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