Spring in My Step

The four seasons are all beautiful and special in their own way but I do have a soft spot for spring; the time when everything is waking up, there's more and more colour every day and of course it is the time for my birthday as well!

The almond and cherry trees are starting to flower and countless busy bees are buzzing around them. It's a sight for sore eyes and also a source of hope; as long as bees and other pollinators are busy at work, we also have food on our table.

The striking coloured irises that pop up pretty much everywhere.

We got to quite a promising start at the garden, just about to plant the first tomatoes and courgettes, when there was some good news: we finally found our perfect new home a bit further north and could move in very soon! Just a couple of weeks to pack and organise all the paperwork, address changes and all. The speed of it has made me a bit dizzy but at least I don't have time to worry about anything. Sure there will be stress and couple of sleepless nights but that'll be worth it. Can't wait!

Shame to leave all this behind but I can start a new, even better garden in the new place. Salads, radishes and carrots are itching to get out and feel the sun!

Here I planted haricot beans, beetroot, spinach and onioins but now the landowners will reap the benefit of that.

Cercis (Judas tree) putting on a fantastic spring show.

And wisteria which looks and smells amazing.

Like the plants I am finally starting to put roots down in this country but now it will be in a different place which suits me fine. The climate will be very different and Mon Cheri is already worried about how he will cope during the winter. But we are both very excited to get to know a new region, people and of course our beautiful new house, garden and a wee forest!

Baa Baa Mountain Goat

Few days ago we visited a goat farm with my french class. It was a whole day visit and we got a real full-on experience on: 'A day in the life of a goat'. The day included mingling with the goats, scratching, hugging, feeding, milking, taking them into the forest pasture and finally cheese-making. The best day I've had in a long time and in a great company as well!

The visit started with a TLC-session with the young ones. The goats are extremely curious and affectionate animals, a bit like dogs with horns. And like eager puppies, they came to make new friends right away and to get some cuddles and scratching behind the ears. These cutie-pies were ready to eat everything within their reach, including our fingers. One of the girls got her scarf 're-modelled', when her attention lapsed for a few seconds.

Anyone recognise the collars they have on...? Yes, the same ones used in jam jars to seal the lid!

Good for catching the little, slippery kids and also marking their names. If they were my goats, that would be Bramble, Strawberry, Blueberry and Apricot there, from left to right!

Feeding time for the grown-ups and nothing else could distract them then. I know the feeling!
Woe to you who come between me and my plate!!

The ladies can come and go as they please and quench their thirst as well.

Every now and then you have to assert your authority and show them who's the boss. Actually there isn't just one, but several dominant females. How they sort out things between themselves or if they are happy to 'co-rule', I've no idea.

All vegetarians look away now!

The goats were not the only animals on the farm. These fellas were enjoying the good pig-life (lying in the sun, rolling in the cool mud and scratching each other) before ending up as a pot of terrine at the farm shop. C'est la vie, I suppose. As long as we want to eat meat, this is the reality.

On a cold day every little ray of sun counts.

And moving on to the men's department. They were only four bucks for the 200 odd female goats, which makes quite a good ratio, eh? Happy days for the boys!
Although at the time they were separated from the herd in their own enclosure, far away I might add, to give the poor females a rest! Wearisome beasts indeed. Or should I say horny...

And back to the nursery...'Whass in your bag?'

It's true, goats will eat anything! Luckily they are not carnivores.

Milking time!

The goats were enticed onto their places by extra snacks, and once attached, they were ready to be milked - by us! Yes, we were in for a hands-on experience and though it was a little bit tricky at the start, we managed not bad. Apparently well used to the novice milkers, only couple of them tried to kick they way into freedom.

'I've had a very busy and tiring day, so I want a bubble bath and champagne, tout de suite'

And then onto the new pastures. With two chevriers (goatherds), we walked them through the forest to their daily grazing ground.

And you had to be careful since the goats brushed past you fast, not caring whether they made you tumble nose first to the ground at the same time.

And eating again!

The last activity of the day was to try some cheese-making. These will be eaten by the pigs since, as you see, the conditions are not très hygiénique. But we got the gist of things. 
The goats produce about 350 litres of milk per day and that will be made into 700 cheeses.

And the end-product! I bought the red cheese on the top, a sundried tomato-flavoured cheese, which was absolutely delicious! I think I need to return here very soon!

hjghj

Never Stop Learning

In January I continued to attend the french language classes which take place twice a week now. On Mondays we try to get our heads around the grammaire française and on Thursdays we do more social things; cooking, handcraft, discussions, walks or trips to the nearby sights. 

To kick the year off, we went to see a fantastic exhibition of photographs by Laurent Ballesta. He is a marine biologist, explorer and underwater photographer, who has taken the art of photography on the whole new level.

Like good old Jacques Cousteau in his time, Ballesta is the most important ocean explorer in the world today. And looking at his work, I can well believe that. Go and see the exhibition if it ever comes near you!

Eat-or-be-eaten or just a wee dental hygiene session?

 An iceberg. Suddenly humans seem very small.

Fishy fishy fish!!

Monday morning, I know how you feel!

 Sea dragon from Australia.

And here he is with a fish that is also called a 'living fossil', the coelacanth.

'Still considered the greatest zoological discovery of the 20th century, the coelacanth, known as “Gombessa” in Mozambique, had supposedly been extinct for 65 million years until a specimen was found in the nets of a fisherman in 1938'.

The coelanth model.

An then for something completely different. Few weeks ago we made wee trinkets and jewellery out of a modeling mass, the name of which I can't remember now, but you know what I mean.

It was great fun and also slightly therapeutic; sitting in the sun and making wee bugs, donuts and whatever else we could think of. Afterwards they had to go in the oven for half an hour, to set hard. Easy peasy!

Here's some of the ready art work. My masterpieces are on the left bottom corner; green bug, blue fish, snail and few others.

A bit too small for me but never mind, it was fun to make. Why didn't they have this stuff around when I was little? What we had was very messy, white material that took ages to set hard and then it still had to be painted. None of the instant gratification like with our class today.