Tuc de la Coume

A brief break in the latest snow event and we decided to make a dash for Tuc de la Coume. We were a bit late setting out and missed the clear spell. As I left the trees I spooked a Red Stag which ran off into the forest - too quick to get the camera out alas. The snow didn't deliver a fantastic ski descent but it's always good to get out.

 

camera trap

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With so much nocturnal wildlife here we decided to invest in camera trap to see more of it - first stop badgers! Next we'll try for some wild boar.

More snow at the end of last week and the weekend, a welcome end to the rain...and now sun at last. 

Another sick hen - Henna - who quick suffered paralysis. Marek's virus or botulism were the obvious culprits. After 48 hours of nursing she has begun to recover - so botulism is the likely cause (there would be no recovery from Marek's). Chickens can pick botulism bacteria up from eating maggots or surprisingly rotting cabbage leaves! It's different strain of the bacteria to that which affects humans and so there is no danger to our health.

Today we headed out as the sun was shining, for as quick snowshoe up Cap de Bouirex.

 

A buried snow man giving us the finger

Where eagles dare

Montcalm and Pics d'Estats above the clouds

More field clearance

Once long ago (9 years) I got the field below the chemin to look like this, but house and gite building meant I had to let it go and the forest returned. With a little more time on my hands it's time to clear it again. Hopefully it will provide a link to the amphitheatre field. About 3/4 is cleared of brambles so far.

The top field has also been extended to the end of the parcelle, revealing an old quince tree.

Susie's garden keeps on giving - cauliflower, cabbage, carrots and rocket from the polytunnel.
I've been busy logging firewood for 2020!

Susie's Contemporary dance residential is now full and this week a record 7 dancers at her weekly dance class.

Another poorly hen

Despite being free range, well fed, watered and housed and regularly de-wormed, we have another poorly hen. "Moon Zappa" started her moult and as is often the case became quite lethargic and had low appetite. The moult is still going on but she has become more and more low and developed diarrhoea. We separated her from the other hens and have brought her into the porch, feeding her as best we can with a syringe. Some chicken food, some scrambled egg to boost her protein intake (needed for her new set of feathers) and a little propolis to try and combat any bacterial/viral infection she may have picked up.

It's been a week but there's little sign of improvement. No symptoms other than moulting, lethargy and diarrhoea. All we can do keep trying to feed and water her, and keep her warm and comfortable. Hoping she pulls through.

Mancave

After many years of nonstop building projects, I've finally found the time to give my workshop a damn good tidy and build some extra work benches.

Cranes migrating over the Pyrenees at the moment at quite some altitude, the cries of a thousand birds carries a long way!

More wonderful sunsets

After the blizzard, only 15cm at most here, but over a metre in 36 hours at 2000m.

 Then the south wind blew and it's all gone at Quelebu already.

What a difference a day makes (24 little hours).

On Christmas day and boxing day the sun broke through and the temperatures climbed to a lovely 28 degrees in the sun, then over a cold front and gale force winds, rain, hail then snow!

The snowy weather has continued for the past few weeks and its been unseasonably cloudy which translates into "cold" so far this winter. The sheep don't seem to mind - they have a cosy shelter and plenty of hay. The chickens don't like it much and in the last couple of weeks we've lost two birds. Bandicoot was taken by a hunters dog and Thistle had been ill for the last few months but despite are best care she died last night. A possible cause is marek's disease (a viral illness caused by the herpes virus which lives in the soil). It's highly contagious amongst birds but only develops into an illness in some (it might have been the cause of Shelley's blind eye). Fortunately it doesn't pass into the hen's eggs and nor can it be transferred to humans. When spring approaches we'll let one of  the broody hens sit on clutch of eggs to re-build the numbers.

Some sun forecast for next week then a dump of snow for the few days before xmas.

Another sneaky mini ski-tour from the house

Sunshine and a quick ski up and down Joubac

View from the bedroom window this morning

Still dumping down with snow

Snow!

Mulch

The symbiotic garden is all mulched up and just in time - snow is forecast for the next 4 days!