Tuesday 24 April 2012

Crazy April weather in France

When we arrived at the cottage at the beginning of the month, it was so sunny and warm, 20/21C. Very pleasant. So we spent a few days visiting friends, being visited, shopping, walking, playing with the dogs etc. Eventually, my wonderful DH got all the tools and bits he needed to start fixing the central heating system. With our dear friend Francks help broken copper pipes were replaced, not an easy job in a cottage with field stone walls half a metre thick, lol. The pipes didn't run straight, because some granite stones were just too tough to get through, so were all bent and VERY difficult to get out and to replace. But those wonderful guys did it. Radiators were replaced, and eventually we had a working central heating system again. YAY! Just as well, because about ten days or so ago, it turned cold. And wet. And very windy.Typical April weather, one minute sunshine, the next rain,changing all day long. So we couldn't really do anything in the garden, because as soon as we took the garden tools out, it would bucket down again. Since then I have tried to get some photos taken every time there was a bit of a break in the rain storms.


When we arrived, the hawthorn was in full bloom. Doesn't it look like they are covered in snow?




The forsythia added some beautiful Spring colour to the front 

and the deep pink of the ornamental currant was delightful


About ten days ago, just before it turned horridly dank and cold, I bought a few little plants, flowers and herbs, for the garden pots - 



it was such a pleasure to plant up the various old zinc, enamel and terracotta pots I had in the barn.




The currants, white, red and black are all doing well and fruiting already -

The hazelnut at the front is going nuts

The rhubarb is getting soooooooo big, I can feel a rhubarb crumble coming on

and the lilac is almost ready as well


I know I show you pics of the Wisteria every year, but I just can't help myself, it is such a beautiful colour, you'll have to put up with another batch if Wisteria pics again -






It will still be a little while before the leaves are all grown properly and all the flowers are open.


Now, this is the view out of my kitchen window, looking straight down the lane going past our cottage


and sideways over the fields down the hill


On a fairly normal day. But as I was sitting here preparing this post, there was a break in the  rain and some much appreciated sunshine lit up the fields next to us. It looked so dramatic, the bright green of the new leaves on the oak tree, the fresh greens of the fields all lit up, and the VERY dark clouds in the background. I had to take a couple of pics quickly to show you -





by now the sunshine is gone again, of course, and the rain has set in again.


Before we left for France, I received a beautiful new mermaid made by my wonderful friend Dorthe. Of course she had to come to France with me, so that she could visit her family here. So now, three of Dorthe's little beauties live in the bathroom -


This is the new addition to the family, Viola -



The older sisterAlexa


and their guardian sea angel, Angelina -


Gosh, this turned into a very long post, I hope I haven't sent you to sleep. There is so much blogging I have to catch up on though. Tomorrow I'll post pics of this week's inchie and tag challenges, and the day after lots of pics of more brocante finds!!I spent all day today editing pics, so they are ready to go and doing the posts shouldn't take too long.


Until then, toodlepip and big French hugs, xxx

13 comments:

Floss said...

It's just as miserable and cold/wet/windy here too, Liz! I'm getting a bit jealous of our friends across the Atlantic, who seem to have all of our good weather. But we did have that lovely weather in March...

I love your photos - I like it that you are here in France now!

Queenie Believe said...

What a wonderful place to enjoy, you are a very lucky lady! Enjoy the beauty of Spring.
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie

Jennifer Pearson Vanier said...

What a wonderful post. You seem to be located in a most idyllic spot. I too never grow tired of wisteria. We can't grow it here but I do love it. We got four inches of snow here yesterday. now it's just cold and damp. Love your posts. Thank you.

Salma said...

*seufz* was soll ich da noch schreiben? mal ganz ehrlich: bei SO einer aussicht aus dem küchenfenster ist es doch echt egal, ob die sonne scheint oder ob's blaue hunde regnet. *g* ein traum, ihr könnt euch wirklich glücklich schätzen! :)

und der tisch in deinem badezimmer ist soooo wunderschön!

alles liebe!
salma

Bluebell said...

Lovely post, I love your cottage and what lovely surroundings, I too love Wisteria the smell is divine, I love your inchies, looking forward to your next post.
Jill

morkaren said...

Hvor ser der dejligt "malerisk" ud hos dig, din blåregn der kryber hen af stigen over porten er så skøn. knus morkaren.

Rhonda said...

Oh, Liz, long post? I didn't want it to end. What a delightful little trip I went on reading this. I adore your French view from the kitchen. Sigh...lucky gal!
xo Rhonda

JuanitaTortilla said...

I wish there were wisterias everywhere. The colour is too pleasing and beautiful :) So, more please :D

Dorthe said...

Dear Liz, Oh they live beautifully in your French home, thankyou dor showing :)
And the gorgeous Wisteria, so LOVELY-
your plants and trees are so very much longer ,than ours here, -only small leaves on the Lilac`s and none on the black currants at all, so even you have rain, it must be so much more warmer, than here--- Well today we joined the rainy part of Europe- and it looks like it will fall all day !!!
Hope yours is sunny sweet friend.
Hugs
xxx,Dorthe

Catje said...

I'm so envious of your french cottage. Hoping we'll win the lottery so we can buy one ourselves! I have lived in France and speak french and would love to go there more often. And there the wisteria would live, too and not die during winter as it did at our Norwegian cabin :)

Rozen van papier said...

Hello Lulu,

I am interested in which region you have your cottage!I live with my family( I am original dutch) in the Drome Provençale and it was colder as normal too! This weekend we will get some warm days!
Nice to meet you,

Janny

AppleApricot Wen said...

Hello Liz, it's so nice to see these pictures. What a beautiful place to live with all the lovely flowers. Looking forward to your crafts and the brocante finds. I wish you a sunny and happy remaining of the week. Hugs, Wendy

Alexandra said...

Hach das tut gut bei dir ist das Wetter auch nicht besser ;)
Tolle Bildchen hast du gemacht und bei dir blühen schon die Glizinien .... ich liebe sie!
Dorthes Meermaid ist auch bezaubernd, die kleinen Dinger sind einfach zu süß.
Bis dann