wide open fences

wild, wind born colza a.k.a rapeseed seems to have taken over this empty field where horses once grazed

 In rural Normandy there's no shortage of fences as you can see 

even if a piece of ground is lying fallow there'll be a fence around it.

The ubiquitous hay bale seen through a plain post and rail fence

The driveway leading up to this equestrian facility has fields on either side.

It looked so picturesque that I trespassed inside, just a little, to capture these shots.

After taking my shots I turned around

 and on the opposite side of the road spotted this old piece of fencing

 almost completely hidden by the weeds and overgrown hedges.

and finally because I live in Calvados, home to the wonderful breed of Normandie cows,

a very important fence which keeps this young lady and all her girlfriends 

in their field and out of my back garden.

You can probably tell from my photos
 that I've been monkeying around with that PicMonkey gadget again this week.
Still not got the hang of it yet but it really is fun to play with!

Joining TexWisGirl  for

Good Fences @ The Run*A*Round Ranch Report.

I Spy

Friesians stand and stare

As I pause at the ancient gate

To stare back at them

Linking to Good Fences hosted by TexWisGirl

@ The Run*A*Round Ranch Report

Personal Photo Challenge - August. Animals.

Despite having my camera with me wherever I went last month I encountered just four types of animals.
Dogs, M'mselle Fleur our beautiful German Shepherd is always nearby and has featured on this blog many times. We often see horses in the fields when out for a walk. Sheep.......I know! I can hear you saying "not sheep again".

And, of course Normandy cows.

Our home is almost completely surrounded by cows.

They have taken up residence in the fields to the left, to the right and behind us.

I took these photographs through the open bedroom window and then played with them in Picmonkey.

A gentle bucolic scene that I never tire of.

bon weekend a tous.

Linking to A Personal Photo Challenge,

hosted by Donna @ Cottage Days and Journeys.

What I Saw Today...............................

La vie quotidienne (daily life) has once again been diverting me from blogging and weeks have passed since I picked up my metaphoric pen to write.
I got to thinking, just what is it that is filling my days and keeping me away from blogland?

our daily bread, first stop before walking the dog!

Ever since the Senior Partner retired last year we certainly are doing more together "as a couple" and it was whilst I was sat in the car, waiting for him to finish an errand this morning, that the germ of an idea for a new blog post one that could possibly become a regular feature came to me.

the lambs belong to the Jacques, the shopkeeper and live in the field next to the shop

I'm calling it "What I Saw Today", (my take on something that many of the bloggers that I follow already do brilliantly) sharing our Normandy Life with my followers one photograph at a time.

On the agenda this morning was a visit to the Veterinary practice in Bayeux as M'selle Fleur has been suffering with a painful ear for a few days. Today's vet was new to us and according to the SP was a little afraid of Fleur, insisting that she be muzzled during the examination. I didn't attend but apparently Fleur took this in her stride and behaved impeccably.

the clinique equine with Bayeux Cathedral as a backdrop

85 Euro later they emerged with lotions & potions and strict dietary instructions, no more chicken for Fleur!

Back home we found our farmer neighbour had arrived to feed the cows, so I leant over the garden wall to have a chat with "les girls" as they munched away.

these girls know all the latest gossip

Whilst chatting I couldn't help but notice how well the plants and shrubs by the wall are looking after the recent rainfall.

hortensia

wisteria

old fashioned rose

even when the petals are gone the clematis flower head is fascinating to see

After a short potter around the garden we were off again.

This time for a walk along the riverbank before lunch in our favourite local restaurant.

On our way home I stopped to take a photograph of one of the village's WWII memorials, one that I thought my Canadian followers might enjoy seeing.

That's some of what I saw earlier today. I hope you've enjoyed seeing it as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with you and finally................ my next project - sitting on my desk - a scrap booking layout that's still a work in progress.

à bien·tôt

Here Come The Girls......................

here come the girls!

It's official Spring has arrived at last. I know this because the girls are back in the field next to our home!!

Theoretically they're not really back at all.
The 2012 heifers went on to become mums and with their babies went to live somewhere else. These lovely young things have that event to look forward to. In the meantime they are settling into their new abode and delighting us with their company.

The view from my bedroom window today at 9.00 am.

What a surprise!

Every morning whilst sitting up in bed drinking tea I like to gaze out of the bedroom windows at the surrounding countryside.
There are usually at least three or four Normandie heifers in my line of sight. The field next door is home every year to a small herd of 11 of them.
A heifer in case you didn't already know is a female bovine between 2 and 4 years of age who hasn't yet given birth to a calf. Then she's a cow.
So you can imagine my delight not to mention shock, on Friday, when I spied this little chap running across the meadow.

All that chasing soon tired him/her out and so it was time to head back to mum for a rest.

Later that day we caught up with the farmer who owns the heifers and asked him about the calf.
"C'est une erreur"! he said.

It seems one young heifer met up with a neighbours taureau, quite unchaperoned, and this little guy only 3 days old, was the result of their romance.

After rounding up the rest of the herd the farmer with his wife and sons caught up with the mum and her little one, loaded them into the trailer and took them up to the farmyard to be better cared for.

Au revoir Tinkerbell! (it may be daft but that's the name I gave the calf as soon as I saw it flitting around the field!).

Joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays #62

with this bucolic tale from rural Normandy.

Barnyard Bash.

I'm in a bucolic mood today and it's all because there's a Barnyard Bash going on over @ 'Happier Than A Pig in Mud'. Why not pop over and see who's gathering in the farmyard today?

When you were a child did you own a piggy bank?
The only way to empty the delightful little piggies above is by smashing them open, luckily so far they have escaped that fate.
What about this quacking duck vase?He's quite fierce!

I did think about posting some photographs of real live cows but decided if you wanted to see some of those you could just click here, or here, or here!

Instead I decided to share some of my favourite faience animals.

The large Quimper platter below is a wonderful example of the intricate Breton Broderie decor.
The central scene painted in muted sepia tones depicts a group of Breton farmers and their families with their animals.

As well as the large dray horse pulling the cart there are two cows, a calf, a pig and a lamb, all wending their way to market.

Here a fun pair of polka dotted horse candle sticks go head to head. 

and finally....................... no barnyard would be complete without roosters!!

Many thanks also to Claudia @ Dipity Road for hosting Friday Finding Beauty and Laurie for hosting A Few Of My Favourite Things Saturday, click on the links to see who is else participating this week.

Around and about le Presbytère

For Outdoor Wednesday this week graciously hosted as always by Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer, some snaps taken around and about during the last few days.
One of our wild/tame moorhens finishing off Ben's breakfast this morning.

A perfect looking mushroom growing at the side of the lane, didn't pick it though as I'm unsure which ones are safe to eat. Possibly this one was o.k. but didn't want to risk food poisoning, or worse.
We saw these white cows relaxing in a field, safe behind barbed wire fencing, whilst on our Sunday walk last weekend.

Imagine our surprise as we rounded the bend to find this escapee, who definately knew that the grass was greener on the other side. After snapping him quickly, I beat a hasty retreat.

After many weeks of waiting, finally, red tomatoes! These robust heirloom tomatoes are rich, juicy and full of flavour. Ben, as usual, is never far away.

Now, head over to A Southern Daydreamer to follow Hurricane Earl's progress along the Eastern US coast.

Normandy delights: Calvados and Cows

Today my friend and fellow Quimper faience collector Cerelle, has blogged about her love of cows on the QCI Blog.
Followers of my blog will already know that I too love cows.
Well, as cows spend a great part of the year in the fields surrounding our home here in the Calvados region of Normandy, I guess I have to love 'em!

"Bossy" Cerelle's favourite cow has six little cups hanging from her sides and a spigot beneath.

If she were a souvenir of Normandy and not Auvergne, Cerelle supposes that she might be dispensing some of Normandy's famous apple based liquer, Calvados.

One of the sweetest Quimper faience services, designed for serving our special "eau de vie de cidre", that I ever came across, is the one shown here.

In the very popular Ivoire Corbeille decor a pomme shaped jug/decanter complete with apple shaped stopper and six small cups sit nicely on a round serving tray, parfait!
à votre santé