Rocking Your World 2021: Week 13

Well we are back onto a shorter post this week after last week's rather lengthy effort. It has been a fairly straightforward week with more ups than downs I am pleased to say.

It has been a sunny and comfortably warm week so most afternoons I have sat out on the porch for a couple of hours relaxing, before going down to my room to craft or to the kitchen. I did do a little bit of baking this week. I saw a recipe for 'Tarta de Santiago', and really wanted to give it a go. The name Santiago has a Latin origin and is a composite of old Spanish words for Saint and James. Tarta do Santiago is traditionally associated with the folk who make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestelo in Northern Spain. The main ingredient is almonds and it is often eaten with cheese. It is believed that the early pilgrims gathered almonds along the way and were given cheese from the farms they passed. The 'tarta' is fairly thin and is made mainly from ground almonds, and eggs, and is covered with sifted icing sugar with a cut out of Saint James cross in the centre. So to make mine authentic I used my cameo cutting machine to make a template of the cross, and it looks as it should (except I smudged my sugar a bit before I took the photo!)

However, I wasn't completely happy with it as it was more 'solid', what I call 'puddingy', like a heavy fruit cake, and I was expecting almost a soft shortbread texture. Years ago, these were sold in Lidl's around the time of the pilgrimage, and I loved them, but they have't had them for a long time now. So I am going to look for a different recipe and have another go soon. It hasn't gone to waste as we are still eating it, but instead of cheese, I am adding ice-cream or custard!

I heard from my son Mike this week with something that made me smile. Years ago,(1990 I think), when his older brother got married, Mike already had a new baby girl and I caught him on camera,  sitting at the back of the church, holding her, with her head in his hands, and talking to her as though it was just the two of them in the whole world. I loved that photo and know I still have it, but I can't lay my hands on it today. But many years later  when his son was born, I saw this cross stitch pattern and knew I had to make it for him. It was not an easy one because all the threads were shades of brown, and the aida fabric was fine, but he loved it. 

It hung in their house for a long time but when his marriage broke up, it 'went astray'. However, this week he went back to the house to retrieve some items from the loft, and there he found the picture and rescued it. Finlay is now almost 15, but he spends a lot of time at his dad's new home, and the picture will again be on display there, which makes us both happy.

About a month ago I showed some squares from my current blanket project, and I was about to start on a new ball of wool that was a rather strange combination of purple, lilac and orange. Well those three squares are now done. The orange is quite harsh but it will mix in with all the others I know. So now I have used all four of the balls in the original pattern, and I have sewn in all the ends, and done one round of dark blue (called blueberry but really a dark teal) around all of them, which pulls all the colours together. I will be using it to join them and work a border too.

The blanket in the pattern is three squares wide by four squares long, which is a bit smaller than I want, so I have bought three more balls in different colours, so that my blanket can be 4 x 5 squares instead. The one I am working on now is called Banana cream, and it is quite pale. I wasn't sure I liked this first square as I started doing it, but the deeper colours are creeping in now and grounding the very pale centre, and like the orange, I know it will blend in with the others. If I do the three squares from each ball as I have so far, I will have one square to many, so I will discard whichever ones doesn't fit in as well as the others when they are all done.

When my new office chair arrived I decided to keep the old one so that I have a seat for visitors, when they can come again. It isn't really in the way, and as it is on casters I can roll it around if I need to. But both Tolly and Tango have discovered it is there and they take it in turns to come and sleep on it. Tolly is curled up there now. It is nice because I have them comfortable in my company without them climbing over whatever I am trying to work on, and knocking everything down. Just occasionally one comes down here and discovers the other one has got there first. If Tolly is there, Tango will usually wander away again. But if Tango is there, Tolly just jumps up as well, and for a while they sit together happily. It doesn't last as Tolly wants to play and if he gets too rough they both get sent out. But it is nice while it lasts.

One other cause to be grateful this week was getting the results of blood tests and scans I have had for a health problem, and everything has come back within the 'normal' range, so that is a relief.

So now it is link up time with Rocking Your World and Annie's Friday Smiles.

P.S. Don't forget to spring your clocks forward on Saturday night. One less hour in bed for us all.

Rocking Your World 2021:Week 12

I seem to have had a busier week though I haven't actually done all that much, but I have quite a few photos so here goes.

Last week Virginia, on her Rocking Your World blog, told us about an App she had found that adds colour to black and white photos, so I asked her for the details. I couldn't get it for my PC where my only B&W photos are, but I managed to upload one to my phone. So here is a picture of me at around six months old, as the original and after the app had coloured it. It does work quite well and the colour is fairly natural. I might have to take a few photos in black and white mode so I have something to play with.

Another smile came from Tolly again. He seems to blend in with his surroundings and the other evening I couldn't find him, and then spotted him laying up on quite a high shelf among my photos and other knick-knacks. He can move very quickly and almost silently, and illustrates well the meaning of 'pussy-footing'. He can be really careful and get himself into a position like this without moving anything around him. However if  there is something on the table etc that catches his eye, he will pat at it until it falls on the floor, and then just walks off with a satisfied air!

Sunday was, of course, Mothering Sunday in UK. We celebrate on a different day in Spain, but I still heard from all my boys with video calls and messages which was lovely. I cooked a special lunch for us which we ate out on a sunny patio, and as it was such a nice day, we decided to walk it off along the sea front in Mojacar.

It was actually much quieter there than I expected, but we were a bit too early for the Spanish walkers who tend to have a long slow meal before walking. There were only one or two people actually sitting on the beach, and a few other exercising their dogs, which is allowed on the sands during the off-peak season. We sat and watched them for a while. They were enjoying their freedom and having fun together.

We walked quite a long way on the promenade and passed a few other folk doing the same. Then we sat down and had an ice-cream and walked back to the car. It was lovely and warm and very pleasant.

This is the season for mimosa blossom which grows everywhere here. One roundabout on the main Mojacar road is surrounded by it, and every branch is smothered with flowers. I still call it mimosa, as that is what it is usually called in UK, but out here it has its family name acacia, and in Australia where it also grows abundantly, it is known as wattle.

When I got home I made a batch of Welsh cakes for tea. Back during the war, my mum went with her two youngest children when they were evacuated to Wales. They stayed with a smithy and he made mum a griddle, which she used for the rest of her life. The smithy's wife taught mum to make Welsh cakes on it, and she would make them for our Sunday tea, and we loved them. Later she bought me my griddle and I used her recipe to make Welsh cakes for Sunday tea for my family. When mum came to live with us for the last ten years of her life, I made them for her Sunday tea, and she still loved them too. So what better way to end a lovely Mothering Sunday, than to have Welsh cakes for tea, in memory of my lovely mum .

Monday morning brought me a nice surprise - a parcel from my daughter-in-law. It contained a Mother's day card and a gorgeous crocheted gnome. Anyone who does any crafting will know that gnomes are in favour right now, so there are lots of patterns for them, but she had personalised mine by making it a sunflower gnome. The family still tease me about my sunflower dress and know how much I like them, so this was a perfect gift. Isn't she cute?

On Tuesday I went to the market to check the price of strawberries with a view to making some jam. It is the one thing I make that we both eat, though I have to ration my intake because of diabetes. They were still a bit too expensive on most stalls but I found one that had cheaper ones, so I bought 3kg. Last year I waited for the price to go down and almost left it too late, so I didn't want to do the same this year. They were beautiful fruit, almost too good to make into jam, but I bought a few extras for us to eat, and the rest I washed and removed all the green tops.

I put all the top halves that were still a bit white into my food processor and chopped them well, and the red parts I cut into large chunks. Soon I had around twenty jars of lovely jam. Jam jars used to be a standard size but now they come in all shapes and sizes so I have rather a mixture of them but the jam inside is still the same!

After a beautiful weekend the weather has gone downhill a bit again. We have had a lot of grey, colder days and a fair bit of rain. Yesterday started well but the forecast was not good so I decided to go for a walk around the village in the morning before it turned wet again. It was warm enough for walking in a short sleeve shirt but as I passed the Town Hall there was a lot of noise, and I realised it was the wind rattling the 'hands' on the tall palm trees that tower above the buildings

At the top of the village you can look over the railings down into the rambla (dry river bed) that runs around the village. That area is divided into small personal agricultural plots and some stables that the men use for their horses. They used to be very rough and ready spaces with just bare earth, and we often felt sad to see them herded together in  a small space with no shade etc. But the whole space has been reorganised and there is now a lot more horses there, but they have proper stable blocks, tarpaulin shelters for shade, plenty of fresh straw and a source of water, as well as more space to move around. Occasionally the men will ride some of the horses through the village in the evening, and they sit very proudly on them, so it was good to see them so well cared for now.

Then I walked down the slope into the rambla, and round the corner I found another paddock that wasn't there last time I went. It was properly fenced off and there were a lot more horses, ponies and mules, all well catered for and looking fit and healthy.

The little fenced off area bottom right, had a mother and her foal in it.

I walked on around the rambla and I came across a beautiful mimosa tree. It was a lovely shape instead of the usual straggly mass of branches, and it had the prettier, brighter yellow flowers rather than the ones on the sea-front.

of course, so many flowers means a lot of pollen, and usually it really irritates me, but perhaps because I had a mask on, I seem to have been unaffected by it this time.

As I walked back to the road down into the village again, I had to cross a small area of campo that was carpeted with these tiny daisies. They are a common wild flower and look like a miniature version of the daisies I picked last week (which still look lovely on my kitchen table). In between them there were a few blue speedwells. So pretty!

The track through the ramble has a high sloping bank up to the road at the top of the village and this had several big patches of wild lavender on it.

As I walked back towards home black clouds were gathering and it was clear the promised rain was closing in. So I hurried back and sure enough, a few minutes later the first drops started to fall. So I was glad I had decided to walk early instead of in the afternoon as I usually do.

And I think we have more of that to come. Today i read that Spring is taking a step backwards, and most of Spain will experience another bout of Winter weather over the next few days, with a steep drop in temperature, rain and even snow in some areas. It has certainly been chilly in the evenings and this is the nearest we have had to a sunset all week.

But not everything is bad news. Our virus cases in the village have dropped further, and seem to have stabilised throughout the province. We are now down to level two which means there is more freedom of movement, longer opening hours for shops and bars, and larger groups allowed in homes as well as bars and restaurants. So that is all good. Some parts of Europe do seem to be in trouble again, and our vaccination roll-out is slower than I would like, so I am hoping folk are sensible over the Easter week and keep observing the rules so we don't go backwards next month.

Sorry this has been rather a long post this week. For once I had plenty of photos and chat to share. Thank you for following me and adding your comments each week. I really do enjoy hearing form you.  I will now link up with Rocking Your World, and Annie's Friday Smiles, and after lunch I will do the rounds to see how you have spent your week.

Rocking Your Word 2021. week 11

Fancy it being week 11 already. Another three weeks and it will be Easter. It will be a rather subdued Easter week here as all the traditional parades and celebrations have been cancelled, though, of course, the usual church services will go ahead. I am sad for the local folk who have missed out on so many of their traditional fiestas. February 28th was Día de Andalucía, and this year it passed almost unnoticed except for a few green and white banners and flags in windows, and tied to the rejas rails outside door and windows, but there was no dancing, singing and of course, food in the marquee that usually marks the day.

Yesterday was another little bit of fun that was cancelled at its usual venue of the picnic area at the sports pavilion, but it was none the less celebrated in homes throughout the area. It was Día de la Vieja, (Day of the old woman), when children make paper munecas or 'dolls' on poles , dressed as an old women, (occasionally an old man), and with a head filled with sweets etc like a pinatta. These are normally taken to the picnic spot, and when the family have shared a meal together, the children beat the dolls with sticks and stones to retrieve all the 'goodies' inside. It's a strange affair but very much a part of the custom out here. Our Town hall asked everyone to send in photos of their 'Viejas' and they showed lots on their Facebook page. Most were photographed with the children who made them, but I thought it best to use a stand-alone one to show on here. I loved how many of them were wearing masks this year!

 

We have enjoyed some sunnier days this week. It is still cold in the evenings, but lovely to sit out in during the day as long as you can find a sheltered spot out of the wind. But Friday through to Monday it was still very grey, wet and cold. We had to go to Garrucha to finish off the renewal of our driving licenses. They both expire this week. Here we have to have a new photo, an eye test, a medical and sometimes a reaction test, to renew them once we are seventy. Because I am diabetic I needed a letter from my doctor as well, and Monday I had to take that to the office in Garrucha. We had done most of the tests and paper work last Friday. We parked the car at the start of Garrucha and walked all the length of the sea front and harbour, looking for the office, only to find it was closed on Fridays. So we walked all the way back again and found another office right next to where we had parked the car! But we didn't mind. It was good to be out walking a bit, and according to my fitbit I walked 10,000 steps, a record for me.

Anyway, we knew where to go when we returned on Monday, and with my doctor's note the work was soon done and we each have a cover note until our new licenses arrive. Chris' was renewed for the standard five years but they would only do mine for three years and then I will have to do it all again!

While we were there, we walked along the promenade for a bit. The sea was a steely grey, as was the sky, and the waves were strong and noisy. (Unfortunately I have never been able to capture that on camera properly).

All along the promenade there are tall palm trees. I don't know how they survive the wild winds that blow along there, and the salty air, but they seem to thrive on it. Already we noticed most of them had several buds of flowers opening so there will be a good crop of dates later in the autumn.

Garrucha beach always has lots of seagulls, I guess because it is a fishing port, so there is plenty of food around. But on Monday the wind and rain had driven them off the beach and they were soaring high above the palms and the apartment blocks.

I love watching them. They can be a bit scary close up, but they are very beautiful, and when they fly, they glide on the air currents in graceful loops.

Yesterday I spotted a little visitor in the garden. This is a female glow worm. It is only the second one I have seen on our property. I collected it on a leaf and it immediately curled up, but I put it on the table and left it alone, and it soon stretched out and started to walk again. So when I had taken its picture, I gently returned it back to the grass next door.

Apparently they like rain, so that is why she was on the move this week. Only the male can fly, so the female lights up her rear end to attract a mate. They are fascinating creatures and if you are interested in knowing more about them, there is a good, simple piece about them HERE.

And this made me smile so I hope you smile too.

Yesterday morning we took advantage of our slightly relaxed boundaries, and went to Vera to do some food shopping. The sun stayed out, so in the afternoon I decided to go for a short walk just in the village. There is a patch of muddy wasteland (campo) that is a short cut for us walking to the market or bakers and when I crossed it I spotted this fig tree. In winter the fig trees are completely bare of leaves, and have a smooth grey bark. But as soon as the weather improves the first leaves sprout, followed by the fruit. (I am sure there is flower stage in there somewhere but I have never noticed them!). So it was nice yesterday to see fresh green leaves sprouting from every branch on this old tree.

I crossed over and walked along the new pavement that has just been made all the way down the main road. It was a sea of yellow flowers. They are the delicate little oxalis, but they flower so profusely that every bit of land and roadside verge reminds me of the fields of rape that colour the landscape in UK. They are not quite so bright in these pictures as they were closing up, so I guess they only open wide in the mornings. Maybe the sun was too fierce for them early afternoon, which is the hottest hours of the day.

As the new pavement ran out, I turned in towards the urbanisation Huerta Nueva, which is a part of Los Gallardos, and completed a circle back to where I started. From the road back out to the village I turned and took these two pictures. The first is the Cabrera mountains. They are always a backdrop where ever I go around here. Some days they are as clear as a bell, and others they disappear completely in a clouds or sea mist. 

The second picture shows the little white town of Mojacar as seen across the campo. It feels so high up when you are there, but really it is dwarfed by the mountains just to the right of it. But it is a good bit higher than Mojacar playa, that runs below it.

I came home from my walk with a little bunch of wild marguerites. I love all the daisy flowers and they are another plant that grows freely on any waste ground. So I have a little bowl of sunshine on my kitchen table for a few days. Aren't they pretty?

And now I will link up with Rocking Your World and Annie's Friday Smiles. Hope you have a good week everyone.

Rocking Your World 2021; Week 10

Another fairly peaceful week has passed though it hasn't been the best weather-wise. The sky has been grey most days and there have been a few 'very dirty' showers of rain. We have given up cleaning the black glass table in our porch until the sun comes back. Right now it looks like another patch of garden!

The sun does break through occasionally but most evenings this is the only sunset we see.

(I still like looking at it, and watching to see how it changes).

I did manage to grab the two sunniest mornings to do two big loads of washing, and got it dry outside, so I was grateful for that. I do not own a tumble drier, and have very few places to hang washing indoors, so I need to make the most of any chances of outdoor drying. We have a very good weather app on our phones/computers, which is usually very accurate and that helps us to plan our weeks.

Our new office chairs arrived, one day later that expected, but the company did write to warn us and apologise for the delay. They are good sturdy chairs with a comfortably padded seat that slides backwards and forwards, as well adjusting to the required height. The back lifts up and down as does the head rest, as well as reclining and locking in one of three places. There is also a pump to increase the lumber support which I like. Even the arms can be raised or lowered, so they fit under the top of my desk. All in all we are very pleased with them. So I hope they last for a nice long time.

I decided to do some more baking but checking my cupboards I found I was down to enough strong flour, and enough spelt flour, for one loaf of each. I also only had one small portion of my preferred fresh yeast, and a small amount of dried yeast that was a month out of date so I wasn't sure how well it would work. But I went ahead using the dried yeast with the spelt flour and made a 'tin' loaf that worked really well. I like the spelt flour. It makes a nice even textured loaf without any huge air holes, and it rises well if I am patient and leave it long enough.

Then I used the strong flour and the fresh yeast to make a fruit loaf, using my Hot cross bun recipe. It also worked well, but I turned it out of it's tin a bit too soon which flattened it a little. But it still tastes fine. I love a slice toasted for breakfast or tea.

I was in the sitting room the other day, playing around with the settings on this phone camera, and I caught Tango sitting on one of the lower platforms of the cat tower, just staring at me. It is rare to get a picture of him actually looking at me. He is around ten years old now and is beginning to look his age. His fur has lost some of its colour, and is harder to keep looking nice, but he is still gorgeous, and a real comfort lover. He often sits on my lap because he  knows I won't let Tolly torment him there.

Tolly is a born tormenter. He really just wants someone to play with, and he goes to Tango because the others will fight him off, while Tango is so laid back, and he tolerates him until he gets a bit too wild!

They take it in turns to rest on the tower platforms, but don't often both lay on at the same time. But that night Tolly was up on the top platform. It is right by our big mirror, and although he doesn't react much to his reflection, he seems to prefer laying with his back to us, so he can keep an eye on what 'that other cat' is doing.

He is ten months old now, bigger than any of the other cats, and is developing his full colours. He has a very dark face which is typical for his breed, but still has beautiful blue eyes. His feet still have their white mittens, and he has one black heel, and is getting darker down his back towards his tail. He has the most full, fluffy tail I have seen on a cat, and he often carries it high above him. I am slowly weaning him off kitten food and introducing a little adult food in each meal, so when this lot is all gone, he can eat the same as the others, which will make life a bit easier.

We do have an adequate internet in the village, but it sometimes let us down and just drops for a while, and the speed could be faster, so we were pleased to see workmen outside the house this morning. They were laying cables for a fibre network system, and when I talked to one of them, he said it should be up and running in two to three weeks time. When they remade our road, back some ten years ago, we knew they built in the potential for underground cables instead of all the overhead ones that are everywhere, so it is good to see that being put to use.

Another thing we are very grateful for is that the number of virus cases here is dropping, not only in our village, but all over the province and most of the country. We are now well below the cut off point of 500 cases per 100,000, so when the next level of restrictions is announce tonight, we are very hopeful that we will no longer be confined to the village. We will be able to move around within the boundaries of Andalucía, go to larger supermarkets for a wider choice of goods, and drive down to the beach for a sea-front walk, all of which will be most welcome.

So now I will just link up with Annie's Friday Smiles and Rocking Your world.