Another Year in Spain -October 2008 part 4

Back to Basics

We have been waiting on results for Freddie, Barnie's brother, and he is in the clear - no feline leukemia. Used the old technique of getting busy, for instance doing a portrait of Barnie in pastels while we were waiting for news of Fred.. Again it worked in both senses.

A study of Barnie in oils

Also went up to five litres of goats milk and made a much better feta cheese....easier to be more accurate. Found a great site in USA of a like minded blogger called Marie for some useful tips and great pictures so batch number three will be made slightly differently.

Its getting better...: My version of feta ...probably best to stored in a saline solution in a screw top.

Free milk led to swop - my farmer gets his slab of cheese.  He looked pretty pleased. He also tried to persuade me to take two gorgeous puppies with lovely temperaments - good sheep dogs in time.  Met with steadfast refusal on my part.

This coming weekend a coachload of Spanish and English locals ie Puerto Lumbrerans with a smattering of Velez Rubio are taking off to Granada for the day in a big 50 seater. Havent been a day tripper like this in "N" number of years. Not my first visit and I do have some specific things to see including the Palacio Carlos V where the museo del Bellas Artes holds an important collection and currently has an exhibition of contemporary art from Seville.  It is Arts Festival time in Granada so lots for everyone interested in aspects of Andalucian culture.  At the other end of the scale there is a large mercado in Granada on Sundays. Literally right up my street.  Have spotted where the casa museums of Manuel de Falla and Garcia Lorca are as well.  Somehow have to fit in a menu del dia with my fellow travellers in the town as well.

 Re the book "Going Native in Alicante" my other act of pain displcement, my mum's attempt to order through Amazon.co met with an out of stock message so she must wait for new stock to arrive.

For the first time in three years of living in Spain I have been attacked by mosquitos.  All this rainwater lying around provides a fertile environment for the eggs to develop and hatch.   I have had to resort to a steroidal cream. One of the little blighters went up my trouser leg and gave me a right going over.

The upside is that it is gardening time again with tree planting being high on the agenda.  We begin to see the evidence of the more trees and bushes grow and the gap between them lessens the better they all are. Grouping is the key.  Plus our over abundant crop of prickly pear is now going to be turned into a great source of composting.  Loads of seedlings taking off as well.

All this means I have an excellent excuse to spend time and money in the local garden centres which are popping up all over the place in this area. Another very effective source of pain displacement.