Jo's Blog

7/7/10

Sun sun sun....the sun is here and set to stay....pool lovely, light in the evenings till 11pm!

Garden already dry and crispy, roses galore, waiting for tomatoes and courgettes!

Hay cut

Fete de village de Sains this weekend!

Summer is well and truly here!

25/04/09

Home life is busy and the grass is growing! The lushness of spring always takes me by surprise in Brittany - only two weeks ago we had the log fire still going for some chilly evenings, and now everything is so green its almost like an overnight transformation!

The garden is looking lovely....still lots to do as always, but have made great progress this winter and certain areas are really coming together!

No chance of a rest for me! (hooray....an excuse to get away from the computer and get outside.....!)

13/03/09

Have just spent a weekend back in the UK at a property expo with lots of experts on hand to tell you all about how to set up and live in Normandy successfully...see the web site findyourfeetinnormandy.com to see about how to obtain a copy of the guide written by professionals involved in Normandy property, finance and insurance.....

so now with that weekend out of the way its back to the gardening, and running and family life!

The sun has been wonderfully warm today and so snuck out of the house as soon as I got back from the office to take in the scents of spring! Heaven!

The end of winter is almost over taken by the buds bursting hither and thither....the new bulbs in pots doing well...the new lavenders in pots did not fare quite so well after all the cold weather...even the hardy sedges have wilted in the cold....I am so impatient I will probably pull them up before they get a chance to prove they are really still alive!

Happy gardening!

Happy Spring Break! 

27/2/09

Hooray...! The daffodils are here and spring has sprung!

Its been a busy 2008, hence not many blog entries....we are ready to go for 2009!

What better way to get over the stress of the credit crunch than a relaxing weekend at our cottages....what we cannot 

convey on the website is the fact that we really are in a beautiful rural spot but only 30mins from St Malo. The coast is less

than 10kms away, and all that France has to offer, especaially the regional products of oysters, mussels and salt marsh lamb.

The buds are bursting, the snow has gone and we are looking forward to a (promised!) hot summer!

The bright pink Camellia and lime green helleborous feitodus look really lovely together!

Spring maddness is here,the sun is out and the garden beckens!

23/08/08

Late night evenings outside are on the wane as the sun sets earlier now....autumn fruitfulness is here!

The bows of the apples trees are straining under the weight of appples....bramleys coxes, pink lady and reine de reinette!

Autumn bliss raspebrries herald Jo's late night jame making sessions...also creme de framboise in the store cupboard for Christmas.

Goudinette was a great discovery this summer.....

1 bottle muscadet well chilled

6 large table spoons of gout (or calvados)

handful of strawberries

6 table spoons creme de cassis

4 tablespoons sugar

Method....

Soak the strawberries in the apple brandy, for at least an hour....some recommend three days! Then mix all ingredients and serve in fluted glasses...I often add ice cubes and a few sprigs of mint......bottoms up!  

Went swimming in the sea last week at La Guimorais.....lovely clear water if not a little cold ....... for the brave only!

Back to work and school soon.....sob sob!

11/08/08

Summer IS here!

Summer is well and truly here now, and there never seems to be enough time to do everything outside that I want to! Spent weeks and weeks picking blackcurrants, making jam and freezing the fruit. We have enjoyed new potatoes, peas, broad beans, lettuce and raspberries. The haricots and tomatoes still need more sun to ripen....

Have planted some late summer dasies and yet more lavender. Some of the areas that have been well muclched after 18 months are finally coming under control and weed free...mulch and bark are essesntial to keep the work load down!

Loads of apples on the cider trees and the lower orchard....missed the cherries to the bird's again this year!

The pool has been very much appreciated, so that's good to know...that's what guests are here to do...enjoy themselves!

Our children have enjoyed loads of outings this summer including acro branches at Trans La Foret, the beaches at St Enogat, Guesclin and Dinard, the zoo at Villedieu les Poeles....

Happy Kids, happy parents and happy holidays!

Off to do some watering and move some more gravel!

Summer is on its way!

26/05/08 We have been busy this month with the pool ugrade which is now nearing completion.

Work on the veg plot and the rest of the garden has taken a back seat, but the grass grows apace! Thank goodness for our dedicated gardener who comes out rain or shine to mow the lawn....

The badminton area and sand pit have also had some attention this year, and we have cleared lower branches in much of the garden to let in more light to shady areas...

We'll keep you posted on the pool and we will have new photos available very soon...

Spring has sprung!

18/04/08

Spring has sprung at last and we are fighting against the new growth with mowers and hoes!

The garden has really woken up, and although the daffodils are long gone, with the mild damp weather the delphiniums hve already budded up, and the lupins are putting on spikes!

New areas of the garden are coming together and we have a big push in the next ten days to get ready for the season.....

The pool edges are undergoing a makeover and we are preparing for hot weather ahead thinking of shade for smaller children and revamping the planting poolside.   

More sowings have gone in and the tomatoes are just about to go outside under cover....the plants are looking good and with the quantity that I have there will be bounty ahead this year. The new fruit plants include autumn raspberries and blackberries so look out for more jam in the summer!

The orchard has already been pruned except for a last couple of plums which I have left until leaf break as recommended. THe roses in the orchard have all been tied in and I'm getting on with new planting for 2008!

Well must dash....the garden centre beckons!

Hope to see you here soon enjoying the garden!

13/01/08

Happy New Year to you all!

Well I've braved the wind and had a good look round the garden to day, to see what needs attention most urgently. The bonus was seeing my "Donation" Camellia coming into bloom, the helleborus corsicus and feotidus looking splendid - heralding the arrival of warmer weather....even if I know in reality the worst of winter is not over yet! The mimosas have also bolted up, and leaves are sprouting yellow blooms already!

My ever expanding job list is being tackled once the days get lighter so that I can get an hour in when I get home from work. To jog or to garden...a new challenge for me to decide!

The new veg plot has started to take shape, although I suspect a rotavator will be put to good use to finish the preparation in advance of spring planting! The salad onions, lettuce and parsley are putting up a good fight, and I have extended the raspberry bed....with space prepared for some more blackcurrants and also a new compost heap closer to the house.

Plans are afoot and the veg plot scheme worked out in pen and paper at least. The longer days will announce the arrival of spring, and it will be time then to renovate our chicken shed and restock after the un fortunate losses last year. If any of you have seen Hugh Fearnley Whittinstall's programme on chickens at the moment, I can most definitely confirm that you can taste the difference, and that the chickens that we eat here in France (provided thus far by neighbours....our hens are layers), and buy from super markets and butchers are not watery tasteless birds. We love the "loué" brand, and whether you prefer basic chicken or a guinea fowl (a bit more gamey but very tasty)...at 8-11 Euros for a good size bired, they are SO much better than the factory bred choice.

Veg....the farm veg shop that I've started going to recently has the best garlic ever....as well as lots of seasonal produce..leeks, cabbage, carrots potatoes and onions...it really create a dilema...to grow all my own seems an ideal, but with such good produce available and so cheaply (5 Euros for a 10KG bag of onions).....I can sit back and look at flower seeds instead!

Back to real work....!

Hope you come and share our delightful holiday spot this year! 

07/11/07

Well....the sun is still shining and the garden getting its winter face on....but slowly as the leaves are reluctant to fall....the colours reflect rich golds and corals, as well as every hue of red.....

Our work in the cottages has started in earnest....there is always something new to add....we have added some interesting furniture pieces and are rethinking the decoration in some of the spaces....

Breton Blue is the outside colour....relecting the gaïety of the summer sun, and matching perfectly our cottage feel.

We have lit the wood burning stove in our house as the evenings are reaching lows of 2 degrees, even if the days are still comfortably warm. Cosy and comforting!

Our preparations for Xmas are under way...we still have dates available for a New Year break, and I love decorating all our cottages with the greenery from the garden and glinting baubles! The smell of cinnamon and other rich spices is tantalising! The seafood especially the scallops really come into their own in the winter and we are looking forward to that! To buy them in their shells gives the double bonus of decorative material once we've eaten the insides!

PS ...am all walnutted out!

22/09/07

Well the sun is still shining and the last guests are enjoying some glorious days....one day of rain this month!

As the main season comes to a close we are getting the cottages ready for winter lets....cosier duvets and logs for the fires.

The projects for our winter include some major works, including installation of pool heating, painting and a new look kitchen for Chevrefeuille (the French have a lovely verb for a revamp .....'relooker'!). New photos will of course be published as the works progress....we will be busy bees!

I will be in the garden this weekend and painting windows outside!

Oh and picking yet more apples and walnuts!

15/09/07

What a glorious two weeks we have had! All the summer clothes back on, warm afternoons and misty mornings. The enormous apple harvest is well under way and I have the delicious prospect of a weekend spent peeling and jam making with the autumn raspberries. Nature is in charge, but when she gives, she gives in abundance. My only regret is that the wasps and the birds got most of the plums before I did! The bramley seedling has done very well and the shape of the tree promises bounty for years to come. Even the golden delicious and granny smith trees have reasonable sized fruits....a friend has also recommended that I try peaches. Apparently the fruits will not be the same size as commercial ones, but they ripen well....she has been making peach and bramley apple jam!

The garden is in need of some TLC, so will start my autumn list of jobs. In all my books it says to plant daffodils this month, but with the soil now rock hard after 3 weeks of no rain there is not much chance of that! I'll get some bulbs ordered, and then we can see when the rains start again. I'd like to plant along the whole of the road edges, but its a long way either side.....bit by bit I think.

The new hedge on our side needs rescuing a bit, and whilst its dry I will get on with the preparation of the other side.

My conker tree (grown from seed in London at least 10 years ago) is fruiting for the first time, so we'll introduce the kids to conker fights....or is that not politically correct any more?

Front gates now up on one side, and I can start finishing off the landscaping so that it all makes sense. Permission has been granted for an extension to the veg plot in the front garden, so I will hopefully get some of that started too! The sunflowers are just about to flower, and lettuces have gone mad!

Autumn promises to be dry and bountiful!

4/09/07

Weather fantastic today. I woke up very early welcomed by a cool star lit morning.....a start which turned into glorious sunshine...a return to 'proper' summer weather.  Shame I spent the day at the office!

Last weekend got stuck into the new area of veg plot near our front gate, which is great as I can talk to passing neighbours... the site is very open and sunny, and the small plants that I have put in are now romping away....squash, lettuce, celery, a few beans (poor germination this year) and a good supply of brussel sprouts!

JR busy doing jobs around the place including installing some new gates on our drive.

C'est la rentrée....everyone back at school now in France so roads and beaches much quieter. We didn't quite make it to the "haute mareé" for the 31st August, but there will be more spring tides later this month.....still haven't managed to be there at really LOW tide which is apparently when the tide goes out further than usual and reveals seafood unblemished by the sun (having been under water the whole summer long), and of course bountiful, ready for collecting. There are rules about what you can collect, from memory its something like 5 kilos of mussels per person, 1 kilo for other kinds of shell fish, and strict rules about the size of what you collect...if you can manage to eat 5 kilo of mussels in one weekend then good luck!

Day of sunshine promised for tomorrow too....

Still in the pool....

21/08/07

Rain rain go away, come another washing day!

We have been ensuring that our guests have plenty to do this week in the rain.....it doesn't seem to have damped anyone's spirits and we have reports of trips to St Malo, the grand aquarium (which is a firm raining day option for us too.....it really IS better that the London aquarium and the shark section is huge!).

St Malo is as busy as ever and a good moules frites can be had at the Lyon D'or just inside the Port Vincent (old city).

Back at base I have been making jam! jam and jam!

Today the weather seems to have perked up, so we will be out and about as well! Keeping our fingers crossed for the Indian summer which always seems to start when the kids are already back at school!

New restaurant recommendation is the POINT G at St Broladre....one of the chefs from the Michelin starred Maison Bricourt has defected to set up on their own....St Broladre is just over the hill from Sains (5-10 mins) and well worth trying.web address......

http://www.restaurant-lepointg.com

08/08/07

Well what a funny summer it has been this year. We started off with glorious sunshine and were swimming in the pool in April, thinking that we really were set to have a heatwave summer as predicted. May was not too bad, but June! what a month! We really thought we were back in April with guests requesting logs and heating! Then July was back on track with normal sunshine and odd cloudy days. August has been glorious so far and the rest of the season promises at least to be dry!

For me the garden has needed more attention than usual with everything still growing, and the grass is the greenest we have ever seen in August. At least it saves on watering the pots quite so much!

The beaches have been delighfully uncrowded this year and the sun always seemed to shine on the coast, even when it was a little cloudy in land. The next "grand marée" will be at the end of August and we plan a day at the beach with buckets and spades to forage for seafood as the tide recedes......the moules are great if you can find some before anyone else....but avoid the ones that are left totally high and dry at low tide as they get a good baking from the sun and are not great to eat....have a new beach to explore at St Jacut sur Mer (St Enogat is also a firm favourite and has showers and crazy golf, as well as great bistros and bakers on the doorstep!)

Still fed up at missing the garlic festival in Cherrieux at the end of July but had made a flying visit back to the UK....

We are thinking ahead already to next year and have plans to heat the pool so that early season guests can enjoy the pool more readily; we know June really is a delightful month (normally!) and is the best time to enjoy the flowers in the garden (and of course the gardens round about if that is what you enjoy!). Everyone appreciates the green spaces, and we have a new large stone BBQ with picnic benches for outdoor dining in the garden.

Other plans include a new kitchen for Chevrefeuille, and some bedrooms will also be subjected to my decorating skills! The lady from Gites de France was very complimentary and everyone who has stayed have added their positive comments....Virginie being a particular favourite for a really cottagey feel with lots of knic knacks, china and dried flowers.....

Jo' veg plot WILL be back on track next year, and the greenhouse back in action....has anyone managed any decent tomatoes this year? Honey is another wish list plan.....once we have chosen a suitable spot for the hives....probably next to the woods.

The farmers have been cutting the hay very late this year and moaning about soggy grain....but the fruit has been spectacular....with blackcurrants the size of small grapes and so many apples that branches have broken off the trees....(lots of apple jelly to be made this year!). The plums have just rippened in the August sun, so I am now making jam every night, and James will soon be sick of plum tart!

So thinking ahead....why not plan your break in the country for the autumn or of course for next year.....it really is a lovely spot with a great welcome and real peace and quiet! Your children will be happy and enjoy the great outdoors and coastline with truly unspoilt beaches......we hope to see you soon!