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Sunday, May 17, 2009

2009-05-17 Giant Peacock Moth

Saturnia pyri ..............Giant Peacock Moth 120-150mm

We have seen these flying around the street light, but never thought we would see one this close. Dave was going out and we think it flew into our outside light, then it landed in the trough of succulents outside the door.


This has to be the best picture, and Dave is so brave !!
(its worth zooming in on this to see all the feathery antennas)



you will be pleased to know that it eventually flew off, after we put out all our lights !

Saturday, May 16, 2009

2009-05-16 Treating the new Beams

For those who don't know how mad we are.....we are replacing all the beams above the main room, kitchen and bathroom, and below the bedrooms, it has become necessary for several reasons...and we have the man power and resources at the moment, so this year its the main project.

First stage.

13 x 5m beams of newly sawn Douglas Fir ........each one to be treated and made to look aged, well at least not new !!
We had been told one way of doing this is to burn the wood using a blow torch, so this was my first 2 days work......
Before on the left and after on the right.........uuuuummmm

well it certainly worked....

as did I.........!!
But the effect, was too much contrast between the wood which coloured and that which would not, so the next method was employed, (13 x 5m again) staining with brou de noix, which is a stain originally made with walnuts, to darken and also give a little insect repellent. you can see the change now is quite dramatic....hopefully the beams will look more in keeping now.





After this I spent another 2 days using a product called Lasure, which is not quite varnish but nearly !!
PS Dave has been systematiclly clearing the house, and moving all to our friends house in the village, where ,when the work is going on we are going to live.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

2009-05-12 We had a little water trouble!!



After a slight accident at Aniks house, we had no water, the stop tap became blocked and three men ended up in a hole!
the stop tap had to be dug up.

after having a temporary bypass ( a bit of pipe instead of a stop tap !!) we were eventually reconnected with a new stop tap.............and more water pressure than we have ever had before.......

Thursday, May 07, 2009

2009-05-07 Visit from John and Midge



A beer with Frederic at Dausse.



Midge signs the visitor book


Having an ice cream at Vias Plage..........

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Saturday, May 02, 2009

2009-05-02 Snake



A Montpelier snake, this one was about 1m long, they can grow to 2m !

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