La Joie de Vivre - Enjoy our Gîte in South West France

02/06/2026

Canal de Midi is a wonderful place to go for a wonderful boatride.. plenty of wine from this region, wonderful chateaux.. and close to the med as well!

The History of the Canal du Midi in Narbonne

Narbonne, at the crossroads of the Via Domitia and Via Aquitania!

At the end of the 2nd century BC, the Romans settled in the Aude region and founded a new city: Narbonne. This city would later lend its name to the province stretching from the Alps to Spain.

Narbonne is located at the crossroads of the Via Domitia and Via Aquitania. While the former connects Spain to Italy, the latter links Narbonne to Toulouse and Bordeaux. Furthermore, the city lies on the Aude River and is connected to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bages Lagoon.

As you might expect, Narbonne benefits from a strong and strategic location for trade!

02/06/2026

Bienvenue au restaurant l'Embarcadère !

Installé au Lac de Lourdes dans le département des Hautes-Pyrénées le Restaurant l’Embarcadère est vraiment l’endroit idéal pour échapper à la routine et profiter de la nature tout en dégustant les saveurs de la région.
Vous dégusterez des plats de chef dans un endroit calme et verdoyant, vous offrant la possibilité après un bon repas d'aller participer à des activités nautiques ou de vous promener le long des berges du lac de Lourdes.

Le Restaurant l’Embarcadère met à votre disposition une avalanche de produits et services : Crêperie, glacier, promenade, bar, activité nautique et plus encore !

En famille ou entre amis, l’ambiance y est toujours conviviale ! Vous serez reçus dans les meilleures conditions pour passer un bon moment !
L'EmbarcadèreChemin du lac,

Lac de Lourdes 65100 Lourdes, 05 62 32 50 59

02/06/2026

Coffee grounds are a bit acidic and roses like their soil slightly acidic, around pH 6 – 6.5 (7 is neutral). There is some debate as to whether coffee grounds actually acidify the soil, but they do make other important contributions, including high amounts of nitrogen, vital for foliar growth. They also add carbon.

21/04/2026

Calvatia gigantea, commonly known in English as the giant puffball, is a puffball mushroom found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests in late summer and autumn. It is found in temperate areas throughout the world. It is edible when young.

The large white mushrooms are edible when young, as are all true puffballs, but they can cause digestive issues if the spores have begun to form—as indicated by the flesh being yellowish or greenish-brown instead of pure white. An overripe puffball will fall apart and release spores when touched or if cut open, and should be discarded. Some people experience a laxative effect from eating this species.

21/04/2026

Beautiful wisteria for mid-May - In France, wisteria typically flowers in mid-April through May and occasionally into early June depending on the weather. It's best to plan your visit to the city during these weeks if you want to catch the peak blooms.

08/04/2026

A recent and rather large ash tree had fallen over.. you can see this rather beautiful way of cutting down the tree and organising it around trees in the garden.. great job Ana!!

08/04/2026

Our wonderful house is about to get a beautifully restored stone wall facing south into the Pyrenees, and with a lot of help from our great friends Volker and Betina!

The first major step involved removing old, crumbling cement render, and that alone transformed the house. Cement traps moisture, but lime mortar allows stone walls to breathe, which is essential for traditional French buildings. Once the cement came off, the river stone could finally dry out, be resurrected, and that immediately improved the look and feel of the house.

Working with lime mortar takes patience, so timing matters because heatwaves, storms, and humidity all affect the finish. Some days feel productive, but others stall completely due to weather or missing tools. Renovating in rural France often means adapting on the fly, and learning to accept that preparation can take as long as the work itself.

08/04/2026

The Tillac Cultural, Tourist, and Sports Association (ACTST) was held on its annual flower show on Sunday, April 5th. Many people came and met the regular exhibitors as well as newcomers to get ready for spring in its beautiful gardens. Local producers and artisans were also present. Food was available on-site at several restaurants, and the association's refreshment stands had some wonderful sweet treats!

06/02/2026

Happiness for barbecues, planchas and wood fire lovers.

The design of the Brasero Saturn is shaped like a cup on a corten steel base.The base of the Saturn High Brasero has a height of 70cm.

The circular cooking plate is made of ground steel and has a thickness of 10mm. The plate is available in the following 4 diameters: 60cm, 80cm, 100cm and 120cm.

Steel is an excellent conductor offering a perfect grip and suitable for all foods: meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, …

By making a wood or coal fire in the center of the brasero, the plate heats from the center to the outside.
Cooking temperatures are higher the closer the food is to the inside and gradually decreases towards the outer edges, so that a variety of foods can be cooked at different temperatures at the same time.

The base of the Saturn brasero is used to store logs.

13/01/2026