Mixed bag

Our internet is still pretending to be a yo yo, so we are having to be patient??!!...........

We really enjoy the cold Spanish soup gazpacho, very refreshing and ideal during the hot days when you really don't want anything to eat, so hubby decided to have a play

He took the basic ingredients, plus olive oil etc, a few tweaks and produced this

It was lovely, but it changes each time he makes it, now he is blending twice and sieving it to give a nice smooth texture, such a good way of using the plentiful veg around at the moment

Our vine has loads of white grapes on it this year, just need a little rain to help them swell, then it will be a race to beat the wasps......

half of the vine

 These are the first pickings of the almonds, we have a young tree in the driveway so they were easy to pick rather than putting the nets down and bashing the nuts, even though some of them were small, the kernals were quite large, plump and on sampling yummy.  We have around 16 almond trees, wonder what the yield will be this year

 Some more refurbishments - the watering can was in a sorry state with it's spout broken , after a quick solder and a lick of paint, good as new, the  little wheelbarrows came up nice too

Puff (the dragon) with his buzy lizzies

 

 

 

Needed a little over the shoulder bag for just those few essentials, really wanted this for the fiesta but guess I was a little late lol, came up quite nice using bamboo and cotton yarn

Saw this cute little rabbit pattern complete with its own wardrboe of clothes, just had to have a play to see how it came out

pattern from www.bysmallmeans.com

Isn't it cute, dungrees, a little dress and hat as well.

We are expecting storms for the next few days so time perhaps to play further.

Of to batten down the hatches

take care

.

Refurbishing

 Been busy refurbishing - removed and painted all the door furniture, bolts etc including the gates to the courtyard, the fierce sun soon discolours them, now they are all bright and shiny again. Gloss painted the interior sides of the front doors and their shutters and hubby did the outside of them, so much nicer again.  You can only do these jobs in the morning as it's so hot that the paint dries on the brush

Whilst I had the painting bug I revamped these sorry looking wooden flower decorations

before

after, ready to use

 I found this lamp lurking in a sorry state

parafin lamp

 A couple of coats later

 

like new

 Amber is a funny little cat, she really doesn't like to be touched very much and certainly hates being picked up, and yet she always wants to be near to where ever we are, she decided to take comfort by cuddling a ball of merino wool

 Decided to check out Ravelry and look for some wrist warmers - found several nice patterns and chose some bamboo yarn. unfortunately the yarn hasn't much 'give' but in fact will be ideal for DIL as she has very small hands.

One for the pressie box

These will be good for the christmas stockings, DD suggested I was being very organised, but as we all know the time flies and crafting pressies isn't always the quickest option, but certainly a satisfying one.

I found another pattern using a cable stitch which I thought would be good for DS, but not being a very experienced knitter, came across a slight problem (for me) so I emailed the designer with my query and she responded by return including a chart for definition, offering further help if needed - how lovely, crafters are such nice people.

It's about 32C + at the moment, I think I can hear the pool calling.............

take care

Grrrrr

Still plagued with internet connection problems - getting really annoying now,we have just had a call from the company who have at long last admitted they have changed the signals and we are now on the very edge for receiving!!!! it's taken months for them to say this whilst all the time taking monthly payments without giving a service, even harder Grrrrrrrrrr...............................it seems the only way out is to change to satallite which is both restrictive and costly.......

Unbelievably it is now a week since our fiesta, we were festers this year, so it was our job to make sure all the tables and chairs were out and covered, preparing the table dishes, mainly olives, peppers, silver onion, and tomato mix, plates of monkey nuts, special beans (which I can't remember the name of) and of course sandia (water melon). Then of course all the clearing up after everyone had gone.

Friday followed the usual format, everyone brings their picnic and the hub bub of noise in the plaza grows, after the tables have been cleared away it's time for the music.  This year hubby had agreed to set up his gear and do a gig too, unfortunately there seemed to be a little local politics going on, with the usual guy refusing to take his break so hubby could play, so he didn't get on until 1.30am.  However he was well received and everyone enjoyed his music and it's paved the way for a long spot next year as well as the local mountain restaurants all suggesting he goes to play for them.

Quieter Friday night

 Saturday was much busier and the plaza soon filled with people

Setting up Saturday, taken from our balcony which is actually  our ground floor

the plaza was packed, dancing after dinner

 

 The music continued until 3am.  

Sunday morning was the church service and parade of Santa Barbara followed by the races for the cockrells and all the children's races.  The refreshments were a lovely lemon ice slush, great in the heat of the day and cake, next years festers received their slab of cake adorned with a carnation.

Early evening saw a return this year of the traditional dancers, whirling and twirling

traditional dancers

 

The plaza filled a little more for the dinner and then it was time for more music and dancing.  Luckily the music stopped around 1am, it had been a very long weekend with very little sleep and I have to admit that it has taken nearly all week to get back to normal again.

We will have further duties in December when they have another church service, but then our year will be over and next years take over, the fund raising begins in December so its quite involved.

have a great weekend what ever you are doing, take care