For those familiar with the
delightful French TV series, “Miniscule”, you would love this area of France. On our walk today, Luke was in full
investigation mode. Today’s subject was
insects and mini-beasts. We were in for
a treat seeing them all through Luke’s eyes.
There was no hurry and we saw so much!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1k-U50GhD-TTpZf2G43v9QOVWuiHb9_p6lCiX9UdmnhCRb4MaG8XLSTe7QE7P0VbIC19rdc0-Hypmoez1luumrDotCSHkSo9ZJyvyN7tb2hP61zf7Fmdd2OghguEgha1EUopIud1b6k/s400/DSCN1475+(2).JPG) |
Slug Videix |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oeSsrQEAUqYB8U_IHU8ckNq-GpDwwVZ0ew-Fv_fO0lUzmUbMKG1veA_CT9U2bg0pBfsGAlREWbULsp2esp5Ern1KoZehcqI7jtn7TO9VhS7lq-vmNIFeBMsGBNSeiGAb6Gvy6oc7_-g/s400/DSCN1543+(2).JPG) |
Forget Me Not Bug |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0rIMpHlWH3K2xeZLeN2xeroKe44x6YIPZoinKw9x85uzK-LF9D6-7d6LU5pGD9U1cScUjw6BXWVj-yYIHdD9LPAlxuQSfVbRALvBntjtjxT79wuMCJBk9xcvNgzJwBYv2Vmh1Kt17X8/s400/DSCN1487+(2).JPG) |
Beetle a la Videix |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFzApAlQYNPYRh1Ausvs_wMbREdVse4hvpACpQKghYCuNDf_pf80f71wYl_iplIyc5gub2z_QIbWxg10uSyl4v5GoO7faQUsYUkh52HbKYkGG6lpm6AeNYCLFNZMkcbloap-J_Ehoofk/s400/DSCN1515.JPG) |
Good to see a bee! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2yERQDHLECQt415NC-hPqdZfQnH3CUiDFONom8Ruk3_9g3v04tUc6vIKLAMO1AXPJ0AOlbPoxaxkQaIgFB8r_WjXC6HbCEXSfhRazUmc98WW5BKcAiu2azhMEEcD2eHzpSuneti24jM/s400/DSCN1537+(2).JPG) |
Best find of all! |
We went down to the pond,
checking on our baby calf, who was up and trotting after his mother. She is a gentle mother who licked him and
nuzzled him so lovingly. Aaaaw! There were no coypu or as they are locally
known as rangotin this morning so I think we only see them when they are
grazing in the early evening.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84i6Y0VKP8kc_az4C8s1-p-80qJnN1OrAEz0rH-EcmCfF4GUT1KxpTWroKnZB9Uiyuq4FVCP4A5Ch_7gmqg4rcu-SMQH0kwgbYtFOxSqqZvDYFg2LjOZxekFX1VVqIznbqb-0XOOWqoI/s400/DSCN1483+(2).JPG) |
Baby Limousin calf - doing well. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlCZXHO4Vfppgm383kEZQ0ePICm6RhEXwFlpRJntcWG64_eYwu8yf-fYr66PzYIsPxTszZaP8fDn9V1VElSrTRLQJM3rSSImUsvSqPKU7WtP_MNHyboumGmX5ttbbgb_TVnrkAYJ4QS8/s400/DSCN1499.JPG) |
Can't get enough of morning reflections |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdru5x7Uk6BTh9yV14nU_oFkAInmc7qEy3UidrM799iHB7WiYJkkJyTtcoga_ca0ZBiaA7lTxmNGkux2b2L5jv2-rSWhmpol7nC-f3oCT6S9Plq-0uONd2mWu88NGWRfGB-dCcMOlFoA/s400/DSCN1502+(2).JPG) |
That's our river! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFO7OZ8r6UkFs5eZEPdyTDegAjGMBsPPy2YBEJYLN0RNg-dl1T53L8USvGNjiOjGhx4U9ytTw72WkaEy5BqA0dW6x8I5QYBDw55S-49wuFRpB1fvDzHcLunXKYHTXZGfaPkOHaTn4APM/s640/DSCN1506.JPG) |
So very French |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Qe8HAP39hSC6DGu15-CrsHGXc86CbMSr1TVGk3CReSfuc7N_CgqJyKdSCW2OhUCW66GkEThj-q8UgAMO5Y6vEFbLkJib2TGrEJe3bUvNVwEHrx-DSB84rmsGp1NNGJYQPHUbgVrr4EY/s400/DSCN1517.JPG) |
Checking for more bugs! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwQZZYzyWyrPmlkomYwRRCj1GvZDQ4rX9msDIZnpbS9e5JiwpBplsiBbI42kJiB8qofnLAfZgRvdt0QhsmMR5twQuvWoO4EDZo7yowO_16BXvGwmMrsLGholYu-fI9sft1qvNWEejerA/s400/DSCN1519.JPG) |
Homeward bound |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8qZq7EGJxwgbduRhgYjVUT3oL-lXfIxR3RtyHm4B7-82s8sO3dA022ZWn2cGZQwF958ESpxD9DlpHWI7QecaVnPdUL89ZvFtZPOo7pdKnY1wgnZStPQ__xD6FLhmahurOdpoxIuC4fA/s400/DSCN1555.JPG) |
Getting close! |
Although the air was humid, and
rain would have been welcome, it was quite pleasant to walk in.
We turned right in the direction of La
Chassagne, a village we had walked through on the way to the lake.
Approaching it from another direction led us
through a few cute little roads and beautifully restored houses with country
gardens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNihf9HEKT-R5zIiP2vs7VJVFxCmJ3mRYYR9A0l08ciBKTpSQfcyXAu52kcwDO6tcPc3BqSN7TtLOZjuQBxTJANFsU93jvNiSuiuv0ln2A0j66I2Vts_qEPU3SR-KDLPTFIkSJncCDQus/s400/DSCN1549.JPG) |
Luke could nearly touch the walls! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2r09t3R1dpAtoy71iAgMhvN0i7NEM5J7eeW2ox88cF2pZUXiOAnOxcgmwXLnZ2Td-rgnBGxHPE_9X2PER-p-cYOlQqPb36Yn0fvWtTUtViYG20NAWIMg1_i9K7QbvIe5D3ds8Teok6A/s400/DSCN1554.JPG) |
Can I have this one please?! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyKhCFicxHEAfa0BCY0hOOtohnXV-oTQe2NUUpH0XE6U9jKwM5BG60I6s3ysAnO0ka1C-ZUJXm2UsIiZZH3AuVQ7pJCqiB9EFjsTrxsmBiyyVFgn1op5hoYmLkLrwHEfaGQA1jTFspxI/s400/DSCN1550.JPG) |
So very lovely! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2iJDcf7Wu6kExMblZGkuVkKhbblZH7D7Cy0xx1XJQRQyijoQX44Pw5XBWFaEsGA2JOuamqld7ucJh3q7_ujtmwArZPirCzuQY6F549DI_HeJ_gC7rZrhnjc_M-IjNBhhRP7v6o8vKkU/s400/DSCN1547.JPG) |
Poppy |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u5NRjrXmcwRKmRXckfMHGj-8vFANFuyjdRfNA2L6aRWecpbe6bFB2-lEwqNzdaUfGMoOMb61Kmki9a1DfDmVwhXywgqDfXzY4QjWXjvjSi6kOVeAJpK9gqqxuU47vTl5frZiP8fYICI/s400/DSCN1551.JPG) |
So very tasteful on the old wall - time not quite right - barometer on the reverse side. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily89uwmVoQp6oBkwYI8N2llmTyhc8-TjLUlasSguf9Px56qy_d40dCgD2htvEEeraSd5JZWugQTzf4Eva00O03GWfGMv1Lmt82TtabdxKJBINnjcTFwgvJXcI394UV94kvilxgpRaIB0/s400/DSCN1558+(2).JPG) |
The local bellowing donkey |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb464HbcBOlfXjvBmsrK06Xy-9x3LcoQel_kBVyIudYATfsV24wLqNvOYZa10HqP3HZNqZ7m0TRprCYw7SzEHdmLKcqhv8IyIARP76EwSeYTL5yFD7YLT56SFJzMR6hGxki919dveds_g/s400/DSCN1563.JPG) |
There are plenty of great spots to pose! |
Luke had been requesting that we
make stinging nettle soup ever since I mentioned to him that we could do so.
Now that the internet is working reasonably
well, we googled a recipe and as it happened we had all the ingredients
already.
Armed with gloves, and Luke,
Sasha and Daniel (the kids here), we headed out to the patch of nettles and
selected a nice colander full of the prickly leaves.
I did get quite a few stings, but succeeded
in putting them all in the soup pot along with olive oil, chicken stock, onions
and rice and simmered the brew for 30 minutes.
I borrowed a stick blender from Maelisa (our host) and whizzed it all to
a bright green delicious smelling soup.
Luke was keen to eat it and so was I and Karl
also had some.
It really did taste nice
and I would be keen to make it again!
How’s that for home grown organic food!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5Sai4dUx8zgPiMdfcutWc7p0WGhu8kgpYC-OyRfxZ57GVJHEAbh-lMHbwQjzzcvzCbh-fPTCR4mRrCM53Y5d_HXAnVoAYp0QRlq5yiy2llTreWe8R-t0L9I2-2fAvGPa6PTFprraEwc/s400/DSCN1495.JPG) |
Stinging Nettles...just right for soup! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCntYAvDJ7eIRqDskCw_x40larb4t_REbF7NnBMVWUMFzJOCiI_Nzgrqqq3N6yCqc93ILefv1Pmhruq_6dpGDT9DPvb7XHNLsvVQCfn54KnoItQfKKzR38clyPG99yCQFeK_qrfh-LRHE/s400/DSCN1568.JPG) |
Serious tasty Stinging Nettle soup for lunch. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34o7Q605MViNKiAocAb8fSvbYtZ9CCtv8-vHEwSGwLRFcVZ-Ujxk6d4HJRJesy2d1ndUbUk3Btli85_iDY3Uf_E7vAWIQyyrWt5U8pUPH35MBp4LGvyLtORhxEAOdiGcAAWzi89BYfEk/s400/DSCN1583.JPG) |
Lunch at our lovely gite |
All went a bit chaotic
mid-afternoon so it was time for pancakes!!
Always nice to cook pancakes with the kids.
Luke loves it and Annika was soon at the
stove side wanting to help.
It seemed to
settle him for a while but he is in a wild phase at the moment.
Before we knew it was dinner time
so our pre-dinner walk plans were put on hold.
So it was after dinner that we headed out for our walk and were
delighted by the lovely sunset.
The
red-orange sky shone on the woods and turned the foliage such vivid colours
that for ten minutes of so, all looked like Autumn.
The darker green of the woods soon returned
as the sun dropped lower.
It was already
after 9PM and still there was good light.
Such long lovely evenings here.
What a nice way for Garry and Alex to spend their last evening in
France.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdmK6m8nWo8uKysZaYpRCEAgN7WR8dwSZabHCIe-QWac_3U0hXRvlFJAvYz3iQVVtPp8Ty49FZZMXM93mm0fD6RvE-2ZGbnlXdR0UNV-dyp1EBBPpQOsgmJ9YXhx5omlBTERCuW_ToWk/s400/DSCN1589.JPG) |
Evening stroll |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpB8uC1Rv-0Tg74_QOnjh1GGM6Q_-ohyucgwUIKge5fzlG_aH_xtJqcXL7x_bjDLG_A6bSgZrtJ4pavmd_yEO7tphdrZS1v7Bc6oJAfLQbGyaHHPe4TKNWN-8G36eC267D6m8V1Ew5bQ/s400/DSCN1607.JPG) |
Tempting! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42WelljXwGLG261MZF29sWiditZgfHWXSV3qqPheEnnqTBvcqigrrkHPlWnNxrUnqrDUn9-Xi29iLx0iIB72kJ-TyNA6oOpo0VbYokf-9dBCDQhCMqcgm9pYP5VaRMcpjMdJKEcr6brs/s400/DSCN1602.JPG) |
It looked like Autumn because of the setting sun. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hHW_HUiBh4wG_wL9D3W619kPwo7RKiUUnqlQvXy3ipig2WYOEEw-E4ZNnzfXUgI5r_VHGk3MvH5BTEzpI5AqMI_B67sR5uoHHTRuJrH6QTVuE1P-8Ystb1owGGyVBNUDjqk4YbEM96Y/s400/DSCN1616.JPG) |
Sundowners! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U8mH-_ZwaL6yXS9TG3ovP7ZPXkDpzj28-CqquxoZ2nOhv_k7axBpJp0XsJ0yoK-RZ-O8H-WFifmX1eiW3zJfbDDryvVkXW7NWfRIREpYVqRt87g7Z1brdHZMMsKWOa-xW7poWw59OnQ/s400/DSCN1617.JPG) |
Sundown! |
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Oh, really nice post, this one! (except for the maggots picture I mean). :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of the stinging nettle soup!
ReplyDelete