One year in France

It was one year ago today that we packed up the last of our stuff, Lydia, and ourselves and drove to France. It hardly seems that long at all. The house here is still not quite finished, windows to be replaced, kitchen to be finished, but it's seeming more like home. Next year we'll spend more time working in the garden too, and start our own potager (veg garden).

This week has flown by, without much happening it feels like. We've made our reservations for a trip to the US at the end of the month. Pogo's been for his booster vaccination and has to go again in a month for a blood test so he can get his UK passport. (Not that we expect to take him to the UK, but just in case ...) 

The builders will come on Tuesday (we hope) to start replacing the bedroom windows. Rain may or may not be forecast for Tuesday, depending on when you look. We'll probably sleep on the mezzanine until that work is finished. And use the opportunity to add some more insulation in the north and south walls. Then comes the kitchen door and the bathroom window. Then we'll have double-glazing throughout the house. 

Yellow autumn crocuses are blooming all around the willow. Quite pretty, although it's hard to see the reason behind how they were planted. They're quite jolly to see anyhow. 

Ed replaced the lava stones in the filter for the fosse septique, a messy job. He's still searching for the filter bed. It's not urgent that we find it, but it's getting to be one of those challenging puzzles needing a solution. 

We're started the hunt for a new stove, gas up and down and two ovens. The prices are breath-taking. There seems to be a bit gap in price between cheap and quality, with nothing in the middle. We'll see what we turn up.

Weather has been lovely with beautiful sunsets. The forecast is now showing rain tomorrow with summer temps after that!