Pic des Trois Seigneurs

With clear skies forecast for the morning a plan was hatched for a day out. The Dares elected to hang out, bathing in the lower reaches of a stream whilst the Sharps plus Oscar Dare headed off to climb Pic des Trois Seigneurs (2199m). 

Lots of vultures today particularly over the Etang d'Arbu.

Some wet sections of rock and persistent areas of snow made for an interesting ascent.

Oscar, Jasper and Ruby formed a good team.

The summit shot, reached just before the clouds rolled in.

Mont Valier above the clouds.

Decent across the snow.

The last few peaks on the ridge of descent were in dense cloud being blown by the westerly winds.

Back to the Ariege!

After a long but uneventful journey we're back at Quelebu. Arrived just before the heavens opened. today we've been chilling and made a couple of walks collecting mostly chanterelle/girolle mushrooms (some oyster mushrooms and a bollette too). The weather remains unsettled for a few days then hopefully back to sun on Sunday.

Sun and storms at the moment but good to be back.

The Dares are camping down at the barn and joining us on adventures

Bee and flower

Strange unidentified fungus

More fungus (milk caps)

Ruby with a Clitocybe

Two more days to go!

Cornworthy progress

Hell for leather now to complete before summer trip to Quelebu.

Trip back to France, highlights

Curtains and pictures in the Jasper and Ruby's bedrooms...

Afternoon thunderstorms... 

Varnished floors and new lighting in the living room and kitchen...

Stag beetles dating in the evening...

Moon setting in the early morning...

Bathroom painted...

Buzzard newel post taking shape..

Barn and field ready for summer visitors.

Red Lake

 A walk on the moor in the continuing heatwave to Red Lake for some skinny dipping. Cotton Grass everywhere!

The Extension at Cornworthy is nearly watertight so back to France at the end of the week.

Progress

Green chestnut framing

Almost finished building two chestnut trusses for the extension at Cornworthy. The framing is based on the trusses I altered in France. The shouldered mortice and tenon joints between the beam member and the ties allows for a strong joint and bit of tolerance in what would otherwise be a virtually impossible frame to assemble.

Timber frame speeding along

After a very long trip to Hastings yeaterday, today I'm ready for the timber framing.

Cornworthy

The deck/car port is nearing completion, should be ready to start the timber frame building soon.

Home produce

10 litres of elderflower champagne on the go and the allotment about to bear it's first fruit (a single blackcurrant).

Meanwhile the tremendous snowfall of last winter in the Pyrenees is starting to melt and there are disastrous floods on the rivers which take the snowmelt away from the mountains.

Photos

A walk on the moor with Susie today and one with Ruby yesterday in the Dartington Estate...mostly talking and taking photos.

 Wild yellow iris

 Susie

 Me

 Susie

Blue glow of bluebells

 Ruby

 Tiny blooms

Splash

Concrete pumped and tamped

An hour trip to Brixham in the afternoon, but no fish...only flowers.

Cornworthy Update

Concrete slab ready to pour tomorrow.

Sea food

Another week of exceptional early June weather here in Devon and so a trip to the beach was in order. Mattiscombe was sheltered from the wind, so the girls sunbathed whilst Jasper and I walked to Lannacombe and back in search of a fishing spot.  The tide was nearly in and we didn't find a spot. Eventually we had to scramble to safety to avoid wet feet. Friends arrived and after a barbeque, as the sun set, I threw out a spinner and caught 4 mackerel, 2 sea bass and a couple of baby cod (I think) which I put back.

Stormy weather

Atrocious weather for the past few days, but managed a long walk in the rain and been stripping our bedroom door, painting the bathroom door and carving an oak stair newel.

This side might stay wood...

Other side is painted white and gold