trying to get a shot of autumn colours...
As above. Sadly this is my last visit, she is returning to the UK at the end of this month and there is nobody else in France who does the same spinal work as she does 😒.
Peekaboo, I see you... Red-legged Partridge (Electorus rufa)...
The Owl and the Pussycat Partridge.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Female.
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula).
European robin (Erithacus rubecula).
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Male.
I have updated my bird blog HERE.
It's always such a delight to see your shots Diane. I'm such a Francophile, I love seeing where you live and surrounding areas. Looks so wonderfully French ☺ Your birdshots are incroyable, the owl and the Partridge made me smile, I have a very similar owl in my garden ☺
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace for the kind comment. The Partridge has been around for several weeks now, think it knows our garden is safer than the fields from the hunters. I love our African carved stone ornaments. Hope you enjoy the rest of the week Diane
DeleteBravo for only starting Christmas activities in December. I swear that it gets earlier and earlier here. Soon it will be a year round festival. To tell you the truth they could scrap the whole thing as far as I am concerned.
ReplyDeleteDavid it has not really existed for us for sometime. We go back to the UK as N's father, now 97 has always thought Xmas as a special time and he loved opening presents. He is the only person we buy anything for, we do not buy for ourselves, but if there is something we both want then we will buy it. We will be back there for 6 weeks this year as he need 24/7 care now with Alzheimer and we are trying to help out!! Think the blog will have a hard time over that period!! Hope all is well with you, Diane
DeleteHi Diane: We still buy gifts for the two youngest grandchildren, but that’s all. Whether you blog or not, we will be thinking of you while you are in the UK. It’s a sobering thought that we are getting to the age where we may have to contemplate such eventualities. Be well. Give my best to Nigel too.
DeleteI'd love to get a partridge peeper like that. He's a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the visit and the comment. It is a very special bird and has been around for several weeks now, I just hope it stays put until nest breeding season when the hunters might let it be!! Have a fab week Diane
DeleteBeautiful photos Diane. I really haven't been out to the main shopping areas for quite some time so I didn't notice so much of the Christmas decor or when it came out though I did notice that stores in my neighbourhood that sell holiday themed decorations put up Christmas stuff right after Hallowe'en. I see you have gotten a lot of rain this year. it made me curious to find out how much rain Vancouver has had. To date the total rainfall is 1008.6 mm and we still have 3 weeks to go. The heavy rain does affect the new photo taking for sure. I enjoyed your little birds. Take care, P
ReplyDeleteI must say I do like the decorations they have here, they seem to put quite a bit of effort into them. A little closer to Christmas and every street light and sign post will have a fir branch tied to it, so it looks quite decorative everywhere.You have had more rain than we have had, but when we bought our house we were told it was a drought area and we could well get water rationing. It has not happened in 13 years, but we have certainly had more rain this year than what we usually get. But then we also had the driest summer ever!! Climate change I guess even if Trump says it is not happening!!! Hope all is well Diane
DeleteDon't you just love seeing all the beautiful things out and about. I love Christmas decor and music. I start listening to the music on Thanksgiving day and it stays on that station till Christmas! Beautiful bird shots. You do such a great job on your photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words Pam. I hope that yu are feeling better and that you remain well for a bit, but I know it catches you unawares and there is little you can do except take it easy. Take care Diane
DeleteBeautiful Christmas decorations and very creative too! Cute birds especially the fat partridge! Hope you will find another person to do a good physio soon. Have a lovely new week!
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, sadly there is little chance of me finding a Physio that does the work this lady does. There is nobody else in France who uses Theraflex Therapy. There are not many people who use it, and an expensive lay out for anyone. There are a few people scattered around the world, but there are a few more in the the UK. Nowhere where we will be though. I have tracked down what I think is the perfect Chiropractor who does Thompson's Drop which works for me in a nearby town when in the UK. Long term though I am not sure what I will do. Keep well Diane
DeleteChristmas seems to be starting earlier and everywhere else. More for commercial reasons than anything else I think.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt it is all commercial, I am delighted that it only seems to arrive here at the beginning of December. Cheers Diane
DeleteNature doesn’t look ready for Christmas yet with so many leaves still on the trees, Diane.
ReplyDeleteWe have only had two frosts so far, so although the leaves have coloured a lot have not fallen. Keep warm Diane
DeleteI could look at Christmas decorations forever.
ReplyDeleteI do not like the too early, one month ahead for me is plenty!! Take care Diane
DeleteYour first images look very seasonal, Diane, but the rest of them look as if your winter is a good month behind ours. The frost has got everything and all the leaves are off the trees!
ReplyDeleteTake good care and have a brilliant run-up to Christmas. My very best wishes - - - Richard
We have only had two fairly mild frosts so the leaves on many of the trees are staying put. Thanks for the good wishes, take care Diane
DeleteAlways fun to see your birds and flowers, and pretty scenes. I also enjoyed those Christmas decorations. Thanks Diane and have an enjoyable week.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise I hope you have a good week also. Take care Diane
DeleteI like the simple decorations and that the holiday stuff doesn't start until December. Sorry to hear your back doctor is leaving.
ReplyDeleteI am more than sorry she is leaving. I am just hoping the this weeks treatment will last a long time!! Take care Diane
DeleteI love to see your photos Diane. And I read your reaction on David so I wish you strenght around N's father. Big Hug.
ReplyDeleteThanks Aritha, it is not gong to be an easy Christmas but hopefully we will make it. Hugs to you and Ralph. Take care Diane
DeleteGreetings for Ralph to you! xxx
DeleteThank you, xx
DeleteNow that I've seen all the pretty Christmas decorations maybe I'll start. Normally here, the decorations and trees go up the day after Thanksgiving, but not this year for me. Beautiful photo's as always, Diane.
ReplyDeletexoxo
We seldom decorate much anyway and then generally only the week before. There is only the two of us and FIL so Christmas passes fairly quietly. Hope you have a good one. Keep well Diane
DeleteLove those Christmas displays.
ReplyDeleteI have to say thay are pretty good and a few more still to come. Have a good day Diane
DeleteThat's a lot of rain! What is your average annual rainfall? Ours about 400mm, way more than yours I'm presuming.
ReplyDelete