Day 8

We find ourselves finally at day 8 of quarantine. We got a call each this morning to remind us to take our test. Like we would forget? We are champing at the bit to get free of this agony. 

Of course we actually got to leave the house as we had to post our tests off .......

I’m now working my way through the lace sections of the Reach for the Stars shawl. It’s actually very easy to understand and the pattern well written.  I have several other patterns written by Jem Arrowsmith so will possibly make a couple more shawls, because let’s face it you can never have too many shawls, right?

I’ve started picking the poppy heads for drying and seed collection.  I’m never sure whether they regrow, it only seems like they lay dormant until you majorly disturb the ground, as we did last year when we dug the bed extension. I actually find them annoying as they never grow where you want them and once they have finished flowering I will be pulling them up pdq. In the meantime though I’ll collect the heads as they are great in flower arrangements.

Trying to decide what to have for dinner this evening, possibly a salad of some description, we have plenty of salad veg and cold meats/cheese or maybe I’ll make a quiche, decisions decisions 

Call free day

Sunday - the first day without a call from Test and Trace. We both got one yesterday, though mine was cut off after the introduction. Perhaps they have more hapless souls to bother and will leave us alone for a bit.

Not much to report, it’s a case of spreading the tasks over the days. Bathrooms cleaned, carpets vacuumed, more weeding, meal preparations. We are trying to be good so no baking has been done. 

I’m caught up on all my Vlogs. I have audio and physical books on the go. 

Knitting - I received notification of a summer KAL with free pattern so I decided to join in. The pattern is Reach for the Stars - https://ravel.me/reach-for-the-stars by Jem Arrowsmith, available free on Ravelry for the duration of the KAL.. I found some yarn in my stash which is the correct meterage and ply so I have cast on today. 

Funny how different the yarn colour looks under different light conditions. The true colour is the top picture.

I’m still working on the cat mats but unfortunately one of the young cats has gone missing, we are hoping she will come back soon and that nothing untoward has come of her, she’s not been seen since Wednesday...

The garden is smelling so lovely right now, the honeysuckle in particular, the Jasmine is just getting going and as yet not really competing.

We have lots of pinks and purple right now but the hot shades are just starting to make an appearance. I’m excited for the trumpet vine I put in this year to flower. Once out of quarantine I’ll off to the plant centre to fill some gaps.

A storm is due later and we are currently being bothered by flies, I need to go and get some spray before to both go crazy!!

Filling the days

After four weeks of intensive activity it seems very strange to be stuck at home, not even able to go for a walk. I have to admit we are starting to struggle and it’s only day 4, 6 more to go. 

A friend called round this morning and it was good to have a catch up on the doorstep. It feels awful not to be able to invite her in especially as we are all twice vaccinated and negative. Hey ho, rules are rules.  

It’s been an odd day weather wise, rain first thing, I’ve spent the day knitting and catching up in Vlogs, Peter went out front and started weeding borders for a bit. That’s about as exciting as it got.

The sun put in an appearance for dinner time

Chicken taco bowls with frozen margaritas cooked by Peter 

Two cat mats completed, in fact #3 is nearly done since this picture was taken this morning 

The garden is looking pretty, there are a number of poppies that have come up in the new border adding to the colour

I bought rhubarb back from France and made rhubarb and ginger jam, pretty happy with how it turned out

One more from the garden 

Have a good weekend, hoping to spend some time outside so hoping the weather plays ball

It was a busy time

As usual when we go to France, not only is it to see our family, but it is to help out. 

Their task is monumental and what with Covid restrictions and such they are up against it to get their gite finished in time for the (hopefully) summer season.  Whilst working on the gite there is also the garden, woods, and farmyard to attend too.  Everyday family life, school runs, shopping, and just day to day stuff.  The B&B has been closed due to restrictions, but whilst we were there they did have two couples stay for a long weekend, one from France and the other from Luxembourg. That alone means extra work in preparations and shopping, then attending to the guests.  Under normal circumstances this wouldn't be a problem but for just one weekend its lots of extra work. Both couples had been moved from last year.

So what did we do?  Gardening, cooking, cleaning, ironing, stripping chairs for reupholstering and general help - me.  Labourer, gardening, electrician, general dogs body - him. We worked more hours in the day than we have in a long time.  Four weeks, 6 days a week, our bodies didn't know what hit them.  We survived. We also managed to take some walks, a few meals out and a couple of visits and a dinner party. We had every type of weather, even a tornado!

I decided it was easier just to add collage pictures in no particular order, so here we go

before and after steps to the lake

some of the Chateau flowers

Mothers Day lunch out with Rebecca

old kitchen at Chateau de Sourches, Saint Symphorien
(where they hold the peony festival, see at the bottom)

handsome boys at the Sille Plage lake cafe

wheres Fred?

farmyard - before

weeded bark under the trees - it is an ongoing battle

wildflowers

evening walkers

Brian in my newly weeded well top

looking tidy

sunset walk

emptying the sand - child labour

filling the trailer - more child labour and first treasure hunt

Treasure hunt

tidy avenues, me and Rebecca, building the zip wire platform

Cherries

lakeside strimmed and a few more cherries

Strawberry mint tart made by Rebecca

Camping in the garden

Sunday in St Ceneri le Gerei

haymaking

evening walk

my toad gardening friend

5 trees down, two over the drive

dealing with aftermath of storm and a nasty wood eating grub

Rufus at 11

Le Mans

rhubarb for jam

Fraisier cake made by Rebecca

We attended a Peony Festival - here are just some of the examples

The gite is nearing completion. The kitchen and cupboards are setup.  Bedroom one is complete and dressed as is its ensuite bathroom.  The salon is partially dressed, as in rugs, sofas and chairs in place.  Bedroom Two and ensuite still needs a final coat to the floors. The outside still has work to do, but is looking smart with its newly rendered walls and lighting.  I can't share any photos yet.  They have friends testing out the bedroom this week, so look forward to hearing what they think. It really does look rather lovely and I think they should be very proud of what they have achieved. 

We are finding it a bit hard to relax after such a full-on time and with not being able to go out its a tad frustrating. We have both had calls from Test and Trace, so they are keeping an eye!  Hoping for some better news today on travel restrictions for the summer season, lets keep our fingers crossed.