Until about a week ago, the title would have been Fall in August. We had weather that was rainy, though not that cool, for weeks into the summer season. Now things have changed. The forecast for today is 38C/100F!
Fortunately the birds have found the water. Julien emptied the dirt from a trough and, as you see, filled it with rocks at various levels. The stone is porous, an unfortunate surprise, so in fall we’ll have to find someone to do a nice zinc lining, as I don’t like the look of plastic sheeting and don’t know how I would disguise it.
Even with the water, I fear the owls have died. I no longer hear them harassing Jacques in the morning. He didn’t mind. I loved it. Now it’s too quiet.
As you can see, the kitchen garden is doing well. Sending Julien home with the excess produce last year has paid off. Plus inflation has hit us all pretty hard. This year he got serious. The garden sheeting that I have had for ages went in at once, along with a serious drip system. This year he put the drips on timers. He planted 30 tomato plants, so clearly we are no longer planting just for me. Butternut squash, okra, eggplant/aubergines, cucumbers, chard, strawberries, basil, grapes, lettuce… I think that’s it. We are feeding nine this year, plus guests, plus stocking the freezer. We have been harvesting for a month.
And guests bearing gifts. This harvest will not go home with the cleaning lady. It’s festival week for Les Arts Florissants. Volunteers and friends of the organizers stay here. I have a house full of charming and very attractive young men, not so young as to be embarrassing, fortunately. Jacques is still my sole bedtime companion, but as long as the guys keep me supplied with flowers, chocolate and champagne, I’ll be able to deal with it.
Two days after they clear out, these two, plus their gorgeous wife/mom, arrive. Fun on a whole different level. This is my banker. He makes sure I have enough money to keep this roof over my head. I look forward to watching his little one grow up.
At Home in France 