What a difference a year makes

This time last year we were getting ready to move into our house in Caunes.

Mark and a very empty room....just a year ago.

 

The sad loss of our gorgeous palm

We have now spent a year watching the garden, discovering the different plants that have appeared....some where we wanted them, and some requiring removal....some, unfortunately dying in the cold temperatures of February.

The trees blocking the view have now gone...so has the strange little fence

 

We have had some improvements made to the area around the pool.

 

The bathroom fittings that just had to go.

 

We have had a new bathroom installed, and we are planning another, but mostly we have just tried living in the house, to see how it suited us. We have experimented with various places for eating outside....on the terrace, by the pool, with the best view of the village, etc.

 

We now know where we want a further terrace built, and where the various sitting spots will be....one, high above the house, giving the best view of the mountains,  and one in front of the house, giving the best view of the village.

 

It has been good not to make too many changes, just to see how we, and the house got to know each other. Basically. We don’t want many changes.... it is beautiful as it is.

A whole year...of meeting neighbours, of discovering local wines, of navigating around local villages, exploring Narbonne, Beziers, Montpelier, Perpignan, Limoux, Carcassonne, Minerve, of discovering the Cathars, of watching grapes, figs, almonds, hazlenuts develop on our vines and trees, of learning how to maintain a pristine swimming pool, of wallowing in thunder storms the like of which I’ve never seen before, of practising French, of drinking coffee in the bar, of entertaining friends and family, of watching grandchildren grow in confidence in the gorgeous freedom of a large and wild garden where the noise of crickets and bees accompany their squeals of delight,of concerts and fetes, of trips to the jazz club, of bread and marble, of cassoulets and confits, vide greniers, beaches, lakes, mountains, sunrises and sunsets, cloudless blue skies, nights with no light pollution that can be filled with star gazing and knowing that we can do it all again this coming year.

my first figs

 

 

Carcassonne

 

Marble looks just as good in the snow