Beginning to get the benefits...

We are beginning to see our wintered geraniums coming into bloom just a shame we cannot allow guests to enjoy them here at the cottage.

Another 'sun on roses'shot...

Sorry but we don't get out much these days! - this time in the back garden of the Old Walnut Mill last night.

Wild flowers on our 'freedom walk'...

In a field behind the stade in Barrou

Happier times?...

From 5th May 2016 fields behind Barrou

We need this rain...

 

The current wet spell we are experiencing does not do a great deal for our moral during our confinement but as Scots we know more than most that it is what gives us the greens of summer. Yesterday's 'freedom walk' under a grey sky was made bearable by these 'greens' on the valley of the Creuse

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench

At Eglise Saint Pierre de Balesmes in Descartes

A rose is still a rose...

In these difficult times...from the display on our neighbour's wall on Rue and Route du Grand Pressigny here in Barrou 

We could all do with a little luck at the moment!

The 1st of May is  'Fete de Muguet' or 'La Fete du Travail' and it is tradition to give a sprig of Lily of the valley to bring luck to the recipient...bonne chance! 

These are from the courtyard of  The Old Walnut Mill vacation rental.

More 'pavement plants'

On Grande Rue and Route du Grand Pressigny here in Barrou 

Creeping back to 'normality'

It was good to see the village had been out cutting the grass along the river  here in Barrou on our 'freedom walk', getting things a little like 'back to normal'. 

  

In spite of our current situation it is always good to return to our  'place of confinement'.

Things that make confinement a little easier - nature

My favourite rose at the moment in the courtyard of the cottage

Well,well, I've got a new door!

Things that make confinement a little easier

The wall rose at the Old Walnut Mill

A better day...

I had to do the 'big shop' yesterday which meant going over to Intermarche in Yzeures-sur-Creuse. Thanks to advice from a friend we had done our shopping on-line so I was just going to pick up, which made for a slightly less stressful experience. There was one little hiccup however, you had to pay by cheque or cash which I thought they were discouraging - a bit confused, I had to go along to the bank and lift cash before returning to the store and a very helpful store lady. As suspected we did not get all we asked for and there was a little confusion over one item but was so much better than trailing around the store. What made the experience even better was the fact that Bricomarche was open...joy of joys! Managed to pick up some items to allow for the progress of more little projects!

Later we took our 'freedom walk' around the village and as we passed one of our neighbour's garden we caught the scent of this beautiful rose bush. I had to go back and take a pic...can you smell it?

Ah now I hear you asking how did they get in the vase? When I returned to take the photo my neighbour was in the garden so I asked if it was ok to do so. Not only did she say yes but insisted that I should cut a bunch for Pauline and promptly produced a set of secateurs to allow me to do it - how kind ! 

We had spent the afternoon tidying the courtyard of the cottage so ended the day having aperos and dinner alfresco 

So all in all a better day - oh and by the way did I say Brico had re-opened? 😁

Continuing my little projects...

Well at the stage where it is waiting for roof tiles,which may be a long wait as they are in 'confinement' at a friends property! Still, I can press on with new door.

Also started chipping out old pointing to the rear of the barn to redo so no shortage of things to do!

From a single rose to this...

From our first rose in the courtyard of the cottage on the 10th of April to this display last night with the setting sun having its effect makes you appreciate what a wonderful thing nature is!

Freedom walk interrupted...

We have taken to using our daily,hourly, walk to pop into Clare's for any shopping we need . En-route yesterday we were met by a couple of  Gendarmes who were stopping traffic at the junction at the road to Lesigny and checking that they had their necessary paperwork. We were also stopped and had to show our own attestations. I really don't have a problem with this as controls are necessary during this difficult time...but it did feel surreal! I do wonder how they can cover small villages like Barrou and can only imagine they must have some rota system in place so we may not see them again for some  time! One disconcerting aspect of being stopped was that the female Gendarme who stopped us had no PPE at all and we had to be at arm's length to show our parerwork!

A spring scene,Barrou

Pavement plants...

On our 'freedom walks' around Barrou its hard not too admire the 'pavement plants' 

  

Bon dimanche...

The muguet is out in force in the courtyard of our cottage