Dealing with the heat

The crazy heat continues and as much as possible we're sheltering in the cool of the house during the day and venturing out in the cooler evening. The sheep too sleep all day but are a bit noisy at night as the lambs run riot ignoring the baa's of their distressed mums.

One Susie's Persian silk trees which she's grown from seed and carefully nurtured for three years has its first bloom.

But you can only stay at home for so long, so despite the temperatures we've started venturing out - a short walk to Cominac from the house....

A trip to the river at Castet for a swim....

And today a walk upto the Etang d'Aube for another swim with Sheri and Michiel.

 

At last Faith had her lamb last night - "inkling" a little ewe. The heat wave continues with temperatures building to probably the 40's this weekend.

Hot dry days - the hay cutter broke but a temporary fix kept it running long enough to finish, the baler worked perfectly and the whole operation was completed almost single handed! A hot dry wind meant the cut grass turned to hay in a single day. The new tractor makes the whole operation much simpler.

The living room has also been repainted a saffron colour which is calmer and completes the job.

lambs and living room

Well we took Olive to the vet, she had a temperature and probably a stomach upset. The vet gave me daily antibiotic injections to administer and she soon perked up and is doing fine. Thelma had Bam-bam a couple of days ago, Blackberry gave birth to Joan yesterday and Audrey was born to Lately this afternoon....so we're waiting on Faith for the last lamb.

Three tough days on my knees and the tiling in the living room is complete and we've moved our stuff back in. The new arrangement of chimney and desk has made lots of extra space and finally we have a solid, level and flat floor without draughts. 

The orange wall is being repainted tomorrow to a softer "saffron" which is what we were originally after. Then all is finished(?) apart from the constant job of trying to remove the grout haze (a specialist product might be required).

As if by chance my new loom should arrive soon too! It's taken a 6 weeks longer to arrive than the date when it was first ordered but that was just as well as the late tile delivery also delayed the living room completion. It'll go between the sofa and the bookcases.

Settled dry weather from tomorrow, so hay making next.

From the searing heat to much cooler and damp weather. 7 lambs came in quick succession but the last four seem to be keeping us waiting. Olive, a ewe lamb born to truffle, is struggling. Very lethargic compared to the other lambs even though she is suckling well. She and Truffle are confined to the barn to keep warm, rest and hopefully be less stressed. The next few days will be critical to see if she can pull through.

Lambs

Puffle

Louise

Truffle

Chihero

The crazy heatwave continues with temperatures nudging 40 in the shade.  Another lamb on Saturday to Truffle - a girl this time- I spotted her at 6.00 am then sat just 3 or 4m away a fox, quietly watching! I chased it away. The crazy temperatures are causing the sheep to give birth at night which increases the chance of predators. Last night I was awoke at 3.45 by baaing. I found Louise in the barn having just given birth to a boy and the fox sat again close to the barn! He didn't hang around as soon as he saw my torch. Once Louise was safely closed in the barn I found Puffle in the middle of field also having just given birth thus time to to girl. Little else to do but stay up all night standing guard with the rifle in case the fox was after more than just placenta! Another seven lambs to come in the next week to 10 days. The sheep are now in the field in front of the house which I hope will offer some deterrent.

In between times, Architecture projects - my largest project goes in for planning this week and trying to progress the living room. Still waiting for floor tiles and few other odds and ends still to do.

First lamb of '22

The crazy heat continues with temperature in the high 30's, too hot to do most things though the work has to continue! Very early this morning our first lamb of 2022 (first offspring of Tiny Tim) was born to Chihero. Pretty sure it's a boy but it's hard to tell with tiny ouessants.

 

Lightning

Super hot and muggy today 45 degrees in the sun. Thunder rumbled all day and the inevitable storm came in the late evening.

 

More living room progress

Beams sanded - what a job! 15kg of sawdust lighter.

plasterboarding and electrics complete

fireplace tiled, ready for tape and jointing

 

 Fireplace under construction

sheep shearing

 

living room progress

Rubble levelled and blinded, insulation down

DPM and second day of concreting

Concreting over ready for moving central heating circuits and reconnecting radiators

Roughing out the new fireplace and stove location

 

Pic de Cabanatous Circuit

 

Living room floor

The living room has been slowly rotting since before I bought the house at Quélébu. I've been putting the project for for a long time but at last it can wait no more. The old floor boards are removed and cut for firewood, the sleeper walls have knocked over and broken....next job is trying to turn it into smaller hardcore to form a sub-base for the new concrete floor and ceramic tiles.