Garden update

Posted on by

As the heat of summer begins to fade and the first signs of autumn appear I can finally sit back and appreciate what’s been achieved in the garden these past four months.

It has been a battle (albeit a fun battle) to tame the weeds in the roundabout and in the gravel on the front drive… but I’ve finally cracked it; a mixture of brute force, hand weeding, spraying and mulching means I can finally put the iris rhizomes back. See the before and after shots below:

photo 3-1photo 1photo 1-1photo 2

Then there was the lawn which needed cutting weekly, the edges strimming, the privet hedge which looked better once nicely trimmed, roses to deadhead, containers and flower beds that needed to be weeded, as well as shrubs in need of shaping. And let’s not forget all those fruits and vegetables that needed tending (although not watering – fortunately).

photo 3-2 photo 1-2photo 2-2   photo 4-1

The tasks were endless but the result is now worth all of the effort as I look out of the front door across the garden and into the countryside beyond.

photo 3IMG_5064 IMG_5065IMG_5044photo 4photo 2-1photo 2photo 1

However, there is still one major task that I’ve been saving until last… clearing/opening out the pond area and cleaning the pond itself. But that’s for another post since it’s going to be a bit of a mission! SCH

Renovations part one: downstairs guest bathroom

Posted on by

First on the renovation list for autumn 2014 is a downstairs guest bathroom. The current layout of the house means the only option for visiting guests wishing to use the toilet and wash their hands is to use one of the ensuite bathrooms (which means heading upstairs into a bedroom).

However, downstairs there is already a small utility room with a washing machine and toilet (no sink) which is ripe for conversion:

photo 4photo 1-2photo 2-2photo 5photo 2photo 3-2photo 3photo 4-2

The plan is to move the plumbing for the washing machine into the cupboard under the stairs, close off the current door opening so that the washing machine is accessed from the other side (just before the entrance to the room), build a unit under the window to house a toilet and sink (or maybe two sinks – I haven’t quite decided yet!), retile the floor, put in a tiled splash back, move the door to its original location opening up the area under the stairs.

Here is my rough sketch of how it will look when finished:

photo 4-1

The only thing I haven’t quite decided on is the overall scheme/colour… it’s probably time to consult Houzz and Pinterest. SCH

A day wandering around Limoges

Posted on by

The temperature gauge dropped to 14 degrees today so my South African guests and I jumped in the car laden with jumpers and gilets to do a little more exploring in the name of research.

A trip to the Limousin region wouldn’t be complete without a trip to its administrative capital, Limoges. This large town is very much a modern working one but also has some impressive medieval-style architecture, quiet pockets of calm and some great shopping.

From Le Manor Saint Gervais it takes around 45 minutes by car and there are lots of underground parking options. Don’t forget to visit the old Butchers’ Quarter (Quartier de la Bucherie) with its tiny chapel (Chapelle Saint Aurelien), the undercover fruit/cheese/veg/meat market near Place de La Motte, the gothic cathedral (Cathedrale St-Etienne), the town hall (Hotel de Ville) and also the impressive train station. SCH

IMG_5407 IMG_5408 IMG_5409 IMG_5419 IMG_5384 IMG_5410 IMG_5411 IMG_5412 IMG_5418 IMG_5415 IMG_5414 IMG_5417

Garments and gifts: little girl’s shirred summer dress

Posted on by

This is a really easy and gorgeous summer dress that is available as a free pattern from www.favecrafts.com.

Note: the instructions didn’t come with any measurements but by reading the comments section of the website you will be directed to the sizing guide below:

Girls twirl dress measurements birth to 4 yrs Girls twirl dress 5 to 10 yrs IMG_5158 IMG_5159

I chose a fresh pink polka dot print for my eight year old niece. I took her measurements beforehand and cut out the fabric according to the online instructions and the sizing guide.

The dress is made up of six oblong fabric pieces: two straps; top and bottom front panels; top and bottom back panels. The two top pieces require shirring which is relatively straight forward so long as you wind the shirring elastic nice and tight around the bobbin (but not too tight!).The dress is secured at the back through a ribbon loop and a tied bow.

If you would like to make the dress yourself in a fun and inspiring workshop we will be covering it in our Garments and Gifts workshops at Le Manoir Saint Gervais. SCH.

Here is the finished garment – it took around a day to complete. SCH.

IMG_5296 IMG_5294 IMG_5295 IMG_5297

Elderflower cordial – it must be summer!

Posted on by

During the May half term, with the help of some little hands, it was time to make elderflower cordial. The recipe was from a 2010 article by Tom Parker Bowles.

We picked 30 elderflower heads and placed them in a clean bucket with almost a kilo of granulated sugar, boiling water, six lemons and a packet of citric acid. Over the next 24 hours, every time the children passed the bucket they would stir it. Once the sugar had dissolved we strained it through fresh muslin into sterilised Kilner glass bottles with flip top lids. With the addition of citric acid these should now last for a year.

For a tasty, refreshing drink I recommend mixing the cordial with ice cold sparkling water. It’s simply summer in a bottle. SCH.

  IMG_5033IMG_5352image

Time to explore: La Rochefoucauld

Posted on by

Less than 30 minutes along the D10 is the pretty town of La Rochefoucauld. It is home to a fabulous chateau, some lovely restaurants and a selection of small shops (pharmacy, bakery, butchers, gift shops, antiques shop, etc.). As part of our research for guests, we took an official tour of the chateau and then wandered around the many family rooms, the original kitchens and the underground grotto at a more leisurely pace. Photos of the current family were casually placed on tables and made the place come alive; cleverly connecting the ancient past to the present time.

Grassy lawns surround the chateau and make an ideal spot for a picnic. Since this was our first time in La Rochefoucauld we chose to have lunch at an open air restaurant at the base of the chateau called Chez Steph. It specialises in Limousin beef; the steak did not disappoint. All in all, a lovely day out and one I would definitely recommend as part of a stay at Le Manoir Saint Gervais. SCH

IMG_5029  IMG_5047 IMG_5027 IMG_5010 IMG_5025IMG_5024  IMG_5009IMG_5023

Early summer blooms

Posted on by

Since arriving in France there has been a steady display of flowers in the garden. The month of April gave us beautiful magnolia blooms, scented lilac flowers (pink and purple) as well as peonies and tall blue iris – all of which have made excellent cut flowers for the entrance hall, kitchen, study and bedrooms.

But it’s the roses that have taken centre stage, flowering continually with the help of regular deadheading. There are older and newer varieties in the garden: bush roses, climbing roses and tea roses. Most are red but there are a couple of pink, white and yellow rose bushes at the back and side of the house.

I was told that plants that grow well in England do very well in this region but I wasn’t quite prepared for how well. Everything seems bigger, lusher and faster growing which is quite an exciting prospect for the cutting and kitchen gardens to come. SCH

IMG_5031IMG_5030IMG_5042IMG_5044

Compost bins from used wooden pallets

Posted on by

We finally decided on a site for the new compost bins at Le Manoir Saint Gervais: alongside a boundary wall that gets equal sun and shade throughout the day. It will be easy enough to reach while been relatively hidden from the main part of the garden. Longer-term we hope to plant a line of vines to divide the ‘working’ part of the garden from the main grassed area.

Neighbours renovating a barn across the road very kindly provided five wooden pallets otherwise destined for the local tip. These were large, solid pallets ideal for creating two side-by-side compost bins. First we placed two against the wall ensuring adequate ventilation before adding a central divide and two ends. Next we tied all of the wooden pieces together with plastic-coated garden wire before moving the contents of a temporary compost heap to the left hand ‘bin’.

We have a small lidded compost bin in the kitchen which we have been filling religiously with vegetable peelings, egg shells, old cut flowers, etc. – basically anything that can be composted. The plan is to empty it into the new compost bin every couple of days along with any soft foliage from the garden (i.e. leafy and not too woody). In a few months time, when that bin is full, I will cover it with dark plastic sheeting and leave the worms to work their magic. By spring next year we will have fantastic home-made compost ready for digging into the vegetable, herb and flower beds. SCH

IMG_5018 IMG_5017 IMG_5015IMG_5016