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

April 2013

Since we are no longer giving ourselves the task of taking a photo every day, our albums of the month give a rather false impression of continuous blue skies and sunshine, because its exactly those days that inspire us to take a photo! However we have had our fair share of cold and wet days in April as well. 

The month has included some more walks and a weekend away on the coast. We took advantage of a few sunny days to go camping near Argeles and were able to benefit from a luxurious campsite (at least as near to luxurious as camping can ever be!) at low season prices, as well as empty roads and beaches. It is a beautiful area and the light is especially clear at the moment.

 We have also had some busy days in the garden - both weeds and grass are growing like crazy and its time to start planting the things that we want to grow like crazy, like pot plants and vegetables!

Here are our albums for April
Lesley's album
Dave's album

March 2013

Well, the two photos above tell the story of the weather this month! More can be seen in our two albums below.
We returned to La Maire on 12th March after a busy but very enjoyable week in Maidenhead. Since returning we have received chambres d'hotes guests, both French and English, have cut the grass (several times!!), and have been out cycling. Dave went woodcutting again with our neighbours, has been preparing the vegetable gardens and started fishing again. I have been painting, cooking, did a 5 hour salsa and bachata workshop and a Saturday morning market at Revel with Jean Paul. We have also enjoyed dinners with friends and a few quiet days in watching the weather!
Looking forward to the summer!! Anyone else?!!
Lesley's album
Dave's album

February 2013

A little late this month!! 
We have just had a fabulous week skiing in Andorra with Daniel and Lucy and friends. The Pyrenees are enjoying record amounts of snow this Winter and conditions were fantastic - every run open and lots of sun in which to enjoy it. 
It was a great way to end a month that started with us both going down with the flu for a week!!
However we still had a good month, with several local walks, dinners and aperos with new and old friends, both English and French, and a day skiing at Ax as well with Lisa and Neil. 
Signs of Spring are now out in abundance and Dave has given the grass its first cut

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