Phinally some Fotos

Well, photos etc have been held up by crashing computers, very full lives, etc, etc….but finally, here are a few. The first is one that will make some of your hearts as glad as it did mine:
Greg teaching someone how to fly the kite. It’s the first time he’s had the kite out since arriving in France, let alone since surgery, and it was so Good to see him back in his old mode of joyful teaching…and to be able to laugh with delight as Monsieur the Woodcutter kept shaking his head, but none-the-less continuing to fight with this strange toy of Les Canadiens. He actually picked it up pretty quickly – he has strong arms, which helped. He and Greg are in the one tree-less field beside the house, which had just had the hay cut. On this side of those fence-posts is the veg patch.


Here are some photos of our vegtable garden in its various stages -- some photos of its various aiders (it essentially would not exist but for the help and determination of two of them!) Veg may not be exciting for all of you -- but some of you have requested these! Also there is a photo of one of the black redstarts (rougequeue noir) which follows me around the garden, chattering, usually only a foot or two away (when it isn’t lecturing the cat into a state of feline dementia…dangerous task for a feathered critter to take on…)











And here’s some of the various pondlife now descending upon Pré Borel – all sorts! We have hundreds of damselflies, and a very large dragonfly called a ‘Broad-bodied Chaser’ – and chase it does, keeping away all other dragonflies, and even occasionally chasing small birds! Its larvae, nymphs, are gargantuous! At a couple of inches, I wouldn’t wonder if even the frogs are scared of ‘em. We’ve still a lot of work to do on the pond, but that doesn’t stop the fauna from gathering. Birds are constantly drinking and bathing in the waterfall, there’s evidence of small mammals drinking there at night, we’ve a resident toad, and, spotted just today, two frogs! (the larger mammal photographed below has been identified as a Gaskellus Davidii)













We have sooo much fruit. The new little raspberry bushes are loaded, as are the currants bushes. The apple and plum trees scare us with how much greening fruit they bear. The kiwis (funny flowers below) are plenty numerous, as are the figs. And we have been utterly daunted by the cherries: thousands!
(the apple blossom shot proudly displays one of Pappy’s bees)







Random photos:
Two of the many buzzards which dwell around us (contrary to popular belief, buzzards are not vultures…indeed in Scotland buzzards are sometimes called the Tourists’ Eagle, as that’s what they are often mistaken for)
A corner of the garden, with a corner of the barn, and a corner of the roof that Greg and Loren removed.
A Tulip on our Tulip tree!
moon from kitchen door
filly next door
A picture of our traditional Dauphinoise well-spout, as promised, and of well
and...what you've all been waiting for: Andy in Pappy's tractor bucket!








that's plenty for now -- bonsoir!
(BTW -- the bike has arrived, just in time for Greg's birthday. We'll try to get up some photos of that too)