Village Bread Oven

 Michel, Colette, Laurs & Danny have lovingly restored their bread oven that has been in the family for  generations. Look at the delicious flans and breads that were cooked last weekend. We can only describe the smell coming from the traditional wood fired oven as, well, it can't be described, you will just have to imagine !
Joanne and Chris were having a Pizza for dinner and you've guessed it, in it went and yes, it was truly scrumptious. This is the way to cook, outdoors, wood fires, it's hard to describe but it almost puts you in touch with nature, very special!

Wysteria second flourish

Sorry to those folks who follow this blog on a regular basis, the last post was on the 17th July and since then, nothing. Selfish I know, especially for those of you living in the uk, but we have been enjoying the glorious sunshine here in the Creuse. We have also been very busy with the chambres D'hotes, we have met some lovely people this year, it is truly wonderful work ! The Manor house renovation has started to take shape and we have a lounge and bedroom that is comfortable enough for when we sell 'La Petite Maison' and go full steam ahead. The Wysteria has flowered for the second time this year and looks amazing, you can't smell the scent from the flowers but trust me, it's amazing.

Wonderful Organic Veg

What is more satisfying to a smallholder than watching your labours in the garden come to fruition, the veg and salad is cropping well this year, in fact, Chris says the quality is the best we have produced. No nasty pesticides here, just an all round feed and spray made from nettles, it works wonders.
Tomatoes, chillies, rhubarb, lettuce, roquette, corriander, carrots, red cabbage, summer cabbage, gherkins, leeks, petit pois, fine French beans, mange tout (Rodney) butternut squash, pumpkins, aubergine, cucumber, potatoes, beetroot, red onions, white onions, chard, radish & courgette. Herbs are plentiful, wonderful!!

Roast Chicken with Seasonal Vegetables

 One of Hugh's this, but the chicken is definitely one of ours, a white sussex, as are the veg, early carrots, the first of the potatoes, onions and young leeks. A sprig of lemon thyme and bay leaves from the herb garden. A supper from the garden, how satisfying is that??

Hortensia

Hortensia (hydrangea) is able to justify it's place in any garden at this time of year, relatively maintenance free and just beautiful, only nature can create shades of colour like this, isn't this one just wonderful?

What a Forage

 4kgs of ceps and enough chantrelles for a tasty omlette, now that's what we call an early Sunday morning forage, take a look at the second photo, a perfect example of a summer cep, a 'Bouchon de Champagne'

July and Country Dance at La Naute

 There she goes, Joanne dances at La Naute, the annual country dance spectacular, this is her 3rd year, she hasn't missed one and this year was better than ever, 13 dance groups participated and the grand finale was when all 13 took to the stage and danced to 'Saturday Night' there were thousands of spectators who all joined in what can only be described as a 'Grande Fete' well done Joanne, the only English lady out of them all !