Happy Christmas and all the best for 2026

 My apologies for the long break in blogs, but having had eye surgery in both eyes, I have found it difficult to get used to the result.   I did not wear glasses at all before, but now I need them for reading.   I was not told before that one eye would be set for distance and one eye for reading.    I still do not need glasses for long distances, but reading has suddenly become a pain, as my glasses are not immediately on hand.  It was suggested that I tie them around my neck.   As I am in and out of the house with gardening, that would drive me nuts.  I am told my brain will get used to it after 6 months!  My brain is getting older and more forgetful, so I have reason to doubt this story.  I also seem to have an allergy to one set of eye drops that I am supposed to use!!  Nevertheless, I will try to find more time to blog next year, especially with a visit to South Africa coming up 😉

I have so many photos not posted, but I will just add a few of the more interesting ones here now.  I see I have repeated some photos, but they are ones I like so.......

A few from August....

Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Pic épeiche.  Female at a great distance.

European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Hérisson commun. Taken at night, a lucky shot!

Sunset.

Rosebud.

Sun jumping spiders (Heliophanus tribulosus) Araignées sauteuses au soleil.

August 28 - Our anniversary 44 years.

A few photos from September

Sunset

Elbow-striped Grass-Veneer (Agriphila geniculea) Crambus anguleux.  Interesting character!

 Great Tit (Parus major) Mésange charbonnière.

Melanocoryphus albomaculatus is a species of insect in the suborder Heteroptera, family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae, and genus Melanocoryphus.  That is the best I can do; maybe it does not have a common name!

Common Copper or Bronze butterflies (Lycaena phlaeas) Cuivré commun ou Bronzé, and what I believe to be a Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Abeille européenne.  My favourite shot of the year I think!

Heliophanus tribulosus is a species of araneomorph spider in the family Salticidae. Again, this is the best I can come up with. It is eating a clear-winged flying insect, possibly a Chrysopilus modestus.

European mantis (Mantis religiosa) Mante religieuse.

As above.

A few photos from October

06/10/2025 Full moon.

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) Mésange bleue caught flying past the window!

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres. Plus a House Sparrow in the front.

Another sunset.

Blue Tit having a chat with me...

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Rouge-gorge.

and a few from November

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) Cactus de Noël.

Another Blue Tit......

taking a bath.

21/11/2025 snow!!!! European Robin. Rare for us to see snow here!

Christmas cactus, see above.

House Sparrows, Mr and Mrs. (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique. South African Soap Stone Elephant!

And finally, a few from this month of December

02/12/2025 Nearly a full moon, but the clouds would not go away!  

It is spooky though :-)

The weather changed for a few days, and the sun came out.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) with Hoverfly, possibly a Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) syrphe ceinturé.

Lawn daisy (Bellis perennis) Pâquerette. Plus a green fly!

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Petite Pervenche.

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres.

Sunset,

House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique.  Having lots of fun.

Happy, happy Christmas to you all and hoping that 2026 will be a good one for us all.

Cheers Diane.

27/10/2025 Just a few photos so you know I am still here!

 The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 15⁰C, minimum 8⁰C. 25 - 45 km/h North/West winds.  80% chance of rain. 

My left eye has been operated on now, and the right one will be on Friday.  Again, I will give the computer a break for a couple of weeks afterwards.

Photos from the first half of September.

Rose the same in French but with the 's' pronounced like a 'z'.

Sedum, (Crassulaceae) sédum.

Sunset.

Clematis  (Clematis viticella) Clématite bleue.

House sparrows are enjoying a bath. (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique.

Calendula (with bug), Cyclamen, Rose and the flower from the Mint

Another sunset.

Coenonympha Genus?

Elbow striped Grass-Veneer (Agriphila geniculea)

Eurasian blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) Mésange bleue.

Great tit (Parus major) Mésange charbonnière...

As above.

A young European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Rouge-gorge...

As above.

Winter daffodil/crocus (Sternbergia lutea),

Cyclamen.

Geranium (Geranium) géranium.

I have a book on French toadstools and mushrooms, and I still do not know what this is.!!

Keep well, everyone.  I will be back (I hope), sometime next month.