Rain, Rain, Go Away

This has been the view from the front door for over half of May and most of June so far. My Dordogne version of “30 seconds of CALM.” Ha, maybe I’ll make my own app! Looks like we have another week of showers, then summer weather should arrive.

Although it has saved me from watering the beds, the mushrooms are going crazy all over the property and I think I might be sprouting a few too! JK!

Between downpours, I’ve been able to get a lot planted in the potager. In between the larger plants, I tucked in a bunch of onion sets. Had to laugh at my choice of container to transport them—pretty damned ritzy for plain-Jane yellow onions, doncha think? Obviously left out from a recent party and I grabbed it. Whatever works, right?

Even concocted these ‘trellises’ for the tomatoes, squash, and cantaloupe. Theo was quite proud of my ingenuity when he saw the first one standing. I felt like a cave woman pulling the felled bamboo out of the grove and cutting off the lateral branches, then dragging them over to the site. Me woman. Me grow vegetable. Me grow vegetable very, very tall! Just crossing my fingers they don’t topple with the first breeze!

We enjoyed a visit from Theo’s cousin, Ulla, and her friend Monika, from Germany. Monika also speaks French and English, but we laughed often at ourselves speaking this hilarious mix of German, French, and English. But somehow everyone processed the mash just fine. Again, between showers and especially in the late afternoon when it cleared up, we were all in the pool having a great time. Shared cooking duties and a few meals away from home made it almost a holiday for me as well! Thanks, Ulla and Monika, for being such easy guests.

Theo, Ulla and Monika

Just before our guests left, I caught my pinkie toe in a rolled up oriental rug (if you know me, you know I rarely wear shoes in the house), and I think I broke it. Hurt like hell, then turned bright red, then blue and purple. Now, a week later, the whole side of my foot is simply a sickening shade of green. Iced it, elevated it, tried to stay off it, and taped it to it’s best new buddy, Toe #4. With enough trusty Doliprane (a popular pain killer here in France) I get through the day, and it is getting better.

Chillin’ out with the dogs and my broken toe.

Sorry to bore you with more rose pictures, but these were so huge and beautiful. Clipped them just before they would have been beaten to the ground by yet another rainstorm. Actually, the rose garden is suffering, when it should be flourishing. The little darlings keep on blooming and growing, then get the snot beat out of them from the pelting rain. And the black spot—can’t even treat it, it’s been so wet. But sunnier days will come…

Couldn’t help but rescue these beauties in the downpour.

Speaking of which, it almost always clears up around sunset. Got this shot tonight with a stunning sky, which I will leave you with. (And yes, we have baby owls in the pigeonnier  again this year. So excited!)