Mining!

Project porch continues. Having removed the old bathroom window (to be reused on the other wall) and bricked it up, work has started on making the new doorway into the bathroom, heavy and dusty work breaking through the stonework and reinforced concrete lintol, but the worst is over I hope!

Susie's moonlight photos

 

Curtains and Morels

 

Fabric off the loom

Finally the fabric is off the loom and in the washing machine. 7m of "extended manifold twill" in cotton. Next curtain making.

Rula one of red hens has developed water-belly not uncommon in old laying hens, but she's not that old. "Ascites" is usually a sign of hypertension or liver failure so it's a symptom of an underlying illness, but there's a slim chance it could be a liver infection, so we took her to the vet. They emptied much of the fluid (over 200ml) and gave her some anti biotics and a diuretic. A very sick hen we doubted she be alive in the morning, but she's still hanging on this afternoon and eating and drinking, though she's obviously very weak. Chickens are so difficult to save if they get sick...time will tell, but her chances are still 50/50 at best.

 

Day 4...snow and rain impedes progress

 

Porch days 2 and 3

 After a day mostly adapting the old door (which is neither square nor flat) to hang and close snuggly, today everything is insulated and waterproof....external cladding and a door cill next, then internal finishes and a floor screed.

Porch works

 Having found a beautiful old door (c1840) and obtained a window, works started today on enclosing porch.

Weaving continues

 75% of the way through...the end is in sight!

Red billed Leiothrix!

I was surprised yesterday evening to catch a glimpse of a little flock of colourful birds I couldn't recognise. Today I returned and got some photos. A fast flying passerine, the red billed leiothrix comes from China and the Himalayas and was imported to Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some escaped and they are now established in small numbers across southern Europe.

 

Mazères

A trip to the north of the Ariège to see the Storks at Mazère and then a spot of orienteering in Pamiers with Sheri, Michiel, Paula and Andy. Mazère was bloody freezing and Susie and I were completely caught out as we'd got used to the sunny weather here. Thank god we didn't wear shorts which has been the norm here for the last week!

 

Latest wildlife photos with the new lens

Whilst planting some new fruit trees, I spied a weasel coming in and out of the sheep shelter.  As I waited patiently for an hour for her to return I was also rewarded by the squirrel! Later I found I buzzards nest which if not abandoned might give some great pictures of young.

 

Towards Mont Ceint

Retaining wall all finished...about ten trailer loads of stone and two blackened nails!

Yesterday, a snow shoe with Emily and Myla (who we haven't seen for ages) from the Etang de Lers towards Mont Ceint. Icy hard snow in the morning and a strong south wind so we decided to make a leisurely shorter day and summitted point 1839m instead. Myla's first time on snow shoes, she did very well even on the steep ground which was at the limit of snowshoeing.

Emily and Myla on the summit in the strong winds

Crazy clouds caused by the strong south winds

 

Stone retaining wall

About 5 years ago we terraced the vegetable garden using posts and wriggly tin, slowly these have been pushed over and so it was time to do the job properly with stone walls....a job I've been putting off. With dry weather now seemed like a good time, as the the clay is stiff and won't collapse too much when the old tin is removed. I m slowly working my way along the slope and building the wall high enough to take out two walls. Heavy work so I'm  limiting myself to mornings only.

 

Tuc de la Curate

A walk from the Col d'Ayens, the view from which is far more spectacular than I remembered, especially as it is only 950m high. From there an easy walk on piste forestières and wooded ridges over the peaks of Cap de Calamane 1360m, Cap des Embausses, Tuc de la Courate 1421m, Cap de Sarradère 1390m, Tuc de Coume Grande 1335m and Cap de la Bouyche, before returning to Col d'Ayens.

From the col d'Ayens

Clouds spilling over from Spain between Pointe de Rabassère and Pic de Certescan

Telephoto of Dent de Médé with Pic d'Estats beyond

Lauch, one of several hamlets above Rivèrenert

The unusual trig point on tuc de la Courate