Making my stand!

For animals that is. I have heard recently that some French farmers are going in for mega dairy farms. This will mean dairy herds being kept indoors all their lives. I feel this is totally wrong and is exploiting animals big time. It is all about profit which I want no part of. I will no longer buy meat or dairy products from big supermarkets. I will use a local butcher for my meat where I can ask the source. Today we are having a chicken that I paid a lot for but it was raised out side, fed non GM grain and lived a mimimum of 81 days. No artificial feeds or antibiotics to make it grow fast. My milk is bought from a neighbour with a dairy herd and I can see where the cows are kept. We are coming up to the time when the cows will be in a barn mostly but will be in the field when weather permits and will walk to the milking shed twice a day!
The sooner we get to being self sufficient with meat the better. This stand will mean we have less meat but that is no bad thing. When we eat out I will only have a vegetarian meal unless it is clear where the meat came from and meets with my standard.
I am sounding rather militant I know but I feel very strongly about this. Animals are there to provide us with food but not to be exploited.
I still have not found any ethical pork so that is off the menu until I do. The majority of pork here is raised in big sheds in confined spaces. That I will not support.
I plan to buy cheese and cream products from markets where small farms sell their own produce. Again it will cost more so we will have less. Not a bad thing really as we eat too much anyway!
I currently have a freezer full of local lamb which will keep us going months.

As France mourns

It was a complete shock to us seeing the events unfolding in Paris. This is my adopted country and I feel the pain with true French people. The world is truly a horrid place now and I will never understand why humans do such awful things to each other.
Meanwhile closer to home...hubby has been unwell ever since his last accident. The wound healed well with no problems but he has had a general malaise for a few weeks. On Saturday he had an upset tum. Yesterday he deteriorated at an alarming rate and I was truly worried. I called the emergency Doctor service who were wonderful. Although the lady did not speak English she told me to speak French slowly which enabled her to understand me. She was concerned enough to call an ambulance. Two lovely young men arrived one of whom spoke some English which was a great help. They checked him out and called the hospital to say we were coming. It was not the one I had taken him to before so did not know where it was. It is policy here for relatives to follow on. It was good it was a Sunday as the roads were really quiet but I drove way too fast trying to keep up. I knew if I didn't I would not find the hospital! I had to check him in and complete the paperwork and by the time I joined him in the room he was in a gown with an intravenous drip going. They were just taking bloods to identify was clearly an infection. At all times I was expected to stay with him which surprised me. In less than an hour the bug was identified and two lots of antibiotics were given intravenously along with paracetamol to reduce his temperature. He has a gastric infection! He improved rapidly once the medicine was given. All the staff were lovely and did not have a problem with my bad French. We were both very pleased to be allowed home. I was given a prescription to sort out the next day. He was ok on the drive home but once home was shivering violently again and totally exhausted. The whole episode from the time I called the emergency to the time we came home was just four hours. That includes a half hour drive home! Once again I am impressed with the healthcare here.
We had a really rough night up every hour! This morning I collected all the drugs and have had to push him to eat a bit to help absorb them.
On top of this I currently have a rotten cold.
Sorry to be all gloom and doom, sometimes life goes wrong.
Right now I am grateful I live in the back of beyond in peace.

Latest finished project

So this is it! Two years to make. All in double knit wool and a combination of knitting and crochet. I am very pleased with the result but have to say I will not make another this size!
I am now finishing a throw for our first Gite.
We have had a very successful second year with our first Gite. We have taken the decision to close it now until 1st Match due to all the work we have to do this winter.
We set up our business to get us into the health system here. We did lots of research and decided a Gite worked better for us. We prefer for guests to sort themselves out. I had visions of food allergies and food preferences if we did the traditional bed and breakfast or chambre d'hôte as it is known here. We also did not want an endless stream of strangers in our house. So we converted one end of a large barn into a Gite. We had identified a gap in the market for small Gites for a couple so this is what we went for. We started with an old barn, earth floor and loads of old farm bits in it! If you want to see pictures go to our website. Www. Letertregites.com , be careful with the spelling! We, the Royal we that is, although I did do quite a bit, did most of the work. We had a builder replace the roof and put in two dormer Windows. He also put in the first floor and concreted the floor. Then it was over to us.
When we signed up for the business regime we chose we had two years to show earnings. We just made the deadline! P designed and built the stairs, did the plumbing and the wiring. We insulated and plaster boarded the whole thing. We painted all the walls white and put in a red Ikea kitchen. We laminated upstairs floors and tiled downstairs. It is called Le Tertre rouge, after an area at 24hr Le Mans of which we are fans. It is a lovely mix of old beams and modern kitchen and bathroom. We put in oven, hob and washing machine and enough kitchen equipment to allow guests to cook full meals. We also had to sort out outside. The back garden was a jungle of brambles and self seeded saplings. Now it is a fenced lawn! There is more work to be done outside but that will have to wait.
We were ready by 1st May our first year. We asked the opinion of our guests as to whether the rest of the barn should be a family Gite which was what we were planning. Everyone said they would not want children next door. So we had to replan and work out getting two staircases in. It took a while to work out but we did it. Both the other two Gites have been insulated and boarded and had first fix electrics and plumbing. The staircases are in too.
Gites were originally brought into being to help farmers. They were very basic holiday accommodation  on a farm and cheap! Today a much higher standard is asked for. So they are well decorated and equipped. We have wifi in ours too and English television!
I provide all bed linen and towels. Also tea towels, oven gloves, kitchen hand towel, bath mat and all cleaning products.
We plan to have all three Gites up and running by next May. We have another smaller barn with an old bread oven attached we plan to make into an English style bar. Just for guests. We will also sell produce from our small holding. We have plans to create a petang court and a fire pit. It is our plan to make Le Tertre a social place that guests can take part in if they want to.
We have had to be aware of French laws to ensure we do things correctly. We have public liability insurance and have installed a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher. It is a challenge keeping up with rules as we are not informed, we have to find out.
We enjoy having people visit our place and giving them a comfortable holiday. Most come to wind down and enjoy the quiet!
We are on our own, no other buildings in sight, no street lights, no roads.

Am still here!

Busy busy just now! In a good way though. We are pushing forward with converting a small barn into a house for eldest daughter and her husband. Have just planned the kitchen so will shortly go to good old Ikea to get it! You can plan and choose it on the English website then take the print out to our French shop and it is all the same! Makes it so much easier.
Our builder is getting on well with the extension, I am looking forward to having a utility room and daughter will enjoy the added dining room their side.
Tomorrow we pick up an old armoire we have bought privately. At least, I hope we will. It has shelves inside and I need it to store the clean Gite linen. It is the princely sum of €10.
On the sustainable living front I have ditched makeup remover wipes and now clean my face with good old gentle soap and water. I have also invested in two dozen cotton handkerchiefs and will no longer buy tissues. Progress is slow but I am moving forward.
My big news is I am on the last lap of my bedspread! Just sewing in all the ends now. Once done I will put a photo on here. It has taken me two years to make!
Wood burner is going most evenings now as it gets chilly. The days are still quite warm though, unusual for November.
Chickens are still laying well, up to 7 eggs each day.
Daughter living with us has secured an interview at a college to help support the teaching of English. It will be amazing if she gets it. We are all rooting for her!
Will be back again soon with photos!

Progress

today the concrete arrived. The base for the log store, the duck, geese and goat house and the extension to our house has been laid. The lorry driver was very skilled in negotiating our fencing. It took a 12 meter tube to reach the animal area. All smoothed out and drying now.
The daft ducks have left their footprints in the base of their house. I was concerned they may get stuck but all was well.
Tomorrow our builder will start on the extension. It always boosts me when I can see us moving forward.
My attempt to join the meat eating world is not going too well. Two weeks ago I had a small amount of lamb and my tummy is still upset. Tonight I tried to eat some wild salmon but did not get far as just did not want it. I will persist but continue to take it slowly. I find I always prefer vegetarian food.
On Wednesday we will go to the prefecture to sort out the carte grise for my mini. This will transfer it into my name. I am still smiling when I drive my mini. It is always a challenge dealing with French offialdom! Hopefully all will go smoothly.
It has been unseasonably warm the last few days, a sort of gentle introduction to winter. I cannot help feeling the temperature will drop quickly very soon. The early mornings, evenings and nights are rather cold.
The chickens are still laying well, I hope it continues. I think the sunshine has helped.
Life feels very gentle at the moment something I am grateful for in such a turbulent world.