barn fireplace

The fireplace in the barn is finished and rendered :)

I think it looks great! 

Next? stairs/log burner/insulation/rendering kitchen/flooring barn... I feel we've taken a big step forward as there isn't any heavy building work left to do :) 

windows :)

great... we now have some light in the bathroom :)

update :)

...here's a few recent photos of the mezzanine in the barn (taken and emailed to us by the builders :)

... I can't wait to get back over!

French Food ... stamps

I was wandering around the Fete du Lac at Lac de Guerledan the other week and came across these lovely stamps... each one with a different French national dish on.... how pretty!

em... I don't normally collect stamps... ;)

Gouarec

A few pictures of Gouarec on a summer's evening...

Ruins

At the back of the cottage there are 2 small ruins...

.. the smaller of the 2 is hidden in the trees



























The larger has a very big chimney for such a small room and we've heard various possible explanations for the original purpose... from a tiny house or 'smoke house' to a 'cauldron room'... as used in Wales to cook up scraps for pigs.

More recently, in the 1950s, we know that it was used for pigs, while a small lean-to area at the front of the cottage was used to house a veal calf.

At some point, when the cottage is near completion, I'd like to renovate these little buildings. In the meantime I'm trying to prevent the chimney from crashing by the use of acro props...

Huelgoat

In a large clearing in the magical forest of Broceliande, 20 miles northeast of the cottage, on the eastern edge of Finistere, you find the beautiful wood, stone and water of Huelgoat 'the upper wood'.