Suninfrance

Thanks all.  I figured one good handful of maize per duck and that's about right, with some water and they are happy little duckies. However, my dilemna is that when I went to feed them, I could only find 2.   No signs of any struggles or feathers lying around, so I reckon one of them is hiding from me (I hope).

Our friends brought 3 ducklings 2 weeks ago, but then had to make an emergency trip back to England and have left me in charge - HELP. They have left me a tub of maize which I am supposed to mix with a little water, but no other instructions like how much maize.

You take some really good pics with it. Mine is a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ8.  Had it since Christmas and am still getting to grips with it.  Like you, it's larger than a compact, but is very lightweight and easy to carry around.  The original stormy skies photo at the top of this thread was taken with the "Night Portrait" setting.  The camera even has settings for food and drink photos !!!  I'm looking forward to the horse race meetings in Pompadour so I can try out the "Panning" and "Sport" settings. No clouds to photograph today - they are all the same colour, dark grey without a break, but it is very warm and humid outside, so I expect we will have another storm this afternoon. Jan

Superb lightning picture Jonzjob. Fantastically clear photos Clair.  What cameras do you all use? Jan

Back in the "old days" when I was at work, our Housing Officers often had to go to houses with unfriendly dogs, so the organisation I worked for purchased a little ultra sonic device which the housing officers would take out with them.  In order to find out if it actually worked, a couple of people at the office took it home to try it on their dogs.  One in particular had an "over" friendly dog who would jump up at her and any visitors as soon as they walked through the door, so she tried the little ultra sonic device each time she walked in through the door with the command "down", and after a couple of goes, the dog associated the noise and the word no, and stopped jumping up.  No hard feelings from the dogs point of view and it meant that she could take it to friends houses, and out for walks without it jumping on anything it liked. The other dog was prone to having a pee in the house.  Well it was only a young alsation.  Again, everytime my colleague saw it cock its leg, she would press the button on the the sonic deterrent, and the dog would think twice.  Also, after just a couple of goes, the dog would then ask to go out to pee (not literally, before any of you wise guys out there pick up on a talking dog). As for the housing officers, when they approached the house with the unfriendly dog, they would stand outside the door, ring the doorbell, and as soon as the dog started barking and growling, press the deterrent button, and presto - an almost well behaved dog. So personally, I would invest in one of these little gadgets and try it out on your neighbours dogs.  The beauty of it is, that only they can hear it.  You can't. Jan

I guess everyone in France has had their fair share of storms recently, but the skies are worth photographing: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/StormClouds.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/StormClearing.jpg[/IMG] Jan

Euonymous Europa amongst others.  I was talking to my French teacher about it today and she has a really bad allergic reaction to Euphorbia.  I didn't know about the Euonymous though - certainly do now!  As I write, my back is itching like mad.  I want to do what Balloo in Jungle Book did - find a tree and just have a good scratch, but I guess I'll just go and slap some more cream on it. The tree will stay where it is, because in the Autumn it has such beautiful flowers on it, but I shall avoid it at all costs now.  Funny though, OH was working near it too and he too had a close encounter with it, but he's OK.  Guess I must have sensitive skin.

Just thought I would write as a follow up to my photos of the Spindle Ermine Moth in the wildlife section. Did you know that the Spindle tree is poisonous and parts of it contain allergens.  I found this out whilst working in the garden near the spindle tree, and a branch brushed against my face.  Didn't think much of it at the time, but later that evening my face became very hot (not not a tropical moment), and a big red patch appeared on my cheek. The following morning, my eyes were so swollen, I could hardly see.  They went down during the day, but again, the following morning were extremely swollen and itchy.   The day after that, I broke out in a rash all over my body, making me believe I had measles, so I visited the doc and he told me I was too old for measles (nice man !!!) and asked if I had been working in the garden. The rash has only just started to calm down after a week, but is very itchy, sore, and unsightly. All from a mere brush with a branch from the Spindle tree. So beware!!

I am saddened by the few who think it is fun to "hijack" a thread with rudeness, arrogance ridicule and total lack of respect for other members. This is a great forum site which I have used for various things over many years and I for one will not let the odd few deter me from using it. As for grammar and spelling, there may be some who are new to this typing lark, and type the words they want to express.  So who cares about mis-spelling or the odd missing or badly placed punctuation.   There may be some who have spent years on a keyboard, and they can still make mistakes.  Does it really matter as long as the message they want to convey, or question they want to ask, gets across.  Jan

The very large tree - OH was strimming under when the first of the lightning came, so he decided being under it was not the best idea he'd had all week. The "chimney stack" is the pylon which holds up our electricity and phone cables and is a little too close for comfort during storms. As I speak, I can hear the distant drums of this evenings storm approaching so I'll have to sign off and shut down as our parafoudre (lightning protection thingy) got struck by lightning last year, and the last thing I want to lose is my phone line and internet connection, computer, etc.

Looks like we're in for another this evening, so will try using a different camera setting to see if I can get the lightning any clearer. I do love a good thunderstorm.

Hope this works - not posted a video clip before. Last night saw one of the many thunderstorms we have at this time of year, and boy do we have some corkers.  Made me pots and pans rattle in the kitchen last night: [URL=http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/?action=view&current=P1010135.flv][IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/th_P1010135.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

It's that time of year again, when my Spindle Tree is full of "webs".  These are the protective webs that contain the eggs and larvae for the moth. [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmineMonthWeb.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmneMothEggs.jpg[/IMG] Then a couple of days later, along come the caterpillars [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmineMothCaterpillars.jpg[/IMG] All inside their protective web. Eventually the caterpillars will vacate the tree by means of a strand of silk from branch to ground making the tree look like it has guy ropes on it. .......... and then, the moth arrives: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpindleErmineMoth.jpg[/IMG]

Hi Chris Thanks for the identifications.  10€ !!!!  Think I'll fill out a membership form. The girls from our Stitch & B***h group are also organising walks.  First one is on 25th May, but I expect I will be the one holding the group up while I take photos. Jan

Hi Chris Thanks for the link. Here is a better picture of the violet: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/P1000780.jpg[/IMG] Plus two more for identification, please [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/P1000762.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/P1000758.jpg[/IMG] Jan

Definately cowslips

Hi Chris Sorry I've not been back to you, got a bit inundated with other stuff.  On the white flower, the flowers come off a single stalk into a clump. Jan

Oh - butter wouldn't melt comes to mind - but obviously you know different. Have to tell you that a friends cat got knocked down, last year, was rushed to the vets who said he could do something if they wanted him to, but it might not work as there was a lot of internal damage as well.  So lots of Euros later, shaved to look like it was wearing a 60's furry waistcoat and pins in both hips, said cat came home.  Within minutes moggy tried to jump onto his favourite chair and one of the pins popped straight through his skin.  Back to the vets. Good news is, his fur has grown back completely, he moves like nothing has happened, and is up to all sorts of mischief.  So I'm sure little Ellie will be back on all fours before long with all your loving care and attention. You are truly very kind people. Hugs all round and a tickle for Ellie.

Hi Chris Nice talking to you earlier.  Here's the flower I was talking about that grows in our woodland.  I've also spotted the white version of it in a friends garden which is nowhere near woodland.  I'll try and get a picture with leaves next time. [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/P1000701.jpg[/IMG] The white flower I don't know the name of: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/P1000714.jpg[/IMG] Daisy close up: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/P1000696.jpg[/IMG] ........ and the black redstart, taken a couple of years ago with the old camera: [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/BRMum1.jpg[/IMG] Jan

I hare what you are all saying - but give it a chance.    I think they are fascinating creatures.  So please, if you are going to trap it, set it free somewhere where it can live its life and not end up in someone's pot.

Awwww - poor little luv.  She does look so cute.  Looks like she is wearing a sock on her foot in that picture. I wish her all the best, and hope she makes a full recovery (along with Mr Cat's hand). Give her a tickle and a hug from me. Jan

Does anyone know of a firm in the Correze (or near to) that hires marquees.  We need a fairly large one for a wedding next year. Jan

Update. Well, no-one has come forward for this gorgeous dog,   However, he has now found a forever home.  A young french couple heard about the dog through a friend and heard that he was going to the SPA today, but they have taken him in instead.  So I hope this gorgeous boy gets all the love and attention he needs from these people. I do love a happy ending. Jan

Hi Twinks - We have taken the dog to the vet to get it checked for tattoo or chip, but it has neither.  However, it does have a green collar, had no problem getting him into the car, he just sat on the floor in the back and didn't whine or bark.  He has been well looked after and was not emaciated although he was a bit in need of a bath and had a couple of ticks on his neck which we removed with our "tick tool".  All in all, he is a healthy young dog.  Our friends reckon he could be a labrador x rotty. We also left details with the Mairie and spoke to the local dog sitter/walker. As our friends have a cat, they didn't want the dog in the house, so overnight they made up a bed for it in their woodshed.  However, by the morning, the dog had dragged his blankets out of the woodshed and made himself a nice little camp bed outside their front door.  Bless. Apparently he went for another wander yesterday, but came back, but then the farmer over the road took a shine to him and vice versa, so that is where he is at the moment. I'm afraid I don't have a photo, but will try and get one as soon as.  I was also going to do a couple of posters and stick on the local bins.   JR - in answer to your question, I think the dog is bilingual. 

Hi CA - yes, done all that.  Even asked our local lady who is a dog and cat sitter, but no-one has reported it. It is quite a young dog - big paws and big head for the size of it's body.  It had a playful chew of my arm earlier but it was very gentle.  It's not me who has him by the way, he turned up at a friends down the road.  We've asked our local farmer's who is the "font of all knowledge" (next to the postman that is) but she has never seen it before. I am wondering if someone was out for a walk with it, and it chased something and got itself lost.   It has no problems with cars and jumped straight in when we took him to the vets and sat on the floor in the back.  He also obeys the command "sit" which makes me wonder either he has English owners, or someone has already taught him the hand command for sit. Such a lovely dog.  I do hope someone claims him very soon.