Who likes Gateaux Noix?

Well if you do, it's good news if you are coming here, this is just about the last of this years harvest of walnuts and there's at least 3 times more than last year and half of last years were not fit for eating due to the very wet spring.
No problem this year, they are drying really well in the top 20's temperatures we've got at the moment, so better get the nut crackers oiled and baking tins at the ready!!

One man and his chain saw!

After many years of rumour about the poplar trees next to the river Vezere being mature and ready for felling, work has finally started this week. Every day one man has felled about three quarters of the wood to the right of the little cottage at the bottom of the track opposite Les Granges.
Not sure just yet if they are all coming down but what a difference that will make to the views!

Wedding Registry Office - Toulouse style!

 A break in customer departure and arrivals meant that we could get away together for the first time this year for a couple of nights in Toulouse, which you may remember we did at the same time last year, this time we managed to go to a few museums and sights, one of which is the Capitole building in the city centre, inside is a magnificent gallery which also has an area for wedding ceremonies (above), pretty impressive really!
The gallery stretches nearly the full length of the Capitole building, shown below, outside in the main square is held many events and concerts throughout the year, on the afternoon we were there, there were many groups of 55+ year olds from countries all over the world performing dance/gymnastic routines.

It was a great couple of days and we are looking forward to returning, hopefully in the spring if we can!

Unseen St Alvere!

Many of our guests fly to France, our nearest airport is at Bergerac which is only a one hour drive to Les Granges, half way between the two on the D32 between Bergerac and Rouffignac, is the lovely town of St Alvere and for the first time after dropping a friend off to fly back to the UK I stopped for a bit of a wander around.
Usually when passing through you just see a small part of the town, church and town square, a bar and boulangerie, but stop to get into the back streets opens up a very fascinating and historic place.
The original gate house to the walled town still stands (above) which still has signs of the draw bridge mechanism.

Around another corner, the towns very old Lavoir (wash house) area still stands where the stream is diverted through the wash area to give clean water for the women of the village to do their washing.
And below, to the rear of the church, a very old complex of beautiful houses are joined to the rear of the church, yet another view unseen whilst travelling through the town.
Anyone doing the journey in the future I thoroughly recommend a stop off to stretch the legs and have a look around!

Beautiful Montignac

 We went into Montignac this morning, we thought there was a vide grenier (bric-a-brac sale) taking place but we were wrong, it's next Sunday, so instead we had a lovely walk around the town on both sides of the river in the very hot mid day sun.

Around one of the narrow back streets we spotted this pigeon in an old derelict 10th century building having a good look at what was going on from its usual perching place, very sensibly well in the shade!

Rain, what rain?!

After yesterdays post showing the rain we had at the end of last week, I have just taken this pic to show what it has been like all week....look at that for a blue sky!!

Taking shelter!

At the end of last week this was the Roque Terrace, a heavy down pour and the leaves have started to drop from the lime tree, very autumnal. The grasshopper below was spotted as I was just about to go to the boulangerie when the rain had stopped, it had obviously taken shelter from the rain and as it disappeared under the seat when I tried to brush it off, it had to go with me!
   The weather all this week so far has been superb, top 20's most of the day and isn't looking to change until next Monday or Tuesday, lovely!