La Chatte Gitane (or The Gypsy Cat) was the name we chose for our cottage in France at the time. We chose it while on the road, moving house the first time round, from Ireland to France with 2 dogs and 7 cats in the car.
This blog began its insignificant life as a recipe book for friends and family who would ask me repeatedly for a recipe of this, that and the other.
Since then it has taken many different directions, like we did and like gypsies tend to do. Sometimes making a U-turn and revisiting familiar roads and taking a break when necessary.
You'll find recipes here, but also musings about the places we've called home, the gardens that we've established, not always successfully, the homes we've improved and the environments we've lived in. Currently, after yet another stint in Ireland, we're back in France @ Le Mas d'Ayen

Wednesday, June 01, 2016

We Still Have Time for the Dogs


The weather has been glorious and we've been spending a lot of our time outside. The garden, lots of weeding, planting, sowing. The chickens who have been giving us the runaround and not forgetting the piglets who need a watchful eye.
The dogs still need attention and love and cuddles. Which we give aplenty whenever we're passing. 
With this heatwave (yes, heatwave) they are happy to just lay somewhere cool with the gentle breeze washing over them.




Blackie and Millie. Millie is the beige one ;)  

I love our dogs.


Over at the chooks, not all is what it should have been.
Broody Number One, who came from the barn back home first, sat herself down on a nest in the main coop - without any eggs.
Broody Number Two went back home and was so over being broody.
Broody Number Three was still on a nest in the barn till we moved her over to the Wendy house.



But not before I laid fresh straw with a sprinkling of, wait for it...
Sprigs of Thyme, rosemary, oregano, cat'flippin'nip, mint, lavender, rose petals... Got the recipe off Pinterest. It is supposed to calm and relax broody hens. Bert thought I was totally losing it. 
He took Number Three and I took the egg (one - 1) she was sitting on.
I placed the one egg in the nest of the Wendy house and Bert place Number Three on top.  Closed the lid.

Fifteen minutes later when I checked on her the egg had rolled into the wood shavings and she was sitting next to it. Thank you, Pinterest.
We decided to leave her to it for a while and provided her with food and water.
The next morning she wanted out ! Out ! Out ! 
We opened the door into the large run and she happily joined the rest of the gang.

About Number One. She's not giving up. She stole 2 eggs the other hens had laid and she's content.
We'll leave her be.

Patricia xxx...x
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3 comments:

  1. Gem1:19 pm

    Hmmm loving the idea of that recipe, I wonder if it's OK to use it for hens that aren't broody, I'm sure it must make it smell a whole heap better. Sadly we are just down to the one hen now, we had a visit from the bad Mr Fox who took the other hen. I'm off to our local BHWT on Saturday though to collect 2 new rescue barn hens, I hope they settle in OK, and quickly too, I really don't like the whole introduction of new girls. Wish me luck x x

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    Replies
    1. Patricia (La Chatte Gitane)3:28 pm

      I wish you luck. I've read that the herbs are good generally to put into their nests. It also keeps pests at bay. Apparently. xxx...x

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  2. Poppy Q12:11 am

    Aww your dogs look so happy playing together. Enjoy your lovely warm sunshine.

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