I'm back

Long post warning

Its been an absolute age since I last wrote a blog post.

Life has changed quite a bit in the past 14 months Mr O and myself have had a few health issues which have been a bit difficult, but life goes on and we are on the up, which is the only direction to go.

As we create more gardens and have more projects, we decided to invite Wwoofers to help us. For those that don't know, Wwoofers are people that come and work on the land or other projects or just general help, for about 4 or 5hrs a day maximum 5 days a week in return for board, lodgings and learning experiences. We have signed up to Wwoof France, Workaway and World Packers in order to find volunteers

Wwoofers accommodation

  

We have met some interesting people since we started to host Woofers.

Anne-Sophie and Anahee, two young French women stayed with us from the end of march for a couple of weeks, helping to prepare the veg beds for spring planting etc., which was brilliant as there was lots of work to be done after the winter. It was Mr O's birthday while they were here and Anne-Sophie gifted him a lovely celtic knot drawing which she had done.

In May Dhruv came to stay for 2 weeks, a guy from the city who fitted in from the moment he arrived an absolute pleasure to share our home with. Being from India he cooked some amazing meals and taught me loads about technology, which I feel the need to keep up with even though life seemed much less complicated without it.

Even though he's gone back to Paris Dhruv still helps me out with my tech issues which is brilliant as I'm not upto date with this and Mr O even less. 

Dhruv advised me on a new mobile phone whilst he was with us. Here are a few photos that I have taken with it.

 

                                     Different types of Aquilegia growing in the gardens

In September Gladys a young French woman from the Alps came for a week. She chose to come to us in order to learn how to process sheep's fleece and spin the wool, as she had inherited her grandmothers spinning wheel and wanted to put it to good use. We had loads of fun together, in the mornings she would help Mr O in the garden and in the afternoons we washed and carded sheep's fleece toghether then did spinning lessons. This seemed to come naturally to her. Both Mr O and myself were very sad to see Gladys leave.

Gladys grandmothers spinning wheel with side treadle

In October Pierre joined us and helped Mr O finish a shower room in the Wwoofers accommodation area of the farm house which was started with Dhruv. Using both new and recuperated materials. He also helped with mowing grass, strimming and fencing. Pierre had his own accommodation, a converted van joining us for meals. Pierre has left now to visit family in the middle of France but will be back to help out sometime in the future.

I'll leave you with some photos that were taken during the year

 

February 2021

April 2021

White clematis

Paddy  June 2021

Evening sunset June 2021

Until next time

Blessings to all

Vanessa

Energy flow and raised vibrations

In September 2018 we decided to incorporate more of the sheep field into the gardens. Four new vegetable beds were made and there was enough space left for Mr O to set out a golden mean spiral from the Fibonacci series of numbers.

New Veg beds September 2018

By having a golden mean spiral in the garden it connects to the universal frequency which strengthen the energy flow and raises the vibrations.

Golden mean spiral from the Fibonacci series of numbers September 2018

 

Golden mean spiral 2019

Golden mean spiral 2020

We planted the spiral with blackcurrant and sedum. The blackcurrants were cuttings all taken from the black currant bushes in the gardens, which originated from two cuttings taken from a neighbouring property in 2015 at the begining of Gaudin Gardens.

The sedum arrived on Mr O's trailer along with a large assortment of other plants and a metal arch all of which were otherwise destined for the recycling centre (tip) where all the plants would be destroyed and wasted. No recycling going on there.

Two years on and blackcurrant bushes were food for the bee's in the spring. The sedum is now in beautiful pink flowers providing food for bees and butterflies this autumn. As I approach the spiral to take photos the sound of the bees is incredible, something that wasn't heard here 5 years ago. 

 I'll leave you with a couple of photo's of the golden mean spiral found in nature

Until next time

Blessings to all

Vanessa

 

 

Harvest Moon

 

Last night was a full moon the Harvest Moon. The skies have been clear for the past few nights, the moon was so bright and stunningly beautiful over Gaudin Gardens I had to go out with my camera.

Monday 31st August 2020

Tuesday 1st September 2020

Tuesday 1st September 2020

Wednesday 2nd September 2020 - Full Moon

It was impossible to sleep last night, quite often a full moon affects my sleep.

After getting the jobs done around the house, I thought I'd take the opportunity to sit in the garden and write this blog

Something I rarely do and should do more often

 Dia joined me in the dapple shade of the Twisted Willow (Salix Matsudana)

 

Its a beautiful breezy autumn afternoon, wind chimes are in full swing as I sit here writing this.

The bees and butterflies are enjoying the nectar of the Sedum

Until next time 

Blessings to all 

Vanessa

Wind Chimes

 

Yesterday morning was spent mowing grass. There's rather a lot so Mr O and myself have our bits we mow. Mine are mainly the east side of the drive around the stone circle, flower beds, small veg beds, in front of the house and over at the zen garden.

 

In the afternoon I got around to mending the wind chimes that had come down in the winter, a job that was put off for ages. 

Wind chimes that survived the winter

Music and birdsong - Wonderful

 

Until next time
Blessings to all
Vanessa

Life is what you make it

Its been over a year since I last wrote.

So much has happened in the past year, some joyous, some very sad and some trying and energy sapping moments. Anyway life is what you make it as the saying goes. 

 

Just lately I have found the energy from mother earth to connect again with her and have spent a lot of my time tending her here at Gaudin Gardens.

I'll leave you with some photos and Rik Mayall's 5 mantras for life

 

Equality   All me are equal, therefore no one can ever be your genuine superior. 

Opportunity   It is your future. It is yours to create. Your future is as bright as you make it. 

Wisdom   Change is a constant of life. You must never ever lose your wisdom.

Freedom   If you want to live a full and complete human life. You have to be free. Freedom is paramount.

Love   Love is the answer

Rik Mayall

Until next time

Enjoy your life and Blessings to all 

Vanessa

Flaming June where have you gone

Saturday the first of June was a beautiful hot summers day here in Brittany, since then the weather has turned colder and wetter as the week went on, with howling gales and thunder storms.

It was still chilly on Saturday morning and the central heating had come on. Even thought the heating system we have in the farmhouse isn't too expensive to run, I rather it didn't come on in the summer.

The price of electricity has increased by 5.9% from the 1st June and therefore I need to reduce my consumption not increase it, so I lit the Rayburn in the kitchen. We burn coppiced wood from the land, so inexpensive to run.

With the Rayburn lit I cooked a Chicken Chasseur on the top plates and a Rhubarb tart in the oven there was also an endless supply of hot water for teas, coffees and washing up.

It was so good to be mindful and to think about keeping the Rayburn going yesterday.  Its so easy to turn the knob on the cooker put in a rhubarb tart and walk away until it is cooked, turn on the tap for the hot water or switch on the electric kettle for a cup of tea with out even thinking about it.

The weather was calm and warm this morning so I have been working in the gardens. I'll leave you with some photos I took today.

Peas June 2019

Plums June 2019

Until next time
Blessings to all
Vanessa