WITH the temperature heading upwards here in the Dordogne, I went out for a stroll through the woods with the dog.
On a path there are a couple of large puddles, currently full of frog spawn and tiny newts, but today there was also the small snake seen in the photograph (click to enlarge).
I’m not sure what type it is, I’d love it if someone could leave a comment, but seconds later it was gone into the bottom of the muddy puddle.
OVER the past few days I’ve been seeing lines of processionary caterpillars snaking along the paths and tracks near me here in Loubejac.
The warmer weather seems to have sparked them into life as they descend from their web like nests in the pine trees, heading out to track down more food.
Their hairy skin can be a real irritant, especially to inquisitive dogs, and the lines can can stretch over a metre or more.
A POSTHUMOUS award has been given to Sister Agnes Walsh, who sheltered a Jewish family from December 1943 in a convent in Cadouin, in the Dordogne.
At the launch of a new award that recognised Britons who saved the lives of Jews during the Holocaust, UK prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the 27 individuals honoured were ‘shining beacons of hope in the midst of terrible evil’.
The story of Sister Agnes has been traced by the Catholic Herald, who tells of how a Jewish mother and her three children were hidden in the convent in Cadouin.
Sister Agnes, originally from Hull, was recognised as Righteous among Nations by the Holocaust remembrance authority, Yad Vashem, in 1990 at the age of 94. She died in 1993 in Mill Hill, London.
WHILST out on an early morning walk through a field here in Loubejac (map), I tried to capture the sounds of bird song.
Unfortunately I only had a mobile phone to hand so you may have to turn up the speakers on your computer, but I hope it offers a little insight into the French countryside.
THIS car reminded me of the secret reconnaissance of war films, but the Peugeot 203 first came out in 1948, writes Carol Miers.
I spoke recently to a man, a former member of the Resistance, who having been denounced was facing a death sentence but was exchanged for a German, walking out along a road thinking it was his last, to be met by friends instead.
PEOPLE across France will be looking to the skies at the moment watching the magnificent sight of the migratory flight of the crane, or la grue.
After a winter in southern Spain they make their way northwards in massive flocks, flying at an altitude of between 200m and 1km, arriving in Germany and Scandinavia for the summer months.
WITH the temperature hovering around 0°C, and a few flakes of snow drifting on the northerly breeze, this was the scene this morning in the south of the Dordogne (map).
And if you are keen to take a few photographs of winter scenes check out this recent article on Landscape Juice that looks at making use of winter when photographing in the garden.
IF you live in the Deux-Sèvres the you may want to drop in on a new site being written by Beryl Brennan, occasional contributor to this site.
Beryl’s new site, which I’ve had a hand in putting together, will offer news, interviews and what’s on information, providing an insight into Deux-Sèvres life.
If you have news of events you are involved with, or have an organisation that needs a little more publicity, you can email Beryl direct.
And whilst you are on the site subscribe to the free newsletter, or RSS feed, in the right hand column and keep up to date with the latest articles on the site.
Website: Deux-Sèvres Life
A COLLECTION of photographs from the past few weeks, taken in sight of the church at Loubejac (map).
AT this time of year people living in France roughly from the north east corner to the south west will spot a real wonder of nature.
The migratory route of the crane (la grue) from northern Europe to Spain sees the birds cross over France, and the massive flocks high in the sky are a real sight to see.
It is estimated that there are around 160,000 birds in the west of Europe and when migrating they fly at an altitude of between 200m and 1km.
For more details take a look at the European Crane Working Group.