Pic Cabanatous

A hastily organised walk organised by Cherie who's off to Alaska next week. Pascale (Kim "Areige.com" Chevalier's daughter) joined us too. Beautiful weather and walk from Coumbiere upto the col at 1944m that usually leads onto Pic de Rouge de Bassies, but turning left, crossing Pic de Cabanatous then descending to Etang d'Alate before returning to Coumbiere via the Col de Saliex.

On the col 1944m

YMCA

On the Pic

Still plenty of snow

The frozen Etang

Etang d'Alate

Ice, ice, baby

Mr Froggy

Tuc d'Eychelle

More pointing, log splitting, looking for new sheep and a new sign for the gite...time for a trip to the mountains!

We set off from Col de la Core and were expecting deep soft snow so took snowshoes, but in fact the snow was firm even in the late afternoon, crampons would have been more useful. We made easy progress and reached the Etang d'Eychelle, still partially frozen, in a couple of hours. 

We had lunch at the cabane d'Eychelle and watched ski tourer descend from Tuc de la Messe, 2 hours of portage seems barely worth the effort for 20 minutes of ski descent.

We headed up towards the peak but a little before the Col de la crouzette the snow was getting very firm, so we avoided the shadow and headed left to the Col d'Aubies. The last few metres were free of snow but scrappy and unstable, whilst on the snow a sizeable rock narrowly missed us.

From the Col we headed North eventually reaching the Tuc d'Eychelle. I re-erected the summit cross which had fallen over, then we descended directly to the Cabane d'Eychelle once more.

Susie with Valier appearing behind Tuc de Quer Ner

Gentiane

We lazed at the Etang d'Eychelle watching the frogs jumping in and out of the lake, a Red Kite overhead and later a paraglider, before heading home.

It's rude to point!

Two and a half days of pointing and the South and West sides of the barn are complete..probably the first time it's been pointed since it was built in May 1861, if ever. A tiny hole left in the middle of the South wall for some nesting blue tits, who tolerated me hanging about. Even flying to within a foot of me to make feeds. For the last two years they've nested in the West wall.

Amphitheatre field

Much neglected over the past few years, Susie and I have been re-clearing field 8 which forms a lovely natural amphitheatre. Lots of brambles and even more year old trees. The lower terrace was never very successful because of the copse of oak trees and the enormous beech which cut out all the light...both had to go and now finally it feels like it'll be a success.  Could this be where the sauna goes??

Snow!

Ruby was here for a week, relaxing and regaining her energy after a short spell in hospital whilst her epilepsy drugs were changed. Lots of sun and a few strolls in the forest was just what the doctor ordered!

The day after she left the snow arrived. Fortunately just a few inches, but the cold weather has damaged the kiwis and killed many of out tender seedlings which had just been planted outside.

After the snow

Temperatures have now returned to normal and we've been busy replacing and adding to out plants.

Shellie and the chicks were let out of their special rearing coop (which I hastily built the day before the eggs hatched) for a stroll around the main chicken run (the other chickens and the rooster we're locked out). A dust bath for Shellie and taste of grass for the chicks!

The weather here has been exceptional for the past fortnight - mid twenties every day...but snow is forecast for Wednesday night/Thursday morning at Quélébu. The trees are now in leaf so lets hope it's not as catastrophic as the May snow of 2010.

Chicks are hatching!!

Four chicks for our hen Shellie, who has been sitting for the past 3 weeks. She had a dozen or so eggs under her but we only expected 5-6 chicks as these the others she's manage to collect from the other hens over the 3 weeks. In the end, once she had 4 chicks she quickly abandoned the other eggs.

Cap de Bouirex

A long overdue stroll into the mountains with John, Sophie and Pierre. Cap de Bouirex gave us a snow free walk and an excellent view of the amount of snow still in the mountains. A lot of red kites wheeling over the summit. 

Back at Quélebu log splitting and field fencing continues.

We're fully booked for the 3 weeks of Easter, so other than change-overs we've been able to spend our time doing something other than building the gite. I had to launch straight into some Architecture commissions which were overdue, then tidy up some fallen trees before the annual job of repair, replace and re-fix the fencing to the fields - almost complete. We may have sheep soon!

Susie started giving contemporary dance classes in Saint Girons. Just a couple of people at her first class, but hopefully she'll double that today.

All done!!

Well almost! There's always a few small things to finish aren't there, but we have 2 bookings already through air b'n'b. Next week we'll build our own website and get some more listings.

Terrace finished!

Bloody hot today but the terrace is finished - the list is getting smaller and we have electricity!!

Egyptian visitor

A long day in Toulouse yesterday getting the last furnishings for the gite and a panic when we couldn't find a door for the shower! Although the websites of Lapeyre and Castorama both showed that they had doors available the reality on turning up was that we would have to order and wait 4 weeks! At last an evening trip to bricodepot in Pamiers saved the day.

Today Susie has started furnishing the inside whilst I built the terrace and installed the shower door. 

A rare sighting indeed today as an Egyptian Vulture circled overhead! We also saw a Hoopoe last week which is quite early in the year.

Quélébu Grange

We're open for business from the 1st April with a listing on "Air bnb". Another big shop tomorrow to get the last items for the inside, decking for the terrace arrives on Tuesday and electricity is connected on Wednesday. Exhausted!

Gite progress

 Colours at last...two coats of limewash in the main downstairs room (and some nasty lime burns for my hands). The stairs have handrails and balustrades and cupboards and bathrooms are painted and tiled. A big thanks to Phil who finished the plasterboard jointing whilst I was away in the UK for a few days.