16/11/2018 Join me on yesterdays walk when the weather was almost as good as today. 8kms.

Maximum temperature today 19C, minimum 9C.  Dry; 14km/h south-westerly winds gusting up to 24 km/h. 

The weather changes tomorrow and winter arrives next week!!

Autumn colours are slow this year.

  

Down the road, I passed the paddock where our Dr's family keep some of their horses...

Nope, not the same horse but similar markings...

Here they are together....

Their little friend is at the top of the hill.

Further on a farm cat watches me cautiously.

I then spotted a huge hornet's nest which should have been reported.  It will be too cold for them next week though.  I think they are Asian hornets! 

An old pump of some kind.

Grapes wearing their autumn colours.

Cattle viewed across a field.

Down the leafy lane.

Sheep watching me closely...

as is number 5701.

 

I just liked this view.

Unusual here to see cattle with full horns.  Most have the tips cut off for ease in handling.

Unusual fungus growing on a tree.

David has given me a bit more info and it seems this is Fomes fomentarius (commonly known as the tinder fungus, false tinder fungus, hoof fungus, tinder conk, tinder polypore or ice man fungus) it is a species of fungal plant pathogen found in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.

  

Lots of mistletoe.

a small stream.

The oaks are changing colour.

I also saw a few birds which I will put on the bird blog in the next couple of days.

Poor light and rain stopped play........

Maximum temperature today 14C, minimum 6C.   Rain most of the day, not measured as yet; 8km/h North Easterly winds with up to 19 km/h gusts.

Far too wet to garden, and not enough light to paint!  The sellers of the barn spent most of the day here sorting out the things that they need to dump, sell or keep, while Nigel helped and moved our things out of the way.  I took a trip to town and to the market, spending the afternoon mostly in the kitchen.

Umbrellas at the market...

Fresh vegetables...

Oysters for lunch.

The choisya ternata yesterday, hope the rain does not do too much damage!

Apple blossoms also yesterday.

Last week driving through La Rochefoucauld and looking up at the chateau.

The same day an avenue of plane trees.

Going back a few days, we went here to try and buy both cognac and pineau...

All we found were lots of cows....

and a lot of bull!!!  Not a person anywhere in sight....

They must be good cattle as there was evidence of prizes all over the place.  Sadly we left empty handed!!

What a beautiful way to end the dismal day at just after 19h00 this evening.

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE 

Part 6 of the birds I saw last year in Africa.

13/08/2017 Home and away.

Maximum temperature 23C, minimum 15C.   5 km/h NE wind with 14 km/h gusts.  Dry.

Sparrow happily splashing around...

but this miserable blackbird chased her away...

so three sparrows went further away to have fun...

splish splash...

when who comes along again and spoils it all!!!

Sparrow looking on from a higher point.

Away - just down the road twins are at the milk bar...

while a younger loner looks on.

 Fritillary (Melitaea family) but I have no idea which one it is.

Jersey Tiger moth.

Unknown moth!!

As above.

Poppies and bug.

Possibly a small white butterfly but this seemed smaller than normal!!

28/07/2017 As promised yesterday, the drive to the restaurant and the wonderful lunch

Maximum temperature 24, minimum 11C.   11 km/h NW winds with 14 km/h gusts. 4 mm rain measured. 

Drive by photos so some a bit blurred - sunflowers...

a giant tractor...

cattle...

Hay bales and wind turbines....

vineyards - we were not too far from Cognac...

arriving at the hotel there were a few interesting cars parked out front.

The entrance into the Hotel Karina at Les Metairies that dates back to 1700.

In the entrance hall we discovered some interesting photos,we gathered that the owner used to race... 

as above.

Just outside the entrance into the dining room I fell in love with this rocking horse.

The beautiful dining room...

and looking back towards the entrance.

The bar is off to the side where Nigel was waiting to go in and order.

Inside the bar is this lovely old Cognac still.   It was once a wine farm so many relics are still around.

Starter was a yummy quiche with salad....

main course was delicious belly of pork cooked to perfection with curried carrots, (this gave me lots of ideas!) they were so good, and roast potatoes.  Of course all served with wine.

Dessert - I forgot to take a photo, but it was a large serving of apricot crumble, also delicious.

Highly recommended in my opinion of you should be travelling that way.