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.
Slowly!
Slowly…..
Slowly….
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
