The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 15⁰C, minimum 10⁰C. 19 - 39 km/h North/East winds. 90% chance of rain.
Four House Sparrows, three males, one female. (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique, in a cherry tree.
The beautiful town of Verteuil-sur-Charente.
This is a collage of the church outside and inside, including the tomb. I found this write-up today. "Seeing the profiles in the shadows of the north chapel of the church in Verteuil, you might think it was a living nativity scene. "Visit the Entombment," says the sign outside. But with its eight life-size terracotta figures—Nicodemus, Mary the mother of James, Saint John, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Joseph of Arimathea—around the body of Christ—the Entombment of Verteuil remains discreet, a sleeping beauty that doesn't draw the crowds.” It is beautiful.
Sloe or Berry Bug (Dolycoris baccarum). La punaise des baies ou pentatome des baies.
Common or Bitter chicory (Cichorium intybus) Chicorée amère.
Long-headed Poppy, (Papaver dubium) Pavot douteux, aussi nommé Petit coquelicot ou Coquelicot douteux. The daisies I believe to be Field chamomile (Anthemis arvensis).
A rare sunset. It has been so dry and hot, without a cloud in the sky, that the sunsets have just been very boring!
Garden Geraniums and a Californian Poppy.
Red Cabbage Bug, or Ornate Cabbage Bug (Eurydema ornata) Punaise rouge du chou, ou Punaise ornée.
A 2mm microscopic fly on the outside wall!! Possibly Genus Megaselia a member of the Humpbacked Flies Family Phoridae.
A wide-angle view of our hamlet waiting for much-needed rain. You can see how dry it is.
Strawberries in the making. Fraises. The insect is possibly Lasioglossum politum, one of the smallest bees in Europe.
House Sparrow struggling in the 40°C temperatures....
Trying to cool down. I was topping up their water several times a day.
Medlar fruit (Mespilus germanica) Néflier. Medlar jelly is delicious, tasting similar to quince jelly. Strange fruit, and it has to be rotting before one can cook it up.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Pic épeiche. At a great distance down the garden.
19/08/2025 82nd birthday
Night-Beauty or Peruvian Wonder (Mirabilis jalapa) Belle de Nuit.
Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) Lézard des murailles.
European hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus ) Hérisson (male) Hérissonne (female). Spotted in the dark in the garden when checking the bird feeders, so not the best photo, as I could not see what I was focusing on!!
Yet another rare sunset!
A rose bud in a cloud of smoke.
Sun Jumping Spider, the Huntress (Heliophanus tribulosus). I cannot find the French name, but a direct translation from the English would be Araignée sauteuse du soleil ou La chasseresse
28/08/2025 Our 44th wedding anniversary.
I hope you can read the labels on each of the following photos!!
Pampas grass on a windy day. (Cortaderia selloana) Herbe de la pampa.
Next month might be even slower as I am having both eyes done for cataracts two weeks apart. I will be giving the computer a break until I have got used to the idea of new eyes!! Hopefully, all will be well
Happy October to you all.
Dear Diane, your photos are absolutely stunning. Nature captures are beautiful. You both look radiant in your anniversary photo and you look amazing in your birthday 🎂 photo. Thank you 😊 so much for sharing, ❤️ dear friend.
ReplyDeleteTanks Linda for your very kind comments, it is a pleasure to share. Have a great week, Diane
DeleteSuch a beautiful little town! And those photos are so gorgeous, Diane. Happy Anniversary to you too!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful town. Sadly the restaurant that used to be so good has gone down hill!! Thanks for the good wishes Diane
DeleteBeautiful garden and church. A belated Happy 82nd birthday to you and a very hearty congratulations on you and Nigel's 44th Anniversary. Those are two very big milestones and you're still looking fabulous! Life in France agrees with you.
ReplyDeleteVery kind comment Penny thank you so much. The milestones seem to be arriving too quickly these days, but yes, although we both miss RSA and our friends there, we are very happy in France. Have a fab week, Diane
DeleteI think all of us need to top up of fluids when it's that hot. I have that time of year to 'look forward to'!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Thanks Stewart. It has been only 12⁰C here today and I can definitely cope with too hot, rather than too cold and winter has yet to arrive!! I hope all is well on your side of the world, Diane
DeleteHello Diane,
ReplyDeleteWhhat a great post with wonderful pictures. Funny to see that sparrows and what a special kind is that Berry Bug.
So nice how you have photograph all the kind of insects.
And that meal looks delicious..hmm..!!
Many greetings,
Marco
Thanks Marco for your kind comment. I have replied on your blog, Cheers Diane
DeleteThree males and a single female, Diane. I prefer the odds the other way! You are looking terrific. Really, I mean that. No obligatory polite statement - you look wonderful. As always your pictures are a delight, clear, great detail and accurately labelled. Being behind is a mere state of mind. And these pictures are from August after all, hardly behind at all. It’s no surprise that you have other things to occupy your time (like dining in style with fabulous food and wine) and cracking bones in the garden doesn’t help. Hugs and kisses, gros bisous - David
ReplyDeleteHaha I think those odds are pretty good myself. Thankyou for your very kind comments, my camera takes very kind photos :-) It is pretty chaotic here again as we have a huge hole on the garden with the third fosse going in here since our arrival. The powers that be passed the other two, only at separate times decided that they were not up to standard so fined us each year. This one is gigantic and costing a fortune, of course is yet to be passed, but the builder has been in close contact, so there should be no problems I hope. Maybe I will do a separate write up on the photos I have taken!! Take care both of you, bisous Diane
DeleteComo siempre geniales fotografías. Guapísimos los dos, felicidades. Te deseo que tus operaciones salgan muy bien. Besos.
ReplyDeleteGracias, Teresa, por tus amables comentarios. Espero que todo vaya bien. Besos, Diane.
DeleteHi Diane, what a beautiful collection of photos! The wildflowers are especially lovely, and I adore how you captured the moments like the sunset, the garden bugs, the sparrows. Congratulations on your 44th anniversary and 82nd birthday! Wishing you a speedy recovery with the cataract surgeries.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the good wishes and the kind comment. We have been short of sunsets this year with the drought and no rain, so it was good to see the sun does still set :-))) I hope there are no problems with the eye ops, most seem to go smoothly but..... Have a good week, Diane
DeleteHappy birthday and anniversary! Looks like you ate very well on both occasions. Great photos. The berry and cabbage bugs are so cool looking.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, not often we go to such posh restaurants but birthdays and anniversaries are a good time to go :-) Thanks for the visit, keep well Diane
DeleteGreat pics of you. I know I have told you before, I totally love the stone and rock homes and buildings. You can however keep those bugs, I have enough of some odd ones around here. lol
ReplyDeleteHaha these bugs do not worry me but I am not keen on spiders of which we are not short of! Thanks for the visit. Keep well Diane
DeleteA idade nada obsta à felicidade.
ReplyDeleteEspero que continue a contar muitos mais na companhia de quem a ama.
São muito bonitas, também, as imagens em que a natureza sai privilegiada.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Muito obrigada pelo simpático comentário. Idade é o quanto te sentes velho!! Não tenho tempo para me sentir velho :-) Bom fim de semana, Diane
DeleteWonderful photos. I am amazed by the Berry Bug, never seen one like it.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks for the comment Amelia. We have a supply of different bugs here!! Keep well Diane
DeleteHappy birthday sweet lady! We love our glasses of red wine, don't we? And the bugs sure have neat markings on them. The woodpecker is special too. CHEERS!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane. French red for me in France is generally a problem, but I have found one Vineyard close by that I like their red. I can drink most reds from any other country without a problem, but here I find the tannin adds bitterness. They cause serious drying out my mouth!! Cheers from the other Diane
DeleteWhenever I visit I can be assured of some wonderful photos! Thank you Diane! Happy Belated Birthday, the restaurant and food looked scrumptious. Good luck with your cataract operations next month. I will be sending lots of healing vibes/energies/speedy recovery wishes your way. Happy October/Happy Autumn!
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise for the kind comment and the good wishes. I am hoping all will go smoothly with no problems. Take care Diane
Delete