As daily as possible updates on the weather, what bloomed, which birds visited, and any other useful detail (click on the month to open). I added links to blog posts (under the date) on days I wrote/posted one. Check out a real farmer’s almanac (including links to square foot gardens and other useful tips).
To read just click on the month and you’ll se the whole calendar for that month
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes/events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday [blog post] | 1 | 40/26 | Freezing fog; sunshine late morning then blue sky | Dunnock, coal tit, Eurasian magpie, Great Tit, crow, | |||
| Friday | 2 | 38/24 | Freezing fog until mid afternoon | ||||
| Saturday [blog post] | 3 | 34/22 | Freezing fog; sunshine late morning then blue sky | A field of egrets & Eurasian kestrel on the electric poles on the way to Gaillac; magpies, great tits, crows | Beautiful frozen leaves and grasses | none | |
| Sunday | 4 | 33/18 | Freezing fog; sunshine broke through late morning in MP, then blue sky; on the way back from Gaillac it was still frosty & foggy after noon | Magpies & kestrel on the way to/from Gaillac but I didn’t see/hear much in MP | I had forgotten how beautiful “frosted” leaves and trees really are (the fake frosted Christmas trees seem a lot more realistic now!) Can’t stop taking pictures | the bowl of cat water I put out (warm) late last night froze to about an inch deep this am! | We are getting through the wood at a pace |
| Monday [blog post] | 5 | 28/19 | Freezing fog so dense between Cahuzac and Cordes that it was like a blizzard — could only see cars by their tail lights. No sun to burn it off. | not many birds out today (very wise), and not much chance of visual ID… | The plants look as if they had been attacked with Christmas frosting. The Chinaberries in particular (see images on blog) | My French nephew leaves for Paris from Caussade | |
| Tuesday | 6 | 33/17 | Initially snow was predicted, now just another freezing day but the sun shone and the frost and fog burned off by lunchtime. Afternoon warmer and sunny | house sparrow, doves, magpies, and a great tit sat on the bush across the road looking through my window as I wrote | Plants still pretty frosted and the herbs look pretty dead. Curious to see what comes back as it gets warmer. | Continued effort to get unfrozen water to Gato. It is so cold we all want to smuggle her inside. the “feels like” temperature was 13ºF at 2am | Today is epiphany, King cake and dinner with Andrée & Deborah. Location in flux |
| Wednesday | 7 | 36/31 | The coldest night yet, and then a morning of freezing fog again, then snow this afternoon (less than an inch) switching to “freezing rain” by 10pm (see blog post on this weather). | The frost has piled thicker onto the leaves making them almost totally white and looking as if the whiteness has been sprayed on | Last night I was so worried about Gato I couldn’t sleep. She has been begging to come in but with Mia that seems like a bad idea. I came down looking for her but she was out hunting. Silly humans | Ilia visited then Francine and Patrick whose pipes are frozen | |
| Thursday [blog post] | 8 | 46/42 | Warm! It is raining on and off but the ice is gone and mud reigns supreme. | house sparrows and magpies and a Eurasian (“common”) kestrel hovering gracefully on an updraft on the way to Gaillac | Boo’s last trip to the gym in Gaillac, and a great farewell dinner at L’Angle in Laguépie (my new fave – very creative menu, one meat and one seafood/ vegetarian each day) | ||
| Friday | 9 | 43/37 | Heavy rain most of the day here (although in Toulouse the sun came out this morning). It feels a lot colder than it is (“Feels Like” listed at 33ºF) | Françoise & Boo left this morning so now we have no guests, although Tounou & Ana arrive at my MIL’s late tonight … | |||
| Saturday [blog post] | 10 | 40/31 | Chilly but dry in the morning then rain on and off all afternoon. Thunder threatened this evening but no more rain | Big flock of house sparrows in the garden across the road, and I saw something flying but I don’t know what | New growth coming in at the base of the butterfly plants and a few others; some still looking pretty dead though — no surprise given last week’s chill. | I’m itching to trim the various dead stems from the bushes in front as I see new growth coming up at the base. Still too cold. Be patient. | Truffles for sale at the market. We got oysters for Andrée’s birthday tomorrow. Washed a lot of sheets, quilt covers, & towels, now drying in front of the fire |
| Sunday [blog post] Happy birthday Andrée | 11 | 43/35 | Sunshine! Frost when we woke up and morning fog, which burned off up here around 11; Cordes was in the clouds until almost 1:00. Warm sun but chilly air. | House sparrows, Robins, Great Tits, Crows, the usual winter gang and I think I heard my own | Andrée’s climbing roses have tiny red shoots with the tips of curled leaves; mine are slower, but don’t get as much direct sun | Pulled weeds (mostly grass) from around the roses and lavender by the olive grove fence. `it looks as if most have made it, although most if the roses are spindly and need a good prune. | Andrée’s 95th birthday celebration, oysters, fennel risotto by Ana (recipe from ChatGPT); Nadine’s tiramisu. |
| Monday | 12 | 51/39 | Warm and sunny! A day to be outside and doing some yard work. This fake spring is deceptive, but very welcome. And the birds agreed. They were singing the sun back, as was I. | New birds maybe? European robin, European Goldfinch, Common chaffinch, House sparrows, Eurasian magpie, Eurasian blackbird, Great tit, Eurasian blue tit, Eurasian collard-dove, Great spotted woodpecker; Eurasian Scops-Owl Merlin also thought it heard a Hawfinch and a rock sparrow. I’m dubious | I can see the buds and where I need to prune the roses to get outward and upward growth. | More weeding around the roses and lavender; done for the moment. I also thinned the bamboo that is blocking the edge of the view from the small patio. A futile task but one that ket me be outside. | Cleaned the stove, took out the garbage/recycling, did a little yard work, and then turned to research and writing. That is my ideal day. Maybe a little walk this evening… Aaron arrived, staying at MIL but coming here to read (Mia is very happy). |
| Tuesday | 13 | 56/42 | Sunshine and warm. A bit of light fog to start but a lovely day. | European robin, European Goldfinch, Common chaffinch, House sparrows, Eurasian magpie, Great Tit, Eurasian collard dove, crow, Eurasian Scops-Owl | A lot of growth on the sages in particular. If I didn’t prune they would have put all of their energy into leaves that I would eventually remove | I pruned! Hydrangea, some of the baby sage, lavender, Russian sage, and random plants in front of the house. I will probably trim more but wanted to get a start before work. | Andrée helper left early today and she was not inclined to eat lunch (or speak English). A hard day. Anthony and Ana were away doing research, but returned with pizza from Les Cabannes. |
| Wednesday [blog post] | 14 | 61/40 | A little overcast but bright and sunny this morning. | European robin, European Goldfinch, Common chaffinch, House sparrows, Eurasian magpie, Great Tit, crow, egrets on the pond at the bottom of the hill | Garden full of honey bees feeding on the bed of snowdrops. Also saw a rather sluggish (and huge) European honey bee | Finished up the pruning (Tried to prune the way Christine did — pretty ruthless but still lots of lateral buds) | To Gaillac (Aaron to the gym and we found a great fripperie to explore); silver car has its bearings fixed. Walter had a spot of food poisoning. Left over pizza? out-of-date yogurt? |
| Thursday | 15 | 55/41 | Sunshine! Not as warm as yesterday, and quite windy (a bit too chilly to sit outside and we lit the stove again tonight | The usual robin, finches, sparrows, magpies, tits and doves. I was inside for most of the day so did not hear much of the song | Mia to the vet to follow up on what the US blood work revealed (early stage kidney failure, emphasis on the early) | ||
| Friday | 16 | 51/43 | It rained last night but none in the day; chilly this morning and cloudy, but the sun was out by lunchtime and everything started drying. | House sparrows (a flock), Great tits, Eurasian collared-dove, European robin, Common chaffinch, Eurasian magpie, crow, and a couple of buzzards circling around the open field by the mayor’s house. | Things are just growing every day and there seem to be more snowdrops in front. I think I just leave the area where the bulbs are and let it be grass | We need to work out what to do with the pine processionary nests. We cut the branches holding them (only 3 small nests), Walter sprayed them last year so I think they are empty, but it seems like controlled burning is the way to go | Toinou and Ana left this morning, Aaron yesterday, No guests anywhere! Time for laundry… |
| Saturday [blog post] | 17 | 56/47 | Overcast and quite windy. Did not ned a coat (just sweater & down vest), and it is ok to be outside walking, but not just sitting | Sparrows, blue and great tit, robin, chaffinch, crows, and the dove | The market was quiet. Saw Nigel (?) briefly. We got moulles — the tiny sweet kind (the oysters did look good though). Truffle man was there again. I’m so curious | ||
| Sunday | 18 | 53/45 | Rained overnight and light rain this morning but it was over by noon and I wanted over to Andrée’s in a lightweight sweater and vest. | Spent most of the day at Andrée’s, saw robins and the great tit and a pair of elegant collared doves who sat on the balcony [see blog post]. I heard the Scops owl in the afternoon. | The rain is bringing up the weeds and there are leaves on the baby sage that still needs to be pruned (not good to do in the rain) | As I was looking at the kitchen garden I think I might be able to weed that by hand and then lay cardboard, I’m probably just planting corn this year, so I have some flexibility. Thinking tomatoes, basil, and peppers in the orchard garden… | Andrée was in amazing form today in spite of the gray sky–chatty and making plans to read together so it isn’t lonely and eating and drinking. So different than yesterday. So it goes. |
| Monday | 19 | 50/44 | No hard rain, but drizzly all day and it got chilly as the day wore on, mostly because it was so damp. | Nothing to report | Inside all day aside from going to Andrée’s (by car) and to Nadine Blanc. Didn’t hear birds or look at the garden 🙁 | We still haven’t lit the stove again since Thursday. Once we worked out how to set up a fan on the stairs to blow the warm air down the living room has been 69º in the coldest part. | |
| Tuesday [blog post] | 20 | 52/33 | Morning fog and rain turning to drizzle and by mid-afternoon just overcast. By 5:00 a watery sun and a pastel sunset | I heard the house sparrows and saw Great Tit’s at Andrée’s | Walter lit the stove because he did laundry — it does make a difference and is a lovely focal point in the room (also, dry sheets) | ||
| Wednesday | 21 | 54/45 | a lovely sunny blustery day, perfect for laundry—maybe a bit too windy. Got cool and damp later with showers | House sparrows (a flock), Great tits, Eurasian collared-dove, European robin, Common chaffinch, Eurasian magpie. | I walked among the oaks and there is quite a bit of brule, or at least different soil/growth under the trees. Sp fascinating to watch | Finished pruning the last baby sage and trimmed the lavender at the front ( a bit). Trimmed lower branches from oaks to make it easier for the truffle dog… | Great day for laundry, and mine pretty much dried on the line. Cats having a pissing match by the kitchen door (with the mat the loser) |
| Thursday | 22 | 48/37 | Showers and sunshine alternating and quite bright, but chilly! | A group of very noisy Eurasian Blackbirds where having a convention in the oak trees at sundown; House sparrows and European Robins held sway earlier, punctuated by common wood pigeons and collared dove . | Nice fire to chase away the damp chill. It does make the room feel cosy. This afternoon Mia had her third (to my knowledge) grand seizure. Could be related to the kidney/blood pressure, monitoring | ||
| Friday [blog post] | 23 | 50/36 | Heavy rain in the morning but then it brightened up and by afternoon it was sunny and almost warm but quite a strong wind —I got out a small line of washing (“iron dry” by dusk) | Blackbirds, blue and great tits, robins, doves, a crow, and a nocturnal visit from a Little Owl (not the Scops Owl though) | Hoping Marie’s cousin would show up with his truffle dog, but as Walter said “tjis is teh South of France.” Still, a warmish sunny day after rain is supposed to be the besy tine to fined them… | Back to no stove and laundry on the line by afternoon. I met with the expats in the Tarn group for coffee. Very nice people and lots of reinforcement that it isn’t “just me!” | |
| Saturday | 24 | 45/37 | Like yesterday, rain in the morning (too wet and cold to brave the market), but brighter and sunny by the afternoon. Quite a strong wind. | All I heard were the flock of sparrows, robins, and blue and great tits all day — mostly the sparrows but when the sun came out a couple of robins made a lovely duet. When I was getting wood I heard a Tawny Owl — did not realize there are so many owls here! | Tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth leaves popping up under the Lindens ready for their spring show in a few weeks. Snowdrops still glorious | I didn’t brave the weather to go to the market, figured in addition to me getting soaked there wouldn’t be much going on. Now we have no veggies and Prim Frais is closed Sunday and Monday. | |
| Sunday | 25 | 45/40 | light drizzle first thing and overcast then heavier rain came up from the valley late morning. Somewhat breezy. Sunny afternoon then ran again tonight | Eurasian Blackbird, Common Wood-Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Mistle Thrush (with a very pretty song), Collard-dove, House Sparrows. | amazingly we are running low-ish on wood (we have used about a third of what we ordered) | ||
| Monday [blog post] | 26 | 47/41 | Overcast in the morning then warmed up and sunny for the afternoon (much colder in Gaillac) | Little tufts of green showing through the turned rows in the fields on the way to Gaillac. The grapes are properly pruned and the soiled turned. It looks lovely. | Went to an Americans Abroad ICE protest in Gallac, photo op really but it felt good to say and do something. | ||
| Tuesday | 27 | 51/41 | Intermittent rain and drizzle, but as is often the case, brightening up by mid afternoon and rain beginning again early evening. | ||||
| Wednesday [blog post] | 28 | 49/37 | Started overcast but the sun was out by mid-morning. It still feels chilly (because of the damp), and the ground isn’t really drying. | I heard and saw great tits (several making quite a lovely racket), Eurasian blue tits and Magpies, and heard a Zitting Cisticola — which Merlin says is rare, but found here year-round and I have heard a few times before, mostly in summer, but never seen. The make a sharp slightly spaced out chip-chip-chip that can be drown out by the great tits. | It looks as if all 12 of the roses along the olive fence will come back! The two I thought were dead also have little red buds on spindly stems (I may need to prune a bit harder) | Started coding my research project. I’ve been writing for two hours with Rebecca Moore Howard most days (policed by FaceTime), but finally I get to code the PUPP writing samples! | |
| Thursday | 29 | 48/42 | Awoke to sunshine! A thick dew looked like frost, but the sun dried that out. Still chilly but the sun is a tonic | The great tits were noisy, as were the house sparrows and blue tits. Everyone loved a sunny day. Heard magpies, collared dove, and a carrion crow | I need to replace 5 lavender on the fence and two by the studio, and add 4 or 5 in front. Make it a dozen (“true English” please) | Went to the brocante on the way to Albi (Brocante Au Chien Vert | Mailhoc) I had a list | |
| Friday | 30 | 51/41 | Sunny and warm and no rain until the evening — a day you want to take off and do something! | On the way to Albi I lost count of the number of kestrels perched high in the trees waiting to swoop down onto prey silently from above. Sadly I didn’t see any of that from the car. | Wendt back to Chien Vert for some lamps to put by the gates (and I got pieces of lace I eyed yesterday and some funky relative gravity measures for wine!) | ||
| Saturday. [blog post] Happy birthday Mum. Still miss you (& would love your help with this!) | 31 | 47/42 | Cold and rainy this morning — so much so that I did not go to the market. The rain stopped briefly in the afternoon and a few rays of sun appeared, but rainy and cild by late afternoon. | Too cold and wet for the market this morning, although by late morning it was drier. Stayed inside and write letters of recommendation for my students (and a blog post) |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | |||||||
| Sunday [IMBOLC] Happy birthday Walter | 1 | 48/42 | Rain (drizzle) late afternoon. Humid and heavy but not raining and the sun managed to shine late morning and early afternoon. By 4:00 it was very light “sea spray” drizzle. Temperature dropped by 9:00p, | Eurasian Kestrels on the way to Villeneuve-sur-Vère; Great tit, Eurasian blue tit, Eurasian collard dove, and hose sparrows, the tits singing up a storm from their perch atop the Lindens (Great tit call and response going on. Mating already? | The snowdrops ate still going strong, ad I see a few buds on the daffodils but close to the ground; Célinè pointed out the wild leeks and ground cress I can eat. She used to be a gardener with a huge garden of medicinal plants. I think I will ask her advice when I plan! | I need to prune the roses in front — a task for tomorrow if there’s no rain | Went to the Fête du la Truffe at Villeneuve-sur-Vère with Nadine P. Bought atruffle and an amazing truffle cream desert (should have bought many more!) and Had an fantastic truffle omelette for lunch! Ling conversation with Célinè while we waited for her car to be towed. Made dinner for Andrée. |
| Monday | 2 | 54/42 | Not raining The wind is back. Cold. Hard. And right up the hill from Cordes. Dry at least. but overcast and dreary | Strong wind. No birds to be heard aside from a Great Tit this morning. | Six of the olive trees had dropped all of their leaves and five others have lost half. Sources (such as this one) suggest either too much water (nothing is really draining) or extreme cold. It is the trees with the thinest branches (maybe all one of the three species?). I blame that lovely frost/snow we had. Nothing ti be done but wait. | Pruned off the tops of the longest single stems on the roses in front so the bushes grow evenly and bush out. I stuck the cuttings in a pot — I’d love it if the English rose roots (I’ll do a second prune in a week or two and plant that as well) | They started putting the new windows into the old house (the attic will be so much brighter). Talked to Andrée’s yoga teacher. We will work on breath and involunary breathing (and singing) |
| Tuesday | 3 | 50/40 | Rain late afternoon. Started with sun shine. One of those days when you want to be outside. But it rained later afternoon | ||||
| Wednesday [blog post] | 4 | 55/40 | Rain late afternoon. Started warm and sunny but gradually more overcast and rained at 4:00 and one and off after that. Windy still, but the wind is warmer and softer (like a beach wind) | Corn bunting, Great Tit, Common Chaffinch, European Robin, Eurasian collared-Dove, Eurasian blackbird, Common wood-pigeon, Eurasian Kestral, chimney swift, Hooded crow, | Something has shifted from just two days of sun, everything has buds and the famous almond blossom has four flowers. Snowdrops are still thick on the ground, daffodils have buds | Spent the day cleaning off the last 90tiles for the Salle Dangle. It is going to look so good for the Wet Wing end of Andrée’s | |
| Thursday | 5 | 53/44 | Rained overnight. Soft wind. Hung out washing and spent the morning waiting for it to rain so I could run and get it. That kind of day! | Great tit singing loudly but repeatedly in the orchard and another in the Lindens replying with the same energy.. I wonder where they will build the nest! Blue tits, dives, pigeons, the usual gang | You can see the little bulges at the top of the trees that are developing buds. Not the pink fuzzyness Andrée used to point out on the maples, but signs of life none-the-less. There’s a big patch of violets by the washing line and leaves at the base of the acanthas. | Now the acanthas have new leaves, the old ones are rotting and ugly. I should remember to cut them next year (and will do so this year if it stops raining long enough) | Special election in District 11 in NJ (Mikie Sherril’s seat). Overseas ballots require one to attach ballot and signed forms to email by the end of today and then send paper copies by airmail. I wonder when they get counted… |
| Friday | 6 | 50/42 | Rain (drizzle) The wind has a soft feel to it and the drizzle blowing in it feels more like being at the beach. Mostly a lovely, chillyish day with rain at night. | New visitors this year: Goldcrest, European Greenfich, the adorable Common Chiffchaff, & Zitting Cisticola. along with Great Tit, European Robin, House sparrow, Eurasian collared-Dove, Common wood-pigeon, and a Eurasian Kestral who sat at the top of a Lindon for hours. | Learned how to prune grapes (and why we had such little ones last year—sweet but all seeds) so I did a brutal prune as YouTube instructed. Fingers crossed | At 91% countd we have no clear winner! Morris County went to Malinoswki as predicted, but at this point Analilia Mejia is leading overall by 520 votes with Tahesha Way in 3rd place. Each took a county. Clearly a point is being made, but the question is can a Sanders sponsored candidate win the 11th overall. | |
| Saturday [blog post] | 7 | 57/40 | Not raining Now this is spring! Warm, sunny, you need to be in the garden today. One more day like this and I’ll be able to mow the orchard! | Beautiful morning chorus from the robins with ugly squawks from the magpies; also visited by great spotted woodpecker, house sparrows, great and blue tits, crows, collared doves, common woodpigeon, the kestral, and the zitting cisticola again. On the way to Caussade we saw a black kite. | The tops of the trees are tunrning pink with buds and there are a lot of almond blossoms in Andrée’s yard. We went and bought 25 bags of “all purpose” soil and I got rooting soil to make rose cuttings. Funny what a day of spring makes you do! | Bought small redcurrent and goldcurrent plants from the market man who doesn’t use machines. So the orchard will have two new fruits (I hope) | Mia ventured outside and explored the courtyard with very little trepidation! I had to entice her back in and she asked tpo go back out again. I’m so proud of her! |
| Sunday | 8 | 54/42 | Not raining but the air is heavy as if it will, and this morning was 47 and quite chilly until after lunch | Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, House Sparrows, Great Tits, Zitting Cisticola, Common Chaffinch, Blackbird, Mistle Trush (which Merline says is rare, but I have heard before so seems to have moved in here) | Fascinating to learn about pollarded and coppiced trees (in Milhar to make baskets) and the importance of pruning the old wood of the red stemmed dogwoods in the orchard so we get more red stems next year! | Basket fair in Milhars (3 miles away). Great to see this old craft being practiced. Also learned how to get eau de vie made by a traveling guy | |
| Monday [blog post] | 9 | 51/44 | Rain. On and off rain all day although dry in the afternoon and if felt quite warm | A bit of sun between the clouds and all the birds are out: Carrion Crows, Blackbirds, Collard-doves, Robins, Zitting Cisticola, Wood-Pigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tits, and a Mistle Thrush. | I think I know what I want to do with the orchard: take out the middle “garden plot. Extend the bottom one with the fence so it goes up to the artichoke and maybe grow corn there. In the top bed, hazel nuts next to the red stemmed dogwoods, and berries in front and maybe extending into the space below (I need to research what the berries like best—blueberries will like the shade from the dogwoods and nuts) | Blueberries, red raspberries, golden raspberries, and two hazelnut trees for the first open strip in the orchard (with the red and golden currents) ; a white and a yellow oleander, and an andromeda for the front garden, and 5 lavenders for the side of the olives. | Gaillac supermarket run for Walter while I went to Gram Vert. Stopped in Jangopom and got apples and apple jounce by the case. |
| Tuesday Happy birthday Jane | 10 | 54/49 | Rain | great tit, blue tit, magpie, crows, pigeons. Haven’t heard the House Sparrows for a few days — there was a flock of them in the house across the road (with the pool) | In addition to the general soil, yesterday I got a bag of potting soil, some coconut fibre “soil” and vermiculite. Now all I need is for it to stop raining and warm up so I can take cuttings (it is predicted to freeze Saturday night) | I spent lunch time with Andrée and worked in the old house in the afternoon (our wifi is very unstable). Aaron arrived, staying with Andrée but hanging out here. | |
| Wednesday | 11 | 55/47 | Heavy rain overnight and storms (several brief power outages), and serious flooding today. The rain stopped by lunchtime, but started up more gently this afternoon. | New visitors this year: The European robin dominated, especially down by the stream in Les Cabannes. Merlin says we had a Wood Lark and the Zitting Cisticola and the more common greenfinch. There were crows in the field, collared doves, and the usual great tits. | Not much to see aside from flooding and rain. Puddles up on the plateau and lots of mud. | The Cerou has already flooded poor Félix and the road into Les Cabannes is closed (crossing the tractor bridge or detouring via Bournazel you really see the flooding—basically the entire flood zone of what is usually a little river | |
| Thursday [blog post] | 12 | 50/44 | Rain. Storm Nils passed through with high WNW winds (gusts over 60mph), and more heavy rain. Calmed down mid-morning but then the next wave came ad we alternated between sunshine, hail, and gusts | I ventured out to look around when the rain stopped mid-morning and heard a valiant great tit singing in the orchard. The others had nothing to sing about! | Everything seems to be on hold. The dead branches on the bushes in front have a lot of pretty fungi growing on them but that’s about it. | Les Cabannes is still flooded and Francine said two lads had to be rescued by the fire squad from the top of their car last night—they thought they could drive through! Francine & Patrick were in MP toi assess the damage to their house — a tree down and flooded barns. They will be back next week to clean up. Patrick cleaned one of the glass light shades left by the Iranian! | |
| Friday | 13 | 51/42 | Rain. Woke up to a watery sun that managed to break through a few times and woke up all the birds. On and off rain and sun. Lovely rainbow and 5 minutes later, hail stones. | Magpie, Crows, Collard Doves, Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, along with our newer folks the Mistle Thrush and Zitting Cisticola. And I always forget to list the rooster up the road (which Merlin doesn’t count) | I’m looking at the kitchen garden, which is 24’ x 34’ and thinking I could probably clear it myself, at least the central area — pull the worst weeds and use a fork on the rest. Corn at the back by the composter. Leave the edges where the asparagus and artichokes are alone, and companion garden in the middle. Tomato, basil, peppers, courgette. Potatoes would be fun if there is space (in bags the way Nikki does. [Next year cool beans to dry?] | Lunch with Andrée and Charlotte, just back from Reunion. Then an afternoon of PUPP and Drew meetings. No work on the article today. Flooding everywhere. Les Cabannes is still closed, and flooding made the tractor road inaccessible as well! PJ said Belis was totally flooded. | |
| Saturday | 14 | 41/29 | Rain. Overcast and light on and off fine drizzle w/ intermittent sun. 10º colder than yesterday! They predicted 29ºF tonight, but adjusted it to 34º and no longer threaten snow — just more rain | Kestral swooping around, and the robins, tits, and blackbirds singing as usual. | There are wire cages in the first orchard garden. Not sure if they were for plants or rabbits. There doesn’t seem to be anything under them aside from moss. Maybe I should plant the hazelnuts and berries further down and let this spot go back to grass. That also solves the problem of shade. Maybe a few rows of corn in the middle garden and use that after all (ending with the artichokes). Tomato and basil in the kitchen garden? | Quick market & bread run. The road through Les Cabannes is open now, but the houses at the bottom are still sweeping and scooping out the water. Valetine’s day dinner when Walter finished working, and another attempt at a brownie-like-thing (maybe would have been better if the convection part of the oven worked…) | |
| Sunday [blog post] | 15 | 48/37 | Light rain to start (no fog). 37º at 10 when I went to get wood (glad I took the plants in), heavier rain throughout the day | At 10am: Common Chaffinch, Zitting Cisticola, Great Tit, European Robin, Crow of some kind | Finally coding the PUPP writing tasks ahead of the article I am supposed to be writing for the symposia in May, A whole day of work! | ||
| Monday | 16 | 49/42 | Rain overnight, now the air is heavy (99% humidity!), the sky filled with dark grey clouds, and hard wind gusts (29mph)—a few heavy showers in the afternoon.. | New visitors this year: I can hear a crow and I saw a magpie Merlin didn’t hear much above the wind, but in a lull identified a Great Tit and a Coal Tit, + House Sparrows and that’s it. | Pulled a few weeds from the patio. They come out easy when it is wet! | The wind gusts were strong enough to blow enough rain under the arch to soak most of the wood, but it dries next to the stove. I’m not convinced that we won’t run out, but I’ve been trying to make a cooler fire because it can get too hot | |
| Tuesday | 17 | 50/44 | No rain before noon, but still overcast and humid | Carrion crow, blackbird, robin, Wood-pigeon, Goldfinch, Wood lark, Corn bunting | Read Jenn’s dissertation, revised the PUPP grant proposal and coded some PUPP papers. Basically a sedentary day. | ||
| Wednesday | 18 | 59/42 | Sunny and *warm* – laundry & work outside. At then at 7pm the heavens opened, heavy rain, wind, cooler | New visitors this year: Lovely dawn Robin songs, with a Common Chaffinch. Collard Dove later, and the Blackbird, Great Tit, and the Cirl Bunting; before it rained, we heard a pair of Tawny owl, and a little owl. Merlin also said we heard a White Wagtail and a Eurasian Jay (firsts) | Still can’t tell if the bougainvilla will come back, or the 7 olives trees that the freeze got; the violets are still a purple carpet at the entrance to the orchard, and one more day of sun will give us bluebells under the Linden at the back. Today was aching to be spring knowing it was back to winter tomorrow… | I started the process of pruning the roses by the back door. They are a birdsnest of a mess with a lot of canes damaged from rubbing against others. Tried to open up the center, reduce cross-overs, and make it a bit shorter. Still a lot to do | Warm and sunny — an outdoor day. I did three loads of washing & hung it on the line! Sat outside to write (with RMH) and Mia came out as well! She courageously explored the patio — although she wanted the door left open in case she needed to rush to safety. Gato watched her carefully but they did not interact. |
| Thursday | 19 | 47/41 (feels like 39/29) | Rain. Again. wind. Feels cold! Wind, West, 21 mph, gusts 41! Sun broke through in the afternoon, but wind still very gusty | Saw a magpie swooping across the road, and heard the robins, blackbirds as I drove up the hill; up here the wind gusts are too strong for birds to come out (or us). | The wind rearranged the patio somewhat and the cushions and chairs are all totally soaked. Very hard rain. | Spent the day doing Drew work (Honors Society) and reviewing a long overdue article. Planned to go to Le Stockade to hear “Occidental music in Occitanie” (including an Oude.) but the wind and storm were very uninviting and I did not want to walk far in gale force gusts and torrential rain so we stayed home with the stove and apple-bourbons. | |
| Friday | 20 | 50/43 | Sun greeted us first thing, passing behind ominous clouds by 10. The wind (still WNW) is still biting but gusts are only 24; the sun is warm but the “feels like” is 40 | A few birds braved the wind. The Robin the loudest, then the Great Tit, Blue Tit, and Chaffinch | There are shoots of tarragon coming up among the thyme and sage (which over-wintered nicely) | trying to pull a few weeds every time I walk across the patio. Mostly the ones that shoot seeds and some new guests this year. Steering clear of the milkweed if I don’t have gloves… | Finished my course descriptions for the Fall (a new seminar on diries I’m excited about — although I have a lot of work to do this summer…); Reviewing an article for ATD that is overdue. The idea was more interesting than the execution. (I hate that!) |
| Saturday [blog post] | 21 | 55/39 | A week ago they were telling us to expect frozen mix. Instead it was sunny. 40s this morning, but up to mid-50s in the afternoon, and SUN. | Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds, Blue Tits all singing beautifully dawn and dusk; Collard-Dove, and the rooster and a very noisy Magpie. At André’s I heard a Common Buzzard and a Eurasian Jay and a Tawny Owl tonight. | Daffodils are out in force at Andrée’s (in the sun; ours are under the Lindens, so still buds). The bluebells are *almost* out I see some tulip leaves peeking up in the front. The Almond blossom at Andrée’s is at its peek. So lovely! | Pulled a few weeds, tried to train the jasmine and the kiwi. Made some plans for planting. Tomorrow I need to mow! | Went to the market; then worked outside, supervised by Mia — well actually she pretty much ignored me, and Gato ignored her. It was a bit chilly once the sun got low, but so nice to be in sun! Pretty sunset. Toinou, Ana, and Gabrielle arrive tonight. |
| Sunday | 22 | 59/43 | Cold overnights, woke up to mist and heavy dew (frost?). Lovely sunshine all day though. We watched the fog start to roll in around 11:00pm | New visitors this year: `European Greenfinch, Song Thrush, and Short-toed Treecreeper joined the Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Common wood-pigeon. House Sparrows, and Eurasian Collard-Dove. And the rooster. | Too wet to mow so I strimmed the grass along the fence by the olives clearing the way for the roses and lavender to do their thing. | Sat outside to work, first with Gato in front and then with Mia at the side. Gato ran from next door’s black & white cat so now I know the hierarchy. Meeting about Senegal at 1pm EST. Made a surprisingly good paella (Mia got some shrimp) | |
| Monday | 23 | 59/41 | Heavy dew and fog again this morning, but good by 10:00—and sunny all day (but the grass didn’t dry, so no mowing) | Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Collard-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Magpie, and the rooster and Merlin claims a Eurasian Linnet. | The internet says the bougainvilla is dead if there is no green under the bark, so I am not optimistic. Also that they rarely survive temperatures below 32. So I think the two oleanders will get pots. | Still too wet to mow, although I tried. Planted the replacement lavender (4 by the fence and one by the studios, plus the little plants I grew from seeds in a bottomless pot. Pruned the rose by the studios and tied it up. | We had lunch with Andrée, A+A+G (who is now vegetarian). I worked outside, writing then in the garden for an hour. Missed a dissertation meeting (internet in and out). There is serious snow in NYC and NJ (20”) kind of sorry to miss it . . . |
| Tuesday | 24 | 68/46 | Finally dry enough for mowing this afternoon. | Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Collard-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Magpie, and the rooster | The hedge is yellow because it has a fungi that can kill a plant in a day. It is windborn and needs to be stopped immediately to save the trees. The would be back last year when C. told us the problem was “it has hit a seam of calcium.” Nope. Too late for the hedge along by the olives. At least the olive leaf drop and the dead hedge are unrelated… | Between us we mowed all but the orchard. Still needs a bit of weedwacking | Movie night with A+A+G (put up a screen in the living room) |
| Wednesday | 25 | 65/43 | Another lovely day, but chilly at night | New visitors this year: Robins, Great Tits, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Eurasian Collard-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Magpie, and the rooster. Merlin says there was a European Stonechat and a Black Redstart in the mix as well. | Gaillac for Walter to get new glasses (& a trip to Gram Vert, and E.Lecerc for olive food — to be put down before the next rain) | ||
| Thursday | 26 | 64/42 | Weather was lovely in MP and n Albi where we spent the day | House Sparrows back in force, very enthusiastic Robins, Great Tits, Magpie, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Collard-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, European Goldfinch, and the rooster | Picked the first daffodils and what I thought were bluebells for Francine. Turns out they are wild hydrangea’s — which you can tell by the smell. As she pointed out, the wild ones often smell strongest. Very pretty but I really dislike the scent | To Albi for lunch and visit with Francine & Patrick | |
| Friday | 27 | 65/43 | quite hot, a bit of a breeze this morning but the sun is lovely | Robins, Short-toes Treecreeper (a lovely song), European Goldfinch, and the usual Great Tits, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Collard-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Magpie, | Toinou gave us excellent advice about pruning the apples and other fruit in the main orchard and the little one. I’m looking forward to enacting it. | Walter mowed the orchard and weed-wacked the trees *and* the oaks. I fed the olives ahead of the rain that I hope will wash it in, | Coffee with the ex-pats in Cordes; Dinner, Mauvaises Herbes in Vieux withA+A+G |
| Saturday [Blog post] | 28 | 52/39 | And just like that it rains again. Chilly and rainy this morning; dried up by 3, but still overcast and chilly tonight | House Sparrows, Robins, Great Tits, Magpie, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Collard-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, and the rooster | Things are coming up and it seems the acanthus has seeded itself everywhere. I don’t totally mind (I don’t think). We’ll see. Deborah says a lot of olives dropped their leaves like ours did. She said it was that cold and strong wind that blew them off. (makes sense) | Planted 4 new lavender in front along with 4 of the 6 red the red roses and weeded both sides (including a whole bag of the things with the orange sap). I’ll plan the yellow roses by the wall. | The oyster lady had saved me 1 kg of mussels, and I got the last additional bad. So 2kg of little black mussels, overnight fries, and lemon aeoli. + Francines’ fantastic crumble (better the 2nd day) |
| lDay | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 1 | 57/42 | Sunny and warmer, but still chilly. Yesterday’s rain is just a memory | Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Collared-Dove, European Goldfinch, Common Wood-Pigeon, Zitting Cisticola, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, House Sparrows– the most vocal (along with the Collared-Dove). Didn’t hear the rooster today. Sundays off maybe? | I want to plant the rest of the plants I got the other day (a California privet, japonica, and leafy spurge — a maroon leafy plant, but yes, a spurge), and the yellow rose cutting Christine sent over. And I still have to finish pruning the roses and work on the trees! | No work today. It looks nice without all the weeds, I did a lot yesterday (3 bags of weeds!). | Need to write my symposium article, so no more gardening for a few days |
| Monday | 2 | 56/45 | there was a wind and it was chilly! Feels like temp of 42 this evening | Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Zitting Cisticola, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit. | Christine M. gave me a tour of the garden and how to take care of it, ending with how to prune the fruit trees and grapes and how to treat the mold. WOW. I feel ready now. | put in the other two bare stemmed roses by the olive fence, and the Japonica (Pieris), Leafy Spurge (I know, but it is very pretty), and St. John’s Wort. Still need to plant the berries, the nuts, and the last 4 lavender. | Nobody to care for Andrée today (or Tues & Wed afternoon), so I cooked quiche and soup last night and Walter and I tag-teamed. I had an honors thesis meeting this afternoon. NO research today |
| Tuesday [blog post] | 3 | 62/47 | Intervals of sun and cloud, but the air was definitely warmer. Sad to learn that birds return not based on temperature but based on hours of sunlight. | New visitors this year: European Robin, European Goldfinch, , Eurasian Collared-Dove, Great Tit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Zitting Cisticola, Common Wood-Pigeon, Magpie, and the Rooster. Not heard for a while: Corn Bunting, Short-toed Treecreeper, Merlin also claimed the return of the European Starling, Eurasian Skylark, White Wagtail and a Eurasian Hoopoe | I’m imagining g a line of violtes in freont of the lavendar in the front garden—although I suppose the lvander will swamp them. I like Toinou’s idea of butting the hazelnuts in the new orchard. LOT if work to doo there | Did some pruning before I went over (grapes and the smaller trees in the main orchard and discovered that the one with shoots from the bottom has fire blight—and as the shoots were below the canker I think it was trying to save itself. And I cut them off. I need to learn to listen to the trees!!. | Full moon Andrée needed a carer this afternoon. Did laundry while it isn’t raining…. Nice moonlight walk around the village tonight (they finished fixing the wall buy the castle). |
| Wednesday [Blog post, pt.2] | 4 | 63/50 | Sunny and the wind is softer — the feels like temp is close to 60. It is a bit hazy but the kind of weather that makes you ant to be outside | Robin, Magpie, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Collared-Dove, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Zitting Cisticola, Cirl Bunting, Blackbird, Wood-Pigeon, and the Rooster. | We have to decide whether to try to save the passion flower plants (cut away all the dead material and then loop the live vines back up says Christine. I say plant wisteria, but the passion flowers are lovely if we can save it. | Plant the Oleander — yellow and white in the Spanish pots in front. (Take out the bougainvilla, which Christines assures us is dead (should be left outside in winter here). | Andrée has no helpers this afternoon (ok for the rest of the week). Walter for the afternoon, and me for dinner and bed. Maybe a little research around the edges. |
| Thursday | 5 | 62/49 | Chilly wind (FL temp 51), air heavy could feel the rain coming all day; not the high winds predicted but from the SE and it had sand in it! | New visitors this year: Goldfinch, Collared-Dove, Zitting Cisticola, Robin, House Sparrow Blackbird. Great Tit, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common-Wood-Pigeon; Tree Sparrow, Black Redstart, March Tit, Yellowhammer | The black stuff is on the other young apple tree at the back, although not as bad as on the front one, and the pruning cuts are black on the old cherry between them, too, so I am rooting for blight. No spores yet, but I will look after it rains and keep checking. | Pruned the 4 Mirabelles. Quite a lot of suckers and vertical branchess, but most of the work was cutting back the hedge and the creepers so I can get to the last tree. Still have to do the greengage — if I find the saw — althoughAntoine and Christine differ on whether that is worth it | The draft deadline was changed to April 15 so I can keep coding. and maybe make the deadline…. The wind had sand in it — from the Sahara. Sorry but that is cool. |
| Friday | 6 | 61/42 | showers on and off, but not as chilly as yesterday, and no wind. | r | Rooted the yellow rose cuttings from Andrée and planted the raspberries and currents at the side of the orchard. | Blew out the leaves in the patio, dried the cushions — nit that we will sit outside, but it needed to be done | |
| Saturday [blog post] | 7 | 59/43 | 30% chance of showers predicted but in fact a lovely sunny day! | Tina and Brian arrive; market in the morning; bread and cheese for lunch; Cordes in the afternoon. Moules frittes | |||
| Sunday | 8 | 61/41 | Clear day, great for a hike! Rain predicted in the afternoon, started around 5:30. | robins, blackbirds, Zitting Cisticola, and and others | Tina and Brian visiting – Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val + Beaulies | ||
| Monday | 9 | 58/38 | Prediction was 50% chance of rain; the morning was clear, rained in the afternoon + sunshine (lovely rainbow) | Common Wood-Pigeon, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Blackbird, Great Tit, Eurasian Collard-Dove, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Linnet, | New plantings seem to be setting ok. I forgot to plant the privet so that will go in when I get back, and some cuttings from the forsysthia by the gate. hopefully yellow roses by the wall; the red rose cuttings seem to be rooting (fingers crossed) | Tina and Brian visiting; Walter & Bran bike around the village, then to Albi (Tina and I working, plus I was on with Andrée afternoon+dinner) | |
| Tuesday | 10 | 61/47 | 30-40% chance of rain predicted, actually a lovely day. Warm and sunney — we didn’t want to go insidde | Tina and Brian visiting Albi –Toulouse Lautrec museum & cathedral, the Green Dog brocante. Then a trip to the butcher and a very meaty grilled diner (& grilled artichokes | |||
| Wednesday | 11 | 59/43 | Overcast in the morning and started to drizzle, then rain at 1:00 as predicted | blackberries galore on the road up to Saint Lucie; good to remember! | Tina and Brian visiting. Walked around La Capelle loop (5+ miles). Leftovers for lunch then chilled by the fire | ||
| Thursday [blog post] | 12 | 55/41 | sun predicted. | To York (fly TLS to Manchester via Paris, Mary-Ann meets me in Manchester); ride to TLS with Tina and Brian | |||
| Friday | 13 | 62/39 | In York with Mary-Ann Pearsall | ||||
| Saturday | 14 | 50/32 | rain predicted | In York with Mary-Ann Pearsall | |||
| Sunday | 15 | 53/38 | Jampots. Mother’s Day in the UK. A walk in Hindhead | ||||
| Monday [blog post] | 16 | 51/35 | chance of rain 30% | Jampots (& Yellow Fever shot in Guildford) | |||
| Tuesday | 17 | 61/40 | Back to France, and right away and LSAG meeting and I need to read an honors thesis so we can meet tomorrow. Vacation over. | ||||
| Wednesday | 18 | 60/41 | warm and sunny in the day but quite a wind which got stronger after the sun went down. | Eurasian Blackbird, Great Tit, Black Redstart, Short-Toes Treecreeper, Common Wood-Pigeon, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Mistle Thrush | Several of the roses in the hedge and one of the front ones have blackspot, as does one of the bushes so I will need to spray that. | Pulled a few weeds and did a general inspection of the garden. The lawns need mowing! Tied up the passion plant—what is left of it (Walter is optimistic that it will come back). Also added strings for the honeysuckle, which is strong and seems healthy. | Sat outside to work, joined by Mia for a while. Made some breakthroughs with the CE article and finished the PUPP grant proposal form (finally) |
| Thursday | 19 | 60/38 | Sunny and the sun was warm enough for a t-short, but the was a brisk breeze | Eurasian Blackbird, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Common Wood-Pigeon, Eurasian Collard-Dove, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch. White Heron on the pond. | When I made the new bed I took pictures and the Mirabelles had not flowers, now they are a white mass. The apricot is also flowering, and the black plum. The garden, in other words, is bursting with blossom! | Mowed the orchard, olive grove, and oak stand. I need to go around the trees with the hand mower and strimmer, but it was a start — the grass was very long! | Two dissertations. two 100 page theses (so far), a revision for the “Writing Together” piece, the symposium article (both due April 15), and the College English article we want to send off by the end of April. Yikes this is a busy time! Write in the morning, garden care late afternoon… |
| Friday [blog post] SPRING EQUINOX | 20 | 64/37 | Sunny and lovely with less wind | House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Blackbird, Cirl Bunting, European Robin, Great Tit, European Goldfinch, European Serin, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Collard Dove. The European Serin, has been before but is such a joy to hear. | Everything is flowering. It looks fabulous! | Sprayed the roses and the bush with blackspot; strimmer in the oaks grove (I can’t get the push mower to start—not tall enouch) | Still need to send out the PEP invitations and select a Writing Fellow for DSEM. Good news from Drew regarding the future staffing of Writing Studies (maybe…) |
| Saturday | 21 | 64/39 | sunny and lovely | Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Collard-Dove; Great Tit, Zitting Cisticola, Short-Toed Treecreeper, Cirl Bunting, Common Wood-Pigeon, Commion Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, European Robin, Short-Toed Treecreeper | Still need to finish pruning the roses in our courtyard; I am not at all confident about the olives. I think mostof them took a hit and several seem pretty dead. | Used the push mower and strimmer to finish the olive grove and almost finish the oak stand; Alex dug up leeks/garlic whatevr they are (mystery Allium) | Alex arrived and we had the wild leeks/garlic for dinner (with quiche and potatoes); went for a walk around the village |
| Sunday | 22 | 62/36 | cloudy and not as warm, although the sun was nice in between. [30% chance of rain predicted later] | Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Collard-Dove; European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, European Serin; House Sparrow, Great Tit, Black Redstart, Cirl Bunting, Common Wood-Pigeon | So much to do, but by the time I stopped working it was raining (so I cooked for Wa and Alex) | Finished the chapter for Still Writing Together (APA, formatting, and 600dpi images of figures. Just need to do one more check over tomorrow and we will submit — 24 days early! Mia had another grand mal siezure! (then stole shrimp… | |
| Monday | 23 | 61/39 | They said it would be cloudy, but this was another lovely day. It got chilly in the evening and we lit a fire, but the day was warm. | House Sparrow, Great Tit, European Serin, European Robin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Collard-Dove; Common Wood-pigeon,Common Chaffinch. The Serin really held course today! | The orchard looks so lovely. So much blossom and the bees are having a field day. It is hard to get my head around how beautiful it is here. | So much to do, but I started late and only had time to strim the orchard and begin to clear the middle bed. Under the brush and weeds were two gooseberry bushes (quite established) and two St. John’s Wort (also quite large). How cool is that? | Read Carron’s dissertation, and Asra’s theses Cooked for Walter & Alex and walked around the village. Chilly but clear night. |
| Tuesday | 24 | 64/40 | Beautifully sunny and warmer than yesterday (predicted night temperatures rising) | Great Tit, European Robin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Collard-Dove; Common Wood-pigeon, House Sparrow. | The grass looks lovely when it is trimmed (I love the flowers, too, but a green lawn around trees is hard to beat. I was glad to get some of the grass out from among the roses and lavender so it is not too bad when I get back | Finished clearing the middle bed and put a table and chair there; Finished strimming around the oaks and cleared the fence behind the roses/lavender. Too dark to do the other tasks. | Read Jenn’s dissertation (400+ pages) meet with her and complete paperwork. Writing Fellow?? (Write to Raul) Read over and send off the chapter for Still Writing Together invitation to PEP indictees |
| Wednesday [blog post] | 25 | 591/35 | a little rain late morning (as predicted) and then it got COLD and windy, also as predicted with cold overnight | Not a lot of bird activity. Saw and heard a blackbird, the Great Tit, House Sparrows, Blue Tit, Wood-Pigeon, and a Black Redstart. Too windy for them to fly or for me to hear them. | Too cold and windy to do more than tie things down and retreat inside. I am troubled that we have not yet sprayed the canker, but it has clearly been there for a while so as long as it is not producing spores (I see none) a few more days is probably ok. | Market for cheese &bsalad -PUPP meeting -DSEM Fellow – select one! DSEM fac who need one DSEM Fellow invites -PEP invitations -Feedback for Asra. Pizza with Nadine, Yvon, Christine, Alex, Wa and me (our house) | |
| Thursday | 26 | 51/33 | Predicted 55% chance of frozen mix! It did not freeze but it was close to it overnight with a nasty north wind. I worried about the blossoms but they were ok. | Just Too cold to go out . . . (me and the birds). It was very windy and a cold north wind at that and they seem to stay put. Less to sing about… | The plans: plant the privet! Spray the canker (if that is what it is) on the two apple trees. If I have time I will use Mildred on the small orchard and path around the field, and the hand mower in the main orchard and on the shortcut path + strim the oaks. | -The reality: no work in the garden today | SYMPOSIUM ARTICLE!!!!!! -Lunch at La maison (Les Cabannes) with Francine & Patrick, Wa, me, Alex, Christine, & Andrée. Two menu, the veggie option was the best: very good, solid, workingfolks food. -Senegal meting 11:30 EST (4:30 here) |
| Friday | 27 | 52/33 | Freeze predicted again but we were just above and a lovely sunny, blowy laundry day. | Blackbird, Magpie, Common Wood-Pigeon, Great Tit, Collared-Dove, Robin, Blackcap | The garden is thick with blossoms, especially the cherries. a cover of white. If we don’t get a freeze I assume we will have an excellent crop. | Not much today. Just admired the garden. Much work to do, but I did not do it aside from planting two lavender on the gate side of the front to complete the border and watering the new roses. | – Expats in the Tarn coffee morning in Cordes (at the charming La Théière Folle – Salon de thé). Washed my clothed in anti-mosquito treatment. Dinner at L’Angle, in Laguepie where Christine had never been. Note to self: check in advance how meat-free the “vegetarian” offering is. Excellent and creative menu as usual—he has a great sense for combinations– but better for meat-eaters unless there is fish on offer. |
| Saturday | 28 | 48/38 | Drizzly and cold but dry for the market, then it rained until later afternoon when it brightened up | -forgot to make a note. Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, | Lunch with Alex, Christine, Andreé, and Jody at Au Jardin des Saveurs. Perfectly cooked and prepared food, locally sourced. Predictable in a good way. Aürós, with Alex & Christine for food; then A&A arrived and Walter and I stayed with them for a loud girl band. Ana and I enjoyed, Maybe T and Walter less. Another day I did not work on the symposium article . . . | ||
| Sunday | 29 | 38/35 | Lovely blowy day. Chilly and I think the wind is still mostly from the north, but dry. | European Goldfinch, Eurasian Blackbird, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch. The chaffinch was dominant in the afternoon. Lovely song | Andrée’s irises are out, both the big throated purple Japanese irises and the blue “river irises” I have iris envy! | pulled up a few of the grass tufts (with the weeding tool), cleared a bit of the top bed but it needs the strimmer. Planted the last lavender in front of the studios and heather in the front of the house | Christine left in the morning, Alex mid-afternoon. Lunch with the assembled. Ant and Ana went to the market in Saint Antonin Laundry Sent the Writing Fellow letters, invited PEP inductees and graduates. Lunch with |
| Monday | 30 | 46/41 | Overcast, heavy sky threatening rain. Light drizzle late morning | House Sparrow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackcap, Robin, Blackbird, Greenfinch. | tulips, white “bluebells,” cow parsley, a few wild orchids (with black flowers) and tons of dandelions and daisies color the green. The white cherry blossoms are at their peak. Still some forsythia | pulled a few weeds in the patio and removed some blackspot | Final edits to still writing together & send it off Left at 3:00 to watch a movie before 4:30 tea and garden tour with Françoise and Juan Carlos’ |
| Tuesday [blog post] | 31 | 51/43 | awoke to a lovely sunny day but with cold air and wind. | European Greenfinch was the only singer this morning, joined by a European Goldfinch, | The wisteria has started to open. Still mostly buds but it will be at its peak when I am away | 11:00EST Meet Maddy re thesis 13:00 EST Jenn’s dissertation defense |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | 53/43 | Started beautifully sunny and without the cold wind. RaIn predicted for late afternoon arrived on schedule. And it got colder | A House Sparrow in the bush by the road was singing so beautifully this morning. Joined by the Great Tits, Eurasian Blackbirds, European Goldfinch, Cirl Buntings, Eurasian Blackcap, and the return of the Long-Tailed Tit | The area in front of the living room window is filled with little white bell flowers that look like bluebells but aren’t, snd next to them is the Japonica I put in without knowing they were there. I love it and I assume they will spread as the Japonica grows taller and fatter. Perfect. | Took Mildred for a spin before it rained. Mowed the new orchard and the path around the field. The Olive groves, oak stand, paddock, and under the hammocks (I left the studio lawn and the orchard because they look so pretty with the wild flowers… ) – Assume the predicted hot spell will hasten growth! | Pack . . .! Francine & Patrick stopped by, and Toinou. |
| Thursday | 2 | 52/44 | To Senegal at 9:30. | ||||
| Friday | 3 | 54/43 | Senegal | ||||
| Saturday | 4 | 65/43 | Senegal | ||||
| Sunday | 5 | 71/44 | Senegal | ||||
| Monday [blog post] | 6 | 73/47 | Senegal | ||||
| Tuesday | 7 | 67/42 | 50% chance of rain predicted | Senegal | |||
| Wednesday | 8 | 57/44 | 60% chance of rain predicted | Senegal | |||
| Thursday | 9 | 57/44 | 50% chance of rain predicted | Senegal | |||
| Friday | 10 | 60/44 | 50% chance of rain predicted | Senegal | |||
| Saturday | 11 | Senegal | |||||
| Sunday [blog post] | 12 | Senegal | |||||
| Monday | 13 | Leave Senegal | |||||
| Tuesday | 14 | Arrive TLS | |||||
| Wednesday | 15 | 12:30 EST Carron’s defense | |||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday [blog post] | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday [blog post] | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | to the US? | |||||
| Monday | 27 | US | |||||
| Tuesday | 28 | US | |||||
| Wednesday | 29 | US | |||||
| Thursday [blog post] | 30 | US | |||||
| mmmmmmmm | mmmmmmmmmmmm | mmmmmmmmmmmmmm | mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm | mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm | mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | US | |||||
| Thursday | 2 | US | |||||
| Friday | 3 | US | |||||
| Saturday | 4 | US | |||||
| Sunday | 5 | US | |||||
| Monday | 6 | US | |||||
| Tuesday | 7 | US | |||||
| Wednesday | 8 | US | |||||
| Thursday | 9 | US | |||||
| Friday | 10 | US | |||||
| Saturday | 11 | US | |||||
| Sunday | 12 | US | |||||
| Monday | 13 | US | |||||
| Tuesday | 14 | US | |||||
| Wednesday | 15 | US | |||||
| Thursday | 16 | US | |||||
| Friday | 17 | US-GRADUATION | |||||
| Saturday | 18 | Leave US | |||||
| Sunday | 19 | Arrive TLS | |||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | Coventry? | |||||
| Monday | 27 | Coventry? | |||||
| Tuesday | 28 | Coventry? | |||||
| Wednesday | 29 | Coventry? | |||||
| Thursday | 30 | Coventry? | |||||
| Friday | 31 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |
| Day | Date | ºF | Weather | Birds observed | Garden observations | Garden tasks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 1 | ||||||
| Thursday | 2 | ||||||
| Friday | 3 | ||||||
| Saturday | 4 | ||||||
| Sunday | 5 | ||||||
| Monday | 6 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 7 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 8 | ||||||
| Thursday | 9 | ||||||
| Friday | 10 | ||||||
| Saturday | 11 | ||||||
| Sunday | 12 | ||||||
| Monday | 13 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 14 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 15 | ||||||
| Thursday | 16 | ||||||
| Friday | 17 | ||||||
| Saturday | 18 | ||||||
| Sunday | 19 | ||||||
| Monday | 20 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 21 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 22 | ||||||
| Thursday | 23 | ||||||
| Friday | 24 | ||||||
| Saturday | 25 | ||||||
| Sunday | 26 | ||||||
| Monday | 27 | ||||||
| Tuesday | 28 | ||||||
| Wednesday | 29 | ||||||
| Thursday | 30 |