It’s been a lovely end to the year today with warm sunshine this morning. The clouds have started to gather but it’s still bright. And the dry weather allowed us to get chopping wood this morning. Our wood supply had started to dwindle rather alarmingly, and with a cold week forecast, we needed to get busy. A couple of hours’ effort with the chain saw and wheelbarrow has made a comforting difference.
Alpacas in the snow
Now that the big lake is ice free, it was time to feed the fish as well. Caitlin tried to row out the other day but the seemingly thin layer of ice was deceptively strong. Benj and Ruadhri did the honours today. Chris and I threw food in from the bank so there should be enough carp granules for our recently expanded population down there to share.
It looks almost spring-like, but it’s getting chilly. Yesterday the farm was the wettest I can remember seeing it. We went for a walk in the top fields above the little lake, and every mole hill there had become a fountain! I’ve never seen that before. The lake was full to the brim and water was gushing down the overflow into middle lake, which was full too. The big lake, which we drained in November – not completely, but just to be able to clear snags out of the way – has refilled. That didn’t take long at all.
Washing is on the line, the little animals (ie the rabbits and guinea pigs) are out on the lawn in their runs – not at all what you’d expect for the last day of the year. But I’m not complaining. If we can’t have snow, then I’m more than happy with sunshine.
Caitlin is determined to stay up to see the New Year in this year. The trouble is, we won’t see her again till Sunday. Caits is hopeless at getting up at the best of times, so after a late night, there’s no hope at all! I don’t think I’ll join her. I prefer just to wake up next day and find that the next year has begun. We’re looking forward to 2010. All being well, it will be our busiest yet for the gite, the fishing and the llamas. And we’ll certainly be busy for the first few months, finishing off the renovations and decorations on the Notaire’s House. We’ll keep you posted of how it’s coming along. The children have exciting challenges ahead at school and we have ambitious plans for enlarging our smallholding to include pigs and broilers, and maybe a sheep or two.
My plan is to blog regularly so keep checking back to stay abreast of events at Les Fragnes. I don’t foresee many dull moments!
Bon nouvel an !