Friday Smiles 2023; Week 7

What a grey, cold week we have had, so mostly we have stayed indoors, grateful for a warm fire and hot food; two things that make us much more blessed than many folk right now. Saturday was the Winter "Commercial Day", intended to raise awareness of the many small businesses in the village. As it was such a cold and rather damp evening, and we had no need to buy anything, we opted to stay at home this time, so we will have to double our response to the summer one later. But in the morning we did hear music outside so we went to the front door in time to see the Los Gallardos and Bédar band marching up the road, I think to remind us that there was something happening later in the day.

The marquee remains up on the car park after Christmas until after Día de Andalucía on 28th Feb, so on Saturday the Town Hall organised games and entertainment in there for the children to keep them occupied while their parents shopped. As it was so cold they posted on Facebook that there would be a heater in there, so I guess they were worried that not many folk would turn out for it.

On Monday I went to a new Spanish class - new to me anyway. I had heard what a good teacher they had, and I find that I don't use my Spanish often enough so I am forgetting some of it, so a refresher class seemed like a good idea. I really enjoyed it. Everything was within my capabilities, but the practice is invaluable. I find I can speak adequately and read intuitively, but I still cannot hear when it is spoken to me, so I am hoping this will improve my listening skills.

On Wednesday I went to my sewing group as usual. I managed to sell some of my new marmalade as well as some from previous years. I wanted to sell some of this to make room on my shelves for the new batches, so I sold it off at a reduced price. When it is kept for a year it goes a lot darker and the flavour is more intense. I actually prefer this more mature one, and several of my fellow-crafters seemed to agree. Here is half of the room, with everyone busy knitting, crocheting or sewing quilts etc, and of course having a good old natter too. There is a second table in the other half of the room, and we are almost up to our pre-pandemic numbers now.

Of course there are some more photos of Leo. He has started to share my lap with Tango more and they are getting quite used to one another. Tapping noses is fine, but Tango will flap his tail and of course, to Leo that is a clear signal to play with it - not so good!

I don't know whether there is a visible shutter on my phone camera, but Leo seems to sense when I am trying to photograph him. Instead of turning his head away like the other cats do, he stares into the lens and then 'attacks'. This was just as he was about to leap at it!

He has chosen Dad's crochet Celtic lap blanket as his favourite spot for an afternoon nap. He is nearly camouflaged on it and I think he knows, as when I am looking for him and calling his name, he stays very still and hopes I won't notice him!

Keeping busy in the kitchen with the oven on is always a good way to keep warm so this week I made another batch of marmalade with the second half of the oranges I was given. I know you have seen lots of photos like this, but there is something very satisfying about a stack of freshly bottled marmalade with the sun shining through it. I wish this was a scratch'n'sniff page, because the citrus smell in the kitchen is so good.

I also had a go at making the Oat Loaf that Leeanna shared the recipe for last week. I had to adapt the ingredients a little but it turned out very well. It tastes great but I think next time I will try to grind the flour a little more as my bread was very textured.

I realised the other day that I have never shown my finished mandala that I was making last year. It took me ages to find a suitable hoop but eventually I did manage to buy a wooden one. I had no space to hang it until all the Christmas decorations came down, but a few weeks ago I did get around to stretching it onto its frame and it now hangs on the sitting room wall next to other one I did some time ago. So here it is. It makes a lovely splash or colour in what tends to be a rather dark room.

And finally, a friend posted this on his Facebook page this week and it really made me smile. It is so very true. Much as I hate these cold days, I am also not very keen on the really hot ones. So here's hoping we have a nice long Spring, and an early Autumn with just a little bit of 'too hot' Summer in the middle.

So now I will get ready to link up with Annie's Smiles in the morning, and get back down to the sitting room to light the fire ready for this evening.