November 2013

Well Dave wins the 'most interesting photos' competition for this month!! 
Its not been an easy month for taking photos - the first two weeks of November were wet, windy and cold!
I have been busy with watercolour comissions and Dave has been keeping busy with anything that doesn't involve gardening!!

The sun returned last week with some very cold temperatures as well. We had a drive up to Andorra on Friday and were amazed how much snow there is in the mountains already. If it stays cold it will be a fantastic ski season

We have just had a very enjoyable craft weekend here. 14 of us exhibited different crafts and we had a reasonable number of visitors which made for a really sociable and fun weekend.

We are already late in uploading our albums - so here they are...
Dave's album
Lesley's album

October 2013

The first snow of the season arrived briefly in the middle of the month on the mountains, but it didn't last long and apart from that, the warm, sunny weather has continued.

We have just enjoyed a couple of weeks back in the UK to catch up with family and some friends which was lovely. Back at La Maire now for a few weeks before Christmas so will use the time to do jobs around the house and garden that we don't have time for in the Summer.
Dave is planning the 'no dig ' method for the vegetable patch next year....so watch this space!!

Here are our albums for the month
Lesley's album
Dave's album

September 2013

Autumn is setting in - the above photo of morning mist in the valley is typical of this time of year. 
However after a cool start to the beginning of the month, the weather has been superb. We have still been very busy with guests but we enjoyed a mini-break on the Mediterranean coast at the beginning of the month.
This is also one of the best times of year for walking in the mountains - the sun is less intense and the snow has not yet arrived. The other photo above is of a local walk - you can see both Roquefixade and Montsegur castles in this valley.

Here are our albums for the month
Lesley's album
Dave's album

August 2013

We have had an incredibly busy month with guests, some staying just a night, some longer....English, French, Italian, Polish - so an interesting few weeks.
The weather has been mostly hot and sunny, so we have found time to relax in the garden ourselves as well as going for a few bike rides and walks and spending evenings with friends.

Daniel was able to come over for a few days last week so we have had an enjoyable and relaxing few days with him, as well as fitting in a few walks in the mountains.

All the veggies are suddenly ripening at once so I am dealing with the challenge to find as many different ways as possible to cook or preserve or freeze tomatoes and courgettes!!
Any suggestions welcomed!!

Here are our photos for this month
Dave's photos
Lesley's photos

July 2013

A month of hot and sunny days broken by several storms and heavy downpours. Also a month of parties, fete's and lots of visitors.
Very busy - so very brief!!

Here are our albums for the month
Lesley's album

Dave's album

June 2013

June has been a month of contrasts! Apart from a few glorious days, temperatures remained low until a week or so ago and the Ariege has experienced the most rainfall for years. Snow on the Pyrenees is melting slowly and the Ariege river is in full flow after some torrential downpours. We still needed the heating on at the beginning of the month and the above picture was taken at the plateau de Beille on 7th June.
Happily though, things are now warming up nicely and the pool has become very welcoming!

Its been a very sociable month again with a lot of visitors, and evenings out for both dancing and eating - so a lot of people in my album this time! 
I have also just had a very enjoyable stay in the UK - a couple of days in Cheltenham abd a couple in Maidenhead. Dave stayed here to hold the fort - to look after the rapidly growing geese, to tend the vegetables and cut the grass.
Here are our albums for the month
Dave's album

Lesley's album

May 2013

May has been a busy month at La Maire with a number of guests, and also visits from old friends as well as Lucy and Andy. We also decided it was time we kept some animals and so we now have geese living in their own private area of the garden.

The weather has been the dominant feature of the month again with endless days of rain and the odd sunny day in between. The end of the month brings the news that there is still so much snow in the mountains that some ski resorts will open in a limited way for the weekend.

We would much rather see summer arrive now though.

Here are our photos for the month

Lesley's album

Dave's album