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Our b and b farmhouse weekly diary all our previous postings...
We have now created a blog to make it easier to get our weekly diary updates.
Click here. http://normandybandb.wordpress.com
This weeks article 20th April 2009
Our garden is almost in full bloom, the expanse of yellow daffodils have given way to an abundance of bluebells. The various trees form apple, pear, fig, cherry and hazelnut are in blossom or displaying green leaves. We have never seen our garden looking so good and are still introducing more plants and were lucky to be given a baby bay tree by our friends Martine and Pierre-Yves, which we hope to split into three pots.
This weekend we visited the plant festival at Chareau Crosville. There were thousands of plants and flowers on display with many rare varieties that we had not seen before. The chateau is owned by a very courageous and strong willed woman called Michele.
As a child she visited the abandoned chateau which was left to ruin for 250 years. She is on a mission to restore the Chateau and has already made quite a lot of progress. We were able to walk around the chateau and see the amazing work that has already been done and the plans for future restoration. The Chateau is definitely worth a visit to see the original frescos on the doors, walls and ceilings as well as a birds eye view of Normandy from the castle keep.
This weeks article 6th April 2009
The Legend of Pirou Castle
Our garden is almost in full bloom, the expanse of yellow daffodils have given way to an abundance of bluebells. The various trees form apple, pear, fig, cherry and hazelnut are in blossom or displaying green leaves. We have never seen our garden looking so good and are still introducing more plants and were lucky to be given a baby bay tree by our friends Martine and Pierre-Yves, which we hope to split into three pots.
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This weekend we visited the plant festival at Chareau Crosville. There were thousands of plants and flowers on display with many rare varieties that we had not seen before. The chateau is owned by a very courageous and strong willed woman called Michele.
As a child she visited the abandoned chateau which was left to ruin for 250 years. She is on a mission to restore the Chateau and has already made quite a lot of progress. We were able to walk around the chateau and see the amazing work that has already been done and the plans for future restoration. The Chateau is definitely worth a visit to see the original frescos on the doors, walls and ceilings as well as a birds eye view of Normandy from the castle keep.
This weeks article 6th April 2009
The Legend of Pirou Castle
This week we went to Pirou castle which is under renovation. Built on an island surrounded by a moat in the 12th century you have to pass through five fortified gates. Legend has it that when the owners were faced with a fierce Norman attack they transformed themselves into geese to escape. The assailants stormed the castle after a day of silence only to find it deserted except for a frail old man in bed. The tragedy was that the magic formula had been burnt with the castle and they were unable to turn themselves back. The geese return every year in the hope of the formula being restored.
On the outside of the castle is the original bakery, cider press and stables. In the chapel there is the excellent Pirou Tapestry depicting the Normans conquering the south of Italy. The tapestry is in the same design as the Bayeux Tapestry.
The castle itself has high ramparts where you have an impressive view over the Normandy countryside.
Visit their website at the following link here
Previous articles up to the 29th September 2008
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 29th September
| Well a busy time again at the B&B. The new wood burner has been installed in the lounge and looks fantastic especially as Autumn is upon us. October will be a very busy time for us putting the garden to bed, especially pruning the apple orchard. |  |
| We also managed to get time out to take a walk around the bocages of our local village. There trail is sign posted with information posts along the way describing the flora. A pleasant hours walk through glens and surrounded by farmland. |  |
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 20th September
| This week at our Chambre dhotes B&B we managed to get a day off from the farmhouse since April. Two top visits away from the bed and breakfast was the British Hermanville war cemetery, also known as Sword beach cemetery. A very moving and calm cemetery that words can not describe but a chance to pay our respects and thanks to those who gave their lives. |  |
| Our second visit away from our bed and breakfast farmhouse was a charming fishing port not far from our chamber dhotes B&B farmhouse. 5 stars as a place to visit including a trip to the Isel of Tatihou. |  |
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 9th August
| A sun filled week at the chambres dhotes B&B in and we are publishing Emily's picture that she drew of the sunflowers that we grew at the Normandy bed and breakfast farmhouse. Thank you to all of our Normandy B&B farmhouse guests for your emails this week. For previous B&B farmhouse news visit our B&B articles page. |  |
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 27th July
| Sorry our chamber dhotes farmhouse update is late. For Emily & Lorna who stayed at our bed and breakfast here’s a picture of Emily our farmhouse bed and breakfast sunflower. |  |
| Rupert the chamber dhotes dustbin says hello to starlight curtain family (bed and breakfast joke) and a picture of our chamber dhotes farmhouse bed and breakfast strawberries. Best farmhouse wishes to all our lovely chamber dhotes guests in the past 3 weeks. And special congratulations to Keith and Jacqui who got engaged. at our B&B |  |
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 28th June
| Horahh!!. We saved the b and b strawberries from the farmhouse birds just at the last minute. They were delicious. They will be on our bed and breakfast menu. And our first enormous cucumber that needs its own large accommodation. | |
| More excitingly we were sat in front of the farmhouse and spotted an unusual creature probing the lavender for nectar. Identical to a mini hummingbird it is called a European Hummingbird Hawk Moth and often in France. We hope to see more at our chambre d'hotes. |
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 21st June
| This week we have been playing David Attenborough at our bed and breakfast with our wildlife. Damian has been on strawberry watch vigil and the strawberry plants are now on maximum security cover at the chambre d'hotes.. Having placed upturned crates over the plants to stop the birds getting in we discovered that they were tipping the crates over. So a small weight was placed on top. However the next day some of the crates were upturned. On the next day’s vigil watch we discovered the birds were sitting on the crates waiting for the neighbour’s cats to pounce. As the cats jumped, the birds flew and the cats landed on the crates dislodging them. The birds then returned at their leisure to enjoy their fruit breakfast. We are now trying a different approach and leaving food out for the cats so that they don’t go for the birds. We will wait and see what happens it Man can outsmart Nature!! Our Mini scarecrow Madame Pompadour has also been moved from the celery and lettuce as an added deterrent. This week we have been playing David Attenborough at our bed and breakfast with our wildlife. Damian has been on strawberry watch vigil and the strawberry plants are now on maximum security cover. Having placed upturned crates over the plants to stop the birds getting in we discovered that they were tipping the crates over. So a small weight was placed on top. However the next day some of the crates were upturned. On the next day’s vigil watch we discovered the birds were sitting on the crates waiting for the neighbour’s cats to pounce. As the cats jumped, the birds flew and the cats landed on the crates dislodging them. The birds then returned at their leisure to enjoy their fruit breakfast. We are now trying a different approach and leaving food out for the cats so that they don’t go for the birds. We will wait and see what happens it Man can outsmart Nature!! Our Mini scarecrow Madame Pompadour has also been moved from the celery and lettuce as an added deterrent. |  Madame Pompadore The b and b scarecrow on strawberry watch at the chambre d'hotes |
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 8th June
This week was not only special because of the anniversary of the D Day Landings but we were very honoured and privileged to have Eddie a veteran of the landings stay. at our chambre d'hotes. He had the energy of a whole regiment, the laughter of a thousand comedians and the humbleness of a monk. We were so touched by Eddie that we will be creating a special page on the bed and breakfast website about his visit.
Keith and Margaret who brought Eddie to the chambre d'hotes will kindly be supplying us with memorable photos of his visit to Normandy France. He was stopped where ever he went and became a celebrity in the true sense of the word. Look out for Eddie's page in the coming weeks.
| EDDIE OUR HERO |
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After a lovely dinner at the farmhouse chambre d'hotes the evening progressed with stories around the farmhouse table. These tales then digressed onto ghost stories and we were forced to divulge the ghostly going ons at La Mare Palu chambre d'hotes Farmhouse. And even to convert the sceptics the b and b ghost made an appearance at the bottom of the stairs as our guests were going to bed, causing screams of fright but was quickly unmasked as Damian in a white sheet.
| Genuine picture of the La Mare Palu ghost |
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Our first Veteran of the Normandy Landings, Sid from Texas has just left our farmhouse chambre d'hotes after keeping us entertained with many stories from his 83 years. Our favourite he told us at the b and b was about Mary his 84 year old friend who used to sell any cattle that roamed onto her land and finally opened up a BBQ steak house on the side of the road from the contraband meat.
We have finally got the farmhouse grass in the orchard down from 4ft to normal level and created 5 bonfires from winter damaged twigs and branches from the chambre d'hotes cider trees. Steve is desperate to get a goat as he says it will keep the grass down and reduce the mowing..umm maybe next year at the b and b.
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 10TH MAY
Horahh!! The chambre d'hotes lawn mower has been fixed and we can now get on top of the farmhouse lawn, although we now have to contend with the moles who have decided out of all of the surrounding fields to take up accommodation in our back lawn. Not a sight of them in the vegetable garden or front orchard or even the borders but smack bang in the middle of the lawn. How do they know where they shouldn’t be digging and why aren't they paying for bed and breakfast?
We are also pleased that the three wisteria that we planted at the farmhouse last year have taken and provided a lot of green leaves. In about 4 years time they should put on an impressive display at our bed and breakfast.
The chambre d'hotes vegetable garden has got wild again but we already have signs of lovely strawberries and we have harvested our first lot of radish. The lettuce are enormous and we have discovered that we have some wild fennel so we have been trying it in some salads and also with the baked salmon steaks, absolutely delicious for our chambre d'hotes menu……
Also this week at the bed and breakfast we have added a guests page where we are publishing pictures taken by our guests who have stayed at the chambre d'hotes on their days out. We will also be adding their comments and a place for you to put your comments too if you stay at our bed and breakfast.
| The chambre d'hotes Daffodills | Pear Blossom in the farmhouse Pear Orchard |
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| Best display of bluebells this year at our bed and breakfast |
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Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 2nd May
The slugs absolutely love the beer we have put down and are leaving the
lettuces alone which we are so big now we are able to use in our
evening meals at the chambre d'hotes. The Snap Dragon seeds are also beginning
to show and they will also find themselves on the dinner plate at the bed and breakfast. Yes you
can eat Snap Dragons!! We will also be able to remove the closhes from
the sunflower plants which we are hoping to grow this year to create an
attractive entrance to our bed and breakfast. The b and b lawn mower is still
at the repair shop so we are borrowing our friends as the grass is
growing by the minute. New recipe tried this week was another
success...sliced aubergines griddled then filled with ricotta cheese
and herbs from the garden and baked on a bed of tomatoes, onion and
garlic...delicious.
Bed and breakfast chambre dhotes news 28TH Avril
The pesky snails and
slugs have been attacking the poor radish and lettuce. Having caught a bit of
Gardener's World we will be trying the beer traps in the ground. We just hope
that the French slugs like the taste as Champagne
would be too expensive.
This evening we have taking some photos of the pear blossom below. We hope to
have a good crop of pears again this year. They go well in our recipe of pork
and pears creating a lovely evening meal. The new table has arrived and we can now
comfortably seat all guests. The brand new lawn mower broke down after 2 hours
having looked at the 1 1/2 acres of grounds to cut!! Ah well the trusty Flymo
will have to come out of retirement.
Bed and Breakfast Chambre dhotes 21st Avril
We tied back the pear trees along the farmhouse barn which have beautiful fragrant white
blossom on them.
Despite strong winds at the farmhouse the lettuces and celery have survived in the Chambres d'hotes veg garden. We have also started a herb garden for the chambre d'hotes menu.
The wisteria are showing new buds and climbing up the farmhouse and we have planted a wild rose at the entrance to the Chambre d'hotes courtyard which we hope will over the years develop to create an inviting welcome to our Bed and Breakfast Chambre d'hotes farmhouse here in Normandy
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Normandy France
Utah beach
museum in Normandy France unveiled plans for memorial gardens dedicated to those who gave their
lives on 6th June 1944. The planned eight circular gardens will be individually
designed and contain the names of the soldiers.