Bedding the geraniums for winter...

 

We spent yesterday putting our geraniums away for the winter as after a very pleasant November,weather-wise, the temperature has fallen sharply. They have been giving us a show for many many years but we think next year we may have to introduce some new plants into the mix.

   

Barrou blue...

 

Yesterday morning's walk around Barrou was under another lovely blue sky,what a beautiful month November has been.

The handover...

 

Held over the keys last night to our new tenants at 'Les Balcons'. They are renting it unfurnished which meant a bit of 'life laundering' but still have quite a bit to dispose of but will have to wait until we can have a 'vide grenier' once the rules are relaxed.

 

We had a last look for a while from the balcony... 

before wishing them a good stay.

Last night's sunset just outside Barrou...

 

November mornings have been lovely lately...

Yesterday by the river Claise in Le Grand-Pressigny

No movement, November, Barrou

 

Letting in the light...

As part of the preparation for the imminent arrival of our new tenants at 'Les Balcons' we decided to cut the laurel hedge at the rear of the house which had gotten slightly out of control and grown to an unmanageable height. It was a job best left to the professionals with the appropriate gear,so we called in the Crawfords. Alex and Nicole soon had it tamed, revealing light and a view that had been lost to us!  

 

Another thing slightly out of control was our wisteria around the pergola - Pauline and I tackled this and we hope that it will recover one day - I'm sure it will!

Shutters are a good thing...

 Until you have to clean them - spent this morning on these!

Zooming in on continuous learning...

Had a quiz last night with friends on Zoom (thanks Sally) where we learned new things like, what does MG (as in the car) stand for? - 'Morris Garage'.That there are two 'bridge of sighs' in the UK,one in Cambridge and one in Oxford.We learned that we know a fair bit about California (courtesy of Mike & Liz). We learned that the Victorians thought prunes were an aphrodisiac. We learned there are flags and indeed countries of the world we didn't know - Palau - who knew? 

Oh and by the way did I mention who won. We pipped Gaynor and Tim at the post by pulling one out of the bag and it was a question they set: 'If you were to dig a hole from  New Zealand through the centre of the earth,which European country would you arrive in? I had a less than educated guess at Spain and guess what? Who knew ?

 

Thank you for the music...

 

Emptying 'Les Balcons' means finding a home for the hundreds of CDs that filled the shelves in the 'bureau' - what to do with them?,can't throw them out (no way) so will have to find a new home for them.

All tucked in for the weekend...

 here at the Old Walnut Mill

A favourite Barrou facade dressed for autumn...

 

Barrou

Another beautiful morning in Barrou...

 

Barrou

Persimmon / Plaqueminiers /Kaki who knew?

English friends, Mike and Pat have a holiday home on Grande Rue here in Barrou that has this Persimmon fruit tree that they cut way back as it was producing an over-bearing amount of fruit but judging by this years crop it has had little effect on its ability to produce.

We were not really familiar with the fruit until we arrived here and it is not something we would eat but it has apparently many nutritional benefits and many more varieties .

 

My little project...

 

One of my projects over the weekend was to modify this wine rack to allow it to fit under the slope of the stairs here at the Old Walnut Mill. I have to point out that none of the bottles are radioactive, my phone decided a flash was needed.

Dining out...in!

 

Pauline and I treated ourselves to a night out last night,we decided to go to our own dining area here at the Old Walnut Mill where we enjoyed a lovely 3 course meal delivered from 'Le Calabash'  accompanied by a bottle of 'La Cavee' we brought back from Richard and Francoise's in Provence.

Reaching new heights of absurdity...

Pauline and I decided to do our 'freedom walk' on stilts yesterday. 

 

Vide Maison...

In preparation for the arrival of new tenants at the end of the month we have emptied Les Balcons. Finished first floor maintenance and even devoid of furniture we think it looks relatively inviting.

Misty morning at Barrou...

 

A little upgrade...

One of the benefits of having to empty 'Les Balcons' for new tenants is that the 'Old Walnut Mill' has had a little upgrade with the dining room furniture now in place there. 

Sunday's freedom walk under another blue sky...

 

Enjoyed our hour of freedom yesterday with a walk up behind Barrou on what was a surprisingly warm November's  afternoon. 

Lost cat Barrou...

 

Our friend Geoff in 'Le Grand Village' just outside Barrou has found this cute cat that is lost and is trying to reunite it with its owner if you recognize it let us know and we will get it back to its real home (although it looks quite at home with Geoff).

A change is as good as a rest...

 

We did not go over to 'Les Balcons' yesterday but stayed at the Old Walnut Mill to work on the courtyard and inside the house as it had been neglected due to our commitments over in Le Grand-Pressigny.

'Job done' means we will be back in LGP  today.

Still colour at 'Les Balcon'

 

Took this yesterday in the garden at Les Balcons while working there.

Election and other distractions...

Didn't post yesterday as distracted by the shenanigans across the pond  plus busy emptying the outhouse,garage and cave (not of wine BTW) at 'Les Balcons'  - no mean feat for a collector of 'stuff, I can tell you! Thank goodness the déchetterie has remained open!

Picture this...

 

Emptying 'Les Balcons' for our new tenants who are taking it on an unfurnished basis means we are acquiring more 'stuff' to deal with. We took down 34 wall hangings that now have to be dealt with, shame there are no brocantes allowed!

Another autumnal scene in the forest

 

World Bench Day...

Today is #WorldBenchDay -who knew?

@MyFaveBench

did, his passion for Benches goes back over 25 years. Here is one of our favourites by the river Creuse here in Barrou

My little poem...The humble bench.

Storing secrets of lover's trysts Reminding us of loved ones missed A place to rest your weary feet A spot where friends will often meet Sat there in a tranquil place Reflected in the sitters face Sometimes placed to show the view Sometimes placed there just for you