Quick trip

We managed a quick trip into Jalon, a nearby town that we really don´t frequent unless it´s for the vets. It has a funny vibe and doesn´t feel right.  They have a HELP charity shop there and I was hoping to find some suitable books for Theo to share during our video calls and to have here for when! they come over. Wasn´t a successful trip, the shop was really quite empty, then on the the vets to collect preventative flea treatments only he had forgotten to order them! Back on Tuesday.

I have planted okra again this year, putting more down than last as they seem to take so long to mature, also more french beans, as I noticed the snails have been busy again, despite putting crushed eggshells around the plugs. The same with the courgette, we have one more left, so have to barricade it in lol

Theo´s little jumper was nearly finished, or so I thought, but looking at the 2 glaring mistakes on the back, I just had to undo it, funny isn´t it, once you know it´s there it´s too hard to ignore.  The pattern is one row knit and the next P1 and knit 1 into the stitch below, never tried this before and somehow (lack of concentrations I expect) I had reversed part of 2 rows. Oh well on it´s way now.

A couple of years ago, Chris bought me some lilies, they have come up every year, but this year they have made such a lovely display. Just have to be careful to remove the stamens because of the furries.

 I´m also pleased the Gerberas are doing well, they are so colourful

Right, a jumper to finish, enjoy the weekend

take care

xcx

Dickie birds

 I received my first vaccination a couple of weeks ago, having registered on line. First I received a temporary SIP number (Spanish health care) and a couple of days later an appointment, although the appointment system didn´t seem to be adhered to, just a long queue. No real problems except with my dodgy immune system it exacerbated the fatigue, hey ho, overcoming that now.

Chris now qualifies for a permanent SIP card, so armed with lots of paperwork we went to the local health centre to register. I now have a temporary card which can be updated with yet more paperwork at a later date and Chris has his full one. Two big ticks on the ´to do´list.

The tray of peas have now been transplanted to their final site with round green beans waiting in the wings. Can´t say the same for the courgettes they just seem to be snail food.

Another hanging basket

This is our sage and rosemary patch, so pretty with all their flowers, gone a bit wild I think

and a sea view across the back garden - difficult to see, but it´s there

Getting to grips with one of the back beds, tough as old boots to weed.

With the warmer weather, out came the old flip flops, rather boring and very plain, so I jazzed them up a bit by adding a little bling with the glue gun

I purchased some chenille type yarn at the Chinese bazaar, 2e a ball, so for 5e I have a nice soft tactile cushion for the outside furniture. Never knitted with yarn this thick and needed 9mm needles, just plain stocking stitch, bit hard going but a nice result. As there was quite a lot left I picked up another one to make a second

Rebecca and I talk a couple of times a day, mostly with video so we can play with Theo and watch all his antics. The other day I was playing ´two little dickie birds´ with him, bit of a difficult concept for him only using two fingers, but at the end when Paul flies back he ran off and came back with his ball to show me. Well I suppose at that age ball and Paul do sound the same.

So I thought I would make some finger puppets for him to make it a bit easier

As he is not playing with them directly, I added embellishments and used the glue gun, so no sewing.

He loves to bring me things to show me and we join in together when he has quiet time with his books. Trying to make the most of a still very difficult time.

Well better be off, have a good weekend

take care

xcx

Big soggy

Well, the last couple of weeks seem to have run away from me.

It was my birthday on the 22nd and we decided to book into our little restaurant, Marias.  We haven´t had a meal there for about 18 months were looking forward to a treat. As it turned out the weather was atrocious, absolutely falling from the sky and at some points you couldn´t even see the road which is literally a few feet away from the place, due to the clouds. We had the place to ourselves though, which was quite relaxing not having to worry about distancing and the meal was excellent.

The wild boar came visiting again, this time digging up the ground behind the Naya, but at least it was easy to weed and flatten the ground again.  With all the rain the weeds in all the gravel areas have gone wild, so I spent 3 mornings weeding one area only, we shall have to spray it with a pet friendly spray as the areas are too large to keep up with.

A little bit of knitting, tweaking recipes, and chores, our kitchen floor tiles are white sunburst pattern, so you can image the muddy paws from all the furries straight in from the cat flap.

I suppose it´s going to be more weeding if the weather holds, it will look good when it´s done. Amazing how rescuing the pot plants from drowning in the courtyard from the deluge, they are now as dry as a bone, so watering time

take care

xcx

 

More visitors

We had a visit from some uninvited guests, we are aware of them at times but they usually keep to the lower terraces, this time they came up to the top one, but luckily didn´t venture into the garden.

Wild boar.... sometimes we hear them snuffling around at night and we beat a hasty retreat if we happen to be out there, large, powerful beasts that cause damage to the terraces and the stone walls. They have even destroyed a set of stone steps before now.

This time they completely dug up the ground in front of the mountain terrace, took the stone wall down and caused a right mess. Whilst it was an extra job we could have done without, their rooting around made weeding easier and then it was racked back. When they tired of that spot, they moved further on and did the same thing. Certainly excellent at grubbing up.

Chris took the opportunity of the dry days and has been busy with another painting, this time of Monster 

Rebecca asked for some way of keeping Bunny from falling on the floor of the car whilst she was driving, so I made a little harness using ribbon and velcro which I modeled on a knitted bunny I had previously made, with a length of ribbon and velcro that she can wrap round the car seat.

Hope it works and keeps Theo happy.

take care

xcx

Chompers paradise

 I have planted up most of the flowers now along with cherry toms, ensalada toms, peppers in their big pots. We have been having mixed weather, a few sunny warm days then more rain, great for the garden and makes weeding easier, but it brought out the monsters. Snails.... they have had a huge party in the courtyard with us unwittingly supplying the goodies. They have chomped their way through all the pumpkins and several of the courgettes. And breathe, just have to start again. Have to save the egg shells, crush them and put them around the plants, might be a deterrent.

I also saved the empty bag from the compost, cut it to fit and planted up a hanging basket. The trailing plants are some sort of succulent which was growing in the wrong place, so I transplanted them

The ever changing atmospheric pressures are still causing havoc with the fibro, so energy levels are down and not a lot of mojo going on. I have finished another little jacket for Theo, along with a small baby blanket for Rebecca´s friend, Marie. The blanket is sized for a car seat or pram wrap.

 

Keeping warm by the log burner has been the order of several days, reading or knitting a little and watching a little telly. I enjoy Escape to the country, picking up a few interior design ideas and seeing the different areas. Then Ready Steady Cook appeared, really interesting (if slightly annoying) to see what can be prepared in such a short space of time (with some license I´m sure), some good ideas for ingredients with a twist. Rebecca and I are always swapping recipes, easy, nutritious and suitable for Theo.

The other day with some pears going a bit soft, I made an easy dessert with a crumb base, cooked pears, both with cinnamon and ginger, then made a vanilla coconut cream, topped with fresh raspberries, grated chocolate and spearmint leaves. (It didn´t last long!)

  Hmmm, lunch time, best be off

take care

xcx

Plugs

We don´t venture out very much, probably because of the restrictions, even though they have been relaxed a little. It´s not a case of agoraphobia, more that being locked down and finding our own space quite adequate I think we may have become used to it and the effort to ´go´places at times seems too much.

Having said that, I really would like to visit the beach, just to listen to the waves, sit and reflect in the atmosphere, contemplate and chill. 

We needed a few things in town and to visit the post office, I also noticed that Lidl´s were having a garden event. I haven´t been in there for such a long time, but couldn´t resist the pull.

We picked up a few hand gardening tools at very reasonable prices, a sprayer for the weeds, seeds and plugs of Begonias, Tagetes, Gerbera and some larger Begonias. 

Then suddenly there were other items being deposited in the trolley, blue cheese (for hubby, I love it, but it would give me the most humungous migraine), different olives, I just fancy these moments, and then the checkout, where you realise that you hadn´t meant to spend that much. Although when broken down it was very good value

Still got some things to pot up, but getting there

The last photo is an ornamental wheelbarrow that my Mum had, it was in dire need of repair, so it was taken apart, sanded and painted.

I wanted to give it another coat, as the paint was absorbed more in some spots than others, but Chris preferred the rustic look, 

I finished off and posted another little jumper for Theo. I found some yarn in one of the Chinese Bazaars, a 100g ball for 2.00 euro. The quality isn´t bad so the whole thing cost just over 2e.

Time for a few chores, or knitting? wonder which one will win.... lol

take care

xcx

  

 

Artist in residence

It´s been cold, dull and yukky which doesn´t entice you outside, but nice to keep warm by the log burner.

Chris has been using our outside, open naya as his place to go to do his painting, but it´s been too cold for that too. I thought I´d share a couple of his latest ones.

Tiggywinkle decided to join in the fun

This is Saffie, a very independent girl although affectionate on her terms

 

Sunny decided he would try the painting box for himself

The view for this painting is from the top road looking over to the village with the almond blossom.

He has another one on the go, a scene of the plaza and church.

Right, lunch then a little knitting I think

take care

xcx