Well the van initially failed its safety check.... what a bummer... but at least you get a month to remedy stuff and get a 6 euro recheck... it was nothing that Rik couldnt fix, so he took it again this morning and .... HURRAH!!! we are legal and back on the road...
Its been an expensive time again lately and we have to really tighten up an already tight belt, although we have rentals in the cottage, we have to try to acrue a small cushion for when the winter comes.
Our lovely Bonnie cost us 80 euros the other day, she'd been shaking her head a lot for the past three days, I'd looked, bathed and ointmented her ears but to no avail, Rik loaded her into the van complete with waterproofs as she's generally car sick (yes he drove illegally but needs must) and she quivered and drooled and shook all the way to the vets, he examined her and discovered a nasty wound so far in it was almost in her inner ear... he had to knock her out to locate it, then panicked a little as she went under so deep it was dangerous, he hadnt realised just how tired she was ...she hadnt slept much for a few nights, he gave her something to bring her round a little and she was fine. He seems to have sorted the ear out, we put some liquid in every day and she's much better now...
Somethings cost a lot but mean so much its irrelevent in the end...
The Garden
Well we've pulled the green beans... they all had some kind of blight and were no good, the french beans seem okay and are producing plenty.
Caulis are coming on nicely, we've had four so far, but a little smaller than I'd hoped...
The potatoes are fantastic...
Onions , lots and all plaited and hung up ....
peppers producing nicely..
toms are loaded... still green though...
Courgettes still plenty,
the squashes are going mad....
Parsnips coming on..
Beetroot.... bloody beetroot.... tons!
My life is a mad dash between the garden and the kitchen to process it and freeze it all....
At least the weather is good, actually its strange, cooler than normal for this time of year but for me thats not bad, we can work and sleep ...
Pat
Frugal 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.
