Stories, seasons and life on the estate — sourced from shefer.micro.blog
Personal stories from Monique and Don Shefer-Stern — the seasons of the Château, renovation milestones, and the slow rhythms of life in Gascony. Full posts at shefer.micro.blog.
Last spring we started a little project to clean up some fallen trees overgrown with blackberry and blackthorn thickets. We were hoping to clear a flat area about 8×8m to use for storage. As we cleared we found the area was much larger than expected — 120m×9m of hidden ground.
Read on micro.blog →
Big storms and downed trees last week. The wind came in from the north, totally unheard of here. It took out a bunch of lovely old trees, mostly the ones with unhealthy or diseased root systems. So sad.
Read on micro.blog →
Spring springing — the first signs of new growth appearing all across the estate.
Read on micro.blog →
In the process of creating a new gite above the chapel, we have taken down the old (structurally unsafe) beams and will be redoing the floor both upstairs and downstairs. This mid-way stage gives us an opportunity to see the lovely old 9th-century chapel as it would originally have looked, before it was cut up into separate rooms.
Read on micro.blog →
Building a new toilet block for the event space at the old orangery — a necessary step toward making the Orangery fully operational as an event venue.
Read on micro.blog →
The chapel is getting a new life. Built 1,400 years ago, this Romanesque chapel used to be the village church. It has had many incarnations over the centuries — a chapel, a forge, a store room. In its new life it will be a meditation, yoga and dance studio. ✨
Read on micro.blog →
I picked up these nice old chairs on marketplace. Here they are drying after a couple of coats of anti-rust treatment. Giving old things a second life is one of the quiet pleasures of this place.
Read on micro.blog →
Lovely visit from the kind of old family friend that feels like family. Please come back soon dear Liz and family.
Read on micro.blog →
After part of our dining room ceiling collapsed, we decided to insulate the ceiling and the bedroom floor above it. We got to see the amazing wattle-and-daub of its 16th-century construction — twigs, horse hair and clay, and beautiful old beams — before rebuilding with modern materials. We are also replacing the dangerous old wiring while we're in there.
Read on micro.blog →
Did you know that it takes 7 days and dozens of locks to go from our local river port on the Baïse at Valance-sur-Baïse, up to Buzet-sur-Baïse and the Garonne river? From there you can travel all the way to Holland by canal boat… Albeit slowly.
Read on micro.blog →
After several months of digging ditches, running power and visits from our electrician, our new pond aerator finally has lift off! It doesn't look like much, but it's a very necessary first step to a healthy pond.
Read on micro.blog →
The sunflowers are blooming across the Gers. The estate is at its most golden and beautiful.
Read on micro.blog →The best way to handle a heat wave: the pool. Temperatures in the Gers in July regularly reach 38–40°C. The salt-water pool becomes the heart of daily life.
Read on micro.blog →
A little trip into Bascous. The heat is keeping everyone indoors, so these sleepy little villages are even quieter than usual — achingly beautiful in the golden afternoon light.
Read on micro.blog →
After a year off, I'm back on micro.blog. Here are some of this spring's projects, mostly still in progress: the stream and new overflow pond, the new chicken house and run, the new colombage for the pool tech room relocation, and new planting beds in the gite courtyard.
Read on micro.blog →
A good one — sometimes the Gers countryside simply takes your breath away.
Read on micro.blog →
I'm finally getting around to the pressed flower project I planned last spring. I guess there are advantages to running out of funds for big projects — it forces you to slow down and do the quiet, beautiful things.
Read on micro.blog →Looking forward to lots more renovation and development work at the chateau, we are inviting donations in exchange for country Christmas gift baskets, pampered vacations and retreats, estate tours, herb walks, oil paintings and more. Please consider buying your Christmas presents from us, and support the château at the same time. With thanks and holiday wishes — Monique and Don.
Read on micro.blog →
A lot of work and a lot of progress this autumn. We'll have to pause now, until we get 60 tonnes of gravel for the road and terrace, or wait until it dries out in June or July.
Read on micro.blog →
Chop and stack — the winter wood pile grows. There is something deeply satisfying about preparing for the cold months.
Read on micro.blog →More rocks! Eventually these will be a terrace and a greenhouse foundation.
Read on micro.blog →We went to the local raceway for the first time today. A formula one track in the middle of the French countryside — a lot of fun!
Read on micro.blog →
Lots of progress today! We carved a new road to the pool area from the west entrance, filled the giant hole we made looking for the pool hoses, and are currently backfilling the new terrace. So very satisfying.
Read on micro.blog →
Free stone!!! A lucky find — beautiful old stone salvaged and destined for the new terrace.
Read on micro.blog →
We arrived at the Château de Séailles and began the great adventure of bringing this extraordinary property back to life. Six hectares of park, woodland, orchard, vineyard and meadow, a 9th-century chapel, a 17th-century orangery, and an ancient bakery now transformed into a beautiful gite.
Read on micro.blog →
The 9×16m salt-water swimming pool sits beside the elegant 17th-century Orangery. These have been lovingly restored and are now shared with guests staying in the gite. Views from the pool terrace extend all the way to the Pyrenees on a clear day.
Read on micro.blog →
Walking the estate is an ever-changing pleasure. Ancient ponds, willow walks, vineyards, orchards, woodland paths and meadows. Sunrise over the south lawn. Morning mist rising from the hollows. The views to the Pyrenees on a clear day.
Read on micro.blog →
The Shefer family are on a grand adventure! We have taken on one of the most beautiful properties in the Gers — a historic château, its chapel, its orangery, its ancient ponds and six hectares of glorious Gascon countryside. The work is enormous, the joy is greater.
Read on micro.blog →