tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19773144077374485632024-03-05T18:30:53.738+00:00Living the Dream PortugalFrugal living in the Portuguese countryside,Eco-tourism, Agri tourism, recipes,family life, self sufficency, eco living, vegetable growing, tips and self help ideas for country living.Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-1233888318189108782012-11-15T13:25:00.001+00:002012-11-15T13:25:06.108+00:00Goodbye.. and Thank you.Just a quick mini update . The new owners are taking over, we are off on our travels, my health is slowly improving and will take a while longer. I am leaving the blog up for a while at least as I feel there is tons of info on here that people may find useful, well I hope so..<br />
Im going to switch off the comments facility though.<br />
Thank you every much for reading my ramblings and all your lovely comments.<br />
I hope you all find your own dreams..<br />
PatRick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-3265518546299502722012-06-15T13:08:00.000+01:002012-06-15T13:08:43.323+01:00Mara's Cottage Rentals and other stuffAlthough the house is sold life here will carry on untill almost Christmas, so we are still open for cottage rentals, as much as possible as we still have to live untill the sale goes through!<br />
We still have a huge crop of potatoes to harvest in a few weeks time, we have cabbages to eat now, and I may well plant a few more too, the beans rick planted while I was away are going great guns and we will eat a few green but leave a lot to dry as we plan on squeezing in the maximum food possible to take with us in the motorhome so we can eat well on our own veggies during the winter in Spain, it will keep our costs down too.<br />
We have now around 45 tomato plants ... I had grown some rick planted during the rainy season we had, which we thought were not doing well due to the colder wet spring, so I quickly germinated a lot more... now the new ones are great and the first batch are even bigger... I will sundry as many as I can, plus make as much tomato puree as I think we can carry... and just eat pasta all winter...<br />
We've eaten our fresh peas and had them every day to avoid freezing them, plus we are still having broad beans most days in some way too...<br />
I have three good rows of baby parsnips coming up too, which we will hopefully get to eat some at least, but the rest will stay in the ground for our new owners to finish.<br />
The peppers just didnt make it... and obviously now we wont replant, the aubergines are picking up slowly so we will get some, but as I cant take my freezer there is no point in producing tons anyway.<br />
The corn is pretty meagre too... So I am slowly building up my stocks of dry goods, flour, oats, dried beans, lentils, pasta rice, sugar, herbal tea, coffee etc stuff we can take with us for winter.<br />
<br />
We wont be taking much with us, as when we came here we just brought basic cooking utensils /bedding/ and tools and our precious things, we will be traveling until we find the right area for us so some will be stored with a friend but most of our stuff will be sold off or given away...<br />
Luckily Im not materialistic...<br />
We will have our girls (the dogs) each other and a new life to look forward to.Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-68845674959872732902012-06-14T11:12:00.002+01:002012-06-14T11:12:20.589+01:00The house is sold...So... there we have it, our house is sold as of last night, luckily we got a full price offer, which we of course accepted and our buyer has signed and paid his deposit... <br />
They are a nice couple who plan to come and grow using Permaculture methods... <br />
We are very happy that the people who are buying are in a lot of ways continuing on the dream that we had for the place.<br />
Of course in many ways we are sad to leave, is a wonderful country, with lovely people. But its time for us to move on , new places and different challenges in life... <br />
We will be here untill december, then we will go to Spain for the winter in our motorhome, then tootle on to the Czech Republic & Germany in early spring.Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-11141761697316018802012-06-01T21:43:00.004+01:002012-06-01T21:48:40.650+01:00Oooh Lovely new season crops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes today we dug the first couple of plant of our new season potatoes, its a tad early, but they looked okay and we just couldn't wait... although we are not huge potato eaters, we love new spuds...<br />
we only dug a couple of plants, just enough for two or three meals for us as a treat..it equates to the half a washing up bowl you see hereabouts... you just cant beat the taste...<br />
We are still picking broad beans, so far I've frozen almost 20kilos, and still another large picking of maybe another ten kilos or so before we finish, we've been eating them fresh almost everyday, luckily we love them...<br />
The baby lettuce is just coming on ready too... we'll start on them this week, mixed with a few dandilion leaves and some borage leaves, makes a delish salad...I may well make some borage leaf fritters too or even some ravioli... yum...<br />
The garden is very behind this year, a combination of me not being here, and the terrible weather we had during the whole of April and early May, so much rain, some plants drowned and some just didn't flourish, the corn is pretty poor, as are the peppers... I'm going to give the peppers a nice feed of comfrey liquid and hope for the best, the corn I will weed, and then go round and pop in more seed in the very large gaps...<br />
Meanwhile the aubergines are starting to pick up a bit, still very behind but signs of life there now...<br />
The few squash are going well but I've more germinating in the greenhouse, again they will be a late crop this year.<br />
The cabbage is looking great, as always! Both red and green are hearting up nicely, the beans Rick planted have come on great guns, and I plan to plant another block of French beans next week..<br />
The toms are doing very well and I will pick a few meals worth of peas next week ...<br />
I still haven't managed to plant the damn Basil yet...<br />
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Ive been managing to get two or three hours in most days, then have to have a sleep in the afternoon.... but at least Im gradually getting stuff done, Im almost caught up with the weeding around the cottage and guest area and around the house , as we have had a few house viewings this last week or so, nothing has come of them but there were some very positive people and comments which was nice..<br />
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I'm just about to cut up and freeze the last of last years huge pumpkins, and a few butternut squashes.. nice to get ahead for soup for next winter...<br />
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I'm busy planning and adding to my store cupboard for winter too.<br />
While I was in the UK I managed to stock up on Pearl Barley, stew mix(a nice mix of grains and lentils etc) Suet for dumplings, dried fruit which I find expensive here, plus some shampoos and stuff...<br />
I've been buying extra Pasta the last few weeks and now am moving onto Rice ... Im determined to have a huge store cupboard this winter so we don't have to worry about anything...<br />
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Next week we visit the house of a friend who is away in England for a few weeks and will harvest some of his Cherries... I plan a few jars of jam... Mmmmm my fave jam!<br />
Our Peach trees are looking good too... hopefully plenty of them for bottling and jam this year too..<br />
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Another couple of weeks will see the wild Fennel ready for picking, I plan to make around 20 litres of Liquer this year... It just vanishes...<br />
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So much to get organised... my herbs are sprouting and we've already been enjoying herb butters, plenty of chive butter for the new spuds... Ive picked catnip, yarrow, Mullien and lemon balm for drying and later there will be tons of lavender...the sage wont be long either...<br />
Oh well I rambled on for long enough ...<br />
<br />Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-8111797799360379152012-05-14T16:03:00.000+01:002012-05-14T16:03:07.791+01:00Free Accommodation in Portugal for the summer..We are looking for someone, either a single bloke or a couple, to live here for the summer or longer if it works for all concerned.<br />
We offer the caravan accommodation, including free electricity & water, plus a share of veggies from the garden in season. The caravan has a shower and portaloo, a heater for when needed, sleeps two, (14ft) and is basic but comfortable. Possible use of small area of land for own cultivation.<br />
All we ask is 3 hours help a day on our land and with wood collection. You must be able to drive and love dogs!<br />
email me ASAP... patricia@livingthedreamportugal.com to discuss...Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-57885692676464491192012-05-14T15:57:00.000+01:002012-05-14T15:57:04.677+01:00House For Sale UpdateYes the house is still for sale, we've had a few people come and look but no takers yet, we are just continuing on as before but looking for ways to cut our workload to make life more manageble for me and my health, poor Rick cannot do it all alone. He is also only doing week long training clinics abroad this year, so he can be home with me more , but it means the chance of his job away has fallen by the wayside sadly.<br />
So, if you are thinking of a new life in the sun... give us a call or drop me an email...<br />
Check out our webpage about this place please...<br />
www.buyoursmallholdinginportugal.weebly.com <br />
<br />Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-62721619764033765512012-05-14T15:50:00.000+01:002012-05-14T15:50:03.171+01:00Home at last!I'm finally home, and so very pleased to be here. Im still not completely well but hopefully this time will continue to improve . I have to take it easy still, but am looking forward to working the land and enjoying the summer .<br />
The tangerine tree in the garden is in flower and coupled with the warm weather was a beautiful fragrant welcome home for me, I love Portugal in the Spring and early summer, its so beautiful with all the wild flowers and citrus fruit trees in blossom, the air is scented and absolutely heavenly.<br />
Also as the temps in North Wales never went above 14º the whole time I was there, the lovely 28º I came home to was very welcome ...<br />
The heavy rain that troubled Portugal while I was gone has caused havoc in the veggie garden though, all our aubergines, peppers and most of the squashes have just drowned and completely rotted away. <br />
We will have to replant as fast as we can and hope this warm weather will bring them on fast!<br />
The cabbage, both red and green are doing fine, as are the couple of rows of beets Rick managed to get in, he worked like a trojan and planted all our spuds singlehandedly and they are looking great, and the beans are popping up everywhere. The sweetcorn is just coming up in places, so we hope not all has rotted away...<br />
We have had to make the decision to only plant bare basics this year, as we will struggle to cope with the work of caring for it all. <br />
I will plant some late parsnips next week, plus some basil, summer wouldnt be summer without the gorgeous scent of fresh cut basil in the house... tomato salad just isnt worth eating without it..<br />
The ton of broad bean seed we planted in the autumn has paid off, we have just started picking a mountain of them... and I really do mean a mountain.. the pics below should show just how many, we filled the red laundry basket first, then had to use the plastic fruit tray, and still had six rows to pick that we couldnt fit in...<br />
I spent yesterday podding& freezing them.<br />
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Obviously we are eating them fresh everyday too....Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-22427264819823118652012-04-25T18:15:00.000+01:002012-04-25T18:15:04.726+01:00Home & AwayJust a quick note to say I am in Wales at my daughters, Ive been here two weeks now, I just wasnt getting much better at home, the medicine and doctors bills were crippling us, so I decided to come and stay untill I am better. I am getting there slowly,but it will be a while before I can go home.<br />
We have had a few viewings on then house, but nothing exciting yet...<br />
Poor Rick is trying to cope with all the planting and work single handedly at the moment..Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-89947446283251792802012-03-12T09:22:00.001+00:002012-03-12T09:22:51.741+00:00Life carries on...So for the meantime, as we dont expect the house to sell overnight, we have to carry on with normal life. That means starting to get ready for planting. Ive already managed to plant a few peas, Im growing them up the old tomato trellis this season, and the tomatoes which have been in the same place three years running are getting a change of scene.<br />
Yesterday, I cleaned out the little wood and plastic housy that Rick made me which serves very well as a greenhouse , and as we-ve been collecting yogurt pots all winter, Ive planted up tons of seeds, the usual for us, courgettes, Uchi Kuri squash, big pumpkins, little pumpkins, spaggetti pumpkins, Butternut squash, and tons of tomotoes. Ive also started off my Petunias and sweetpeas that I use in tubs to pretty up the cottage area, plus some Portuguese flowers I dont know the name of, stunning colours, of Cerise and yellow and sometimes a mix of both. They open in shade so are good for all sorts of odd corners.<br />
Gareth has gone... and we miss him loads, he has gone to friends of ours in Austria for the summer, a great placement for him and Im sure he will be well looked after, but he was here so long he felt like family.<br />
The broad beans down on the orchard area are in flower, sadly they are a little stunted due to lack of water, we-ve had no real good rain now since last spring, the odd day here and there but nothing to make a difference. The orchard generally is very wet during winter as it has a winter run off spring that flows from the wall. It hasnt flowed all winter. And we have no way of getting water down there easily. So we just have to take what beans we get and be glad for them.<br />
The main house garden area will look better this summer too, over winter I just stuck in some odd cuttings around the lovely stone walls the lads built, and have noticed recently two of the climbing roses have taken plus a couple of Yuccas, and a few other bits and pieces. I just have to get my self into gear to tidy it and weed a little.<br />
Im gradually trying to do more around the place I am feeling a little better the last three days. I can feel a definate improvement, but apparently its going to be a long job...<br />
I have added the link of the house sale site to our friends list , It would be lovely if we sold it via here. I so want this place to go to someone who understands what we-ve been doing here and why...Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-40874142574428186062012-03-06T15:22:00.003+00:002012-03-06T15:22:49.845+00:00Very Tough Choices.House for Sale.Well its been a lot time since I updated this blog, and Ive put it off for quite a while for one reason and another.<br />
The last few weeks have been especially difficult, I been pretty ill for almost two months now and just the day to day struggle has been enough to make me not bother with this.<br />
The good news is after various different hospital emergency rooms and visits, I finally got an appointment for an endoscope exam. Not the most fun way to spend an afternoon I might add. But at least a decent diagnosis and some more effective medication. I have severe duodenal ulcers, quite unpleasant and very painful.<br />
All this has meant that the amount of work done here by me has dwindled to almost nothing, just about managing to put a meal on the table for the hardworking men around here. Gareth is still with us but will be moving on at the weekend to Austria, we will miss him like mad, he has become so much part of the family. We had a fleeting visit from a young French Canadian called Dan, he stayed about ten days and helped Gareth with weeding and wood collecting. Rick of course plods on and as ever works incredably hard , but is feeling the strain alot too now. He also is getting busy with his Softball work, he will be going to Tempo Prague at the end of the month for an unknown amount of time. He already turned down a season long coaching job in Germany as we didnt know how well I would be to be here alone for so long. It looks as if in future years he may well be away for months at a time during coaching season and thats not something we had planned for when we came here. But very exciting for him and his career.<br />
So...<br />
We have put the house up for sale. Yep, the whole lot, house, guest cottage pool, caravan land etc etc...<br />
We both feel it is time to move on and look at new and different challenges in our life. We have absolutely loved our time in Portugal but the Czech Republic beckons to us...<br />
I have created a website especially for the house, it gives as much info as I can manage and lots of pictures.<br />
Hopefully someone special will come along and buy it, its such a special and unique place it deserves someone good to take care of it and finish what we started...<br />
www.buyoursmallholdinginportugal.weebly.comRick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-56425196485243488672012-01-21T10:32:00.002+00:002012-01-21T10:45:47.589+00:00General Update.<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn0epj5x7yNm8cPccu-xlnw8WES0IKF6o2cxukw7z8q17Zdw4maWNx8ycNxqeHP69uu5-AqYCV6l9hu8-mRuAAdO_U0BWYbJipcnFy45fGbC75hctncpyZV67OCRnndoq743J4SyyqQ/s1600/Imagem+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn0epj5x7yNm8cPccu-xlnw8WES0IKF6o2cxukw7z8q17Zdw4maWNx8ycNxqeHP69uu5-AqYCV6l9hu8-mRuAAdO_U0BWYbJipcnFy45fGbC75hctncpyZV67OCRnndoq743J4SyyqQ/s640/Imagem+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I know its been ages... sorry..<br />
This is the morning view of our valley.... stunning isnt it...<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Things are still very hectic, we've lots of guests backwards and forwards, Gareth and Rick have been working extra hard on the house, we've been taking advantage of having Gareth here as he's moving on to Austria in Mid march... we'll hate to see him go but its an good placement and not to be missed for him. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqekBz9ERVbc4TuMjQWgfRWHdHT7TovqNTYfvbC0dt0g41ERvqz40UwKgjvYzMWNQ5rTWD3FZJbATva-rA6nGMl659WF6kF2uDnNo5H5Uo9En8YcPoBsdCE-lDjeuMxs080w_TWlidQ/s1600/Imagem+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqekBz9ERVbc4TuMjQWgfRWHdHT7TovqNTYfvbC0dt0g41ERvqz40UwKgjvYzMWNQ5rTWD3FZJbATva-rA6nGMl659WF6kF2uDnNo5H5Uo9En8YcPoBsdCE-lDjeuMxs080w_TWlidQ/s320/Imagem+007.jpg" width="320" /></a>They have worked very hard and we actually now have a living room upstairs that looks like a real room... I love it! The walls have been all rendered and painted, the floor painted and the double doors varnished. should be a pic here somewhere. Its made it so warm and cosy... we cant afford to panel the roof though so its not quite finished, but still looks amazing to see it so transformed... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2_fKz_VCEh72X1wrOD2prjm_oztUi5oULguWk-C3sfK6qYNvit1GNtVtaWOquBWzx95c8avuDVd0a9Ld4ONmNxUV4Rkz2xm2ay6k58-81EA4K1lAMXQL28xxNUrtHgrmBcTYGwiHjw/s1600/Imagem+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2_fKz_VCEh72X1wrOD2prjm_oztUi5oULguWk-C3sfK6qYNvit1GNtVtaWOquBWzx95c8avuDVd0a9Ld4ONmNxUV4Rkz2xm2ay6k58-81EA4K1lAMXQL28xxNUrtHgrmBcTYGwiHjw/s320/Imagem+010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We've had quite a few friends around for meals , plus with all the guests and cooking tons for the men , Im spending most of my life at the cooker... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the next few weeks I plan to make more skin balms and salves for a good stock for summer. I need to make more jam as Gareth loves it and has eaten my whole stock... luckily I have fruit in the freezer to use.. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I need to get down the orchard and weed my broad beans... they are coming on wonderfully. We need to clear and get the main veggie patch tilled so the frosts we are having can kill any bugs.. as planting is only a few weeks away now... </div>I have to clean the little greenhouse I use and get some seeds in pots... <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeEhPehc481G8X1ys196xeKzRiqsOZHtKZxrRY8A-yqDLz_glKCBhyphenhyphen0_fNPwo7odztNva5NFBK1f-eM9kayJAapObGXLxtfCbxckOQPqg5-g9SGB9VWYhuy2x9H3i_kn3UA6D6UeZAQ/s1600/Imagem+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeEhPehc481G8X1ys196xeKzRiqsOZHtKZxrRY8A-yqDLz_glKCBhyphenhyphen0_fNPwo7odztNva5NFBK1f-eM9kayJAapObGXLxtfCbxckOQPqg5-g9SGB9VWYhuy2x9H3i_kn3UA6D6UeZAQ/s320/Imagem+002.jpg" width="320" /></a>The blokes have to collect TONS of wood, we are getting low, down to only two rows now... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">plus set up the new irrigation system our lovely friend Alik brought us out a while a go, its going to be used to help our corn this summer. It was so gorgeous last year we have saved lots of seed and plan a HUGE field of it this year... </div><br />
I have a French Canadian helper arriving in mid Feb to help with the workload for a few weeks. but will need major help with weeding, planting and wood collection during spring and early summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUFqq2XeapR0ZAB4FTw8l0Dy8s9jxQnUnZ1yP-30TekGgljiGv4YS_meSf9Mwf6X6X6JQcu5UDCrubvl6qo5TkeBUxR0qMtVtttsqiORcsqdNOTPhvXbC9FXgY7l8Syf4SdVl2ebY2Q/s1600/Imagem+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUFqq2XeapR0ZAB4FTw8l0Dy8s9jxQnUnZ1yP-30TekGgljiGv4YS_meSf9Mwf6X6X6JQcu5UDCrubvl6qo5TkeBUxR0qMtVtttsqiORcsqdNOTPhvXbC9FXgY7l8Syf4SdVl2ebY2Q/s320/Imagem+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-44525334313409109272012-01-21T10:19:00.000+00:002012-01-21T10:19:09.609+00:00Bloody CaterpillarsJust a quick precautionary post, the prosessionary buggers are on the move very very early this year, its also a terribly bad year, nests are everywhere... its going to be very bad... <br />
please everyone, watch your dogs (and cats) its fatal if you dont act fast.. <br />
My other post on here somewhere details effective and often lifesaving treatment everyone can do...Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-54125084073470604542011-12-26T15:07:00.001+00:002011-12-26T15:09:33.353+00:00General Update, Sostice, Christmas, Sunshine, and stuff..<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMFXD9B6WKKyr309iUgqe4KzNDhT8M-J6YtuR3-zedDwb-RC29ey0mbQps6RToFmAh2vFWmk9kPiT4eRS2pqNLEoQYUi5P20z-ulfny5jYh3_F5QeMOT6xkJZ1QsVclsBVgaPauWnGA/s1600/Imagem+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMFXD9B6WKKyr309iUgqe4KzNDhT8M-J6YtuR3-zedDwb-RC29ey0mbQps6RToFmAh2vFWmk9kPiT4eRS2pqNLEoQYUi5P20z-ulfny5jYh3_F5QeMOT6xkJZ1QsVclsBVgaPauWnGA/s320/Imagem+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wow... its been ages again. Sadly its that time of year when dosh is difficult so money for the Dongle or trips to town come very low down our list of priorities. But hopefully now Christmas is over (well it is in Portugal ) and we already have some bookings to look forward to, things will get easier again. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We still have Gareth with us, working hard as always, but Osian has moved on, down to Peniche to be a surfer boy for a while. He worked hard and accomplished tons while he was with us. Gareth we hope will stay till Spring at least we always have work for willing hands. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBKEaASp8JKcGk6c3C7hdHGHNKeNQ61jazTsu212fRC98kMeDXVKzHQmaNMMJ_sJ_TJe7PxxF7w2rn2GDNHpgl_yCrlxHalrxp_wp59wmKObahqaxFXvfBGANd4fGfagt4GglBhFsQA/s1600/Imagem+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBKEaASp8JKcGk6c3C7hdHGHNKeNQ61jazTsu212fRC98kMeDXVKzHQmaNMMJ_sJ_TJe7PxxF7w2rn2GDNHpgl_yCrlxHalrxp_wp59wmKObahqaxFXvfBGANd4fGfagt4GglBhFsQA/s320/Imagem+005.jpg" width="320" /></a>Hes been helping Rick in so many ways, and the fact that they hit it off so well , having a shared sense of humour helps a lot.. He's been so enjoying the weather, spending his free time relaxing with a book, often outside in the sunshine, he couldnt believe that it was possible to do so on Christmas Eve...</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So...</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Solstice went very well, although money was tight we really felt it was important to carry on with our celebration if at all possible, so I splashed out on 10 euros worth of chicken, for that we got over 5and a half kilos of chicken... I roasted it all in different marinades, and then served it with homemade bread, roasted pumpkin, carrots, potatoes and baked spagetti squash... oh and red cabbage cooked with apple and onions... all from our garden or a gift from neighbours, so it cost nothing, I made a dessert, some of our lovely guests also made desserts... some brought wine or beer... and a fantastic time was had by all for next to nothing...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v4E7VKxGR_Rhe3-gLMXT2Sso6Ka38NRkMkfr_cWCT5dhu5rqclnwkvUtAhtpslIw_dt1_x7NYsX3f3q2n7DFP9lo7B0wzmutxhj40C9nnIAB4EMoG-UgCRKDFafHLK7ubepsbhkj0w/s1600/Imagem+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v4E7VKxGR_Rhe3-gLMXT2Sso6Ka38NRkMkfr_cWCT5dhu5rqclnwkvUtAhtpslIw_dt1_x7NYsX3f3q2n7DFP9lo7B0wzmutxhj40C9nnIAB4EMoG-UgCRKDFafHLK7ubepsbhkj0w/s320/Imagem+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We always decorate the house with branches and leaves from the forest, it really makes for a festive atmoshphere. Rick and Gareth built a Solstice Cabin outside, we lit up the garden with tons of little tealite candles someone had left in the cottage last summer, plus of course the Sostice Bonfire and our Yule Log, I made mulled wine with spices and fresh fruit from our trees... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti-V-1Cu8AMuPUG9t5BfBHRE0n2hE0UVTTivZBZxE5fLkpC3tJAD0tA6suGIvtzKkgG65ihyphenhyphen-YHAPtDwzG6W0FjezhW01l6kOjA4d80v-f_V6hFHxfyO5rgO2M1EwUsa88lWHCRknyQ/s1600/Imagem+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti-V-1Cu8AMuPUG9t5BfBHRE0n2hE0UVTTivZBZxE5fLkpC3tJAD0tA6suGIvtzKkgG65ihyphenhyphen-YHAPtDwzG6W0FjezhW01l6kOjA4d80v-f_V6hFHxfyO5rgO2M1EwUsa88lWHCRknyQ/s320/Imagem+002.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEaB-hpJicWgp3yf13aT56wf26Ok0RuZFgyENGSDgkNsbEbxiB999D0jQX-RH_Dm340M5q64scaXGmUi3vuXgwZ6Cq6L1b-CDAR3UNCOameyoRR9ASL8NhxZpeLxKOhguwSOjeQh-UA/s1600/Imagem+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEaB-hpJicWgp3yf13aT56wf26Ok0RuZFgyENGSDgkNsbEbxiB999D0jQX-RH_Dm340M5q64scaXGmUi3vuXgwZ6Cq6L1b-CDAR3UNCOameyoRR9ASL8NhxZpeLxKOhguwSOjeQh-UA/s320/Imagem+003.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For us Christmas is just a quiet day, a nice meal (roast pork etc) and back to work today... we had a walk in town to look at the pretty lights and see the bonfire which burns for 12 nights in Figueiro Dos Vinhos... a very low key and relaxing time for us.. </div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-68350014132406717072011-11-30T11:27:00.000+00:002011-11-30T11:27:56.691+00:00The Dogs.We've been asked by our friends who visit now and again, for some recent shots of our lovely girls... <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74pusHXiJKN2_Oz7_oJOMPQo_vIJjCX7FcgYjxtDBWgVIhVMP29hvw0KLdB_weDeRNIIq2YuMMw5aImhqXeLU_bC0K07KI-AQr5L6BXw5iSzYBw3B0tUTZXhX1XAoUuiJLd4dt0o5gQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74pusHXiJKN2_Oz7_oJOMPQo_vIJjCX7FcgYjxtDBWgVIhVMP29hvw0KLdB_weDeRNIIq2YuMMw5aImhqXeLU_bC0K07KI-AQr5L6BXw5iSzYBw3B0tUTZXhX1XAoUuiJLd4dt0o5gQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+316.jpg" width="240px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXtwR26YjmvbyLWY332tyb99mh_4El9S-KH4ZMvKtr4RPv-yC7sPDWWfAiSaNVx7YExy2Te5gHWxV6eD_eeP256RQKooz-Mj8wBtKNqEqDKUVA99_tglPEsRYSkQkCSBM7wl6EqenXg/s1600/deus+e+fiel+315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXtwR26YjmvbyLWY332tyb99mh_4El9S-KH4ZMvKtr4RPv-yC7sPDWWfAiSaNVx7YExy2Te5gHWxV6eD_eeP256RQKooz-Mj8wBtKNqEqDKUVA99_tglPEsRYSkQkCSBM7wl6EqenXg/s320/deus+e+fiel+315.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
here they are enjoying the company and the garden.Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-20388983210826777622011-11-30T11:25:00.000+00:002011-11-30T11:25:28.104+00:00Pretty but Bad Mushrooms...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP86VVabuHalvutKOPgk5CC2vD9EipXbTUBjlZFMGnFmNo_1_TOEsQN1_xbETHuvDu8ccVh_BwBg_rhYe9jBddicoAaPfpum15eMCmrQibxN_tlJW2sKC1SlYrJZvqU0McEHL9WE9zUQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP86VVabuHalvutKOPgk5CC2vD9EipXbTUBjlZFMGnFmNo_1_TOEsQN1_xbETHuvDu8ccVh_BwBg_rhYe9jBddicoAaPfpum15eMCmrQibxN_tlJW2sKC1SlYrJZvqU0McEHL9WE9zUQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+298.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have tons of these toadstools sprouting up everywhere in the forest... and Im pretty sure they are Fly Agaric... very unpleasant... but so pretty... real fairy house type ones... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdQR38UnUWkLTxKoPSZ6sfJv-y3cOxMpw01K4oSB6Mp4YUUD4Uo28k8_wNjsKAU2U8tdR1If2ZxoAROnk8nxv0P4z6GB89i8lJhsmXUD8ZqnmZJamoZcTBIhKALTKCksVHHk7KDbcPQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdQR38UnUWkLTxKoPSZ6sfJv-y3cOxMpw01K4oSB6Mp4YUUD4Uo28k8_wNjsKAU2U8tdR1If2ZxoAROnk8nxv0P4z6GB89i8lJhsmXUD8ZqnmZJamoZcTBIhKALTKCksVHHk7KDbcPQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+299.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszpQqsRzXNsIdVjEoqYN5pd_1c7emFKdQJ_DOlVp9tUbCVU8FSQvjR0eaMqUNPSQ9AWdYqHC0gBHno-ORLFkbEauGliLygiWEj6tSUiJFctdRSyPbSIvUwtcTGcchL69n7GxUF72thw/s1600/deus+e+fiel+284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszpQqsRzXNsIdVjEoqYN5pd_1c7emFKdQJ_DOlVp9tUbCVU8FSQvjR0eaMqUNPSQ9AWdYqHC0gBHno-ORLFkbEauGliLygiWEj6tSUiJFctdRSyPbSIvUwtcTGcchL69n7GxUF72thw/s320/deus+e+fiel+284.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-54642332099069267262011-11-30T11:21:00.000+00:002011-11-30T11:21:30.541+00:00Mushrooms & CabbageWe have happily been picking tons of cabbages, its a good job the lads like cabbage, rick is no problem, he'll eat it everyday..<br />
Also luckily we've had a good crop of wild Parasol mushrooms over the last couple of weeks. <br />
<br />
My recipe for Stirfry cabbage and mushrooms..<br />
<br />
Add a good glub of olive oil to a large pan, add a large chopped onion, a few cloves of chopped garlic and fry till just starting to go golden...add as much chopped mushroom as you like... we love plenty! add a whole sliced green cabbage, ours are the tight pointed top ones, and just stirfry it till its all cooked and the flavours have melded... <br />
Mmmm yummy<br />
I do the same thing with extra garlic and onions if we dont have mushroomsRick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-35679972407269186502011-11-30T11:13:00.002+00:002011-11-30T11:15:25.346+00:00Sunshine, Olives, cookouts, and hard work..<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V0QOdOJ2y1qwcxm4-iQpO9JEUEuGWUNYN20A50TcPGSLPE5SnwiCd6289yuMeyZ9M6bUfBnlpOYJOOYI99mMPiRaPzQAV5xEfb8tvtTdsGV72pU2QqfKCMFwWiCW6hDT6KwdgSm0jQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V0QOdOJ2y1qwcxm4-iQpO9JEUEuGWUNYN20A50TcPGSLPE5SnwiCd6289yuMeyZ9M6bUfBnlpOYJOOYI99mMPiRaPzQAV5xEfb8tvtTdsGV72pU2QqfKCMFwWiCW6hDT6KwdgSm0jQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+312.jpg" width="320px" /></a>Its been what seems like ages again, but to be honest, as its winter and things get tricky for us in winter, we try to limit the trips into town to an absolute minimum to save on fuel. Also... we are so damn busy, its just that the days fly by and we dont realise it... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'll try to get into this update all thats being happening but its tough, and then when Ive done, I'll remember everything Ive forgotten...</div>The lads are still with us, its been oh... around 7 weeks now I think, so long we've lost count... they have settled well and look and seem happy enough.. <br />
They are working hard and still accomplishing so much for us its excellent... although I seem to spend all my life cooking and preparing food that as soon as I turn my back has vanished... they sure can eat...<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgautR00AY5bNawUzT8VV_BanqS846vrabXj0T-_2SzPGftGImOlbxHlh9tURmPUjT65TB3rBmjs8U04JY196qR7XlhCRbw_xeaA1hyphenhyphenJ48ivD6VEnqcZD9G5gbCoJb9J99dXwtpvVbw/s1600/deus+e+fiel+291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgautR00AY5bNawUzT8VV_BanqS846vrabXj0T-_2SzPGftGImOlbxHlh9tURmPUjT65TB3rBmjs8U04JY196qR7XlhCRbw_xeaA1hyphenhyphenJ48ivD6VEnqcZD9G5gbCoJb9J99dXwtpvVbw/s320/deus+e+fiel+291.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Gareth has finshed his project, and it looks wonderful, Im so pleased, its turned out just as I'd hoped if not even better. Its very pretty and come the spring will be even better with some nice pots of flowers. Its completely made from our scrap stone, and no cement, Rick showed him the old way of using clay instead , its the way our house was built 250 years ago... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Gareth is understandably very proud of it... and so he should be...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Osian has finally finished stone walling, he's built another one to finish off the terrace by the house, again it looks lovely and fits in completely. The whole area outside the back door has completely been transformed. It was a rubble and weed filled rubbish dump, now it looks like a real garden and will be a beautiful place to sit during the summer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have also added another almost full row to the log barn, no mean feat in itself... but we do have the range going all day now, the weather has been stunning, although for us a tad chilly morning and evening, the boys still cant believe it and are in tee shirts.. This last week it was so warm Osian worked in shorts... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">its been around 20-22 degrees for best part of the week, on sunday we decided to have what will be the last cookout of the year... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdzMvOb-UqXtj56Nwyxlk-SYMZO6BAq8d57k0rhXifmVVj41DdLGeUooAyAAEE0-j_MwoHk15GfgzdME-SKxzKHKtq9whpl-0jTaaSkkoufBPdjCSGktIvuwzk0khyphenhyphenzi7c622X1rC7Q/s1600/deus+e+fiel+295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdzMvOb-UqXtj56Nwyxlk-SYMZO6BAq8d57k0rhXifmVVj41DdLGeUooAyAAEE0-j_MwoHk15GfgzdME-SKxzKHKtq9whpl-0jTaaSkkoufBPdjCSGktIvuwzk0khyphenhyphenzi7c622X1rC7Q/s320/deus+e+fiel+295.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We fired up the old bread oven and I made fresh pizza and then rick lit the BBQ , we have a good brick built one, and we cooked chops Id been marinating over night, some in yogurt with orange juice and basil, some in balsamico and oil and garlic... yummy... plenty of rice & salad and some good red wine of course... it was a great afternoon, Gareth played his Guitar and we sat in the sunshine and relaxed.. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncIRMX5Fyg_tzjWFJcuBBjyyCJ00br9bSiRE4KY1PoJ8ubX7KtAHIHkdk3diKRjvHVPo8wpdOEZyLUr6FRpEa4-3AQdtW5AT_a7wMOb3WBMeajui6J43kh6nuVwExLLWwBnivvOtiUQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncIRMX5Fyg_tzjWFJcuBBjyyCJ00br9bSiRE4KY1PoJ8ubX7KtAHIHkdk3diKRjvHVPo8wpdOEZyLUr6FRpEa4-3AQdtW5AT_a7wMOb3WBMeajui6J43kh6nuVwExLLWwBnivvOtiUQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+294.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The broad beans we planted in the orchard have all popped up, looking good... this week the lads are strimming and clearing the two terraces above the orchard level, tidying and clearing old branches and trimming back old vines. We also have lots of clearing up to do nearer the house now the vines have all dropped their leaves.. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are making a huge bonfire, looking forward to our Winter Solstice Celebrations... it will be a first for the lads so we want to make it special, rick will be building a Solstice lodge for in the garden and we hope to hold the celebration outside if its not too wet... </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSkY-qeUEdsti6TkybpiNHmNMGtgF5Q2Ii0UmV4uxaHdBfFJ7xSFaiCaEXSutrJTSbm1FS51W1F_9N4ry0J-MOvbmSCoGEan2f5moT2BFMZ9hvE-nfPkLg190E8744ywSC9TuchPwcw/s1600/deus+e+fiel+314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSkY-qeUEdsti6TkybpiNHmNMGtgF5Q2Ii0UmV4uxaHdBfFJ7xSFaiCaEXSutrJTSbm1FS51W1F_9N4ry0J-MOvbmSCoGEan2f5moT2BFMZ9hvE-nfPkLg190E8744ywSC9TuchPwcw/s320/deus+e+fiel+314.jpg" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW48NJ10Ut8KiRx42k7OjITM10BxhyBYeEDZUWGfVnNNLpcZ5C374SKqp4UgdC8091Bnq3VOvF1IhxgGuR1dLoQoMcDqQfkmyF30U5PHBEc7sBEtj303U_nW8b5kvRHqzyneWS8akqig/s1600/deus+e+fiel+292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW48NJ10Ut8KiRx42k7OjITM10BxhyBYeEDZUWGfVnNNLpcZ5C374SKqp4UgdC8091Bnq3VOvF1IhxgGuR1dLoQoMcDqQfkmyF30U5PHBEc7sBEtj303U_nW8b5kvRHqzyneWS8akqig/s320/deus+e+fiel+292.jpg" width="320px" /></a>We have also picked a few olives, we had an excellent crop, but sadly most are on the ground and not much good now, but we'll manage about 6-8 sacks in the end we hope, not a great year but its so delicious... I cant manage without it... I use a litre a week nowadays... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well hopefully thats all... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6oLwYJmX7J_U-OZp9sSS_A1qkxR3VOOPAeoBLJ6obSWbi8n8U6NWYiBrKYSu4ou5ArvhoId4t8bakKaWYlCkBDN0xBmiC_t3nHz59Dct5i8zLzXTEerL0hEdehAKEZjKvUNgoWsN6A/s1600/deus+e+fiel+311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6oLwYJmX7J_U-OZp9sSS_A1qkxR3VOOPAeoBLJ6obSWbi8n8U6NWYiBrKYSu4ou5ArvhoId4t8bakKaWYlCkBDN0xBmiC_t3nHz59Dct5i8zLzXTEerL0hEdehAKEZjKvUNgoWsN6A/s320/deus+e+fiel+311.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-60208449591925595772011-11-14T11:23:00.000+00:002011-11-14T11:23:58.719+00:00More Jobs done...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLZEEK5XD9MAV6r3ESfS0uqWngykZym_xRcL19gMpTIOSJmBG1_DXrrI6tz7ZRtTRaL7Mldlzf5SqHqS9-bWOTLYDOCQtOKngSZkjV145v-Si1OwP_zCBRAlgrTPGVMUXXmo1EyizcA/s1600/deus+e+fiel+260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLZEEK5XD9MAV6r3ESfS0uqWngykZym_xRcL19gMpTIOSJmBG1_DXrrI6tz7ZRtTRaL7Mldlzf5SqHqS9-bWOTLYDOCQtOKngSZkjV145v-Si1OwP_zCBRAlgrTPGVMUXXmo1EyizcA/s320/deus+e+fiel+260.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Having helpers with us, is a two way thing, we must try to offer them something in return for their labours, both lads are learning new skills that while they are learning is helping us out, and hopefully will stand them in good stead in life when they leave us, if I ever let them go that is... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The latest of their new learning experiences was cement rendering... we have a brick built wall that although double skin and insulated, just let damp seep through. It needed rendering on the outside which during winter is the side of the house that bears the brunt of most of our bad weather and wind... as it faces right down the vally.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe86xpaButlJWlfObTKF-csyySczAMNG-FYEtYOpVEgPDwdbQkdbtTKK79yi51rK68x-9M61YL3yfvG-qSYGC7BWixHvplpS5Bnsa-91fO0G40nP4MKhLyNIJLqo5UOU37CizZRvQfeg/s1600/deus+e+fiel+264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe86xpaButlJWlfObTKF-csyySczAMNG-FYEtYOpVEgPDwdbQkdbtTKK79yi51rK68x-9M61YL3yfvG-qSYGC7BWixHvplpS5Bnsa-91fO0G40nP4MKhLyNIJLqo5UOU37CizZRvQfeg/s320/deus+e+fiel+264.jpg" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35EBBIkt7GBZFcgfjlLTrcYwJUz8DnLQ4ZBJbklUEP17m8Wu-WwVn0_kmXjeT1gJZe1bgh4dyDfzmf3iWsiXxtLgn9eUpuCLR4zzb9_TEyvB5WgQl9X0X016QaIkww-LaIfMxg4CN6A/s1600/deus+e+fiel+262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35EBBIkt7GBZFcgfjlLTrcYwJUz8DnLQ4ZBJbklUEP17m8Wu-WwVn0_kmXjeT1gJZe1bgh4dyDfzmf3iWsiXxtLgn9eUpuCLR4zzb9_TEyvB5WgQl9X0X016QaIkww-LaIfMxg4CN6A/s320/deus+e+fiel+262.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So we invested 10 euros in some cement and Rick and the lads rendered the wall. mixing and carrying buckets of cement from behind the house, down the yard , up the stairs onto the terrace, was a job for strong arms... they did an excellent job. Rick made a point of demonstrating the art of rendering and let both lads try it out. There is more to be done in the future so we hope that again by the time they leave us, a new skill will be added to their profile lists. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY6qSQ9AgIhP7ZdUKVqvQORg98Wq0vrXmhl6g_QESCXrYpOupzMZF-kiIvBeME4viaVqx6YXJ_M5QRxztUmpRtEqego6ldfqCd5Agub6wuDNN8wrIFmPNq99w6iPIKfplkjhXduPtpg/s1600/deus+e+fiel+261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeY6qSQ9AgIhP7ZdUKVqvQORg98Wq0vrXmhl6g_QESCXrYpOupzMZF-kiIvBeME4viaVqx6YXJ_M5QRxztUmpRtEqego6ldfqCd5Agub6wuDNN8wrIFmPNq99w6iPIKfplkjhXduPtpg/s320/deus+e+fiel+261.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjVycyVtAV_0X3AobKWQEL_mGh6Dpn-Nc8ViHmWW79vEJ6ZNv29qacCka_TMJKLGdFu9-myLgxgdzWKQ9iY73Jv7h8mu5qETFBpU-ZADO2uPEIXUc1SgmyG979VPqTc15RXtJC8SxVQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjVycyVtAV_0X3AobKWQEL_mGh6Dpn-Nc8ViHmWW79vEJ6ZNv29qacCka_TMJKLGdFu9-myLgxgdzWKQ9iY73Jv7h8mu5qETFBpU-ZADO2uPEIXUc1SgmyG979VPqTc15RXtJC8SxVQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+265.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While the weather was good, we set to and got the orchard area strimmed , tidied and rick rototilled the whole area ready for winter. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Me and the lads then planted up the whole area with broad beans... thats a huge area ... we certainly wont be short of beans next spring... I had mistakenly asked Rick to pick me up some seed from the local man and he likes beans... so he bought two and a half kilos of seed....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">well.. I couldnt waste it could I? The lads went down later and covered the whole area with the wood ash we've been saving from the kitchen range, beans seem to love it...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTBt1A1hjh4NYtCYbMrQn1f14It517825S7HWcIq_PhyphenhyphenpqxoaMa9QhqEirFly_CablkVPICdnqaV2bWB9SfDhM_-fOSunavpwUnkSld-5TTj_dyu4UJgkI5GATrVvH0LpyHS33X0k2Q/s1600/deus+e+fiel+259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTBt1A1hjh4NYtCYbMrQn1f14It517825S7HWcIq_PhyphenhyphenpqxoaMa9QhqEirFly_CablkVPICdnqaV2bWB9SfDhM_-fOSunavpwUnkSld-5TTj_dyu4UJgkI5GATrVvH0LpyHS33X0k2Q/s320/deus+e+fiel+259.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WWX_O5DME7F1jzR0rPFx-9i9ge-zTfY2oG8eTOSwQ7uQEOFHG-_dB72ixT3MzZqycz2roXxFCYrcIKsA6nB9901bdFZjiaC0h8SmWuFY6LPOVAg9a84Dnrxfy6kUlFiQOamKVga1XA/s1600/deus+e+fiel+268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WWX_O5DME7F1jzR0rPFx-9i9ge-zTfY2oG8eTOSwQ7uQEOFHG-_dB72ixT3MzZqycz2roXxFCYrcIKsA6nB9901bdFZjiaC0h8SmWuFY6LPOVAg9a84Dnrxfy6kUlFiQOamKVga1XA/s400/deus+e+fiel+268.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The newly renovated and landscaped garden around the house is starting to green up now, the walls the lads have built look very pretty...</div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-50023243105600929252011-11-14T11:02:00.000+00:002011-11-14T11:02:01.653+00:00General Update.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilevx17QopiVTGxZR12N7jB600jwFtm0cFDUBn30gtktZd6ABM3DVlbAdH4itvKvN8vTRWhgAuKhHb5ygv5bR8tL2JgbWvqmViLpSiB6KFso1AdDljB7TbfkPBdU1_qFrWFU_NqE3JA/s1600/deus+e+fiel+157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilevx17QopiVTGxZR12N7jB600jwFtm0cFDUBn30gtktZd6ABM3DVlbAdH4itvKvN8vTRWhgAuKhHb5ygv5bR8tL2JgbWvqmViLpSiB6KFso1AdDljB7TbfkPBdU1_qFrWFU_NqE3JA/s320/deus+e+fiel+157.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There is so much happening at our place I dont know where to begin this update. Of course its all down to having such excellent helpers, almost five weeks on and they are becoming family now.. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Right, Osian finished his wall, and smashing it looked too, his latest project has been to build a small drainage gully out of stone to run completely down the side of the steps which lead up to the house, this we hope will stop the steps becoming the annual waterfall that happens normally. As we live on a hill, since we built the steps every winter when the rains come, the steps become a water feature of the garden, but it washes mud and debris down onto my gravel patio outside the cottage and gives us added work cleaning it up... </div>It rained heavily last night and the finished drain worked like a dream... As you can see by the pictures, the dogs, who seem to wangle their way into most shots, love having the lads around too... <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5wSty443l5-kUc6KIgl3k6fMS-YtnIbfDa3XiF0wJGgzmNyFECOKyMpdJU-ZKI68kMPk-8G0OrL8NkcPTHTZWAgCdYO5BM0VBnhqAdcfmTN1Jhu35ZpP-xiVMM6UPVVN6pv7Id3JGQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5wSty443l5-kUc6KIgl3k6fMS-YtnIbfDa3XiF0wJGgzmNyFECOKyMpdJU-ZKI68kMPk-8G0OrL8NkcPTHTZWAgCdYO5BM0VBnhqAdcfmTN1Jhu35ZpP-xiVMM6UPVVN6pv7Id3JGQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+272.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7MDX2rxtMUdYgGRAlufeQZwIf_ZiMAi5cHuzAtfx4UOoVC2nJxmFoR-r5i94mznAVZhqIFTpzzV3j5Unb2NoAh0gOaskgn3w-SnliLvSqDOYGFxOOw-lsTZVexy66iG6i19nfh7f5g/s1600/deus+e+fiel+273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7MDX2rxtMUdYgGRAlufeQZwIf_ZiMAi5cHuzAtfx4UOoVC2nJxmFoR-r5i94mznAVZhqIFTpzzV3j5Unb2NoAh0gOaskgn3w-SnliLvSqDOYGFxOOw-lsTZVexy66iG6i19nfh7f5g/s320/deus+e+fiel+273.jpg" width="320px" /></a>Gareth has a new project too, a while ago, a friend gave us a lovely old pump, he is going to build a two tier stone plinth to mount the pump on, and stone paths radiating out which we will gravel (when we have some money) and plant up with herbs... its a large job, which he can work on at his own pace, as well as all his other things he's doing... Rick is helping him with advice on local traditional methods using clay as filling between the stones instead of cement.. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The lads are of course helping out in a multitude of ways, we have to be doing things that cost us nothing but improve our place here, there is a lot more wood to be collected, especially now the weather has turned wet and windy, its still very mild but a tad damp... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w15dE18k_Mdg52Rdd1zbA2hfY8DSW9v-ft2gKnlCimCuGsnHXB0dUUp40LPjjAi99a0dCqLyRA_41Lm3WkmsFqpCh307UNJGMHtUpmsWwQkQn6NjWEB-A59ey6XYVIvp1gOgLLl9qQ/s1600/deus+e+fiel+269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w15dE18k_Mdg52Rdd1zbA2hfY8DSW9v-ft2gKnlCimCuGsnHXB0dUUp40LPjjAi99a0dCqLyRA_41Lm3WkmsFqpCh307UNJGMHtUpmsWwQkQn6NjWEB-A59ey6XYVIvp1gOgLLl9qQ/s320/deus+e+fiel+269.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>We have been chestnut collecting, the lads then were set to boiling and peeling them for the freezer, a useful afternoons work by the fire on a wet day.Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-12665041412166660762011-11-14T10:37:00.000+00:002011-11-14T10:37:25.581+00:00Frugal Recipe Spagetti PumpkinWow... doesnt time fly when your having fun.. <br />
We seem to lose days and even weeks at the moment, having the welsh lads here means I am busier in the kitchen every day, its my job to provide them with decent wholesome food, but obviously for our budget... which is very little. We are scraping by moneywise on odd bookings at the moment. But luckily we have an excellent year in the garden so food stocks are high. <br />
We have a large amount of spagetti Pumpkin, so we are eating it often... <br />
At the moment Ive tried it just one way; <br />
Bake it whole in a slow oven, when it is tender(I prod with a skewer) open, scoop out the seeds, (which my friend is roasting and eating but we've yet to try) scrape out the fleshy strands with a fork which divides them well, add a knob of garlic or herby butter and a light dusting of parmesan or any cheese you like... its yummy.<br />
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Tonight I plan to try ..<br />
Cut in half , scop out the seeds, pack with a mix of cooked rice or cuscous, with chopped mushrooms(we have Parasol mushrooms growing wild at the mo) onions, tomatos, and herbs, put back together, wrap firmly with foil and bake. <br />
I will serve it with roasted herby veggies and maybe garlic bread if I have any stale..Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-14705945514699129442011-11-03T11:07:00.002+00:002011-11-03T11:07:21.339+00:00Kristina Aubergines..Kristina, Ive asked a friend here about Aubergines and your problem with them being bitter... Ive was told its the type you grow... maybe try a different one? <br />
None of mine were, Ive often heard about them being bitter, but have never had that problem, Ive eaten mine raw chopped in a salad... they dont grow huge, I pck them early...<br />
If you would like a packet of seed from here just let me know your address. Email me and I'll happily send you some..Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-64081858661210831032011-11-03T11:02:00.000+00:002011-11-03T11:02:54.621+00:00Helper Update. Gareth.<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA8DIVIiAvjqASMmhGMSTwCwCTfec7osEuwM2MexNGjcMwMuR1SeH7H1YsJ6ny1k1TSCAuwxyzze4DtsfCejJ3W8ht1hPXyebN7QEpL_JxVakzbZmJtCxJRhIpFBjOmjsQ_xHRv4Hkw/s1600/Imagem+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA8DIVIiAvjqASMmhGMSTwCwCTfec7osEuwM2MexNGjcMwMuR1SeH7H1YsJ6ny1k1TSCAuwxyzze4DtsfCejJ3W8ht1hPXyebN7QEpL_JxVakzbZmJtCxJRhIpFBjOmjsQ_xHRv4Hkw/s320/Imagem+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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While Osian has been busy wall building, Gareth hasnt been idle either, he's been busy doing tons of little jobs around the place, helping Rick with things that need an extra set of hands, he cleared the back garden area ready for rick to rototill, did a smashing job of weeding all the graveled beds in front of the cottage, and the carpark. The weeding of the gravel beds is such a pig of a job, its very tough on the back and leaves you with sore fingers for days... but hes done a great job. Hes also (as we all are) spending time in the wood barn, we are always collecting cutting splitting stacking... <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A day or two a go we strained and finshed bottling the second batch of my fennel Liquer, yesterday the lads and Rick took a bottle down to a Portuguese friend in the village, and came back last night rather the worse for wear having spent two hours or more drinking wine in his adega... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>So today we are having an easy day, as they all need it... I am going to teach the lads to make my soda bread later..<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoJziDt4PiLeWQr3vNI9lWDtj7dhHAGGjTFSpxN1WDoQEFWOckGa-d_v2b1jlbLhCtBE95Isx8GSxW0Wx5EbMVs_iUbBpWOSDetQe7Dpg6BOg8j7DR3RIc4vbMxDNndlUrF9w1KBmGw/s1600/Imagem+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoJziDt4PiLeWQr3vNI9lWDtj7dhHAGGjTFSpxN1WDoQEFWOckGa-d_v2b1jlbLhCtBE95Isx8GSxW0Wx5EbMVs_iUbBpWOSDetQe7Dpg6BOg8j7DR3RIc4vbMxDNndlUrF9w1KBmGw/s320/Imagem+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-53294813433143947452011-11-03T10:52:00.000+00:002011-11-03T10:52:46.784+00:00Helper Update. Osian's Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFFvzWn_pWiBiG12-qsZo5HDxj0PqMVTRk4GLO7GRGxcNUnjpOh0k4pHYZSRzREUwrSpbw9FLVxuv7ugT70EbkJExhyphenhyphenw9t9Rf1uK4XQo9ve3XCTn3KgzCKVQ_MhIa2ZmesQUSAHDvYA/s1600/Imagem+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFFvzWn_pWiBiG12-qsZo5HDxj0PqMVTRk4GLO7GRGxcNUnjpOh0k4pHYZSRzREUwrSpbw9FLVxuv7ugT70EbkJExhyphenhyphenw9t9Rf1uK4XQo9ve3XCTn3KgzCKVQ_MhIa2ZmesQUSAHDvYA/s400/Imagem+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Well Osian has finished his wall, Its lovely, we are all really pleased, apart from some advice from Rick and some hard work from Gareth collecting good stones for him, sian did the work himself, he designed the curved wall , dug out the ground, and built the wall, filling in the earth as he went, he's done an excellent job and has something permanent to be proud of, and hopefully a skill he can take forward with him too. <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAvzi0UDkM15cizTIxHiiE1RuUf1MkdtToRKwS6uDg0bBsNPknL5uGEvz4PjrfIckGt7K8DHqE0QQMuo1yvTP8fuFMlnjuTKO1EyONWIf8FkryWLGPzdhF7gs2IFtKNt0K2CvPJ1fYg/s1600/Imagem+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAvzi0UDkM15cizTIxHiiE1RuUf1MkdtToRKwS6uDg0bBsNPknL5uGEvz4PjrfIckGt7K8DHqE0QQMuo1yvTP8fuFMlnjuTKO1EyONWIf8FkryWLGPzdhF7gs2IFtKNt0K2CvPJ1fYg/s400/Imagem+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-52364170718930515832011-10-31T10:45:00.000+00:002011-10-31T10:45:11.072+00:00General Update.Well its been a busy few days, the weather perked up again which meant we could all crack on and get plenty done. We are just preparing for winter and the rain that will inevitably come, and its forecast for this week... all week its forecast for scattered showers and even scattered thundery showers, the temps are still up around 19º-21º though so when the sun does shine its still lovely to be out. Not bad at all for more or less November.<br />
Our welsh helpers Gareth & Osian are loving it. <br />
Gareth has been busy weeding the guest area, cobvering the pool, and generally tidying up down there and around the house. Osian has been continuing with a fairly large and complex stone wall he's been building, its been his own project, with just a bit of advice from Rick and some help stone collecting and shifting from Gareth. But on the whole its Osians wall. Its more or less finished and when it is, I'll post some pics here as he's done a crackin job and is very proud of it. We are trying to make sure they take away from here some extra skills as well as having helped us a lot. <br />
Yesterday we had our nearest Portugese neighbours over for lunch, there was seven of us sat down at one o clock, and we were still sat around the table nibbling and finishing off what had been a large amount of wine, at 7pm ... <br />
A great afternoon was had by all, especially the boys, an early night was also had by all.... <br />
The lads are off to Coimbra today, an early start as its an hour by bus, they have a packed lunch and plan to spend the day doing the tourist thing, the University, Library, the churches, Botanical Gardens and as much of the old town as is possible...<br />
This week we hope to start picking olives, we dont have many this year, and a lot of what we had are now on the ground due to strong winds last week. But a neighbour has offered three large trees which he says are full... so we may get a few litres, we would like to be able to let the lads experience the whole process, we use an old traditional Lagar, so its quite something to see... and taste. They have a good outside kitchen area and warm fire so we can cook some fish and have a glass or two of wine while we wait for our oil... its all part of the fun.. <br />
Then once thats over I have a whole orchards worth of broad beans to plant... and a ton of jerusalem artichokes to dig down there first, I we dont, then when rick rototills to plant the beans, he'll just spread the tubers and we will have a whole field of artichokes next year.... which is not the plan!<br />
Then if the weather isnt too bad or cold we have vines to trim, tons more wood to collect, we plan on making good use of these lads while we have them, and if we can collect as much wood as possible, its just less work for us for next year... <br />
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We are already planning Winter Solstice, this year Rick hopes to build his solstice hut in the garden, where we can all sit near the bonfire and roast our chestnuts and have our wine while the dinner is cooking, we pretty it all up with lights and leaves... <br />
Tonight is Samhain, Pagans believe....<br />
It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. Light a candle and place it in your window to draw the souls of your loved ones to you... <br />
I shall be lighting a candle for my dad, and of course our lovely Big Boy Cola, as pets are included too... <br />
We shall have a meal, plus some chestnuts and no doubt some wine and toast those we miss...Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1977314407737448563.post-16853984548068091672011-10-22T10:16:00.001+01:002011-10-22T10:18:34.125+01:00Chestnuts, Red Wine and Pickled Herby Aubergines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpk7Non_C3K11uuR14JlBhWGfsCjD3LOZL4l0RFMH04ybxmxIdY4_HAXSYahihLcIH0xSi08H2RXdJFBCVOX6KRxsZhEHfvTvDsfyLA-8YpEomaDmKVliZapJjpDEDBauwMrP4dAMng/s1600/Imagem+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpk7Non_C3K11uuR14JlBhWGfsCjD3LOZL4l0RFMH04ybxmxIdY4_HAXSYahihLcIH0xSi08H2RXdJFBCVOX6KRxsZhEHfvTvDsfyLA-8YpEomaDmKVliZapJjpDEDBauwMrP4dAMng/s320/Imagem+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Its a lovely time of the year, although we didnt make wine this year, we always get given plenty by neighbours, and now the chestnuts are falling and gives us a chance to indulge in the evenings, we are lighting the range for cooking again now and tend to put a pot of chestnuts on to roast, we've introduced the lads to this and they love it... A great evening, scrabble, or Dice, chestnuts & wine, and lots of laughter... <br />
</div>Ive been busy pickling aubergines... I did one jar weeks ago, just as a try out, Gareth and I opened them last week to eat with cold pork. They were wonderful! Really garlicky and herby, with just a little pickle flavour... <br />
Ive since made three kilo jars... <br />
All I do is... <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Slice the aubergines up thickly, drop the slices into boiling white wine vinegar for about two mins.. leave to drain for a few mins on kitchen paper. </div>Meanwhile sterilise the jars by steeping in boiling water from the kettle, fill jars with layers of aubergines, bayleaves, coridander seed, black pepper corns and tons of thinly sliced garlic,(I also added a good sprig of rosemary to one jar) pour over a good extra virgin olive oil and seal jars, leave at least two weeks , a month is better if you can wait... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwsHcTKy0zN5JCHHXbqx0zS2sv35ohXcgCTAvAglXlSahht1l_vyiO2pwgqK-QbAyDeriqfLznwtd85Rl32hAYLhgpCu71coywV6oyEbXhd3jgdeVP9Wvz8ok4V-gTEJM96pfdy9qUg/s1600/Imagem+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwsHcTKy0zN5JCHHXbqx0zS2sv35ohXcgCTAvAglXlSahht1l_vyiO2pwgqK-QbAyDeriqfLznwtd85Rl32hAYLhgpCu71coywV6oyEbXhd3jgdeVP9Wvz8ok4V-gTEJM96pfdy9qUg/s320/Imagem+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kl9QpvH-f8TWIN-Z64cUVTNqQ9nZ1wLzRIyX_b7mS9hob7rrqzVXx32Y852EdeXhU59S9eYw_sYWn7B6z_g5u5ftOCJTx8KAGIyP28QR6q4Yi_-3C-G5ZYYMWk1uDwZAZOETYvTpdQ/s1600/Imagem+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kl9QpvH-f8TWIN-Z64cUVTNqQ9nZ1wLzRIyX_b7mS9hob7rrqzVXx32Y852EdeXhU59S9eYw_sYWn7B6z_g5u5ftOCJTx8KAGIyP28QR6q4Yi_-3C-G5ZYYMWk1uDwZAZOETYvTpdQ/s320/Imagem+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ive included some pictures of the work in progress in the garden too...Rick and Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10802936515884752605noreply@blogger.com