Chateau de Gudanes

Wow, these people really have ambition.  An Australian couple are renovating a French Chateau in the Pyrennees.

Blog Chateau de Gudanes here.

Facebook here.

Casa Farruco

We were late making reservations for the Easter break and our usual rural hotel was completely booked.  Instead, we managed to get a room at another hotel, southwest of Melide on lake Porto de Mouros created back in the 1960s, Casa Farruco.

Turned out that the same owner started his little rural hospitality empire with Casa Farruco, and the last was our usual standby, Casa Teillor.  While the age of the installations was noticeable, the place is in such a lovely situation that it hardly matters.

We took a stroll the evening of our arrival, down some logging trails along the shore, and got back to our room in time to enjoy snset over the water from our little porch.

After an unseasonably warm and bright Thursday and Friday, a cool drizzle greeted us Saturday morning and we got to enjoy the lovely mysterious quality of Galicia´s countryside in the mist.

House update

Floors and tiling done.  We took up some plumbing fixtures we expect will be installed directly.  The oak floors are lovely.  They´ve had some swelling issues in the humidity, but we hope that will go away with better weather.

The lack of a wall between the shower and tub was a disappointment, but we´re hoping the glass shower enclosure will improve it.

Met with the plumber to discuss a thermal store and water heater for hot water and radiators.  We´re waiting for his proposal. 

Went to the builder´s warehouse and saw our wood cooker with a back boiler- and I´m glad to report that it is stunning.  But we forgot to take pictures.

Also met with the electrician and will presently be applying for the electrical service from Fenosa - fingers crossed!!


Onward and upward.

Wisteria

Another spectacular year for the wisteria on the morning walk.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!

More strawberries

More yummy things to do with strawberries.

These are delicious and a nifty hostess gift - just warn the recipient that they should be consumed quickly.  Fortunately, this is not usually a problem. 

While I use this chocolate although I´m sure fair trade, organic would be better.  I do have some really dark stuff, but  don´t want to overwhelm the strawberries.  I used just two sections of this bar for this batch.

Melt in the microwave using short blasts, or over a double boiler.  It doesn´t take long in either case.

Dip your clean, dry berries, holding them by the green leaves.  It´s important that they´re dry, the chocolate will seize if you introduce much water.

Place on paper and put in the fridge to set.  Eat!  Quick, easy and delicious.

Pinterest picks - Potagers

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Spring has sprung and my thoughts turn to gardening.

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So much work to be done and no way to get started.

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So I page through Pinterest, living vicariously, mentally selecting this climbing rose,

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and that raised bed,

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and that other garden gate,

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and the tool shed way over there. 

Patience is a virtue.

What shall she put in her pocketses. . .

A summer dress for V´s littlest niece.

Still getting to know the machine, moments of tension, going from hesitant to galloping away from me completely . . .

I debated a long time about pockets.

But the seashells, stray blossoms and other treasures of summer beg for a place to be tucked away.