January gloom...or not?

The new year is just a few hours away with those gloomy January days ahead when all the christmas cheer is slowly fading and the extra kilos are hanging on......................................................

Here is something to remember...the sun will shine again, we shall feel warmt on our backs, the kilos will drop off when we get out and about again in our gardens and we shall smell tantalising bbq's and the smell of freshly mown grass hanging on well into the warm nights...the sound of the crickets...are you there yet?

Here is my thought of the day...1st January is not the day to start dieting and it's not the day to deprive ourselves of a nice glass of wine at the end of the day. It's the day to start planning what to do in the coming year...

Hang out with friends...
Arrange a breakfast al fresco cooking bacon on a camping stove...
Plant some new bushes...
Play..
You see a beautiful face in the mirror every day...

Never stand still...
Eat something new every week...
Walk in the woods...

Yoga?
Entertain lots...
Ask someone special to share that expensive bottle of wine you were given at Christmas...
Roam across summer meadows with a flask of tea insted of your mobile...

Happy New Year from Spot the Dog!

                      HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! BON ANNEE!!!

                                          
                                       
                                          (I had SUCH a fantastic Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Picnic on the river!

River picnic - the perfect way to spend a perfect summers day!

Sorry for not doing any blogging for a while - we have been so busy looking after our guests!

We just had to share todays outing with you though - we awoke to the must fantastic summers day. Clearblue sky, 35 degrees and endless sun! There was only one thing for it - head for the river!

This place is called Roc d'Enfer - Hells's Rock. It is about 10 mins drive from La Maison Verte. There are huge rocks here, hence the name, where you can abseil etc. There are rapids, currents and swirls and generally heaven if you like rafting and cayaking! Or, like us, you can just sit on one of the little sandy beaches and enjoy the scenery with some wine, olives, brie, salami and baguette! Much safer!!

Spot the dog loves the river! He is a really strong swimmer and the only way you can get him to fetch a stick is by throwing it in the river.

As we were sat there on the rocks, dangling our feet in the river, we suddenly got a terrific rafting display. A couple of rafts from the local CPA (Open Air Centre) came past - it looked great and we might just have to have a go at that one day! Eeeekkkkk!

Anyway, we save that for another day...a bientot!

Nature watch in France

French wildlife - we were just sitting out on our new veranda last night enjoying a wonderfully warm evening with a bit of food on the barbeque and a nice drop of wine when all of a sudden we spotted a little bundle making its way across the lawn. The bundle turned out to be a baby hedgehog coming out for a few juicy insects. How cute is this:

Look at those little tiny legs and snout!!!
Spot the Dog also spotted the bundle and was with a few sharp words made to stay in his basket. He was a quivering wreck with excitment but stayed put.
I had to get close to the baby hedgehog to take the photo and he just sat there and looked at me. Nature is truly a wonderful thing!

Here is our new veranda - it is just a fantastic place for outdoor living...

A bientot!

Spot the Dog's Life in France

It's me again!

Sorry it has been so long but I have been very busy. I assist with the gardening at La Maison Verte and as you can imagine this is a busy time of year.

I have also just recently been on my holidays in Cornwall. I spent lots of time running around on the beach.

You can spot me there in my blue holiday neckershief...this action shot is quite pleasing.










Here I am in front of St. Michaels Mount...you can see the neckershief better here I think.

















I am very partial to a Cornish Pasty...Berryman's are the best. Lovely juicy chunks of steak...here is a little pasty moment in Marazion...mmmmmmm

I managed to snaffle a squeaky chicken. Here is a good tip to all dogs: if you see a basket on the pavement outside a shop then look inside that basket. If it has rubber chickens in it then grab one quickly before anyone notices. I made the mistake of chewing it and it made an intriguing squaking noise so I was discovered and the fowl had to be paid for. Worked out well! It lasted about 20 minutes before it made its last squak and was ready for the pot! Happy days!

That's it from my Cornish holiday - it was very nice but I am looking forwards to get back to Franze - the sun shines there and I am a sun-bug!!

Woof, woof!!

Producers Markets in Le Dorat

Local Producers Markets in Le Dorat - dates confirmed for 2012!

La Maison Verte is located a few kilometers from a lovely little town called Le Dorat. Every summer they organise a number of evening markets for the local producers to sell their "goodies". It is a great event as everyone seems to flock there and the atmosphere is fantastic! The really nice thing is that you go there not just to shop but also to eat what is on offer. The town sets up a huge bbq area, lots of tables and chairs in the church square (in the sun, of course) and a huge bar selling bottles of local wine at ridiculously low prices. So you simply go and buy what you fancy eating and take it to the bbq area where a lovely Frenchman will cook it to your liking! How great is that? There are lots of stalls selling all sorts of meats, local Limousan beef - sirloin, rump, veal - there are stalls selling marinated magret du canard (duck breast)  - they are huge and delicious! We tried them last summer and we can highly recommend it! Then there is the french fries stall - lovely crispy "frites" cooked in duck fat of course (all part of a calorie controlled diet), salad bars, crepes stalls, ice cream, cheese stalls not to be forgotten.
There is live music to accompany everything and it is a thoroughly nice evening out!
Just what France is all about! Outdoor living, food, families, wine, accordion music - yep, it has it all...

The dates for 2012 are as follows: 28th June, 12th and 26th July and 9th and 23rd August.

Perfect start to a long weekend...

A bientot!

Microlight flights in France

Yet another activity close to La Maison Verte - Microlight flights!

Not so long ago we met up with another English couple here, Dave & Amanda Lord, who run microlight courses from their lovely property about 10 minutes drive from La Maison Verte. They are a super couple and you can look at their website www.wanafly.co.uk and see all the details. They also do leisure flights if you just want to have a lovely experience of going up in a microlight. The birdseye view of the Vienne will be quite spectacular!
Why not plan a surprise weekend for your "other half" - a weekend stay at La Maison Verte where you will be looked after like royalty (how about a romantic supper by the campfire under the oak trees... candles...a bit of bubbly...highly recommended!) and a surprise microlight flight?
We can arrange everything for you - just get yourself here and let the fun begin! (-:
                                                       www.lamaisonvertefrance.com