Wednesday, 2 April 2025
A Coincidence
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
The Sand Dwellers
Any patch of sand in a sunny spot is likely to have residents, especially if it is near a patch of willow. At this time of year, look out for solitary bees, which ironically, may form large colonies in suitable sandy habitats. You may spot these three species in particular:
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Grey-backed Mining Bee nest. |
Grey-backed Mining Bee Andrena vaga -- a large shining black mining bee with lots of buffy grey 'fur' on the thorax. Abundant and specialising in willow, collecting the bright yellow pollen to store away in its nest hole to feed its larvae.
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Female Grey-backed Mining Bees, with and without pollen loads. |
Vernal Colletes bee Colletes cunicularius -- a large dark brown bee with dense tawny 'fur' on the thorax. They produce a waterproofing substance from a gland in their abdomen that they smear on the inside of the underground brood cells that they dig. Colletes can be identified by a distinctive S shaped vein on their wing.
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Vernal Colletes. |
Lathbury's Nomad Bee Nomada lathuriana -- a parasite of Grey-backed Mining Bees. They have a three coloured abdomen and tawny hairs on the abdomen. The nomad bee lays its egg in the nest of the mining bee and its larvae hatch first. They then eat the mining bee egg and its stock of pollen.
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Lathbury's Nomad Bee. |
All photographed in early April 2023 in the same few metres of compacted sandy soil on the island in the Loire at Amboise.
Monday, 31 March 2025
Petit Sale aux Lentilles
This time of year is a good moment for putting petit salé aux lentilles on the table.
You will need: A piece of uncooked brine cured pork belly cut into strips, some vegetables for making stock, bay leaves, garlic and peppercorns. And lentils. We prefer the local green (or pink) Berry lentils, but any green or brown lentil will do.
Chop the vegetables into dice and put in a saucepan with a little oil, bay leaves, peppercorns and whole garlic. Heat on medium heat to soften the veggies slightly then put in the petit salé and cover with water. As soon as the water starts to boil reduce the heat so that the water is just moving, cover and leave for a couple of hours. Once the meat is soft remove it from the stock, put on a plate and cover.
Wash your lentils, put in the pan, reduce heat to a simmer, and leave until they are almost soft, but have a little bite in them. Add the pork back to the pan for 5 minutes.There you go - a very traditional French recipe for very little effort.
Sunday, 30 March 2025
That'll be Wattle
Saturday, 29 March 2025
A Long Way From Home
Friday, 28 March 2025
How Are 'Our' Ukrainians Getting On?
The Association d'Accueil et Accompagnement ddes Réfugiés en Sud Touraine, of which I'm a committee member, has been working with displaced Ukrainians since the beginning of the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Nataliya and Anna, both of whom have moved to bigger cities where there are more opportunities.
So it is three years already since the sad exodus from Ukraine and the arrival in Preuilly sur Claise and surrounding villages of 'our' Ukrainian families.
Since April 2022 AARST has striven to accompany the Ukrainians in the different aspects of their lives here -- housing, health, administration, learning the French language, education, employment, transport and leisure.
Franco-Ukrainian Christmas party.
Today there are 24 Ukrainians in Preuilly, 6 in Yzeures sur Creuse, and 10 in la Roche Posay. So 40 people in all, of which 14 are children.
The children speak better and better French, and receive a mostly normal education. All of the women work -- at the retirement home, home help, local businesses, restaurants, school cantines, the town hall, and some have their own businesses (eg as couturiers). They have become independent. One family has left for Tours so their older children can continue their education. Another family has emigrated to the United States.
Our beautiful Ukrainian women.
Some families have had their share of bad news from Ukraine or have had to face serious illness. They all hold their heads high, despite the war that goes on and on. AARST entered 2025 knowing that the uncertainties are likely to persist. But there is always some hope that the war will end this year.
'Our' families still have numerous needs to be met by us, but our team of volunteers is wonderful, always ready to help, and we have the support of the town halls of Preuilly and Yzeures, other charitable associations and donors.
Ukrainian children playing at a picnic I organised.
Thank you everyone.
Mainly translated from Christiane Beau's annual report for AARST. She is the president and founder of AARST.