How to Find a Vineyard in France (or not) – Part I

We spent our first half a year here in France trying to understand how things worked, let alone in French.  We both needed to learn and improve our French, but at the same time we also needed to figure out how we go about finding an available vineyard to buy or rent.

We had come to France after all to make our own wine.

Point of Perspicacity – In My Opinion

Opinions are dangerous things. They mean you aren’t willing to listen to others, they are very often formed as part of a bandwagon effect, and they can lead to amazing levels of anger and violence. ~ But then, that’s my opinion.

The compost is calling… “fork me, mulch me, throw me around”

The sun is finally deigning to show its face and its almost warm. Spring is definitely late this year, at least in terms of things coming up and going in in the garden.  I’m a little behind in my getting the soil ready for planting, I think, but since I know diddley about gardening, I leave it to my common senses to determine what to do when and just see what happens.

I’ve been thinking about asparagus.

What’s In Store – From Us To You

We have been travelling the world for the last few years, making wine. In 2014, we took a leap, to follow our dream and make our own wine in France. To assist in supporting this dream, and with true entrepreneurial spirit, we are also putting our creative juices (or should that be wine?) to the fore in making a variety of additional items, crafted from the world around us, to sell in our shop Pumpjack & Piddlewick.

Making a Hanging Garden Bed

I admit it wholeheartedly, I am in love with pallets. They are right up there with shipping containers in versatility ~ but maybe, just slightly, more transportable and easier to work with. So, when I came across a picture on Pinterest for a hanging garden bed made from pallets, I fell in love. It went top of the project list

Our rabbits, unlike most teenagers, are very tidy

The rabbits have let it be known that they are getting too warm now in their winterised house, so it was time to start opening it up – a little – as nights are still quite cold.  I removed the straw insulating the roof of their house, which then got added to the duck nesting area, and took the opportunity to clean out their house as well.  This means removing wood shavings and hay and putting in fresh. All duly done. And all with the help of Hobbs.

Walnuts!

We are very lucky to have an amazing walnut tree on the property. We were able to collect a large basket of them over a couple of weeks in the autumn. The trick was then to dry them out as we didn’t have much space that could also be kept dry.  We had them resting everywhere.

And once dry, then began the process of shelling. It became my daily treat to take the basked of nuts down to the rabbits and shell them there. They of course enjoyed the odd nibble, sometimes even cheekily stealing one.

Ducks are Devious-ly Clever

Last year, in spring, we bought 2 female mallard ducks for our mallard drake. We had tried him out on a wood duck. He bonded, she didn’t (and that’s another story). So with a moping male, we decided it might be safer to get him 2 girlfriends. He was, to put it mildly, thrilled.

Point of Perspicacity – Mothers are Always Right

My Mum has always said, “The more sleep you get before midnight, the better rested one feels.” Mothers are always right.

Broccoli Stems – there has to be a solution

Last night I made the most amazing Broccoli Stem Pesto, so good I felt I had to actually write about it. Not because of how good it was, but that fact that it is made with Broccoli stems, not a floret in site. For those who follow me, in any manner, you are well aware that waste is something I strive to avoid.  And right up there is Broccoli Stems.  It is just one of those things that when you have cooked the rest of the broccoli, you look at and go… And?!?!?