First supper

We now have a table and chairs, bought in brocante's, in the new kitchen. Breakfasts are in the kitchen and this was our first supper, with Angela, after returning from a snowshoe trip. The oven has been put to good use with two dinners cooked for friends, but served in the lounge. It's amazing how quickly we've got used to the new kitchen as though it has been there for years.

We've also bought a new dresser for the hallway. Perfect for showing the first of the season's sweet pea and new jug bought at Villefranche-sur-Conflent.

Happy Easter

We're having wonderful warm spring weather - in the 20Cs. The garden is growing in front of our eyes and all our seedlings are up. And, we are almost at the end of the kitchen renovation. Finally have the old kitchen cupboards empty. They will now be re-used for storage in the cave.

We've finished putting the protector on the floor tiles so have moved in other shelving and cupboards. Cook books are in too. Today we went to one of the local brocante's and found the perfect table to go in the middle of the kitchen. Moving it in is tomorrow's task.

More like a kitchen

Finally have the kitchen utilities all working properly. Have moved most things in from the old kitchen, but still finishing off the floor so some of the shelving still to be moved in. First thing cooked in the oven - pizza!

Out with the old, in with the new.

Last meal cooked in the 'old' kitchen, soon to become an office.

New kitchen, so far. Still to come is a table in the centre, utensil racks and open shelving on the walls. Re-grouting of the floor tiles is about half-way through. All in all a vast improvement from previous kitchen.

Snowshoeing in Les Angles

Spent a couple of days in the eastern Pyrenees discovering a wonderful new area for snowshoeing; Les Angles, about 90 minutes from Perpignan. It is a ski resort and set in a lovely wide basin overlooking a lake (frozen at the moment) and surrounded by a stunning mountains. We were joined by three IML aspirants, who practised their winter/snow safety, avalanche risk, and navigation skills with us. Learnt many new things about trees and animal tracks too.

Taking shape ...

Kitchen progress: tiling completed, units in place and worktop almost finished too. Tomorrow the sink goes in.

Meanwhile, the wonderful spring sunshine is helping to ripen our first lemons on our tree. We have about 20 fruits in various shades from green to lemon.

Tiles are up ...

Small steps of progress with the kitchen installation. The tiles are up - just grouting needed to finish them. Then cupboards, oven, hob, dishwasher etc put in place before the bench top goes on. Also have to repair the floor where the fireplace used to be; currently it is a big hole going straight down to the cave.