Textile Museum, Lavelanet

I had to drop a planning application into the Mairie at Aigues-Vives, so whilst we were in the area Susie and I visited the Musée des Textiles in nearby Lavelanet. Once a major industry in the town employing over 3500 people, it is now all gone.

Interesting to see a variety of machine looms including jacquard looms and many machines for carding, spinning, warping and finishing fabric.

Part of the museum also explains another now lost local industry that made bone combs....now of course replaced by plastic!

Inside the jacquard loom

Jacquard loom

Machine loom

Various carding machines turning fleece not a thing continuous rolag ready to be spun.

Etang de Peyregrand

A magnificent autumn walk to the Etang de Peyregrand from Bouychet (above the village of Siguer).

The pictures tell you everything! 940m of ascent and about 15km.  We had thought of doing a bigger circuit returning via the Etangs de Neych, but we were all a bit tired so decided to return the same way.

 

Etang de Réglisse

Good weather was forecast but it was grey and raining until we arrived at Gerac then in the space of 20 minutes everything changed and we were blessed with a glorious day. 

It was a day for photos, so we abandoned our initial goal of Pic de Turguilla and took things easy allowing time for artist shots and a leisurely lunch at the Etang de Réglisse.

On the way to Gerac about 200 sheep and their shepherd caused us to halt and get some great shots as the clouds started to lift.

Cabanatous circuit

An old favourite. To mix things up we went in the reverse direction, starting with the Port de Saliex. The usual lunch on the summit of Pic de Cabanatous before trying a new variant by descending the ridge falling from Pic des Fouzes. Steep with a few rocky outcrops it was interesting but not really worthwhile to repeat.

Afterwards Sheri had reserved places at the Spa in Aulus les Bains for us, which none of us had ever visited. Like the ridge it was interesting but not worth a second visit.

Etand d'Alate

Etangs de Bassies

Pic de Fouzes

and the ridge below

 

 A new warp going on the loom for table-runners. More on the Handweave Adventures Blog.

Trois Seigneurs

With the weaving barn finally occupied, a chance to get in the hills. Andy who had a hip replacement about 10 months ago was free and finally feeling able, so a trip up Trois Seigneurs was in order. Much hotter than we expected, but we made the circuit in 6hrs30 including some leisurely stops for lunches.

 

Almost finished!

After waiting on two different occasions for delivery of our floor from Leroy Merlin we eventually cancelled the order and went to Toulouse to collect from the store.  After 11 hours of work floor and underlay are fitted. Just a short length of skirting boards to do.  The loom has finally moved in!

 

normal service is resumed

It's been a strange year so far on the mushroom front. In the twenty years I've lived here I have never experienced so few mushrooms - virtually nothing until now. Now they've all come at once, not that I'm complaining.

Chaux chanvre has been completed and drying for over a week now, the floor was supposed to arrive today but although the delivery driver called me and said he would arrive in 2 hours, he didn't. Very frustrating.

With the upstairs almost complete, thoughts are turning to downstairs. We are now thinking that it will provide more room for wool processing, dyeing and running weaving courses. 

Solar panel teething problems seem to be over and the system for instantaneous power transfer when we have a power cut is now working. apart from a few days when the system wasn4t working, we haven't needed to use any grid electricity since installation in late April. We'll see how things continue in the shorter days of winter. 

Four days of chanvre chaux and we've three walls completed. A rest before I tackle the last wall.

Whilst the doors were open this little fella crept in!

 

Ready for wall finishes at last!

A quick test of the storage now the electrics are complete, before starting the chanvre-chaux (lime and hemp) on the walls.

Latest project finished on the loom, a pure silk shawl in huck lace.

 

14 days progress

Another couple of weeks of scorching temperatures as the heatwave in Southern Europe continues. 

We decided we needed to start rebuilding our flock after last years losses from FCO. Before we could get a new ram we had to get rid of Oak. Although he's not a ram (he's castrated) Somehow a tiny root of testicle was left and so he behaves as if he was. He has a healthy set of horns, unfortunately is aggressive and would fight and possibly kill a new ram (especially if young). There was no alternative but to take him to the abattoir. He's now safely processed and in the freezer. He was surprising fat! 

Oak

Next we sold on some of the lambs and sheep that have poor wool and from which we didn't want to breed. Olive and Chihero went and although Truffle was also bought she escaped from the buyer's trailer and eventually we decided to keep her. After looking at a few rams we finally decided on Teddy a 4 month old ram from near Aspet. We bought him and another white ewe who we called Sasha from an amateur. The poor sheep had never been shorn and were in a small bare field with 5 or 6 others. As soon as we got her home we sheared her much to her delight. She was also thin as a rake. Both sheep have been eating non-stop since their arrival.

Teddy left and Sasha right

Progress in the Weaving barn has been slow in the heat, although I have built cupboards for weaving and yoga equipment, started fitting the lights and built the walls of the cupboard around the solar battery and switchgear. The staircase walls have gone up, we have hand and guard rails, the last bit of exterior wall has been pointed and we have a sign on the door. More first fix electrics to do before we can finally start the chaux chanvre.