We're just back from France, and we had our best summer yet. The weather was perfect- sunny, but not as hot as the heatwave of two years ago, and the only rain fell at night. The farmers are worried though. (Our tenant farmer claims that it is the high tension cable running up accoss the Dordogne which is 'cracking' the storms before they're ready to drop their water- we get the thunder, everyone else gets the rain.)
We spotted a red squirrel for the first time this year. So used to the ubiquitous grey ones here at home, the little red one was a real treat. His territory seems to range from the edge of the woods behind the pool, through the trees beside the house and down as far as the road. He's a really beautiful animal. Such a startling red, and so full of confidence. I always thought that the reds were more timid than their larger grey cousins and that was what led them to be out-competed wherever man has tamed the land, but this chap hasn't heard that theory. He chirps loudly at any magpies who dare to interrupt his foraging!
A recently fledged magpie welcomed us within hours of us arriving at Lafage. Incredibly curious, he was intent of pulling the flower decoration of my daughter's sandal. Then he decided to investigate the nature of human hair and began to peck at her head, much to her horror and she fled up the driveway with 'Mr Pie' as we then named him, in hot pursuit. Eventually she calmed down, and both kids had great fun introducing the bird to their football. The poor creature couldn't figure out why he couldn't stand on top of it- it kept rolling away under him! Finally he took to rolling it allong with his beak, flapping his wings in frustration as he tried everyso often to pick it up and fly away with it! The fun only lastted a few days though. Obviously hanging about with other magpies taught him that humans weren't to be trusted, and by the end of the holiday, only the brightest, most garish of toys would tempt him down to play. (Although he woudl willingly swoop down to take some food from my hand!)
Friends tell us that the pair of buzzards nesting in our woods successfully raised a male chick last year, and he was turned out of the nest this spring. He has taken up residence about half a mile away, and occasionally strays back into Dad's territory. That explained the almost human-sounding wails and screeches we'd been hearing. Daddy buzzard did not approve of another male, even one he had raised himself, invading his territory. It was fascinating to lie in the pool and look straight up and see them wheeling about in the open sky as the younger bird was always the one who eventually gave way. I kept expecting them to crash into each other, but at the last minute they'd break away.
The vines I pulled down from the trees last autumn, are now clothing the fence beside the pool in large fresh green leaves and bunches of small grapes. By mid september they should be large and ripe, and anyone who's there then will be able to sit on a lounger and help themselves to the sweet grapes straight from the vine. I have no idea what type of grape they are, but the flavour last year was superb, and should be even better this year as I've reduced the number of bunches significantly. Of course, plenty of branches escaped up the trees again, so there'll be bunches of grapes for the birds at the top of the walnut trees again! The fig tree behind the house is covered in fruit aswell, although the new tree, at the corner of the pool area, attracted the attention of the deer, hares and rabbits, and any leaves that dared poke out beyond the wire protection were nibbled off. But it's hanging in there.
The walnut trees should have loads of nuts this year, and for the first time I made vin de noix with the green, unripe husks and leaves. It will be a few months before I can check what it tastes like, so I'm having to make do with a shop bought brand till then. I used a recipe from Stephanie Alexander's book.
