Blue Monday....

26 Sept 2011

candle stick, oil lamps & u just name it 

After a much needed rest over the weekend Jerry and I were busy “tearing things up” again today. We decided to get the grenier (attic) in order since at some point in time there will be two bedrooms and at least one bath up there. With the plumber coming soon we had to get the space cleared out so he could run the pipes, drains and whatever else plumbers do to the proposed salle de bain. Jerry gave me instructions on where to clean out and then he and Jake took a walk in the village. He was posting signs trying to sell the wine wagons, sprayer, iron, etc, etc. that we can’t dispose of. I was happily anticipating finding another treasure when something alive slipped out of the attic and into the pile of bags I was filling up with debris. Jerry and Jake found me on the first floor waiting for them to “go first” into the grenier and see what that sneaky thing was I saw. They found nothing but dust balls, dirt, spider webs and stacks and stacks of wood. Jerry filled the bags, I handed him empty ones and Jake supervised the entire job. We now have everything out of the back grenier that we intended to clean out (lots of wood taken to the dechetterie and lots more wood to take to the dechetterie). Apparently they threw no wood away because they used it to heat the house. We did find a couple of “treasures”. Jerry found a walking stick, which was useful for him after he demolished the defunct chimney that was in the grenier…all the wood is gone but the floor is now filled with chimney debris! Tomorrow we haul off stone….down three flights of stairs! I found a small silver candle stick, a small tin ware bowl with a lid, two old oil lamps and something else that has to do with filling wine bottles I think. It is now in a large, homemade, wooden thing that is sort of like an old fashioned bread bowl but it is rectangular. I also found another apron…this one made of a canvas like material and a bag made of the same material. I have found what appears to be a huge pot holder made of the canvas stuff and what intrigues me is they have all been initialed in cross stitch! I am trying to figure out how to get the wine and dirt stains out of them but they may have to just be stained…

Demo Jerry

Grenier Rubbish

We also had a visit from a “cousin” of the Fabre’s, the former owners of the Ruin. She was familiar with the house and wanted to see it again. Jerry and I are always glad to show our Ruin to anyone who wants to see it so in she came. Nicole speaks no English but that didn’t stop her from telling us all about the house. Jerry and I got some of what she was saying but a lot of it just went in one ear and out the other without registering any sort of recognition. She was very excited about the house being renovated and asked us our plans for the house. We tried in our very best French to explain what we were going to be doing to put it back in shape and she happily told us what her vision of the “Grand Maison” was. It was an entertaining half hour and she asked for our phone number, was terribly disappointed we were staying in Pezenas during la renovation (“Pezenas is tres small, nothing to do as opposed to Beziers” where she lives) kissed me goodbye and headed off with her long suffering husband in tow. I can not imagine talking to Nicole over a phone line……  

Roller Skates!



 A little more of the garage was cleared so we could store the wainscoting from the salle de manger and the sejours.  In the clearing we found more junk (imagine that) and a pair of skates, a big white corning  ware bowl and two paring knives.  I also looked thru the stuff we found the first day and there was an cast iron cooking pot that would be used over an open fire.  It is terribly rusted and I need someone to tell me how to clear up the rust.  The pot is in excellent condition except for the rust!    

My Rusty cooking pot

Tomorrow we clean out the grenier (again) and start the demolition on the bathroom.  Wonder if we will find another walking stick…I will probably need one by the end of the day!

Jerry and his walking stick