I hit the jackpot

I am a bit late with this post...but I really wanted to include it, so apologies for travelling a few months back in time after finishing my course.

As a rule i never win anything, from gambling on the course de trot too raffle tickets. Before Christmas 2017 there was a fete in aid of charity, several charities at Lapeyre. One of them being the Lannemezan refuge for dogs Les Potes a Pouf. I had already bought several tickets from my tennis partner so was not able to be persuaded by Jayne an avid and ardent supporter of the refuge to buy some more, even though, of course an admirable  cause. I thought nothing of it, i threw the tickets away. I had glimpsed at the prizes some jolly good sporting creative types giving their time up... or freebies or part deals for something in support  of charity, but not much that rocked my boat...should i even win of course?

Just before Christmas i got a call from Jayne to say that i had won something in the raffle, i was excited just because i had won something. When Jayne actually told me what i had won i was super super excited. If i had to vote for anything on that list of fifteen prizes this was meant for me.

I gave up pottery about thirteen years ago when my mum was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. I was devastated and could not concentrate and decided not to continue. It was hard enough concentrating on the day job.
....Mum always enjoyed anything that i made and bought back, but that's why mums or should i say my mum was great!

We had dad out for Christmas so i asked if i could take a rain check on the three free sessions i had won, no problem just book in with Mollie when you are ready. Another lovely lady also affiliated with 

the dogs had already offered to take me there as it is a good fifty minutes away and she happens to pass through Castelnau, a win win situation.

Mollies beau vase

Mollie was like a breath of fresh air for me, i went with preconceived ideas in terms of design, i have always liked doing my own thing. I think it comes from thirty years of being rail-roaded in design and creating what other people want...or perhaps i am just a bit of a rebel. I think mum would agree with the latter.

I listened to what Molly had to say about my first project obviously she was getting me to maximise in what i might take home after three sessions, in case i did not want to come back. I had given her a few thumbs up on what i liked, outdoors and gardening. My first project was cane stoppers, after that i never bought designs for different projects of my own. I was happy to listen to new projects suggested, Mollie is a highly creative talented lady full of energy and lots of ideas of her own. All of the methods i was taught over the next three sessions were nothing i had seen or learnt before, that was with looking at other peoples projects as well. Mollie inspired me and fired me up to give it another go.

creative Lili, sorting her ducks in a row

the gorgeous Jumbles, a catalan berger cross

project totem from Mollie, interpreted by Lili

before the glaze fat Robin and little Wren

Jumbles asleep in the studio

the talented Max adding his painted glazes to Mollies pottery

Anne making a remarkable copy of the salt cellar  that sadly her dogs demolished

P's finished poppy seed cane toppers

....more of Mollie!

some of Mollies other wonderful students

 Mollie pins more inspiration on her board for the next project

fat robin etc glazed and ready for firing

Our class was i think made of about twelve, including Anne and I. Rosemary and Lili i already knew. A class full of friendly strangers all keen to follow a plan albeit with their own creative bent on how to make their creative masterpiece with suggestions from Mollie. Then there was Jumbles a creative handsome butternut colour version of Milou, how could i not fall in love...and as for Mollies cakes, at half time with tea!!!

nothing beats Mollies ginger cake ...for me that is!

Great fun, and very great value..even if you had not won the raffle! I booked another three lessons and at some point i hope to go back.

Thanks Mollie x

A tale of twenty tails

I have had three adventures here, and i have to say i liked all of them,  every adventure is different. You may have put two and two together and make twenty as that is how many furry tails live in this household... although only sixteen actually live in the house. There are four dogs, Eskil and Simba who are Chow Chows, Gypsy and the lovely but very timid Lili. Next the cats, in no particular order, gingers, Jules, Caramel, Jerry, TC and then Fumanchu who is pale cream ginger. Then we have Nero and Merlin, little and large who are both black, two white patchworks Possum and Conchita, the latter with slightly darker patches. Next up are the pretty tabbies, Tinka and Pettsson and the latest recruit a young smokey grey rascal called Yoda.

The other four tails are horses and live in the stables outside in the fields, Opaline, Violette, Nokkvi and Rayo.

feeding time is a bit of a frenzy, Conchita and Fu get mightily fed up if they are not first in the queue

It was mid June last year when i first met up with my furry acquaintances after being of course vetted by their owners in May, i had been recommended through a friend. Having met them all in May albeit briefly i was somewhat apprehensive as Simba one of the Chows and i had not made immediate friends. Lili was extremely timid and a couple of the cats could be trouble with puddles. Plus some wise advice that if Fu's eyes turned dark blue don't touch, i got the feeling that the last piece of advice could refer to the owner as well. 

Mark, i am glad to say came with me, on entering the kitchen Simba stuck his head through the cat flap and growled and barked at us. I stuck the key in the back door took a deep breathe called the dogs by their names and opened the door.

Lili shot off. Simba stopped growling but did not want to greet me either, Eskil remained aloof but little Gypsy after a few minutes broke the ice. Mark left, i was only going to be here for three nights...but with one timid dog that i needed to get in at nights... if possible otherwise she would keep the neighbourhood awake and one Chow who obviously was not sure why i was here, it could be a little intimidating?  I was, i have to say,  a little worried, although i had been given a long and very good summary about each individual and a list of people to call for help. 

Evening time,  feeding time, the cats were something to get used to but in the end pretty easy. The trick was trying to put twelve plates down fast enough that they did not fight with each other. Then came the dogs, Simba is still wary of me and i have a healthy respect for him, Eskil is a gentleman and we are now just about on stroking terms. Simba likes his food and suddenly i could see that this might be the way to one lion dogs heart.

After that he was friendly but i still payed both big respect, i think they are probably very loyal and faithful to their owners ...as the job description reads. Something i looked up about the Chow Chow sums the breed up perfectly quiet aloof and loyal (click on the link to learn more)

I never got close to Lili this time and did not succeed in getting her in on that first night. She is a rescue dog and blind in one eye and in her past, who knows! She is a chasse french breed without bad handling they are still said to be a timid breed.  She is so pretty with her wiry coat, long legs and big floppy ears, wish she would be my friend.

Eventually by the third day, if i made a big fuss of Eskil and Simba she would run up lick my hand and run away again. That will have to do for now.

Possum having a quiet nap in a drawer in the kitchen

Despite previous worries i was happy to be invited back for another three day stint in October, the house and it occupants are lovely and there is a new recruit in the shape of Yoda  the two month old pizza kitten , he was found on a roundabout near a pizza restaurant! very cute and definitely has Yoda ears.

He is into absolutely everything, being a kitten and is the only one that is not frightened of Fu, whatever shade his eyes are!

Yoda is exclaiming that his new pet sitter is not exactly vegan!!!

Opaline and Violette the Haflinger

I had a few minutes worry with a friend! Opaline who appeared to have gone to sleep on one leg to long, looked as if she was lame.... i have that problem!

Otherwise they are easy, i just need to check in on them and say hello, they are all pretty with good temperaments to match.

a charming sadly empty building on my walking circuit

Eskil is guarding the picnic bench, whilst Tinka is going to find out what is going down in the kitchen

Fu in afternoon nap mode whilst trying to hatch a basket of walnuts?

Simba and Lili largely crashed out to a sunny afternoon

the owl is still wondering when the gin fountain will be installed?

Eskil now snoozing on the cool concrete

Lili, i want you to be my friend..but i am still not sure

according to my watch it was tea time about half an hour ago!

Caramel is catching up on some afternoon reading before suppertime

cat-napping in December sun!

this is not one of my best poses

think it's hay .....i can't see these days

....don't ever be fooled!

me and the boys, lovely big teddy bears,  once they get to know you of course

yoda was very enthusiastic about what his write ups may entail

In December i came back for one night over a weekend, the Chows recognised me this time and even Lili tried to greet me and  thankfully came in easily that night.
The weather was amazing so we were all out and about in the garden. However, i have yet to unravel who unravelled their mistresses basket of knitting patches, wools and ongoing projects...needles all over the barn courtyard! Don't think it was the boys??

Beau views and weather even in December

R I P Leo you will be missed

Gone fishing

On the twenty fifth of June Massimo and Loredana arrived in South West France having driven from Italy the day before. In fact Loredana came to search for me in Castelnau marche, with Mr Cook, where i was stocking up with more of the usual. Wine, cheese, meat and pate for a cold platter lunch, so on completing my tour we went back to ours for lunch and to meet Massimo for the first time. He has very little English and i have no Italian...so that was interesting, over the two weeks we all broke the language barriers in different ways, but it must have been hard work on both sides. The first night we ate melon and ham as a starter and a mushroom risotto at ours after introducing them to Cathe and her beautiful house.

the gorgeous Gorge de Save

On Sunday afternoon after lunch, we took an afternoon stroll down the Save, very picturesque and pretty. We have seen fishermen here but sadly Massimo announced probably no fish! Milou and Massimo have bonded big time...no language barrier, not sure what woof is in Italian?
Loredana cooked a lovely rabbit dish at Cathes followed by strawberries and a special biscotti in the evening.

beautiful rock face with wagtails and rippling water below

another family enjoying a sunday afternoon stroll

butterflies and damselflies along the banks

On Monday Mark went with Massimo and Loredana to Trie to get a fishing licence for the two weeks they are here and i played tennis with my usual crowd. In the afternoon after an Italian lunch at Cathes we headed off for an afternoons walk behind her house to walk off the excess. We ended up in a small village a couple of kilometres away where there was obviously a shin dig going on. I befriended a rather bored young and beautiful pyrenean sheepdog known as a Patou who was not invited to the ongoing procedures.  In fact he tried game fully to attract Milou as his playmate determined to have some fun of his own... she was not having any of it but he still tagged with us for an hours walk, before returning to the salle de fete at kicking out time! Patou in the pyrenees

Mark and Massimo studying the fishing sites on the board

First day of fishing Massimo and Mark have been studying the maps on where and what he can fish. The rules are strict and in some places you can fish but not kill. Massimo has bought various rods and equipment down, including one for me for fly fishing. He does not particularly like to eat fish so the no kill policy does not worry him, he enjoys the sport.

Mark watching Massimo gear up in his water wear

Whilst Massimo wades in, Mark, Loredana, Milou and me walk in the pretty woodland that surrounds the river with an eye out for a potential picnic spot.

potential beau picnic site?

Massimo casting down the river

Mark and Loredana in full discussion over fish for lunch or where to share a baguette?

Massimo still casting in the distance

Meanwhile hot and bothered i decide to go in ...

...whilst Milou guarding my old flip flops is having none of it!

In between the fishing we have played some boules, eaten good meals and got to know each other. Massimo and Loredana have also made a few excursions on their own as i still had a few gardening commitments. Massimo continues to fish, but mostly on his own and Loredana would meet up for lunch and we would either go to Cathes or they would come to ours for supper. The weather for July has been a tad unpredictable not usually so unreliable, which was a shame. We did manage a BBQ at Cathes the following weekend, meat marinated by Bossedana and perfectly cooked by Massimo.

Monday was a tractor lesson for me over at Monleon and a pasta ravioli lesson for Mark, the pasta the following night was gorgeous, probably some of the best i have tasted for a long time.

a lovely meal at Nous de temps, in Castelnau

....not a complete holiday without a selfie!

In the final week Cathe wanted to show us a couple of pretty places close to her heart...in the mountains. Massimo was our driver and Cathe was our tour guide, sadly Milou had to look after the cats. Beautiful, pretty and a lovely bright sunny day, lovely drive and good companionship. Loredana 

got to test out her french with Cathe, and we all admired the scenery.

A day in the mountains with our tour guide, the lovely Cathe

a family heirloom!

A lovely stop for lunch next to beautiful streams and finally some fish that i had so been looking forward too. Not caught by Massimo, even though he had caught thirty two carp in our lac a few days before, but that could have been lost in translation?

Mid week we caught up with Chris for a paella, really kind of him to invite us and the extended family for supper.

Loredana got some godfather time on the tennis court whilst i caught up with other bits and Massimo tried to find supper. Towards the end of the week we took Loredana up to the La cascade d'Esparros just beyond Lannemezan very beautiful.

Friday the heat is picking up just as they are going...as i said earlier very unlike July. 
I am gardening this morning while they have gone for a picnic at Gimont and a swim. I am planning a Friday send off meal at ours as they leave early on Saturday morning.

the one that did not get away, fresh from a stream nearby

amazing mountain scenery

not sure what this was about, but appears to be talking point!

i can never get tired of this scenery personally

Cathe pointing out the mountains and which is which

Cathe's grandfather was an avid mountaineer as was his wife and as well as having walked up and along most of them he has painted them too, so i am guessing that some of this has rubbed off on Cathe . For me they are so magnificent, how could you not fall in love with them?