17th July
The procession and fireworks at Arces atttracted locals and visitors. It ended in a spectacular red smoke "fire effect" floodlighting of the church.
There were other great firework displays earlier in the week at Meschers' Plage des Vergnes and at St. Palais.
10th April
The first "beau jour" of Spring. As the temperature rose to 22º, the beach was the place to go and there were queues for tables at the beach cafés.
Our neighbours, the swallows have returned for the season.
A quick trip down to Talmont marsh rewarded us with lots of migrating birds - yellow wagtails a plenty, avocets and black-winged stilts.
6 January 2010
Snow! Just a couple of centimetres fell overnight. But this was followed by a thunderstorm in the afternoon, during which 5 cm of hailstones fell.
The temperatures continued to fall, turning the roads into skating rinks,
as several motorists found out!
17 September
We went on a wild osprey hunt down to near Port Maubert, just south of Mortagne. A young osprey, Rothes, from Loch Gartin, Scotland, has stopped off on her migration south. She liked the area so much that she has stayed for over 3 weeks. he has been fitted with a transmitter, and you can follow her progress on Google Earth by adding Loch Garten ospreys as a network link. You can also read more of her story on the RSPB site.
Sadly, we couldn't get close to her roost, and saw no sign of her, but we did see lots of other birds and had a good afternoon out.
26th July
Meschers' market was in full swing this morning.
Isn't summer marvellous?!
25th July
The sunset & evening sky this evening was spectacular.
18th July
The QM2 arrived early on its first visit to Le Verdon. Looking across the fields & Gironde from Liboulas, it made a great sight! It got a terrific send-off when it left at 4.30pm.
14th June
The new gas plancha has been installed and tested. Lamb fillets marinated in oil, vinegar & herbs - delicious!
The roses are in full bloom and Libellule's rear patio now has its own herb garden.
9th May
Sadly, the mini-heatwave has gone.
6th May
Summer seems to have arrived early - yesterday & today, the temperature has been up to 25 degrees.
4th May
A stunning Giant Peacock moth appeared on the doorframe of our house, next door to Libellule. Nearly four inches across, it's the largest of the European moths.
1st May
Spring is well and truly here, and the good weather in March & early April meant that the fruit trees blossomed early. We seem to have good crops of cherries, pears and apples, some apricots but no plums. A pair of great tits are installed in the nest box and are gratefully feasting on the fat balls on the bird feeder. No nightingale this year & hoopoes seem scarcer than usual.