hivernal, ~e, mpl -aux /iv??nal/ , /o/ adjective

  1. (d’hiver) winter (épith);
  1. (comme en hiver) [jour, temps] wintry.

20101117 lajonchere Hivernal

I think it’s safe to say winter has arrived at La Jonchère. The temperature has dropped and is forecast to keep diving, the gite is closed until next spring, the veg patch is under a duvet of mulch (along with an optimistic sowing of broad beans and peas for next year…) and the woodpile is high.

The webcam at Sancy is showing a promising start to the ski season with a sprinkling of snow and more on the way.

Click here for a panoramic view of the ski station at Montdore

Time to get the thermals out and dust down the skis….

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Another survivor of the winter was this rhubarb, planted last spring.

The French don’t seem to be as keen on Rhubarb as the Brits - the varieties available in garden centres seem pretty limited. So we brought back 6  plants from the UK, dug up from a garden in Cumbria (thank’s Mum!) and transplanted here in the Auvergne.

88  600xfloat=center 20100417 rhubarbe 0 La Rhubarbe
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After an extended stay in the UK this winter it was a big relief to get back to the house and garden to find it in pretty good shape. Very little damage really, despite storms, ice and snow, escaped cows and very busy moles …. the garlic we planted in autumn has survived all of these dramas and looks green and healthy.

84  400xfloat=center 20100417 ail Lail

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bois Bois de chauffage

The woodman has been!

The woodman has been!

 

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http://www.francobelge.staub.fr/

Winter’s here and the snow is knee high outside but thanks to our old woodburning stove we’re nice and toasty inside.

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Here’s wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Thanks to all our friends, family and guests for helping us make our first year at La Jonchere a most excellent adventure…
Plans for 2010 – more veggies, plant some apple trees, chickens…!

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The curly kale (Variety ‘redbor’) is toughing it out in the frost, and still managing to look very pretty.
Winter is here, time for hot chocolate and blankets by the woodburner.
Brrr!

frost Lhiver

Frosty Kale

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