A very balmy day

Today has been a busy one and progress is being made. All of the kitchen cupboards are cleaned and things are being put away in their new homes.

I am cooking a celebratory steak dinner tonight but realised this morning that we had nowhere to sit and eat it! We found some garden furniture outside and it has received a good scrub and is just about good enough to stand in for one night. Some more of our meagre possessions have moved out of the van and our clothes are in the wardrobe.

Despite all this furious activity Nell had to be considered and so we have been exploring our new environment with her. It has been a warm and sunny day with the temperature well up the scale. We walked the chemin opposite the house and found that it goes around three sides, returning to the road on the far side of Maison Celle. We returned by road and took a look at our neighbours.

I keep wanting to call it "the village" but it really isn't that big, being more of a hamlet. The French don't even accord Maison Celle the status of Hammeau, though and refer to it as a Lieu Dit... so far as we can tell. We count 16 properties in total.

But, to return to the Chemin, where the verges and hedges are abundant with life... There was the promise of nettle soup soon and both raspberry and blackberry to come later. There are roses in the hedges too and I think that I saw some Clematis leaves unfurling. Celandine and Cowslip proliferate and there were bluebells and pulmonaria, speedwell and lady's smock, and deep purple orchids. I also saw a rather spectacular Arum and this clump of what I thought was mint until I sniffed it. It smells strongly of lemon so I assume it to be Lemon Balm?

This short stretch of green lane looks like it may provide well for kitchen and garden.