Tuc de Coucou

After the searing heat of the last week, a damp day heralded a change in the weather. We grabbed our opportunity to catch up with friends we haven't seen for good while and head into the mountains. It started out reasonably cool but as the day wore on the heat returned and with the damp from the rain the humidity was a killer! 

We headed to the Luentein valley and headed up Tuc de Coucou. A stiff 1000m of ascent from the bottom of the valley, but we all had plenty of talking to do to catch up on each others news.

Andy, Paula, Breezy, Alun plus Ruby and Susie in the background.

A riot of horned pansies

Griffon vulture

Ruby with Pic des Cingles and Mail de Bulard in the background

We had lunch at the col below the summit, which was a good call as the summit was full of sheep droppings and stank!

We'd planned to return via the tunnels, but opted instead to head straight down, dip our feet in the cool river and go for well earned beer in Castillon.

 

Susie and Ruby, neither of whom have ever woven before, are my guinea pigs for the beginners weaving course. The first day and some of the second was spent dressing the looms but by the end of day 2 they have both made some fantastic designs! Two more days of weaving and learning still to come.

Susie's

Ruby's

 

Day trip to Mirepoix and Camon

For our anniversary we thought we'd do a little road trip to the other side of the Ariege.

Mirepoix

The medieval town of Mirepoix for lunch and then onto Camon - one of France's most beautiful villages. Compact with a Castle and Abbey it has an annual Rose festival (which was a couple of days ago) as nearly every house has a different species of climbing rose outside.

House martins and swallows were everywhere

 

A spell of cold weather has brought fresh snow down to about 1300m. Yesterday Thelma gave birth to a little lamb Wilma and for the past few days this rather magnificent short toed eagle and his mate have been frequenting the birch tree in our field. Despite their impressive size they eat mostly snakes and lizards.

On the loom currently

Two more colourways for my "swirl" design. The combination of lighter colours has made for a subtle pattern, whilst the "less lustrous than silk" tencel, which is also slightly thicker, has altered the design slightly.

The blue and yellow, evokes the "seashore" imagery in the design. The all yellow is less successful.

On the second loom a couple of yoga blankets in our own homespun wool are underway. The blankets are woven folded in half (fold on the right, to loose edges on the left) so they will be double the width of the loom.

Two more shawls in doubleweave with linen, lambswool and silk and already being put on the first loom.

Cabane d'Eychelle from Col de la core, Ruby and lambs

Ruby has arrived for long stay and we've been treating her to the joys of rural life. Plenty of cuddles with out three little lambs!

Iggy, Nattie and Pachuli

On walks we've heard but not seen the Golden Oriole and a medium spotted woodpecker has it's nest with young near the Pla d'Artigue.

On Saturday we ventured into the mountains on a short walk from the Col de la Core to the Cabane d'Eychelle. There's still a fair bit of snow and after the cabane snowshoes or crampons would be advisable

Etang d'Eychelle in the background

The Etang d'Eychelle is still partially frozen but it was alive with mating frogs.

When we got home in the early afternoon it was clear that Barley was getting ready for labour. We moved the sheep to the shelter field. Barley separated herself from the flock but allowed a visit from Louise (who is now blind and very old). We realised that Louise is Barley's mother. At about 8.45 she gave birth to a little male lamb, who we called Louis. We got mother and baby safely in the barn just before dark...fortunately as ruby saw the fox shortly afterwards, obviously attracted by the baby lambs first cries.

 

Goodbye Misty 2019-2026

Our oldest hen "misty" has been ill for the last four days. Like a lot of old hens she developed water belly. Proud to the end, she let us put her in the porch in a box with straw, but refused food and water (except for the occasional sip) and met her end with dignity. 

lots of tawny mining bees around the bugle, this female is much larger and brighter than the male

A red squirrel hanging upside down to reach the blossom

 

Trials and tribulations of lambing

Lambing season is upon us and first up was Sasha who managed a straightforward birth of her male lamb Iggy without any intervention on Tuesday. A couple of days later Truffle had another boy overnight who we named Bonbon. But the following morning he'd vanished. We searched everywhere but probably a fox had jumped the electric fence and taken him...heartbreaking.

Yesterday Inkling had her first baby, another boy whowe named Nattie. This time we locked mother and baby in the bergerie overnight and will do the same again tonight. 

Today at about 12.30 Trudy's waters broke, but two hours later she still couldn't push the baby out. We called the vet but they had no one available to help. The lamb was normally presented (nose and front feet first) but Trudy was too small - this is her first baby. I called my friend Paul in the Mendips who also has sheep and he suggested sticking a couple up fingers up her bum, feeling for the back of the head and exerting a little downward pressure to pop the lambs head out. It worked a treat and once the head was out in a few minutes she managed to give birth to a little ewe. Mother and baby are safely in the barn.

Sasha and Iggy

Poor Truffle and her baby that was taken

Trudy and Pätchuli

Inkling and Nattie

Couple of captures from the camera trap

Red deer

Badgers

 

First lamb of the spring

 

Scorchio!

Beautiful weather this week, vegetable garden preparation underway

 

Weaving courses starting in May

 

Latest weave

A networked twill I designed in silk and merino