Saturday, March 27, 2010

Electricity and Spring : miscellanea



Unbelievable but true : only one week after the former intervention the electricity men passed again and linked the house with the underground electricity supply. From now on we have arrived in modern electricity age : The electricity posts are obsolete now and will be removed in some near future.
They also put an extra cabin - the so called boîte de fausse coupure. Thanks to this cabin in case of electricity problems one house alone can be cut off the electricity supply, it is no longer necessary to cut off the whole neighbourhood.



All week we worked in the garden: planted and trimmed. It was very lovely sunny weather, but always accompanied by the vent d'autan, a wind coming from the south, from Toulouse. It is often called the wind of the fools because apparently it makes foolish and nervous. So far I haven't noticed this on me.



Now at last nature is really alive and kicking: not only the trees (picture: ash, frêne) and the flowers (picture: wild tulips) but also the herons are back.
And also a lot of hares romping in the fields - only because of the foolish wind? Unfortunately they are always too quick to make pictures of them.





Sunday, March 21, 2010

electricity : third stage



In the story of getting the electricity supply of the house underground this week we passed to stage 3.
After the digging in of the electric wires (1) and the installation of the electric cabin (2) this time - again two months later - they connected the cabin with the house.
And this with great problems - just look at the light rope to pull the black heavy electric cable through the plastic tube (gaine).
Indeed it tore in two so they had to dig holes in the gravel path to go and look for the lost cable.
But all's well that ends well.







The weather was excellent this week - the really first week of spring time. So I began weeding the lawn and sowed new grass.
Now we're waiting for some rain so the seeds can take root in the ground.
As they say : if a 'farmer' isn't complaining about the weather something is wrong.

See you.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Spring is in the air ...



and in the terre.

It was a beautiful week here in Prayssac: rather cold freezy nights, but sun all day. So an excellent time to start working a bit in the garden: did some planting, a.o. a palm tree around the swimming pool.



The daffodils (jonquilles) are already blooming - also the grape hyacinths (muscari à grappe).




The rest is soon to follow.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Places worth visiting IV : Bélaye



Today we visit Bélaye, a small village some 5 km from Mas de l'Houvande.
Bélaye is situated on top of a hill dominating the river Lot.
From here you have one of the most beautiful panaromas of the department: lovely sights on one of the meanders of the lot, the countryside and the Cahors vineyards.

           

Historically the medieval village of Bélaye was the stage of numerous battles between the British and the French during the Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans) because of its strategic situation. Some ruins of castels give witness of this glorious past.





Apart from being a nice and quiet place for a picnic in the summer there are always open air exhibitions.



Some nice walks are possible on the top of the surrounding hills, called Cevennes.