Suninfrance

My cats have two trays.  One in the kitchen, one in the lounge.  Our domestic cat uses neither unless she is desperately desperate and usually "goes" outside.   Our wild cats, however, will come in to use one or other of the trays.  Strange, but true. Two trays are not that difficult to maintain and mine get "scooped" every day and a full maintenance every 3 days.

Have posted this in the Central section also. Found in Arnac (near Pompadour) Correze 19. Black labrador type dog.  Young.  No chip or tattoo but wearing a green collar.  He has also been castrated, so someone has been looking after him.  Very friendly and gentle.

Found in Arnac (near Pompadour), Correze 19. Black male labrador type dog.  No chip or tatto, but wearing a green collar and has been neutered.   Very gentle and very friendly. Jan

Our Tabs does the mouse trick.  I've seen her eating one, then spending the next 5 minutes heaving it up, then she rubs herself around you, looking for a sympathetic cuddle.   Yeewww. Not had a cat with the licking problem, but our friends dog used to lick and then chew the logs in the log basket.  But then Rupes was a bit of a fruitcake at times. I do hope that the licking problem can be sorted out by a good worming and that is nothing more serious.  Fingers crossed.

For a long time now, I have been trying to find a way of sharing my photos with friends and family back in England, in a nice format, without having to create my own website.   Then my cousin introduced me to Phanfare.  She has been using it for years for her photos and videos on MSN, but Phanfare have recently made their site more accessible. After I got the invite to view my cousin's albums, I thought I'd have a go at it myself and joined up.  The best thing about it, is you don't pay anything unless you have more than 1GB worth of photos to display.  Videos take up more room, but it's surprising how many photos you can get for 1GB, especially if you downsize them to say 8 x 6 for the site. What you do is download the software from Phanfare (I will warn you, it does take quite a while even on broadband, but I thought it was worth it). Once the software is downloaded, you create albums.  So far I have Places to Go, Friends, Cats, Our House (Before and After), Winter in Correze, Family History, etc and I'm not even halfway through my 1GB yet.  You can use backgrounds for the photos and once the album is complete, you can give the photos captions and set them up as a slide show with background music.  There are some soundtracks that come with the software, but you can, through Windows Media Player, use your own downloaded music as the background music.  You can time your slide shows as well which allows you to decide how long each photo is displayed for. Once you've done that, you send invitations to your friends and family e-mails with a short message.  They don't have to download anything at their end (unless they want to use the programme themselves).  All they have to do when they receive the invite (which will be from Phanfare rather than your e-mail address), is to click on the "View Albums" button, and then they, and only those you wish to see them, have access to all your photos in your slide show. They can also make comments on the slide show for you to read. Your pictures are not in the public domain - only those you choose to send invites too - and you can set the album so that all photos are copyright protected.  Your friends and family, can however, order prints if they choose to. The website is www.phanfare.com Jan

Thanks SD - That's what they needed to know. Jan

A young couple I know split up last year.  A mortgage was taken out on their house in his name, which apparently has not been paid since the break-up.  They have both since, moved back to England leaving the house as it was. What happens in France when mortgage payments are not made.  Is it like England, where the house and it's contents are re-possessed? Jan

New Stitch & B***h group starting up in Deviat, Charente.   See details on our website.   www.bitchnstitchfrance.com Jan

Morning Chris Thank you for the identifications - it is indeed a Knot Grass moth caterpillar.  I Googled it after you gave me the name. Best wishes Jan

Thanks Chris. I got an invite to a website called Phanfare where you can display your photo albums as slide shows.  I've created quite a few albums including a sort of wildlife one, and if you want to PM me with a private e-mail - I will send you an invitation to view the albums if you want.  I will keep adding to it as the photos come along, but if you are interested, I am happy to send you the invite.  You will however, have access to all my albums, but they are all pictures I want to share anyway. Jan

Aren't lacewings sort of green and almost transparent.  I think it's some sort of ermine moth, but there are so many.  We do have a spindle tree in our garden and it is smothered with Spindle Ermine caterpillars in the summer, but they have black spots on them I think.

Hi Chris, if you are online, can you identify these moths and the caterpillar for me.  Or anyone with a knowledge of moths and caterpillars please. [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Moth1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/WhiteMoth1-1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/Caterpillar2a.jpg[/IMG] Thanks Jan

Spiders mainly.  Not mice, nor rats (even though I was chased by one when I was younger, much younger).  However, last year we did have an experience when our neighbours cows decided the grass was greener on our side of the fence.  When said neighbour came to herd them back into their field, they decided to make a dash for it - up my garden, towards me.  There can't be a lot, more scary, than a few dozen tons of limousin beef, stampeding towards you.  Certainly gets the adrenalin going.  The "herding" stick in my hand seemed a little inadequate at the time, so I legged it and let the farmer sort them out.  Snakes - not keen, but not scared.  

I know what you mean Steve.  We had a friend in Bellac who ended up in hospital having a finger sewn back on because of one of those things.  We are beiing very careful. Recipe for mole ?????    Intrigued

OH has just spent the last few days clearing mole hills from our field.  Turned his back for 5 minutes and there were fresh "volcanoes" all over the place.  I can't call them "pimples" as these are true family sized mole hills.  So, finally relenting he brought the Detauper explosive kit.   Within 5 minutes of setting it, and placing it under a large flower pot to stop the cats setting them off and getting injured, he had his first mole. Now you get 5 thingys in a box.  He has just had to go and get another 2 boxes. Day two however, on inspecting underneath the flower pot, he was amazed to find that not only had the device not gone off, but it was all but covered with - you guessed it - a fresh mole hill [6]. War has been declared and our field is the battle zone.  Not that OH is obsessed with the little s**s, but he did count up to 2,000 mole hills.  So far we have only scored 4 on the battle zone and the moles have scored 16 (fresh mole hills that is), but at least our little tabby cat is alerting OH to a fresh outbreak, by following him around the field and staring at the ground, just before the earth starts to move. Something tells me, we will never win this battle.

Obviously spring is a little late in the Correze, but the Cranes arrived by night.  I could hear them, but couldn't see them.  While calling the female cats in away from two marauding males who were intent on having their wicked way.  So spring has finally sprung.  Mind you, having looked at the long range weather forecast for the next 10 days - temperatures are due to drop to -3C overnight during next week.  So my swaying in the breeze daffs might get a bit of a shock. PS, the male moggies are out of luck - all four of my female mogs have been neutered.

Anyone got a good recipe for marmalade (and what sugar to I use).  I'm going to have a go at making my own tomorrow.   Jan

Hi Magnolia Have a look at this site http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary .  Scroll down to "cast on" and watch the video.  I know how you feel.  I taught a friend to knit at our Stitch & B***h and it took her a while to get the hang of it.  She is now a two stitch person and is knitting her husband a scarf.  Squares next for doggy coats !!!!! Jan

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes.  They are very much appreciated. More sad news on the animal front.  Same people lost one of their 4 dogs yesterday which was accidentally run over by the rubbish lorry.  It happened so quickly, there was nothing anyone could have done.  Needless to say my friend says she now feels numb as she saw it happen, and can't talk about either of them.  The little dog was an attention seeking character that was always pleased to see you as long as you gave her a cuddle. Even though they are not my animals - I feel empty for them as they have been through so much in the last couple of years.  We really hoped this year would be a better year for them, but it's not got off to a good start really.

This is just starting in France.  I think there are only 3 groups so far.  Why not start your own.  If you visit our website (see start of thread), it tells you there how you can start up your own group.  If you have some friends who might be interested and a local auberge/cafe who doesn't mind you taking over their tables for a couple of hours, then that's all you need to start with. Good luck. Jan

I thought I would write to let everyone on this thread know that little Tilly slipped away this morning.  She certainly touched my heart and everyone here too, I am sure.  She is buried on her favourite cushion under two lime trees, and we will be buying a nice plant of some sort to mark her little grave. Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and wishes. Jan

I've done it.  One in B/W, a couple in Sepia. [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/HouseBW.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/HouseSepia.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/suninfrance/SpookySepia.jpg[/IMG]

I'm definately feeling springlike.  I do love the sun and it does lift the mood.  Saw my first bumble bee whilst hanging out the washing during the week and also a couple of butterflies.  My daffs are in bud and ready to burst.  The catkins are getting longer too.  Also saw a lizard scurrying up the wall of our house yesterday and on the way home from the shops, a hedgehog strolling along the grass verge, doing whatever it is hedgehogs do. It's nice not to have the fires alight during the day and doors and windows open to let in some fresh air.  The washing is drying nicely on the line, and I do love the smell of washing when it's been blowing in the fresh air.  You can slap the iron on it as soon as you bring it in, and all that wonderful fresh airness fills the room.

I've not  tried the B/W setting on my camera yet, but you have all inspired me to have a go.  I love colour photo's but I think landscapes in black & white tell just as much of a story.  In fact, seeing as it is such a glorious day here today, I may well go out and take a few shots.  Maybe with the Sepia setting as well. Keep your photos coming, they are all brilliant.

Just thought I'd update you on Tilly.  Thank you Val for sending through that cat food.  Tilly had a go at eating it, but her appetite was just not there. It seems now that the final diagnosis from the vet is Leukemia and although the blood tests didn't show this, she all the classic signs.  The poor little puss is now so weak, she can hardly stand and when she does manage to get up, it's almost impossible to stroke her without her falling over.  The vet has been very good and is now trying a course of injections.  Tilly has had the first one, but I gather they are very painful, so the vet gave her a mild sedative, before giving her the main injection.  We now have to wait to see if Tils rallies to this first part of the treatment and if she does, then the vet will continue with the rest of the course which is another 3 injections. As this only happened yesterday, it is too early to say whether it has helped, but I will keep you all informed. I've got everything crossed that this latest course of treatment helps. Thanks again for all your well wishes. Jan