Update on us:

18:55 hrs.

Our busy day started early as I needed to drop off a letter for my GP requesting she make an appointment for me with a specialist. I had tried calling their secretary but she told me that my GP would have to email them to arrange a rendez-vous.

We swung by the lab to see about getting my blood work done but it appeared that everyone had the same idea. The queue stretched out the door. We had other things on our agenda; so, we decided to try the lab again tomorrow when our schedule is clear.

Intermarche supplied much needed groceries and deisel for the car which was on empty.

We took a quick trip to Cuillé to post a gift to a friend before heading home. (Isn't home a wonderful word?)

Mr. C then cooked us a delicious breakfast.

I worked on my latest crochet pattern test, which is rather complicated, while Mr. C ventured outside to do some of the gardening he's been anxious to get to. He tackled some of the honeysuckle vines and nettles that are choking many of the plants and pruned back the pale pink roses which were sprawling all over the place thus providing me with a lovely bouquet.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams! 🌞❤️🌻

I hugged a tree today.

#trees 

We have baby potato plants!

#gardening #potatoes #potato 

Books and blossoms 📖🌹 faeries and flowers 🧚🏻‍♂️💐 for Mother's Day! 

#books #flowers #faeries #fairies 

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

15:45 hrs

It's been fluctuating heatwise today with the promise of rain that never came. I took advantage of the cooler spells to trim the overhanging branches along the drive because they were blocking the sensor that operates the entrance gates.

By early afternoon the heat returned so I took a teabreak with Fair Damsel who had come up with a plan to improve the security of the cover on our potato patch to prevent the local cats digging in it. I cut a couple of pieces of the cane growing by the drive and she did the rest.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

🌹 Bonne Fête Maman! 🌹

It's Mother's Day here in France. Mr. C made me lovely Mother's Day Breakfast on behalf of Moriarty, Miss Watson, and Rincewind. 😋

#MothersDay #breakfast 

Super U was giving free roses to women today because tomorrow is Mother's Day in France.

#flowers #MothersDay

The dog roses are blooming. 

I've been so pleased to see local businesses implementing the new requirement for parking lots in France over a certain size to be roofed with solar panels. It provides both power and shade.

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

12:39 hrs

It's a little cooler this morning but steadily heating up to a forecast high of 90°F. Moriarty woke me just after 08:15 hrs by nuzzling my face and eyes because he wanted to be fed: he was so insistent that I had no option but to respond. Fair Damsel commented that he had tried her first but switched to me because I'd turned over in my sleep.

Breakfast was a magnificent fryup courtesy of the sausages & bacon purchased from Elliotts Boucherie yesterday. We're both absolutely stuffed now and settling down to listen to music on YouTube.

All's well in our world,Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

Mr. C and I took a drive to Elliotts Boucherie in Gorron this afternoon. We stopped in the commune of Olivet where I had spotted a Boite À Livres (Little Free Library) on our last trip to Gorron. I left a few crocheted kindnesses and borrowed two books to further my plans to read some French every day. I found a snapshot in one of them and am working on deciphering the handwriting on the back.

Do you know where your towel is?

#towelday #HGTTG #hitchhikersguidetothegalaxy

Truth, Justice, Freedom, Reasonably Priced Love, and a Hard-Boiled Egg!

Remember the glorious 25th of May!

GNU Sir Terry Pratchett

#Discworld #cablestreet #revolution #HowDoTheyRiseUp 

I really enjoyed testing this Battle Buddy #crochet pattern by @altxversi (IG). I made mine with DK (3 ply) weight yarn and a size G (4mm) hook; so, he came out wee and cute. He'll be a great comrade in the battle against anxiety. 

https://www.instagram.com/altxversi?igsh=MWdzaXp4MXFuYzhiNA==

Dans le jardin avec M. et Mme. C 🌞❤️🌻...

In the garden with Mr. 'n' Mrs. C 👨‍🌾🥔👩‍🌾...

We've been planting potatoes. We started with a large storage bin in which I had made drainage holes. We added a layer of paper, namely the packets we had retained from our tea bags, followed by a layer of soil reclaimed from last year's plant pots. I placed the seed potatoes and Mr. C covered them with soil. As the plants grow we will add more soil until they reach the top allowing new potatoes to grow along the stems.

I've covered everything with a lid to keep the local cats from digging until the plants are established. 

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. Now for a mug of tea and some lunch.

#gardening #potatoes

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

We took it easy today following yesterday's activities which left us both in need of a rest. It's also been very hot with the temperature rising to 86°F in the afternoon which led to me sleeping for a couple of hours. I'd also stayed up into the early hours to deal with two loads of laundry.

Fair Damsel spent some time preparing her new planter by making drainage holes in the base of it. We had intended to take it outside, fill it with a combination of soil and compost, before planting a batch of potatoes but fatigue got the better of us.

Fair Damsel also took charge of dinner and prepared her tasty homemade beef & mashed potato pasties. They were absolutely Sunbeamadelicious and went down a treat with 'Star Wars, Return of the Jedi'. I of course had baked beans with mine.😋

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

I got to test this pattern.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYoQmqyO2XR/?igsh=MTZ6cGxpODhwYjFxcg==

#crochet

Teatime with Mr. 'n' Mrs. C 🌞❤️🌻...

Our 2nd experiment with the new steamer was also a success. 10 minutes yielded a perfect hard boiled egg. I had mine with gerkins, olives, dry salami and Caprice des Anges (Whim of Angels) cheese on biscottes. Mr. C wanted a yammier yolk for his egg and tomato sandwich; so, I only steamed his egg for 8 minutes.

Everything went down well with a mug of tea and 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.' Our annual viewing was delayed as Mr. C was in hospital on May the 4th.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. 

P.S. The trick of tapping the end of the egg gently with the back of a spoon until one hears the membrane snap before boiling really does make them easier to peel.

#cooking #teatime 

Update on us:

11:40 hrs.

The village pub sometimes sells used small appliances. Mr. C had bought us a steamer there for 10€ and it did yoeman service for several years but finally gave up the ghost in the middle of cooking our dinner potatoes last week.

I ordered a new one which arrived yesterday. We decided to try poaching eggs in it for breakfast this morning. It worked brilliantly! 😋

I had mine with avocado and toast. Mr. C, of course, had beans.

#cooking #breakfast 

Update on us:

21:48 hrs 

I had most of the work of cooking dinner done before breakfast. We had crockpot beef patties and potatoes in mushroom onion gravy with sautéed courgette (zucchini) which went down well with buttered bread, a mug of tea, and a ghost story read by Simon Stanhope.

https://youtu.be/q2U72ToerVo?is=vy0rIutqQiNvPnTN

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. 🌞❤️🌻

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

22:42 hrs

An early start to go shopping left us both tired although I would probably have been exhausted had it not been for Sarah who drove us into town to save me from driving.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing apart from doing two loads of laundry during as we watched 'Stardust' which is one of our favourite films and contains one of my all time favourite scenes involving Robert De Nero and The Cancan.

Dinner was a joint effort as usual with Fair Damsel taking care of the chicken whilst I fried the chips she had prepared: it went down a treat with an episode of Midsommers Murders.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

Update on us:

12:20 hrs.

We knew Sarah and Michel needed the car this afternoon but we needed some supplies. So, we rose early, had some Cheerios and tea and got dressed.

Sarah also needed a few things; so, she volunteered to drive us on our errands. We swung by the doctor's office to make Mr. C a follow up visit for next week and made a couple of other stops before hitting Intermarche for groceries.

We got home just before 11am and Mr. C cooked us a delicious second breakfast of eggs, tomatoes, and potatoes with fresh bread.

Michel knocked on the door with a present for us: a big bowl of freshly picked cherries.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams! 🌞❤️🌻

Update on us:

00:20 hrs.

Mr. C and I both thoroughly enjoyed his first full day back home with good food, good music, and good TV.

Mr. C, still responding to the former hospital routine, rose at 6am and had a first breakfast of cornflakes before taking his morning meds.

He rejoined me in bed for a bit before I got up and cooked him a second breakfast of scrambled eggs, tomatoes, and bacon.

We listened to a selection of Monkees tunes and watched my favourite episode of the TV show.

Mr. C fixed his own lunch of beans on crumpets and took a nap. This allowed me to finally get my mind to focus on the first of three crochet patterns I've been chosen to test but couldn't concentrate enough to start while concerned about Mr. C's health.

Dinner was a joint effort with me making KFC spiced chicken strips and Mr. C taking care of the chips. It went down well with an episode of 'Midsomer Murders.'

All is once more well in our world, Sunbeams. 🌞❤️🌻