Lac de Vassiviere

Lac de Vassiviere with a circumference of 35kms is a great place to spend the day and only 40 minutes from La Petite Maison, today we walked 15km, a warm up for next week when we will attempt to complete the full tour of the lake. Low with water, spectacular views can be seen which are normally covered in the murky depths. All seasons find superb views, walks & watersports available, obviously the summer months find more activity around the place when campers, day trippers and locals alike enjoy the lake and its surroundings. If you find yourself lagging a little on one of your choice of walks, just wait at a water taxi staging and take a boat back to your origin (not much chance today ha ha) however, this service stops in September as the holidaymakers decline.

Autumn from the Blue Room

Mild temperatures and no wind have made for a perfect Autumn here at La Petite Maison, such magnificent views across the valley from the Blue Room window find Chris & Joanne drinking in the scenery as well as their morning cup of tea. We often refer to the Creuse being very similar to the Lake District in the UK when chatting with friends and neighbours.

Now where's that oven ?

The Turkeys are living it up ! they are in great form and getting fatter by the week !

It's great to know that your food has a real quality of life, we learn more about how it should be everyday here at La Petite Maison, a real education !!

Chutney Chutney Everywhere!!

Tomatoes ripening mid October? yes, it's true, we have had a fantastic crop this year and nothing has been wasted, thanks to Hugh Fearnleys recipe, Joanne has made an abundance of green tomato chutney which dare we say, is as good if not better than the red tomato chutney. Chris has made his famous tomato ketchup and we are all passatad out ha ha !.

The delightful aromas drift through the house, we chat about tasting summer from the bottles and jars of the many conserves we have produced, nothing nicer when winter sets in and summer bursts from a newly opened bottle or jar, yum yum !!

The Hunter Returns Happy !!

Chris, Jess & Bonny return triumphant this Saturday morning, game such as Pheasant, Partridge & Hare are only to be shot Saturday or Sunday. This was Chris's first outing since passing his hunting exams and obtaining his permit. A wet morning found Chris in his boots by 08.30 hrs and after taking Joanne a cup of tea in bed, with Jess & Bonny chomping at the bit he was off.
With Jess & Bonny working well in the hedgerows, it wasn't long before they flushed out a nice looking and plump cock pheasant, Chris shouldered his gun and PAF! one shot found the pheasant returning to earth with a thud, Bonny was first to the kill, she picked it nicely and returned to a smiling and doting Dad ! Chris pocketed his game and with a spring in his step, returned to La Petite Maison where a smiling wife welcomed her tribe home, we eat well tonight ha ha!!

Jess & Bonny

Jess and Bonny patiently wait for Chris to come home from validating his hunting permit, although sitting comfortably, they can't wait to get after all those pheasants, partridges, hares, rabbits & pigeons !

Je suis Chasseur !!!

At last, Chris was over the moon last Tuesday (5th) he passed the last part of his hunting exam, it was his practical, he passed both the theory and the practical without error, exceptional !! Having become reasonably fluent in French, and with a little persuasion from his best friend Phillipe (also president of the Chasse here in St Avit de Tardes) Chris enrolled for his exam back in June, after lots of hours of revision, he is now proud to be a 'FRENCH CHASSEUR'

This weekend he will be able to take up his own post with his shotgun for the Deer or Wild Boar drive which is always a group activity, he has been promised the best post, if he kills, there will be much celebration !!