The barn and surroundings
Outside the barn we have built some wooden terraces which give us outdoor living spaces and also flat surfaces to work on. In 2013 a large retaining wall was added at the front to protect the foundations of the barn. Behind are now a number of raised beds for fruit and vegetable growing.

Backfill eats into the step at the gable end

Start the deck

Geotextile fabric under the deck

Halfway

Breezy does 18cm nails

Framework finished

Cause of the smoke

Fizz on the new terrace

Arrival of the donkeys

Haircut

From the back

From the front

From the side

With a donkey or two

Fire basket

Supper

Group shot

Dining outside
Copicing the woodland is a continual effort to preserve the pasture and supply firewood for the log burners. Plus building the retaining wall at the front of the barn to protect the foundations.

Progess of Wall Prep

Wall foundations

Setting 1st rocks

Cooling the feet

Boots and stream

Lunchtime progress

From above at lunchtime

On up

And up

Clive building

Progress

Where the fill is coming from

Big hole to fill

Filling the gap between wall and barn

Topped off & pointed up

Viewed from the piste

Terrace to be completed

Lunch with Anne

Raised bed

Second section

Log pile
We spend more time outdoors than we do inside. If the weather is good enough to work outside we do so.

Before the retaining wall

Chainsaw action

Breezy strimming

Outbuilding frontage

Terrace frame

Outbuilding

Decking starts

Decked

Install some garden furniture

Makeshift table

Lunch with a view

Lunch

Breezy relaxing

Cascade toward Mont Rouche

Breakfast on the terrace

Breezy strimming

Cascade opposite and avalanche debris

Morning sun

Ken does breakfast

Muck truckin’ Ken

Chainsaw Ken

Supper on the end terrace

Just a nice view

Table laid BBQ lit

More BBQ action

Raised bed in the making
Twice a year the shepherds move the animals up and down to and from the high pastures. Snow lingers on the hill into the summer months. Foraging for food is fun.

Moving sheep up the valley in spring

Unloading with the Mucktruck

Lunch in the sun

Loaded trailer & van with salvage from Chamonix

Garden Thermometer

Snow on the ground

Parasol mushrooms grow about and are delicious

The Transhumans

After copicing we found an oak tree

Oak tree revealed

Autumn crocus

Parasol mushroom and idiot

Sweaty Charlie

Waterfall opposite

Sheep being taken away

Paella cooking outdoors

Fruits of the forest

Outdoor workshop

Another Paella