I suddenly realised it's March which means it's nearly Spring.

 

 

 

Usually I've been out in my garden 

 peeping in all the areas I know something should be showing signs of Spring.

But not feeling like or being able to do any work in the garden as

we had some nice sunshine today I took a stroll around and I wasn't disappointed.

 I found quite a few flowers.

These Pansies have been in flower all winter,

not as healthy looking as they should be.

also it looks like my Lavender cuttings are looking OK

strange as they don't like to be wet.

 

 

 

These Primula are always the first to flower.

just a few popping up here & there in the grass.

 

I didn't see any Crocus that were in the same area last year,

maybe they've rotted with all the rain we've had this winter.

  I know we have Voles that burrow under the surface of the ground

So I'd prefer it if they'd been eaten by them, it must be hard finding food.

This is another pot that I'd forgotten about, with more Pansies.

This will get moved around to brighten up an area that needs a bit of colour.

 



 

 

A large shrub of  Japonica.

Which flowers before the leaves appear.
It really should have had a good pruning.

 

 

 

 

I always bring a piece into the house to open up before they do on the shrub.

 

 

 

 

I hope these few flowers I found in my garden

brought Spring a little nearer to all my friends who are still getting snow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

 

 

Our Sunday walk

If we had kept to our usual pattern  this is where we would have been walking today.
It's just a 10 min.drive from where we live,

  it's a man made lake from the streams that weave their way through the woods.

This is where we start. it's very scenic.

During the summer months the nearby camping site is full
and in the winter it's very quiet and usually it's only dog walkers we pass.

We can walk all the way around
 and when we are on form and need a brisk walk, it takes about 30 mins.
But on the days when I have my camera in my pocket it takes a little longer,
 Depending on the time of day or the year and whether the sky is blue it can look totally different.
.

These photos show the vast amount of rain we've had this winter

Perhaps we should go early in the morning as I'm sure we'd see the deer.
Unfortunately we've never see them here, they're probably hiding in the woods.


However we didn't go today.

Nothing untoward has happened.
 It was pouring with rain, and I'm only a fair weather walker.
also there was something more important going on.
Well, more important for Mr France, as he's an avid Rugby fan
  and this time of the year it's the six nations championship.
Which for all those who don't follow rugby or like me are not interested.
The six nations we're playing Saturday & Sunday.
just in case you're just a little bit interested and curious to know who the nations are
 they are
ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND,WALES, FRANCE & ITALY.
Although we live in France , Mr France will still be cheering for England
One of our grandsons plays rugby
and has now been chosen to play for our region The Limousin.
 that's when he cheers for France
and shows how proud he is of his grandson.



This photo was taken  in February last year.
when
Most of the lake was frozen .



I can't wait for some clear skies and some sun .
But the forecast is more rain.
So our walk around the lake will have to wait a bit longer.

I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit more of where I live.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Grow Your Blog Party & Give Away

 I saw this button on a  blog   "Grow Your Blog" party!"    and thought it would be fun. it's a blog by  Vicki

 If this is the  first time you have visited  Me    I hope you'll enjoy what you see. I'm an English lady,  living in rural France, and my blog is about my daily life, my garden and the wild life I see. I can take you on lots of walks near to my home, and share with you the things that make me love where I live. Some times I share a special recipe . 

I do some crafting,  less than I used to.

I've always loved making things, ever since I was at school

 my favourite class was  what they called 'Needlework ' way back then.

My school reports had remarks something like this

'' If Barbara gave as much time to Maths 

as she does to her 'Needlework' she will go far''

Reading my grandsons reports, I don't think teachers have changed much, 

when summing up a pupil.

My lane which I take everyday for a walk.

I only started watercolour painting a few years ago,  when I feel brave enough to share something I've sketched or painted, I'll slip them into a post.

My painting corner 

 I love challenges.

Oh I forgot to tell you, I'm learning how to use Mr France's camera.

Mr. France is my husband, so he'll be popping into a few of the things I share with my followers.

We love to share a good bottle of wine.

If you'd like a peep at some of the things I share 

Make yourself a coffee or a nice cup of tea in your favourite cup.

and 

enjoy a few photos I've taken.

A few flowers to make you think of spring .

This is my potting bench, I spend a lot of time here.

 If you're looking  for  places to visit in Paris and see  lots of photos of the Eiffel Tower I'm not for you.

I'll let you into a secret, I've only ever stayed in Paris once 

and that was only a long weekend.

However if you love the country life

 with some extras thrown in

go to my sidebar and click on follower.

  I hope you'll like what you see.

I'll be waiting for you.

                    
                    Thanks for visiting, and thank you to Vicki at 2 Bags Full, our host.

I will be having my first Give Away  as a thank you
The give away is open to any one that comments on this blog post. 

this will be announced on the 15th February 

This is my first party link up

So look out for your name it might be you

Not sure yet what it will be, but it will something French.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Sleeping garden.

Although our winter has been mild we've had a lot of rain.
My garden is still sleeping.

Crocosmia


this is what we have to look forward to later in the summer.

How often do we not look up and take time to see the beauty of nature.

The sky was blue and the sun was shining

I took time this morning,
there right near to my house was this holly tree, still with plenty of berries.
 These have usually all gone by now.


Though we always make sure our bird feeders are kept full.

Coal tit

A few weeks ago I mentioned I was going to join a photography blog.

Well after reading what my first task was to be I realised it was not for me.

So Mr France has been giving me a few tips, 

and I took  these photos of the birds with his camera ,

I've been using some different menus

and I know I have a lot to learn 

but I feel I have improved.

What do you think ?

Nuthatch

 

Blue tit

I'm not able to do anything strenuous in the garden at the moment,

so as the sun was shining I sat in our sheltered spot 

& Mr France brought me coffee.

We sat at our little round café table

and watched the birds flying from feeder to feeder.

It won't be long before we hear them singing 

and see them starting to build their nests.

I hope you take time to look around
 and see what nature brings where ever you are.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Signs of Winter, the Cranes are migrating.

This morning I heard the sound of the cranes passing over our house.

they usually fly over during the third week in October

so they are a few weeks later this year.

I guess, due to the milder weather in France these past few weeks 

they decided to hang on a little longer.

 but now it must be time for them to leave and fly south

These are probably from Scandinavia and eastern Europe.

 They leave to winter in south-west Spain and north-west Africa 

Where I live is on a flight path, so maybe we humans chose this route from the birds !!
( I'm only joking. )

I can still remember the first time I saw the Cranes or should I say heard them. I had no idea their route took them over my home. I was in the garden at the time, and I couldn't work out what the loud noise was and then I finally saw the cranes. I tried to count them, it seemed like there were hundreds flying in several V-shaped formations. I'd only ever seen pictures of this, I'd never actually seen it for real.
I still rush out  to see them when I hear the noise.
I enjoy it even more when they are on their return in February,
as I know that spring is on it's way.

They usually fly in large groups like this, changing positions


It was a wonderful sight to see, their wings working rhythmically as they held the V.shape, they seemed so organised, the leader at the apex changing as the birds took it in turns to lead the way. There were a few stragglers flapping about who seemed to be left behind, but thankfully they eventually caught up and tagged onto the end of the line.

So goodbye my friends,
 we'll see you again  next year in February when you
  return to your breeding patch.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Hello from La Petite Maison.

I'm almost back home,  I'm staying in my own holiday cottage  La Petite Maison for a couple of weeks while the last of the holiday makers are still here.

Mr France and I ( he's been reading my blog and  said he'd prefer to be called that, than my other half )  love this little cosy cottage, we always feel as if we are on holiday when we stay there and seem to sleep in till late in the mornings and spend the day pottering. I've even taken up doing my sketches and water colour painting again. Today we packed up a picnic and took a drive through our country lanes and found a lake we had never visited before. We had the place almost to ourselves as most of the holiday makers have gone home to prepare for the children going back to school. 

This was our picnic lunch 

Charentaise melon & Jambon sec... 

 

 

Roasted tomatoes & mozzarella cheese tart.

 

Chairs waiting for us when we arrived back at the cottage.

The colourful corner collection.

  A perfect day and now the sun going down.

 

   

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

My summer in La Dordogne

During the summer months Mr France & I leave our home, as we let our house and a small cottage 

called La Petite Maison  for holidays.

and 

we spend time at our daughters while she and her family go away on holiday and we look after her home along with all their animals.

This year we were greeted by seven  new baby chicks who kept us entertained and we watched them grow from cream coloured  fluffy balls into young hens / cockerels.

A few weeks later when we left this is how much they'd grown.

 Hats were definitely a must.

and there was one to suite everyone.

After our long wet spring

It's been a very HOT summer this year, most of us sat in the shade,

but others flayed out in the hot sun.!

Oh... it's too hot !

One, would love to cool off !

but doesn't like getting wet.

Family bikes prepared, ready to go in the van for a few days away.

I'll stay here in the shade and look after the animals.

The fruits are not quite ripe, so I can't pick them yet.

Thankfully the deer have not eaten the figs this year.

The blackberries are nearly ripe.

Not very many peaches.

So far we haven't needed to light the fire. 

The evenings have been warm.

Let's hope it continues for a bit longer.

 I'll leave my hat hanging on the door until the next time I need it.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian