Snowdrops 2023

 

Despite everything, Ukraine, covid - and Brexit, the snowdrops still bloom.

On the border between the Orne and the Manche –

The Big Draught / La grande sécheresse

 A receding oak beam in the wall of a neighbour's préssoir (cider press barn) – 

Raspberries. Drops of blood.

It's raspberry time.

I look at them, and I can't think of anything but drops of blood in Ukraine.

 

 

The Man Destroyed. Ukraine

 This a a statue L'homme anéanti in the centre of Sourdeval, a village in South Manche.

The sculpture, in the colours of Ukrainian national flag, was made to show support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. 

Dancing Moon.

This is a nice Summer evening in Vire, canton Vire Normandie. The bronze statue of the first mayor of Vire René Castel dominates the small square in front of the theatre Le Préau. 

He is holding a mushroom in his hand, but here I saw the moon dancing just above his inquisitive hand.

It was a long and jolly evening.

 

Shortages of cooking oil.

 

Panic buying of sunflower and rape seed oil resulted in empty shelves in French supermarkets. (here, a cooking ingredients section in a supermarket in Normandy). 

This is as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.

An Evening Visitor: Fire Salamander

I don't know how they survive the hot dry Summer, but as soon as it's wet and reasonably warm these cute fire salamanders come out and sit on my doorstep. 

Note: they are not lizards but amphibians, like frogs and toads.