2008-10-26 Dave's 50th Birthday Party

Although Dave spent his real 50th birthday chopping down trees with the 'boys' We decided to have a little party on the weekend SO.......26th October, and we have a beautiful day, sunshine and no wind........a small 'Apero' for the neighbours, 26 people in all.........




Gerard and Cascade !





Dave bought a band saw with his birthday money, thanks to all........he is a very happy chappy !!

And this morning 30/10/08............4 days after the beaut day of the party we have 2 degrees in the morning and snow falling on the mountain.........Buuuuuuurrrrrrrr !!

2008-10-25 Fete de la Chataigne St Pons (Chestnut festival)

The Fete de la Chataigne at St. Pons

This is held every year, the last weekend of October.



Here you can spot a kindly old Gentleman chestnut farmer !!!

YES that is FREDERIC in the old fashion clothes, he and Almuth dress up in the clothes and clogs which would have been worn 100 years ago, and demonstrate the machines from that time.

This is thier 'Pitch' along side the river and the other theatre group.

Frederic tries his hand at turning chestnuts into flour with the stone grinder. It's very heavy believe me i have tried to turn it and failed !!

and now the machine which breaks the chestnuts into small pieces , and just in the picture the other machine in which the inner skins are removed and blown off.
The entertainer at his best !!

2008-10-19 Some wildlife in October

Patrick has cut down the cherry tree , which was touching the overhead wires. Anik will also get more light into her new house now.......





The sheep !


a very hairy caterpillar (unknown species...)

OK to all those that are wondering (Dawn!!!) the knife is not on the table to cut the poor chap into slices.............umm tranche de chenille ?? i used it to transport the beast on to the table, ( so as to avoid any toxic hairs) and then it got in on the photo shoot as a comparison for size...... the blade is about 4" / 10cm.

2008-10-18 Chestnut Harvest

Frederic showing Roger the different varieties of Chestnut.




In the forest collecting 'wild' chestnuts

Here a typical collection of three chestnuts in a bouge (pronounced bog)

Workers having a repas at midday.

Dave helping put the chestnuts in the smoke house.

Dave and Frederic put the chestnuts into the crates from the wheelbarrow.


Dave Frederic and an empty beer barrel, and a full wheel barrow

Another after picking party..........

2008-10-16 Top terrace, finished !!

Here at last the pictures of the finished top terrace.




getting everything level

work starts on replacing the stones on the top terrace