Snowshoeing

Great snowshoeing trip in Ax les Thermes in the Pyrenees last week. We had the same conditions as last year; two wonderfully sunny days at Plateau de Beille and Col de Puymorens. The final day on the Col de Chioula was in falling snow and is a great walk through woods and over undulating hills. Very atmospheric in the snow even without any views! 

Kitchen bits

All the furniture and equipment for the kitchen has arrived! Now just have to put it together. Still wondering what to cook in the oven for the first time. Such a big decision after four and a half years cooking without an oven. 

Getting ready for the kitchen

We spent the weekend painting the kitchen in preparation for the furniture delivery on Monday. Also painted the inside of the old oven, discovered when we took the plaster off the wall. It will be a bookshelf for the cookbooks.

It's a new year - and I haven't posted a photo of the cats yet ...

Sofa buddies (if only they were always this friendly with each other).

Spring sunshine at Mimosa festival

Gorgeous sunny day for the Fête de Mimosa in nearby Roquebrun, so a good turn-out for mimosa, saucisse, fromage et vin. There's always a brass band, plus lots of interesting stalls. Later in the day there's a parade with children on costumes and floats. The microclimate of this area means mimosa flowers earlier than other places and the brilliant yellow is a welcoming sign of spring arriving soon. 

Snow!

Most unusual for us to have snow as low down as we are - altitude @160m - and in the south of France. But the white stuff came down heavily this morning, meaning the cats never moved from the sofa until it was all gone. It was all gone by the afternoon. Pretty while it lasted.

Shadow keeping an eye on the weather.

Kitchen progress

The placo ceiling and one new insulated wall are now up and today the plastering was done. All the electrics and plumbing are in - just waiting on the kitchen furniture to arrive at the end of February.