tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206491322024-02-02T06:48:01.915+01:00Tales from Toriello2005 - 2015Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.comBlogger513125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-50463862881664302015-10-13T16:09:00.002+02:002016-12-19T18:21:55.000+01:00The last post...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have made the decision to bring to a close our personal blog: Tales from Toriello. We started it ten years ago when we first bought La Pasera as a way of documenting our lives in the UK and Spain. We have posted over 500 blog posts in that time and built up an average monthly following of 5000 views from all over the world. We have always been truly amazed that people from all corners of the globe have taken the time to read our stories, look at our photographs, comment on our posts and occasionally have visited us when they have been in Asturias. It's been a great pleasure getting to know some lovely people and hearing about their stories and adventures. Tales from Toriello will remain as an archive as there are some useful posts and recipes that we hope will continue to be used. Take a look through the archive which can be accessed using the timeline in the right hand column.<br />
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We will continue with our other blogs for the time being and hope you will continue to keep in touch with us through them or by email.<br />
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<a href="https://somewhereinasturias.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Somewhere in Asturias</a> - A photo blog featuring photographs from Luis and Ian of Asturias<br />
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<a href="http://www.artesanialapasera.com/">www.artesanialapasera.com</a> - Luis' blog that details his work restoring cane and rush seating.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mosaicoslapasera.com/">www.mosaicoslapasera.com</a> - Luis' blog for his mosaic art.<br />
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<a href="http://ianhicken.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Small Tales and Tittle Tattle</a> - a site where Ian shares his short stories and music.<br />
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<a href="http://ianhicken1.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Smaller Tales from Toriello</a> - a site where we store photographs and short films of wildlife found in the garden at La Pasera.<br />
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<a href="http://ianhickenmusic.com/" target="_blank">Ian Hicken - Music</a> - a blog about music and Ian's bands, equipment and influences.<br />
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<a href="https://soundcloud.com/Ianhickenmusic" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/ianhickenmusic</a> - a link to Ian's music on soundcloud.<br />
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We both have plans for developing our interests over the coming months and years and sincerely hope that our paths will cross again sometime in the future. Don't forget to look us up if you are ever passing this way....<br />
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With love and best wishes<br />
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Ian Hicken<br />
Luis Laso Casas<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-34731791813451239672015-10-06T11:50:00.004+02:002015-10-06T13:48:17.252+02:00Outdoor activities in Asturias: Cycling 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Asturias with its dramatic coastline, green meadows and lush woodlands so close to the towering Picos de Europa mountains is a good region where to enjoy impressive and beautiful scenery in Northern Spain.<br />
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Today, I want to tell you about one the of cycling routes I regularly enjoy starting from our home at La Pasera. This is a route along the eastern Asturian coast finishing at Torimbia Beach which is one of the many stunning and dramatic beaches along this part of the coast that never fails to impress us whenever we visit it. In future blogs, we will tell you about some other walks we also enjoy along this part of the coast that have not been featured in previous posts.<br />
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For me, cycling in Asturias presents some challenges that can easily be overcame with the help of a good map and /or mobile application especially when orienteering does not come naturally. Getting slightly lost is something I do not tend to mind as it usually leads me to discover some beautiful places otherwise I would not have discovered. Other challenge cycling in Asturias relates to instances where the path's surface may be heavily eroded , overgrown or suddenly comes to an end to continue along a narrow trail normally used by animal. This is always a good opportunity to practice certain off road cycling techniques or get an adrenaline kick. <br />
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Cycling any distance in Asturias will always mean that you are faced with hills to climb with varying degrees of difficulty, even the coastal path has some challenging climbs that I initially detested and that now I have come to like, enjoy and even miss.<br />
The route to Torimbia has several climbs that certainly make me sweat and increase my pulse rate. This is a good route to enjoy when I want to do a few kilometers and have some challenging climbs without the need to take my bike in the car to the start of the route. In time I also tell you about some other routes I plan to explore further away from home and in within the Picos National Park.<br />
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To do this 38 Km route from La Pasera means that at times I am riding along some small roads and country lanes where traffic is very quiet with little or no aggression and/or road rage towards cyclists. As a cyclist using a road, Spanish traffic laws grant me the same rights as any other road traffic. I am also a very considerate cyclist while out cycling.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torimbia beach</td></tr>
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On reaching the clifftops before dropping down to Torimbia beach, the views of the coast never cease to impress me. The sound of the sea and how its surface reflects light captivate me and are a good distraction while recharging energy with a light snack and a drink.<br />
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On my return journey, the coastal path is a great opportunity to enjoy magnificent views and some spectacular beaches, sandy coves or clifftops. The occasional chapel in the middle of the meadows and the quaint sleepy villages the path passes by present me some aspects of traditional Asturian architecture that I admire and intend to show you in a future blog post.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Antolin's beach</td></tr>
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Gulpiyuri beach is usually referred to as the beach without a see. At some point in time, the erosive action over the limestone caused by the sea and rain carved a large underground cavity that eventually collapsed creating this beautiful beach with a very short channel where the tidal waters come flooding in giving the illusion of a beach without a sea. Gulpiyuri was recently declared a natural monument and attracts ever increasing numbers of visitors.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulpiyuri beach</td></tr>
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On occasions I also get to see some incredible flora and fauna. During my last ride along this path, I came across a magnificent caterpillar I could not resist photographing. You can even appreciate the little stoma, mouth or opening in the individual segments forming its body that the caterpillar uses to oxygenate the individual segments. A much simpler respiratory system than that present in other animal and one that has always fascinated me with its simplicity. Can anyone identify it?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-68146189673119167242015-09-26T17:43:00.001+02:002015-10-01T13:00:17.919+02:00The best recipe ever for Piccalilli<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We love pickles, chutneys, salsas and spicy sauces as accompaniments with a wide variety of foods. Amongst our favourite is Piccalilli however, it has to be home-made. So far I have not found a shop bought version that can come anywhere near the recipe handed down from my great grandmother and probably even earlier.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September views from La Pasera</td></tr>
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Each year in September we look forward to harvesting a variety of green vegetables that form the basis of our piccalilli: cucumber, celery, green tomatoes, cauliflower, courgette, onion and anything else that blends in with the mix. The key to a good mix is the fine chopping of the ingredients to ensure that everything is approximately of similar size. The other key components are a specific brand of dry mustard powder (Colman's) and good quality Turmeric.<br />
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This is the basic recipe that is tweaked each year to accommodate the vegetables we have available. We usually double these quantities.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #c6c9ae; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: #cccccc;">Piccalilli</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">1 cauliflower</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">1 cucumber</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">3-4 courgettes</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">2 lb of shallots or onion</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">2 lb of green tomatoes</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">1 head of celery</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">About 6 lb of vegetable in total. Chop all the vegetables into small pieces. The cauliflower should be broken into small sized florets and if small enough, the shallots left whole. Soak overnight in a brine solution made with 8 pints of water and 1/2 lb of salt.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">The following day, drain and rinse well, leave to drain and pat dry with a large clean towel whilst you make the sauce.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">4 oz of mustard powder</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;">1/2 oz of Turmeric</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">1 lb sugar (can be reduced if necessary)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">2 1/2 pints of vinegar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">1 cup of plain flour</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">Make a sauce with all the ingredients, thicken with the flour and gently bring to the boil to cook out the flour. Be careful not to burn the sauce, stir constantly. Add the dry vegetables and bring to the boil and immediately remove from the heat. Cover and leave to cool. Bottle and seal in sterilised jars the following day and label.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cccccc;">The piccalilli is best left to mature for at least 3 months but it will keep for over a year if kept in a cool dark place and if your bottles/jars are sterile on bottling. Hide from everyone except your best friends....</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-88309736279023233212015-09-13T23:06:00.002+02:002015-09-13T23:06:36.916+02:00Black magic in the garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As the garden has developed we have both grown very fond of deep red, dark purple and almost black planting in the garden. Sunlight enhances the rich coloured leaves by enabling them to show their rich deep red and purple tones whilst the dullest of days serves to bring out the black. Add rain or dew to the mix and you get an altogether different perspective: the raindrops reflect the light like diamonds. This group of hues adds focal points to the garden and serves as a splendid backdrop to other plants and flowers or helps to lead the eye to a view. If you have any recommendations for black or deep purple foliage plants, please let us know in the comments below.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-18927891301544772592015-09-09T09:51:00.001+02:002015-09-09T09:51:24.560+02:00Feeling peachy and full of beans...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Harvests come and go and when you grow the majority of your own fruit and vegetables or forage fruits and nuts, you cannot delay harvesting or processing; if you do you risk losing them to the animals or to nature.<br />
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In Asturias we have a wild peach called Piesco that produces small fruits which have a strong peachy taste but once ripe, do not last. If the rain comes their skins spoil and the insects and birds can soon devastate the crop. Knowing when to harvest is paramount. The reason we use these wild peaches is because of their wonderful flavour and they are perfect for making jams, chutneys and for dehydrating. A kind neighbour lets us have their crop of piescos that grow on one of their fields as they don't use them and they know how much we love them. 4kg of them were used to make jam and a further 6kg were chopped and frozen for use either for jam or chutney. They freeze well and it is a great way to preserve as much as the crop as possible before they spoil, especially if you don't have the time to use them straight away. We will collect more this week for dehydrating; they make a great snack for when out walking.<br />
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The beans have just been harvested and just in time. The recent heavy rains has caused some damage to the outer pod but fortunately this has not spread to the beans inside. We quickly shelled them and have left them to dry for a few days in the sun after which they will be frozen as is for 24 hours, re dried and stored. The freezing part was a tip from a neighbour who tells us that it destroys any lingering bugs or bacteria and therefore they last much longer and in better condition. It works for us.<br />
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Elsewhere we are just about to harvest our first tomatoes which is always a treat. We still have lots of basil left so plenty of scope for some Italian inspired tomato based dishes. On the list of things to do this week include: making piccalilli, chopping wood, extending the stone skirt to the garage, beginning to thin out and weed the garden....enough already.<br />
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What are you currently harvesting and what jobs are taking up your time during September?</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-92151230118423055942015-08-30T15:39:00.001+02:002015-08-30T15:39:38.116+02:00A high summer peek at the garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Most gardens have several faces that are determined either by natural cycles or through their purpose and the resources allocated. Ours is no different. We have beautiful places that are pleasing to the eye and other senses where you can sit and idle the time away. We have both tidy and not so tidy working areas which are in a constant state of flux, piled high with wood to chop or stone to cut and use. We have unfinished areas that are at the end of a list that grew and grew over the past 9 years and that will one day on completion, serve as the full stop to the overall preparation and build elements or at least signal a semi colon.<br />
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Here are a few photographs of the pleasing elements of our garden (in our eyes at least). As the late summer colours overtake the fresh shades of the spring greens, the changing summer light advances bringing with it rich hues and tones to the nearby landscapes and, the midday skies take on an increasingly erratic carpet of blue, grey and white.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-92131984617827828332015-08-24T23:10:00.000+02:002015-08-25T09:16:27.529+02:00August update from La Pasera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a busy month. A couple of visits, a family wedding, a family barbecue, lots of work around the vegetable plot and garden, some building work, a street market to prepare for and stand, and...a few preserving and jam making jobs.<br />
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Luis' brother Oscar came to stay with us from El Salvador and besides valuing his help with one or two DIY jobs it was good to hear about his life as a Marist Brother teaching in El Salvador. He have previously been living up the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela so this recent move is quite a change for him.<br />
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Another brother of Luis, Ruben, got married to his long term partner Veronica and we all met up with the family at the weekend for a large family barbecue and gathering. It was a lovely day and great for Luis to spend time with some of his nieces and nephews.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a snack before the main event...</td></tr>
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The vegetable plot is producing well with beetroots, aubergines, basil, peppers, cucumber, marrow and chard ready for harvesting almost on a daily basis. I made two large pots of Basil pesto <a href="http://ianandluis.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/growing-basil-and-making-basil-pesto.html" target="_blank">(Recipe here)</a> with lots of garlic and some mature Parmesan. It is lovely to have with pasta and a variety of vegetable and cheese dishes. I doubt it will last long. Luis made 14 jars of Raspberry Jam and there are still lots on the canes and many more frozen ready for later on in the season.<br />
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We have just stood our 5th or 6th annual Rastrillo in Nueva, a small village a few kilometres away. It has always been a great showcase for our chair restoration and with a live demonstration we always attract a lot of interest from passersby who either remember past relatives being able to weave cane or rush or from people who have chairs they want restoring. This year, along side the chairs we took a whole load of bric-a-brac; items we no longer had a need or use for. We took quite a healthy amount of money on the day and will probably put it towards a high-end shredder which will help tremendously with out coppicing and pruning off-cuts.<br />
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We are gearing up for more visits in September and will continue with some building jobs before winter sets in, more about that in a later post. The main holiday season is nearly over here in Asturias and although it is good to see the place buzzing, it is also a relief when they leave and the beaches and roads become tranquil and at peace one again.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-28421419785140981662015-08-16T19:26:00.001+02:002015-08-16T19:26:07.693+02:00Garden shed clearing - out with the old, in with the new.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every gardener knows that the garden shed is worth it's weight in crops as long as it is kept tidy and ordered. There is nothing worse than not being able to find your trowel, spend 15 minutes digging around for the hormone rooting powder or stumbling over the mound of unwashed plastic pots that litter the floor. Unfortunately we are as guilty as many for not keeping this precious work space as pristine as it could be. The potting table on the side of the shed was deteriorating fast and the whole shed beckoned for a little tender loving care.<br />
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The garden shed was one of the first things we built when we bought La Pasera as it was a key component in our plan to grow as much as our own fruit, vegetables and salad crops as possible. We have treated it well structurally with regular coats of water repellent stain and regular tightening of battens that protect it from the strong Costa Verde winds. It is sealed around the base regularly and the roof felt is good quality which when put all together, helps us to keep it water tight and in sound condition. However, this past two years we have been a bit neglectful and it was not long before we noticed that the wood was beginning to suffer in places and the seals were letting in small amounts of water, so time to spring into action and get it sorted.<br />
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We completely emptied it, washed the pots, threw the rubbish, sorted out lots that could be recycled, cleaned all the tools, swept it for cobwebs, painted it on the inside, repaired a couple of pieces near the base that were beginning to rot, painted it outside, re-sealed it and put everything back it. Suddenly it's enormous!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-painted and re-sealed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waste not want not...</td></tr>
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Never one to throw re-usable things away (hence the clutter in the first place), today Luis' brother Oscar, who is visiting from El Salvador, and I used the wood we cleared out to build two new planters. With a bit more sanding and a couple of treatments of preservative they will make a great addition to the garden for spring bulbs.<br />
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Clearing out and tidying the shed makes you realise how important it is to keep up with those jobs that you think will wait another season. As the seasons come and go, it is easy to let standards slip but keeping up with these sorts of chores really does make life easier in the long run.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-4053782497571625232015-08-09T16:10:00.000+02:002015-08-09T16:10:36.575+02:00Walking in Asturias: Collado Jermoso refuge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My last outing with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grupo-de-Monta%C3%B1a-Pe%C3%B1a-Santa/66996638255?fref=ts" target="_blank">Peña Santa mountain walking group</a> was one of the most memorable walks in the Picos Mountains National Park I have so far had. It was a two day walk with an over night stay at Collado Jermoso refuge, one of the several manned mountain refuges dotted across the National Park.</div>
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Only 15 members of the group undertook this particular walk which entailed a two hour journey via a small minibus that could pass the small roads that would take us past the stunning scenery of the Beyos Gorge and El Ponton mountain pass before we could reach the start of our hike in the Valdeon area at the edge of the Central Massif.</div>
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The Central Massif has the highest peaks within the three massifs that comprise the Picos National Park and I have always been mesmerised by the beauty and sheer drama this part of the mountains presents those who walk any of the many hiking routes that can be undertaken across a sea of limestone that at times resembles a lunar landscape. Conquering one or several of the peaks over 2000 m high is always a choice depending on personal experience and/or technical ability required.</div>
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During the first day of this outing, we conquered a peak known as Salinas Tower at 2450 m high, a peak with fantastic views in all directions. Climbing this peak as part of a rather large group of 15 people poised some challenges especially when we were required to scramble up some mountain passes or when extra care need to be taken to avoid been injured by a falling loose rock accidentally been dislodged by someone higher up the slope. </div>
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Having left our rucksacks at the base of the peak (as they were rather heavy not only with water but also food for the two days and the required equipment to sleep in the open at high altitude), lunchtime was delayed until we had descended. I have always enjoyed eating outdoors and doing so in this part of the mountains is something I value as it is a great opportunity to admire some fantastic scenery while listening to those who are familiar with the terrain identify some of the many peaks before us or the paths that cross the mountains pastures and slopes.</div>
With renewed energy levels, we took the path that would lead us to the refuge were we would spend the night.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collado Jermoso refuge. Image by Silvia Castro</td></tr>
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Within the several mountain refuges dotted across the entire National Park, the refuge at Collado Jermoso is without doubt the one that rests within the most dramatic and beautiful setting of them all. As you approach it from the south, the most common route to reach it, you can appreciate the drama as it appears to precariously perch at the edge of a precipice while to its right the peaks tower up to dizzy heights over 2600 m while a few meters behind it the Cares Gorge also known as the Divine Gorge drops over 1000 m. The back of the refuge is a particularly beautiful and much loved beauty spot where those staying at the refuge for the night can enjoy the drama of a sun setting behind the Holy Crag of Castille within the Western Massif. Within this vantage point, the views down into the Cares Gorge below and the Valdeon valley opening towards the West adds to the overall drama and beauty of this particular area and certainly attests for the Jermoso name, a word that means beautiful in Bable or the dialect that is spoken within Asturias.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunsetting behind Holy Crag of Castille.</td></tr>
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Sleeping in the refuges at this time of the year requires booking a place early but you can always have a drink, dinner and breakfast even when you sleep outside as we all did on this occasion. As darkness approached, we settled into our sleeping and bivouac bags and waited for the stars to come out. The beauty of the night sky and the shadows the moonlight cast onto the rocks is something I will never forget and certainly made up for the lack of sleep. A sloping ground was certainly not the best place to lie down to sleep.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The climb up La Palanca with Salnas Tower behind<br />
to the left and Friero Tower right behind.</td></tr>
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After a much welcomed breakfast and coffee at the refuge, we were eager to start climbing up the second peak, La Palanca at 2614 m. The hard efforts rewarded us with magnificent views of the Salinas Tower, the peak we climbed the previous day.</div>
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Sitting with our feet dangling at La Palanca's summit was a great photo opportunity and provided perspective to the background peaks one of which is Torrecerredo, the highest peak in the National Park and one I plan to conquer this Summer.</div>
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From La Palanca, a 2200 m descent was certainly a challenge and the reason why we all ended with stiff legs the following day. The scenery we walked through and the views down towards Cain, a quaint little village in the heart of the Cares Gorge and where the bus that would take us back after having a drink at the local bar made this tough descent a little more bearable.</div>
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Walking through an area still covered with snow is something you can still anticipate when hiking in this part of the National Park but with a little care and attention there is no reason why these areas cannot be crossed safely. Safety should always be paramount and we certainly had a reminder of the risks this type of activity entails when we saw the mountain rescue helicopter in action in our vicinity. We would later on, sadly discover that it was a serious accident the rescue team were taking care of. One reason why appropriate equipment, insurance and going out with experienced and competent guides is essential when venturing in this stunning part of the Asturian landscape. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-76280453718879823522015-08-02T17:54:00.001+02:002015-08-02T17:55:26.505+02:00The holiday season in Asturias<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Asturias is a popular destination during the heat of the summer in Spain. Many Spanish people come during the main holiday period of last two weeks of July, August and beginning of September. Many leave their town and city based apartments where the summer temperatures rarely fall below 30 degrees Celsius, to come to the milder and more tolerable northern coast; Spain's Natural Paradise, Asturias.<br />
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The once quiet towns and low-key cities now buzz with extra traffic, more pedestrians and busy terrace cafes and bars. The beaches that are mainly deserted for 10 months of the year become a mosaic of sun chairs, beach umbrellas, beach towels and sand castles. The hundreds of peaceful walking routes become punctuated with walkers, ramblers, cyclists and runners, the gentle hum of the mountains ring out with cattle bells and camera shutters and the subdued markets come to life with extra stalls and animated stall-holders eager to sell their wares to passing tourists.<br />
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As you wander around the small fishing villages, farming communities and hidden towns, the aromas of cured ham, grilled fish and seafood, still cider and barbecued meats float through the air with unprecedented regularity and the haze of wood smoke intensifies the tapestry of greens, golds and blues that are typical of summer here in Asturias. During the next few weeks we will see and hear a proliferation of fiestas, music festivals, street theatres and recitals, all geared up to entertain and bemuse both the locals and the incomers; something for everyone.<br />
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It is great to see this influx of visitors during the summer months and although it can upset our normality, we realise that the economy needs it. What always confuses us is why Asturias is so quiet during the remainder of the year? We appreciate that it is the main holiday period for many Spanish workers but we feel that there is no-where better to visit in Autumn or Spring and even Winter than this beautiful region of Spain. OK the weather can be unpredictable particularly in Spring and sometimes in summer but cooler and wet weather fronts rarely last for long and after all, that is why Asturias is so green and lush. With mountains, woodlands, pastures and coast, larger cities and quaint villages all easily accessible within half an hour no matter where you stay, Asturias really does cater for all tastes.<br />
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Below are a couple of videos that show some of the beauty of Asturias, the first is a video from the hotel we first stayed in on our first time in Asturias (worth a visit) and the second is one I have featured before of the Cares Gorge; the most iconic walk in Asturias. Who knows we just might meet here one day....?<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/82943387">Winter walk along the Cares Gorge, Picos De Europa, Asturias and León, Spain</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/tomasmillar">Tomas Millar</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
A walk along the Ruta Del Cares in Northern Spain. Posada de Valdeón - Caín (León) to Puente Poncebos (Asturias) - Courtesy of <a href="http://www.casausborne.com/">www.casausborne.com</a>.<br />
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Filmed using:<br />
DJI Phantom Quadcopter<br />
GoPro Hero 3<br />
H32D Gimbal</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-54640569694539654262015-07-26T15:07:00.005+02:002015-07-31T12:18:10.530+02:00Ribadesella 21st Jazz Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This weekend has seen the arrival in town of the 21st Ribadesella Jazz Festival, an event not to be missed if you like free outdoor concerts with a great atmosphere and great music. Each year if we are here, we usually pop along to the concerts which span three consecutive nights. The concerts take place in one of the main squares in town and are well attended by all age groups. They start at 11pm through to 12.30am or there abouts depending on how many encores they are called back for.<br />
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Friday night saw the blues band Red House take to the stage. The crowd was really got into the mood of the evening and young and old alike were dancing in the aisles and enjoying the strong guitar riffs and husky blues voice of the lead vocalist.<br />
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Saturday night was the concert I was most looking forward to: The Black Light Gospel Choir. Each year they usually have a gospel choir on the bill and it usually proves to be the most popular. Saturday's performance was no exception with their high energy performances, brilliant vocals and superb musical arrangements of some rock classics such as Stairway to Heaven, Ain't No Stopping Us Now and Hallelujah.<br />
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Sunday night's concert will be Skytrain who are billed as being a jazz fusion band - if the energy levels allow we'll pop along and see what they are like but from previous year's experiences of jazz fusion it is not really my cup of tea but we'll see....<br />
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Town is buzzing at the moment with the holiday season well and truly on its way. Although it's great to see so many visitors, it is also great when at the end of August, things start to quieten and the peace and tranquillity returns to the streets, beaches and mountain walks. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-49193711707522167192015-07-16T14:01:00.000+02:002015-07-17T14:36:10.548+02:00Portraits in Mosaic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Luis has just returned to Asturias from a two week mosaic course in Belgium and from visiting fellow mosaicists in both Belgium and Holland. Needless to say he has had a brilliant and very productive time. The piece he chose to work on in Belgium under the tutelage of Mireille Swinnen at <a href="http://www.mozaiekstudio.be/" target="_blank">http://www.mozaiekstudio.be/ </a>was based on an ageing Pierrot clown - a portrait in tessarae using a direct method in a painterly style. I was really pleased with his choice as for those of you who don't know I was once a keyboard player for a band called <a href="http://mypierrotdolls.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Pierrot Dolls</a> in the early 1980s (who incidentally are still playing gigs in and around Yorkshire in the UK - check them out if you get a chance). Despite a very active social programme, with Mireille's guidance he managed to complete the portrait with only the framing and mounting left to do.<br />
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Whilst in Belgium he shared some studio time with Jeannot Leenen a really talented mosaicist who you may remember created a portrait of one of our cats, Wentworth. Jeannot has very kindly now completed a second portrait, this time of Gawber so we will be able to display them in their full glory together: The Asturian Prince and The Asturian Hunter.<br />
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Luis ended his mosaic adventure in Holland and spent a few days with another great mosaicist Conny Van Der Wende who owns and runs <a href="http://www.tilesandtools.eu/" target="_blank">Tiles and Tools</a> . Now back and filled with renewed energies, new techniques and numerous ideas, I am looking forward to his new projects... Watch this space.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-53136573970838706732015-07-02T19:45:00.001+02:002015-07-14T19:52:11.968+02:00In the heat of the midday sun at La Pasera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Continuing our time specific theme for Summer it struck me the other day how life changes with the weather. Here at La Pasera it has been very warm and muggy for the past few days with little relief from the persistent heat and overwhelming warm humid air. Unlike the rest of Spain and Europe it seems, where constant sunshine has been the order of the day, we have had short bouts of strong sunshine followed by low overcast skies which have felt equally oppressive. Not only has it had an effect on us, it has changed the entire dynamics of life in the garden.<br />
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Wentworth and Gawber are to be found in deep shade either in amongst the thick carpet of honesty and crocosmia, too drained by the heat to contemplate chasing a bathing Jay or Finch. The blackbirds scavenge dangerously close to the snoozing cats who from time to time open an eyelid when a scurrying lizard whisks by.<br />
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The birds roost in the bushes with an occasional sortie for food or water. The insects come out in force making the most of the wide and inviting flowers and nectar within. The ants march onwards in their regimented manner to their cool underground tunnels and the spiders await their pray, ready to pounce and wrap, saving the bounty for a later feast.<br />
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The lizards take advantage of the warm limestone rockery and with their flattened abdomens, soak up the heat...Whilst the grasshopper takes shade in the cavity of a Calla Lily.<br />
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The plants throughout the garden wilt, especially the young broccoli and pepper plants. The ruby red-veined leaves of the beetroot almost touch the earth and the onions leaves begin to turn golden yellow and become brittle. The harvest continues with large juicy blackberries, ruby Swiss chard and sweet, sweet beetroot whilst freshly harvested Lemon Verbena perfumes the air as it is strung up to dry.<br />
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As for the humans at La Pasera in the heat of the midday sun? Inside a cooled house or workshop, enjoying the chores of the day and taking time to enjoy the heat of the midday sun. Learning from the cats that it is best enjoyed... from a distance.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-64119557459497198512015-06-27T17:01:00.001+02:002015-07-07T11:00:03.631+02:00In the still of the night at La Pasera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In the still of the night when we are asleep, the garden continues to host an array of wildlife we rarely see or think about... What happens in your garden at night?<br />
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As dusk falls, the birds call out the end of the day before roosting in bushes, trees and crevices. The bats take flight and feast on the abundant mist of midges, flies and moths and the owls fly low from perch to perch in search of mice, voles and frogs. The frogs begin their chatter and the toads sing out loud announcing their presence to passing mates. Meanwhile the snails and slugs exit their daytime refuge and take advantage of the cooler air and dew that settles on the grasses and plants, easing their journey to feast on luscious greens and petals.<br />
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Excitement grows for Wentworth and Gawber as they tune in to the music of the night. A rustle here, a flutter there, a call in the distance, both Wentworth and Gawber finely tune their senses to ensure their safety and maintain their territory. A large male stag beetle signals its presence with a loud whirring noise as it navigates the garden only to be chased by two curios and playful cats.<br />
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Every so often we sit in the darkness on the terrace and experience the sounds and sights of the night. It is amazing to think that within a few meters, creatures great and small are feeding, travelling to and fro and, on constant alert for friend or foe. It is clear that we only ever experience a fraction of the abundance of life that uses our garden.<br />
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Here is a short compilation of night-time infrared videos filmed in the wildest parts of our plot. It features, badgers, deer, fox, pine marten, hedgehog, wild boar, a raton and of course, cats. When we view the films we can often see the reflections of curious cats eyes watching from a distance. The final scene is a lovely reminder that our domesticated cats bridge the life in the garden we know and the life we rarely catch a glimpse of...<br />
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<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvCG3PFqjthJ4GfHn2DgInF7oj5i_oNT215mayACa6Yau9_K9bd_0xTwpyWtes-DOSyLpsIMwwxfVA8uxkdtf5zRHApO7G3tMGQW1NXfqN4aw9uV9DLiH22liHM92_hxwEs79Jw/s1600/Animal+Tales+Badge+Final.jpg" /></a>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-11998759929494587632015-06-21T17:54:00.001+02:002015-06-21T22:16:37.194+02:00The first day of Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is a bright sunny day with blue skies punctuated by white and pale grey Columbus clouds. It is warm bordering on hot in the sun but with plenty of shaded places to keep cool, it is a lovely first day of Summer.<br />
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The first peaches were harvested today and although the tree doesn't produce much fruit, what it does produce is sweet, very peachy and juicy if left to ripen naturally. One or two have already been pecked at by the birds and then plundered by the ants but as today was getting breezy I decided to harvest the first of the undamaged crop before they fell in the gathering winds.<br />
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The mosaic terrace table top has been united with its long-awaited bases and it not only looks great, it is also functional and perfect for the glass of red as the evening sun sets. Needless to say, Luis has started another mosaic project and the list of projects in mind continues to grow apace.<br />
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One of the showiest plants we have is in full bloom near the edge of the pond. The angels fishing rod is heavy with bright pink flowers that droop towards the water and encourage lots of bees and insects.<br />
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Another plant that gives all it has when flowering is the cactus. This one is in full glorious flower, sadly they last only very few hours so to get to witness their show is a true privilege.<br />
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Other worthy contenders for showiest bloomer are the air hyacynth and the bottom meadow, both of which are at their prime.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">The cats are spending most of their day in the deep shade of the bog garden where it is damp and cool but occasionally venture out from the shade of the giant G</span>unera<span style="text-align: left;"> leaves and soak up the warmth of the sun for a few moments but soon return to the cool and welcome shade. They are brushed daily from now on as it is flea and tick season and regular grooming means we can keep an eye out for attacks. They are also fast loosing their winter coats so they seem to welcome a daily brush.</span></div>
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You might have heard of the Andrex puppy? Well we seem to have an Aubretia pussy who has taken to finding comfort when relieving himself resulting in large dying patches...I won't publicly name and shame, I'll leave it up to you to decide who is the guilty party!<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-38724854390903620782015-06-16T19:15:00.001+02:002015-06-16T19:15:09.927+02:001,600 Euros raised for Rosie and her stable mates.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This week we visited El Paraiso del Burro (The Donkey Paradise) in Arobes to hand over the total monies raised for the Caring for Rosie Challenge. It has been a wonderful three months with 50 people making donations and many more helping us to promote the cause and spread the word about the wonderful work Marleen and and the team of volunteers do at the sanctuary.<br />
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Through Go Fund Me, we sought sponsorship for Luis' three sporting challenges; mountain cycling, mountain walking and endurance cycling. We managed to raise a fantastic £1250 which after Go Fund Me fees translated into 1,600 Euros. The money will help to care for Rosie, her stable mates (24 other retired and abused donkeys), help to feed and shelter the volunteers and enable some maintenance work to be undertaken at the Sanctuary.<br />
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Rosie is doing well with her prosthetic hooves and daily leg massages and despite her walking problems she manages to wander around the lush verges and fields on a daily basis and live a happy and content life amongst other donkeys in paradise.<br />
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The sanctuary still needs your support and it would help if you would consider becoming a member of El Paraiso del Burro or sponsoring one of the donkeys, details of which can be found here: <a href="http://www.paraisodelburro.com/">www.paraisodelburro.com</a> Or maybe you fancy volunteering in this beautiful region of Spain? If you do, give us a shout.....<br />
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Thank you, your kind thought and generous acts were respectfully received.<br />
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Best wishes<br />
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Luis and Ian x</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-45182237266778145792015-06-12T23:32:00.002+02:002015-06-16T23:35:31.556+02:00June in the garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The weather continues to be cooler than usual with several days of prolonged drizzle and low cloud. Sunny days have been few and far between but never-the-less the garden is looking colourful and filling out at a pace; sadly, the flowers do not last long enough when they get saturated in the persistent drizzle. We tend to wander around the garden daily to spot what is happening, to see what's in flower, prioritise weeding and spot any potential problems such as infestations and damage. We noticed several heavy infestations of aphids on the fruit trees. We had been told about a soap based product (soft potash soap) that is supposed to help eradicate such infestations so we bought some and have sprayed all the fruit trees to see if it works (50g/litre of water). We will let you know how efficient it is.<br />
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There are several spectacular flowers and plants in bloom at the moment including: The bird of paradise which we rescued from a house in the next village. It was constantly on the floor, dry and in a bad way so we knocked on the door and asked if we could take care of it. The lady said yes and with a bit of tender, loving care, it is back in great shape. It just needs re-potting now in something appropriately splendid.<br />
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The bee orchid is common in these parts but we have found some in the garden amongst the flowers - We are not sure if it is a bee orchid or a woodcock ophry<a href="http://www.posadadelvalle.com/" target="_blank"> (thanks Nigel)</a> as they are almost indistinguishable, they are truly lovely and we will encourage their spread. We now have at least four types of wild orchids that grow in the garden.<br />
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The Alliums are in full spectacle. As you approach they appear like miniature galaxies suspended in green space. Their structure and form are fascinating and a wonderful distraction.<br />
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A few years ago we planted a series of terracotta roof tiles with succulents. These were easy to make by blocking off the ends with pebbles and cement, filling with soil, adding plants and a few decorative pebbles and topping off with fine gravel. We have lined the steps down into the garden with them and they make a lovely addition and need very little attention.<br />
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Luis has been busy making mosaics in between all the other things we get up to. He has just completed two column bases for a mosaic table he made some time ago. They are designed so that they can be used independently but we will use them with the top as intended. The are a lovely addition to the terrace. We will feature them in-situ once fully dry (currently sealed and awaiting positioning).<br />
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Elsewhere the garden continues to keep us occupied with lots of fruit and vegetables to sow, maintain and harvest as appropriate. The lawns need regular cutting and the flower borders need dead-heading to prolong the flowering season. There is always something to do but it brings with it the opportunity to savour the beautiful colours, shapes and structures that nature provides. What do you enjoy in your garden?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-6891638993397374182015-06-06T15:51:00.000+02:002015-06-06T15:51:04.109+02:00Soap Wars - Episode 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The scent of lemongrass is divine. It's a while since we made soap but we had all the ingredients in stock and a bottle of lemongrass oil waiting to be used so, soap making was on the cards. We first made soap in 2012 and it was great but together with soap we had been given, bought and had in stock, we've had no real need to make it since. The good news is we are running low and the opportunity to make our own cannot be missed.<br />
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The recipe was pretty much as before but with amounts adjusted to create a perfect balance of hardness, bubbles, persistence, cleanliness and conditioning. We used an online calculator which gives you the values for each depending on your mix of ingredients. We also added some white clay which helps with the texture of the soap. The whole process of creating the right blend is know as a <a href="http://calc.mendrulandia.net/?lg=en" target="_blank">Saponification Calculation</a>.<br />
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The soap was poured into a large wooden mold and a cupcake tin where it was allowed to cool and set overnight. The large block was cut into presentable slices and the whole soap will be left to cure for several weeks: it is caustic to the skin until it cures.<br />
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Home made soap is truly lovely and you can sure that it contains no unnecessary chemicals, micro beads or palm oil. If you do fancy having a go and making some it really is quite easy but special care is needed as you are dealing with chemical processes that can burn and injure unless handled with extreme care.<br />
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We used a processed lemongrass oil for the soap but we are also growing lemongrass in a pot. We hoped we would be able to harvest the bulbous part of the grass when it matured and infuse it with olive oil but last year it didn't reach such maturity. We'll just have to be content with the lovely fresh lemon smell it gives off as you brush past it. The cats love to eat lemongrass and can often be found grazing on the fresh green shoots.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemongrass</td></tr>
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Here is Soap Wars from 2012 if you missed it the first time around. <a href="http://ianandluis.blogspot.com.es/2012/07/la-pasera-soap-opera-first-batch.html" target="_blank">Click here</a><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-40076277807650283172015-05-30T17:49:00.001+02:002015-06-02T09:07:16.927+02:00Caring for the Donkeys at El Paraiso del Burro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Luis successfully completed his second sports challenge last Saturday in his efforts to raise monies for the donkeys at El Paraiso del Burro here in Asturias. So far we have raised over £1000 and would like to thank everyone who has donated or helped us to promote this fundraiser. As we near the final challenge on the 6th June, please help us to achieve our new goal of £1250 by helping us to spread the word or by making a small donation.<br />
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He was joined by his younger brother Ruben and 10,000 others who were taking part in El Soplao - cyclists, walkers and marathon runners all taking part in various events starting from Cabezon de la Sal in Cantabria. Unlike the UK, not many people use these events to raise money for charity and in the main is is used as a personal challenge and experience.<br />
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The route Luis and Ruben completed was <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/310283795" target="_blank"><b>just over 47km in total on foot</b></a>, through beautiful mountains, valleys and woodlands. They both completed the route in 11.5 hours which was a great achievement.<br />
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Rosie the donkey and her stable mates at El Paraiso del Burro (the Donkey Paradise) lead a tranquil and cared for life in a beautiful lush valley in Arobes, Asturias. For many it is in stark contrast to the life they previously led. Many arrive at the sanctuary badly nourished, mistreated, with numerous health problems and over-worked. Rosie arrived at the sanctuary unable to walk properly as her hooves had overgrown causing her to have muscle and tendon problems. She was depressed and in a poor general state of health. With daily massages, regular grooming, hoof care, good food and regular check-ups she has blossomed and now spends her days wandering the lush valley, socialising with fellow donkeys and enjoying the hands on care she receives daily. The monies raised will help to feed her, pay farrier bills, and contribute to the general running costs of the sanctuary. With 24 donkeys, several rescue dogs and many volunteers to feed and shelter it doesn't come cheap so every penny/cent/dime counts. You can contribute here: <b><a href="http://www.gofundme.com/CaringforRosie" target="_blank">Caring for Rosie</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/CaringforRosie?utm_medium=wdgt" style="border: none;" target="_blank" title="Visit this page now."><img src="https://funds.gofundme.com/css/3.0_donate/green/widget.png" style="border: none;" /></a>
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Luis' third and final challenge will be a 160km cycle ride on the 6th June following the route of the <a href="http://www.desafiocanaldecastilla.com/" target="_blank"><b>Canal de Castilla</b></a>. Once again this is an organised event in which he will participate with his brother Ruben. Following the event we will keep the fund-raising page open for one week as we know there are some people who want to contribute once all three challenges are finished. After that, we will close the page and make arrangements with Marleen Verhoef at the Donkey Paradise, to hand over the monies raised. We will let everyone know via this blog and the dedicated <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaringforRosieChallenge2015" target="_blank"><b>Facebook page </b></a>how much money we raise. Once again, a big heart-felt thank you to everyone who has contributed it means a lot to us and we couldn't have done it without you. Here is a short film of Rosie and another of some of here stable mates enjoying life in their autumn years:<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">The fundraising page at: <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/CaringforRosie">http://www.gofundme.com/CaringforRosie</a> will close on</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red;"> Saturday 13th June</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://eco-gites.blogspot.fr/p/the-animals-tale.html" target="_blank"><img alt="ANIMALTALES" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvCG3PFqjthJ4GfHn2DgInF7oj5i_oNT215mayACa6Yau9_K9bd_0xTwpyWtes-DOSyLpsIMwwxfVA8uxkdtf5zRHApO7G3tMGQW1NXfqN4aw9uV9DLiH22liHM92_hxwEs79Jw/s1600/Animal+Tales+Badge+Final.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-68704317097924104552015-05-24T15:12:00.001+02:002015-05-24T15:12:53.040+02:00Fiesta and the village comes together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our home La Pasera is on the edge of Toriello, a small village about 5 Km from Ribadesella in the Spanish northern region of Asturias. Life in the main is very quiet with few cars passing by as villagers use it to take the children to school, commute to work or drive to nearby towns and cities. Other than for the occasional person who may walk or cycle past our home, we can easily go by days during which we would see very few people other than for those whom we may meet as we walk past at the time when they may be waiting for the bread to be delivered to their doorstep by one of the several bakers that serve the village.<br />
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The general peace and quiet of the village may be disturbed mainly by the occasional tractor driving past with fodder for the animal that graze the surrounding meadows or by a distant animal raising an alarm when threatened. </div>
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The overall quiet feel alters when we come together to celebrate the two annual fiestas we have in the village. </div>
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The first fiesta was celebrated last weekend was in honour of Our Lady of Fatima, one of the two patron saints. The other been St Martin which gets celebrated in mid November.</div>
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For the May fiesta, about a month before, the festivities committee visits every household asking for donations to help finance the event and the hiring of a big marquee in case of rain. The fiesta is always celebrated on the weekend that coincides with mid May.<br />
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On the Friday, the general peace of the village is broken when several rockets get fired up into the sky to herald that the effigy of Our Lady of Fatima is about to be taken to the neighbouring village where she will left overnight in the church.<br />
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Very early on Saturday morning, more rockets are fired to announce the big day and that the festivities committee is starting to work to ensure the remaining tasks are completed.<br />
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Just before midday, villagers and those visiting will be gathering to walk over the next village and bring back the effigy of Fatima. Many of the women, men and children taking part will be dressed in very fancy costumes. The ramu, a wooden structure covered with bread cakes, sweeties for the children and decorations will be also carried and after a hymn is sung in hour of Fatima we all return to the village where the fiesta continues before retiring home for linnch.<br />
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During the night. two bands will be playing music in the marquee where there is also a bar where people gather to have a good time and celebrate the coming together of a community until the early hours of the morning when the bands finish their merrymaking. The serving of hot chocolate heralds the end of the fiesta for those who had been partying all night and the return to quietness once more until the next fiesta in June when the village will once again gather to celebrate the Summer solstice with an evening "al fresco" picnic.<br />
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Wentworth and Gawber always welcome the passing of the fiesta taking away with it the influx of people, cars, loud noises and rockets although they seem to get immune to the loud bangs after a few rockets have gone off. <br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-89000476300376861512015-05-16T00:10:00.001+02:002015-05-20T17:17:46.116+02:00The lusty month of May...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's May, it's May, the lusty month of May...<br />
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What a start to the month, its been extremely busy with lots of jobs to do in and around the garden. The seedlings are progressing well and we'll soon be planting beans, marrow, cucumber and squash and kohlrabi. The peas, potatoes and beetroot have been in the ground for a few weeks now and are growing with vigour but the tomatoes have just not moved, probably due to the unseasonal cold weather and overcast days. The two new apple trees we planted are doing well and have set fruit so hopefully we will have an extended season of apples from this year on.<br />
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We've had an eventful month so far with Luis venturing out into the mountains both alone and with his brother Ruben, both in training for a 50 Km mountain walk on the 23rd May organised by El Soplao. You may remember Luis is seeking sponsorship for this and two other challenges he has set himself this Spring to raise monies for The Donkey Paradise here in Asturias - more of that later.<br />
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Earlier in the month it was World Nude Gardening Day and of course, Luis participated as he has done for the past three years. Fortunately, it wasn't too cold on the day and I managed to sneak a photograph when he wasn't looking...<br />
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The garden is looking very colourful at the moment with lots of plants in full flower both in the beds and rockeries. Lots of dead heading and cosmetic pruning takes up a bit of time but it extends the flowering period and helps keep debris and invaders down such as slugs, aphids and black fly. Fortunately we seem to have a healthy colony of ladybirds this year which is a great natural control.<br />
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We were rather disturbed to see a European Hornet in the garden. I managed to get a shot or two but I was wary of venturing too close as they have a nasty sting and can be aggressive.<br />
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Wentworth and Gawber the cats are recovering well from their recent illness although Gawber has ongoing eye problems that require regular check-ups and daily eye drops. He is such a timid cat and despite our efforts to re-assure him, he freaks at the site of the cat carrier and now is wary whenever we call him as he thinks the eye dropper is close at hand but it needs to be done.<br />
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Luis had a bike accident this week and managed to knock himself out. He ended up stopping in hospital overnight for neurological observations but was discharged the following day with some residual concussion and a few cuts and many bruises. He was given strict instructions to rest. I have told him the gardening will wait until the weekend...;-)<br />
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The Caring for Rosie Challenge to raise monies for Rosie the Donkey and her stable mates at El Paraiso del Burro is going great and we are overwhelmed and grateful to the many people who have donated and helped us to promote this worthy cause. So far we have raised £1000 and hope that with two challenges left to complete, we can raise another £250. We visited the donkey sanctuary today and it was great to see the donkeys out in the pastures enjoying the lush spring grass. If you could help us reach our target, please follow the link below on the photograph of Rosie or click on the Go Fund Me button.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gofundme.com/CaringforRosie" target="_blank">Rosie enjoying the lush pastures at El Paraiso del Burro</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/CaringforRosie?utm_medium=wdgt" style="border: none; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Visit this page now."><img src="https://funds.gofundme.com/css/3.0_donate/red/widget.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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Back to the lusty month of May, for those of you who don't know it it is the title of a song but do you know which one and from which musical (extra points if you can name the composers)? The lyrics sort of sum up our May but with only half the month gone, there is still time for more lusty goings on as the weather warms up and life in and around La Pasera brings with it new adventures and lasting memories.<br />
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Now back to that World Nude Gardening Day photograph...if you really want to see it scroll down..................................Surely that's worth a few £, € or $ towards the donkeys?<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-36877623097332942072015-05-03T14:09:00.003+02:002015-05-05T08:53:59.256+02:00Lizard tales...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From time to time you come across an unexpected sight that reminds you just how glorious nature really is. Finding lizard eggs and watching tiny, fully independent and perfectly formed young lizards eat through their protective shell was one such moment. Nestled in a pile of unused rubble we stumbled upon a collection of tiny eggs incubating in their damp and warm surroundings. </div>
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As the tiny lizards emerged they gained warmth from the surrounding rocks and pavements, building up their energy to begin a life living in and around the rocks and rockery here at La Pasera. At this age they are fairly trusting and you can get close enough to admire these miniature dragons.</div>
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Since building and extending our rockery garden the number of lizards has increased as it is an ideal habitat with many underground cavities and lots of limestone outcrops from which to soak up the warmth and feast on passing insects. The lizard can often be seen pursuing each other through the peaks and troughs of the rockery, resting for a while and resuming the chase for a mate. </div>
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At this time of year it is common to see adults begin to shed their skin as they grow year on year. With a fresh skin their scales soak up the midday sun as they cling on to the rough rocks with their hand-like claws.<br />
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Elsewhere in and around the bog garden is a different type of lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) that glows emerald green and is three times the size of the common garden lizard. These beautiful specimens are much harder to spot but when you do, you really cannot miss them.</div>
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Wentworth and Gawber the cats, like to torment the lizards whenever they can but it is rare they catch one and seem somewhat at a loss to understand what has happened when the lizard detaches its tail in defence, leaving it twitching on the ground and causing just enough distraction to make a quick escape. The tail always grows again and you can always spot those that have had the misfortune of an encounter.</div>
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Gawber and Wentworth are progressing well now so thank you for all your good wishes. Treatments continue and we are keeping a close eye on them until fully recovered.</div>
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We have a mosaic in the garden which Luis created to celebrate the lizards we share our plot with. As the sun shines, the amethyst eyes sparkle and the rings of pebbles frame the slate lizard perfectly.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-87456420750931906282015-04-26T16:18:00.001+02:002015-04-26T16:20:03.302+02:00A few photographs from Aviles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For Luis' birthday we went to Aviles and the <span style="font-family: inherit;">Peñas</span> cape. Here are a few photographs:<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-19220922561804170162015-04-21T08:54:00.000+02:002015-04-27T22:26:34.573+02:00Dear Deer...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dear Deer,</div>
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The other day whilst chatting to friends on Skype I spotted you out of the corner of my eye from the study window about to take a drink from our garden pond. It was lovely to see you in daylight as we normally only ever see you and other members of your herd on the trailcam at night and sometimes in the early morning as the mist is lifting.<br />
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With your slender frame, bright dark eyes, and your growing antlers you looked very handsome and quite relaxed given the time of day (late afternoon). You took a small drink from the pond but then moved on to the birdbath which you seemed to prefer. I wondered if you were the same deer I had to rescue from a farmer's dog a few weeks earlier when you were running around and around the garden seeking an escape route? It was fortunate I managed to stop the dog in its tracks by running between you both.<br />
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We often see you in the meadows surrounding La Pasera and it was only the other morning when three of your herd grazed the bottom field whilst we watched on and finished our breakfast. There is a lot to eat around the fields and meadows so whilst I don't mind you nibbling the odd raspberry leaf in our soft fruit bed, I really do draw a line at nibbled mange tout and orange tree leaves.<br />
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I never saw your sibling until you wandered down towards the winter lettuce and started jumping playfully. You make a splendid pair I must say. I managed to open the window without too much noise but only had my compact camera available but I think I got some reasonable shots of you both. I noticed that you also like one or two of our garden plants...<br />
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We realise that April is a more relaxed time for you now that the hunters have stopped harassing you with their dogs and guns, and that you are generally less stressed but if you continue to munch away on our food we might just have to put up some barriers to keep you out. I really wouldn't like to do that, so please take note. We loved your curiosity when you spotted the ceramic hare and wondered what you would make of the cats if you came across them?<br />
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You are welcome to visit as your forebears have done over the years but stick to the meadows for your snacks. Take care and safe journey little ones.<br />
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Best wishes<br />
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La Pasera<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20649132.post-20864720430142096802015-04-16T19:30:00.003+02:002015-04-16T19:30:28.026+02:00They're only cats...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We've had a difficult few days with Wentworth (Black) and Gawber (Tabby) the cats. About 10 days ago Wentworth came home from his daily wanderings and was obviously sore on his tail and whimpered whenever we went near him. This is a sure sign he had been in a fight with another cat during his nightly adventures. This isn't the first time he has had such problems and we are very used to the process of bite, abscess formation, localised hair loss, abscess bursting, cleaning, scab formation and healing. This time it was a bit different.<br />
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After three days the abscess grew and grew, hair loss was significant in and around the bite/s and Wentworth became subdued and generally unwell. It was clear from the amount of scratches on his body and from closer inspection of his tail, that this time it had been a significant fight and he was suffering much more than usual; a trip to the vets was indicated. On examination he had three puncture wounds on his tail and three abscesses. He was given antibiotic cover and a pain killer before having them drained and flushed out with hydrogen peroxide. With instructions to remove the scabs as they formed and continue to drain any puss formation we took him home, grounded him and continued with the treatment regime. Poor little thing (he is only very slight for a male cat), he was very sore and hated our interference with his very inflamed tail. With regular anti-inflammatory medication and wound cleansing his tail began to heal.<br />
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We became concerned that despite healing well, he was sleeping for much more than usual and he had developed very watery eyes, sneezing and a build up of mucus in his upper respiratory tract. Apart from the odd bit of yogurt and water, he wasn't eating. We did some research and talked to the vet and concluded that it could be a viral infection passed on from the cat which he had fought with. The antibiotics would give him cover for any subsequent bacterial infections so it was just case of tender loving care and wait and see. Unfortunately we suspected that if it was viral, Gawber, his brother, was also at risk. Sure enough two days later Gawber started becoming unwell.<br />
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At first he just seemed to have a bit of a cough and would sit with his neck slumped and his mouth open. He went off his food and wouldn't drink. It was weekend and by the Sunday we were really concerned for his prognosis without intervention, so the emergency vet was called. On examination Gawber was found to have an extremely inflamed pharynx resulting in difficulty swallowing, a lot of pain and respiratory difficulties. Injections of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications were given. With instructions to contact the vet if he should deteriorate, we set about trying to keep him hydrated and comfortable along with his brother Wentworth. When ill, cats can deteriorate very quickly.<br />
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Gawber's condition deteriorated rapidly and on Monday we took him back to the vets where a decision was made to give him a stat dose of steroids by injection. It was a worrying 24 hours and distressing to see him gasping, vomiting and extremely subdued. Thankfully he began to show signs of improvement by Wednesday and began to voluntarily drink water. He is now back eating soft food and beginning to recover well as is Wentworth. They both now have runny noses, weepy eyes and frequent sneezing but are doing well. We've been back to the vets today and she is pleased with Gawber's progress. With a couple more weeks of TLC, good food and a few extra vitamins there is no reason why they shouldn't make a full recovery.<br />
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They're only cats... This has been said in one of several forms a few times over the years by a few people who really should know better. To set the record straight, the cats are not children substitutes, they are not pampered or spoilt, they are not treat better than humans neither are we wasting money on good quality food, shelter or care. We took the decision to take on the responsibility for the guardianship of two independent, domesticated animals. To us they are not pets, playthings or trophies, they are fascinating, intelligent, graceful and endearing creatures who require us to act as their advocates when it is required. We owe them the best care and treatment we can provide and we will continue to love and respect them as unique and intelligent animals. In our opinion, if you are not prepared to work in this way with another animal, you really should stick to a life without one.<br />
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On a final note, whoever developed these multivitamin tablets for cats has obviously never product tested adminstration....<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peace, harmony and tranquility....</div>Ian and Luishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821746193241943684noreply@blogger.com15