A fruitful walk along the cliffs

Luis here:

Today after a very nice walk along the Toriello cliffs with impressive views of the sea and unusual limestone rock formations, I picked our first batch of wild blackberries and thus the jam making season starts. I will aim to collect a few more blackberries to make blackberry and greengage, blackberry and apple and blackberry jam amongs others. As different fruits become available I will make more jam with pear and cinnamon, figs and orange - that we will use throught the year. The jam I make has a reduced sugar content and in order to preserve it once made, I will further cook it in a bain marie. In this way I will continue to enjoy my favourite breakfast, toast with jam- and if your are lucky like me, then you will enjoy home made bread. What a treat!

Last Sunday we had a stall at the local "rastrillo"(flea market) in aid of doctors without frontiers. The weather could not have been sunnier or hotter, there was lots of people who took a keen interest in the chair rushing demonstration I was doing. We sold most of the chairs we had for sale, gave contact details to numerous people who have chairs in need of restoration, Ian did very well selling pottery and we came back with a couple of bargain half oak barrels for plants and two pottery figures to decorate the pond and bog garden. A very enjoyable day.

Amethyst, Apples and Aubergines....

August has arrived and brought with it hoards of tourists (mainly Spanish) and sunshine. The normally quiet town of Ribadesella is busy and in full swing with many events happening including the Jazz Festival, International Canoe Descent, Exhibitions and of course.....Fiestas. We have been busy with the garden and a few visitors over the past weeks which has been really enjoyable. We discovered the Amethyst on a local beach, unpolished but never-the-less really beautiful. This collection will be added to the ever-growing piles of ground glass and shells that one day will make a really fine sculpture or picture. The cats are enjoying the summer hay harvests with many more mice and rato topos scurrying around the fields trying to escape the scythe and rakes of our neighbour as he collects feed for the animals. The Staghorn beetles are in full flight in early evening and despite their heavy looking armour, they fly like finely tuned light aircraft emitting a low pitched hum as their wings carry them onwards and upwards. Luis will fill you in on the apples and aubergines, but in the mean time enjoy the slideshow.

Luis here: This year the aubergines have started to crop and are doing extremely well with the very hot and dry weather we have now been experiencing for some time, in fact the whole vegetable plot has benefitted from the rain we got recently. The apple trees are doing very well considering the very wet weather we had as they were comming into blossom. However, the hot weather seems to favour the growth of pests that I am regularly treating with my home made organic insecticide and pesticide based on horsetail and rhubarb- more on this and this year´s tomato trials later.

Attracted to the wildlife.....

Since moving to Spain we have been lucky enough to see many plants, animals and insects that we would normally have seen. Some of these we have managed to photograph whilst others evade our attempts and stay well clear of cameras. We often hear and see Deer grazing in the field beolow our garden and Wentwoth and Gawber can often be seen mingling with them hunting for mice and shrews. We have many owls and birds of prey including buzzards, kites and vultures. Birdlife in general is growing since we have attempted to encourage seed heads and insect life - keeping our plot as diverse as possible with different habitats and natural areas that encourage their visits. A small slideshow has been placed above this posting.

Pebbles and vegetables

Luis here:
As you may be aware, I recently started experimenting with making pebble mosaics using the indirect method and the results have been very good. We collect the pebbles from the local beaches, good hunting grounds for different sizes and colours. I perfected the technique and recently had an opportunity to show Rita and Alfredo, during their visit to La Pasera, how to make this type of mosaic- they are familiar with making mosaics as the romans used to do applying the "opus tessellatum" method. Those of you who have visited us may have noticed, on our living room wall, the mosaic they made for us. The picture of the mosaic shown is part of a set that will be used as a series of stepping stones leading onto the garden tap.

The weather remains mixed and the rainfall is less, we were able to take the hammock out for a few days. In the vegetable garden, the salad crops, mongetout, beetroot, leeks, rhubarb, spinach and courgettes are doing very well but some of the casualties of the wet weather such as the onions are not doing very well and we may loose the entire crop if the wet weather persists. I have almost given up the thought of sowing more french beans as this crop likes hot and drier conditions. The tomatoes this year are doing well in spite of a rocky start. We are running a trial to see if two varieties of blight resistant tomatoes bought in the UK out-perform the local varieties. Last year by now we had lost all the tomato plants.

A friend in need....

In an attempt to remain organic in the vegetable plot we try not to use any chemicals - natural control is our preferred method i.e. Toads and hedgehogs eat slugs, rhubarb as a pesticide, horsetail as a fungicide. Waking early yesterday morning we were surprised to see the tail end of a fat hedgehog stuck in the front gate. Pouring with rain we ventured out to find the poor little fella well and truly stuck........Not able to move forward or backwards. After half an hour of gentle teasing, tugging and pushing, attempting to ease the bars open and trying to cut a bar with a metal saw we managed to rescue him. The little fella/madam (eventually named Geraldine!!!) was exhausted. We nursed her all day in the boiler room with plenty of water and cat food. Needless to say Wentworth and Gawber were intrigued by this new addition and spookily seemed to know the little hog wasn't 100%. After taking advice, we decided by early evening that she had recovered enough to be released. We released Geraldine in the bottom of the garden near to a small meadow. After 15 mins curled up in a tight ball, Geraldine stretched out and tootled off into the long grass - appearing no worse, perhaps a little bruised, for her adventure. Let's hope he continues to munch on our slugs for a few more years yet. Judging by the sheer number of slugs we have this year it is no wonder she is such a tubby little thing. Good luck.

Wet, wild and well......

Found this little mite when dead heading the white roses - Misumena Vatia, apparently rare spider that lives in/on/around white flowers. Needless to say I will be using gloves from now on for dead heading. The weather has been very unsettled for most of May and for the beginning of June with a lot of rain and low cloud. The seedlings have suffered and it looks as though we have lost the majority of the tomato plants. The potatoes had to be harvested early due to an attack of blight and the beans, peppers, carrots and aubergines have succumbed to the ravages of slugs, snails and crane fly larvae - now all will be re-sown and fingers crossed they will germinate in time to crop later in the year.

The bad weather has given us an opportunity to catch up with jobs around the house and workshop. Lights now installed in the workshop, the wood store half built and pine chest stripped and waxed. Luis has been very busy re-caning chairs (5), making pebble mosaics and working as an interpreter.

The kittens (now cats really but hey) have been a bit subdued with the rain but manage to catch the odd mouse or shrew between showers. They are growing fast and take no notice what-so-ever of commands, instructions or bribes. They love climbing trees and can be often found in the top branches of the apple trees, jumping from limb to limb and occaisionally hanging on by out-stretched claws.

Spring Showers

Well spring has been here with gusto........plenty of rain, sunshine, distant storms and cool winds. The plants and trees have sprung into full bloom, apple blossom is in abundance and the birds are busy feeding their young. My Dad has been with us for a week and enjoyed it despite the rain. We ventured to Barrios de la Vega near Saldaña to have lunch with Rita, Alfredo and the family, travelling through one of the passes in the Picos de Europa Mountains on to Riaño and down through Guardo. With the weather like it was we also took the opportunity to visit the Tito Bustillo Cave complex in Ribadesella. Cave paintings dating back to between 15,000 BC to 30,000 BC are still evident and offer an insight into the lives and minds of our ancestors.

We came across this little fella (Adder) whilst out walking on the Camino de Santiago - actually a little female about 45cms long and making hissing noises. Luis, of course yelled out (not his favourite reptile).

Plenty of ongoing projects in hand including: gardening and growing vegetables; building work for the garden; hedge planting and making; collecting driftwood to burn; looking after the cats. The village has once again celebrated its fiesta by parading the Statue of Fatima through the lanes in procession with Rockets, bagpipes and drums, villagers in traditional costume and tambourines. The fiesta culminated in free octopus and fried potatoes served in a large Marquee. Two bands played upbeat but dated music until 5am in the morning - a good time was had by all.

More sweets?

Luis forgot to add that after the christening they throw sweets to the waiting children and adults from the village. 50kgs ready for the feast.

Luis here:

As April is coming to an end, I will let you know the latest in our life. First of all, many thanks for my birthday cards, we had a very nice day, my treat. We visited the pre-romanenque church of Santa Maria de Valdedios from the IXth century containing some remnants of wall paintings from that preiod. We also visited the monastery of San Juan de Valdedios (XII), both set in the beautiful valley of Valdedios. I intend to return to the monastery to hear the monks singing the mass service in gregorian. After this cultural visit, we travelled to Gijon were we were blessed with very nice weather and after a lovely lunch at the vegetarian restaurant, we went for a coastal walk.

We have just returned from Barrios after spending the weekend to attend Laura´s christening (my new niece) on Saturday 26th, the baby was very happy both during the service and at the banquet. On the Sunday all the family gathered together as there was a fiesta in Barrios over the weekend- for those of you who do not know, Barrios is my family´s village.

In the vegggie plot things are happening fast, last week we made a salad with all our own home produce, it included lamb´s and oak leave lettuce, spinach, radishes, onion and beetroot. It gave me a great deal of pleasure to go down the plot and pick the veg just before preparing them. We are not self-suffient regarding veggies but it is very satisfying to eat a freshly prepared meal with orgnanic home produce. This also enables us not only to eat healthy veg but also to reduce our carbon footprint- more on ways in which we aim to lead a greener life in future entries.

The garden is changing almost weekly and the latest additions include a hedge we just planted today with small tree plants of hawthorne and blackthorne that hopefully will encourage more wild life in our plot. The bog garden is the home of a big toad that will help reduce the slug and snail population as we have decided not to use slug pellets, instead we use coffee grounds, egg shells and ash as well as planting a few extra.

Calls from Nature....

Asturias is not known for its facilities outside of the towns and cities, unless that is you happen to spot a small bar nestled in the corner of a sleepy village........don't count on it being open. Coming home one night last week Luis asked me if I could stop on the verge so he could make a call if you know what I mean. Out he stepped into the darkness, the stars above twinkling brightly, when a grunt and a scream was heard. Along the way he had found a nettle free spot complete with resident Wild Boar. I will let you work it out which one grunted.

We are making progress in the garden with some of the hard landscaping and a couple of new beds. Luis is working hard on the vegetable garden and painting the wood work, the kittens are growing well and enjoying the boom in mice and shrews at this time of year. They enjoy playfighting as the sun goes down, ready for their food around 8pm.

The coast is interesting at this time of year with low and high tides bringing tons of driftwood and fallen trees and branches onto the beaches. Rough seas have once again given us a great show down on at the blowholes in Gaudamia. Ribadesella remains quiet with a few extra tourists at weekends and bank holidays.

April showers?

Luis here:

We have commenced my favourite month of the year, April, with Ian´s return from the UK where he spent a busy time. I stayed behind at La Pasera with Gawber and nursing Wentworth who has now returned to full health after been very poorly. He ended spending the night in hospital and we feared that he might have been poisoned accidentally when we gave him some flea treatment that we have used in the past. The flea drops were Bob Martins Spot On, needless to say that we shall not used this particular brand again as it is notorious for causing harm including the death of people's cats- the accompaning literature did not mention how harmful it can be, we only realised it once Wentworth bacame unwell and after checking the chemicals over the Internet. Use this at your peril. Wentworth´s health was further complicated few days after being discharged when he had a bad abcess on his tail resulting from an earlier fight with a local cat. Both cats are now back to normal and being such good hunters, gawber still hunts more than Wentworth and it is Wentworth the one with a taste for meat.

The weather is unsettled and changeable at present. I hope that the windy and wet spell we had in the last two weeks in March is now over. The cherry blossom this year was a lesser show than the previous due to the two weeks arround Easter when we experienced a cold spell with heavy rain, strong winds, storms and hailstone. The vegetable plot benefitted with the moisture as the soil was rather dry. We were able to fill up the water tubs with the rain from the shed roof, this water is being used already to water different seeds and young plants and helps us with our efforts at being more environmentally conscious by reducing the use of the hose pipe even when we do not have a drought.

I recently finished making a pebble mosaic using the indirect method, this entails bedding the pebbles on a bit of dry sand until you have finished the desired design and before filling the mould up to the top with mortar and once dry you turn it upside down, if there are any mistakes, you need to live with them but unfortunately I was far too impatient to see the results of the new technique and it broke in two pieces coming out of the mould. We will be able to repair and use somewhere in the garden.

In the vegetable plot, we continue to enjoy a variety of vegetables and this years sowings are starting to delight out meals, at present the baby radishes and early sprouting broccoli are very tasty.

Seasonal Changes.....by Luis

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After what it felt like a very short Winter but much colder and with more ground frosts than last year, we had some very nice weather which has caused many wild flowers to come into blossom such as the hepaticas, aconites and heliborres. It has been very nice with hot sunny days that felt much like Spring. We have now made a start on the patio base and steps that lead down from the house. We are proud of the brick work (Bob S. and Terry M. would be proud of their pupils!) . Not like the ones in the picture below which me made for Gawber and Wentworth to go up onto the shed roof. What a nice vantage point for them.

The veggie plot starts showing signs of new life with seedlings of carrots, spring onion, spinach, lambs lettuce and radishes. We are still continuing to harvest two types of lettuce, leaks, cabbage and early sprouting purple broccoli just starting to crop. The potatoes are in but showing no signs of life. In this area most of the locals follow the phases of the moon as a planting guide that we do not always follow. One of our friends in the village, Manolo, has helped me to graft a wild cherry tree in the garden with some dark juicy cherries - an old variety. We now have horses in the bottom field and calves nearby, nice sound of bells in the morning to accompany the early morning chorus - lovely.We recently went otter spotting in the river Piloña at Arriondas. It was an interesting evening but not an otter in sight, better luck next time.

The weather continues to be warm and sunny throughout the day with cool evenings and early morning frosts. Spring flowers are coming though in abundance with swathes of Aconites, Primroses, Hepaticas, Hellebores and Violas. The vegetable beds are full of oats at the moment - this is used as a green manure and also helps to break-up the soil to minimise digging. We are still gathering cauliflowers, leeks, cabbage, sprouts and lettuce with early purple sprouting broccoli beginning to show. Needless to say the freezers are almost full and there is a growing range of produce to 'dip into' should we need to.

Wentworth and Gawber are venturing further afield and luckily with no more tree climbing adventures. Mice, voles and lizards are amongst their latest finds........Wentworth usually eats whatever he catches whereas Gawber plays with it then passes it on to Wentworth.

We have created a small 'Bog Garden' near the orchard and are planning to make a start on the patio area in the next few days. The fruit trees have been pruned and various beds have been tidied.

Bullocks and Hounds

The past two weeks have been really warm and sunny during the day with cooler evenings and the occasional short-lived shower. We have spent increasing amounts of time in the garden, preparing beds, tidying leaves and pruning fruit trees. Bullocks have been brought to the field at the far end of the garden - the kittens have made good friends with them and often share the same patch of grass. There is a downside though........the local farmer comes every 2-3 days to check on his herd, bringing with him two lively and large dogs. Twice this week we have had to rescue Wentworth from the top of trees, in absolute panic after being confronted with these two hounds. 30 foot up a cherry tree begging a kitten to come down is no joke especially when Gawber spots him and starts to climb the same darn tree. At one stage Luis and I were stood underneath the tree with a sheet held by the four corners shouting "come on Wentworth, Jump." Until we realised what idiots we were.......Ah the joys and responsibilities of pets!

Spent a couple of days walking the coast near Llannes and discovered some lovely new coves and beaches. Luis is away for a couple of days in Palencia region. He is demonstrating rush and cane seating at a large agricultural and craft show. I am kitten sitting and getting on with jobs around La Pasera. We have held the first two meetings to discuss the setting up of an Arts Association and ideas are coming thick and fast. We will keep you posted. Keep warm back in UK and don't forget to tell us your news........

The Great New Year Challenge

Following a few weeks of indulgence and Christmas cheers, New Year Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to set ourselves a challenge: "Why don't we climb the ridge at the side of the house?" said Ian, obviously still toxic and not thinking straight. "That seems a good idea", replied Luis. Four hours steep (and I mean perilously steep) climb and we still never reached the bit we wanted to.......apparently there is an easier and more accessible route (that no-one told us about). Ah well we made it to the top albeit not the bit we first thought. The views were spectacular. Other news from La Pasera include: Luis has learnt how to make willow baskets, he ran the New Year Gijon Road Race and came within the first 100 (out of 3500), we are setting up an arts group with a few other interested friends (watch this space), Wentworth and Gawber have been booked in for the chop....ooouch!, and the weather has been turbulent and wet of late.......by the way if you click on the first picture you can see our house....in the middle of the pic ......see if you can spot it?

Feliz Año Nuevo

We hope all our family and friends have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.......

Feliz Navidad

Well Christmas is here and the year has nearly come to an end. Time seems to pass so quickly and despite our relaxed environment, the days never seem long enough. The weather is bright and warm during the day but cool and frosty on a night time. The Christmas festivities in and around Ribadesella and fairly low-key but never-the-less interesting to see and very different to our time in England. We have friends staying this week which has given us the opportunity to visit a few pre-romanesque churches in the Oviedo district. The picture is of San Miguel de Lillo, a beautiful church from the 9th century AD. The fountain in Ribadesella has been decorated with lights and traditional music and dancing has entertained the small number of tourists that have travelled here for the Christmas break.
The is no Boxing day in Spain and the main holiday is for the Epiphany on January 6th when the three wise men deliver the presents (not Santa Clause). Luis and I wish all our friends and Family a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2008. Feliz Navidad.

Winter Beckons.......

Winter is well on its way now with gathering winds, cooler temperatures and a general slowing down of growth. The last few days have brought strong winds and extremely turbulent seas. The cliffs at Guadamia are brilliant at this time of year with impressive jets of spray being forced through limestone blowholes - sometimes reachin 100 meters into the air. We have been busy painting the garage/workshop, making large batches of membrillo (fruit jelly) from quince and apples, helping to make (and drink) cider, clearing leaves from the garden and going for brisk and sometimes bracing walks along the cliffs.

Luis is due to leave for a few days to assist with the Matanza (slaughtering of the pigs) at his sister's. Needless to say I will not be going. Not that he enjoys it, goes to help as it takes three days to process all the meat into black pudding, hams, joints of pork, chorizo, salami and fat for soap making.

The kittens are venturing further each day and growing in confidence. You may remember we acquired them to help control the rato (small rodent similar to a mouse) that seems to think that the vegetable plot is his own personal hypermarket. The kittens, taking notice of this are sharpening their hunting instincts and their claws, already successfully catching an array of creatures great and small. 

Those autumn leaves, drift by my window.....

Don't forget....you can enlarge the pics by clicking on them.

Autumn draws on with cooler days in the shade and chilled evenings, enough to light the stove most nights. The pics are more or less self explanatory, bonfire night...(in Spain ?), the kittens, bought one and made one baskets for the kittens......(Luis' handywork - but which one I hear you ask?) The funghi are from a day with the Micology team in Infiesto last week, about 100 of us were teamed with experts and spent the day looking for funghi, a great day out - the specimens were then sent for classification and then displayed.....you can see us on the hunt with an Asturian Cow wondering what we were up to. The view of the Picos was taken on a walk through the Ponga Region. Walked about 15 miles through beautiful deciduous woodlands however we did pick a day when the Hunt for wild boar was on so we had to keep to the paths or risk being shot...........On the way back we came across the hunters who were just about to gut their catch - four handsome wild boar. I fail to understand what pleasure there can be in killing an animal for sport. Take away their guns, 4 x 4s, walkie talkies, beaters and dogs.........then lets see how many they kill - rant rant rant....Anyway, looking forward to friends coming on Sunday.

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What a load of.....

You can take an educated guess what is being delivered here........thanks to our local farmer Luis, we have a good supply of fresh and rotting manure for the veggie plots.

The weather is brilliant at the moment with warm and sunny days and cool but pleasant evenings. The kittens are growing fast and now learning to use the catflap. I am going to the UK for a couple of days ......sadly for the funeral of my cousin Karen who died after a short illness aged 45.

http://www.conveyancing-asturias.com/ is gradually building a customer base and we have undertaken a couple of new pieces of work lately. The Sunday market for chair restoration has stopped until the spring when people return in some number.

Just in case you are interested - another gratuitous picture of Gawber and Wentworth...enjoy.....

Harvest Time

The vegetable plot has been producing masses of produce over the summer and the new chest freezer is almost full. Together with lots of veg grown by Luis' sister, we have been hard at work bottling, preserving and processing. We have enough picallili, green tomato chutney, jam and pisto sauce to last well into next year. Later crops such as aubergines and peppers are suffering from the occaisional sea mist that comes in at times during the day. Out early picking mushrooms which are eaten on the same day, sauted in olive oil and filled with a variety of fillings......Mmmmmm!

We had a nice day with Luis' sister, her daughter, another niece and her boyfriend, first time they have visited La Pasera. The Walnut harvest has begun with fewer than last year and hardly any hazelnuts at all. The chestnuts are soon ready to drop as the late summer / autumn winds start to gather pace.

Wentworth and Gawber are growing fast and gaining confidence and agility day by day. Next Monday will see them at the vets once more for their final injection before being released to wreak havoc on La Pasera. For those of you with a faster connection here is a short, gratuitous video of them playing in the sunny doorway of the garage......awwwwe.

Life slows down again....

After a busy summer, Asturias and more importantly, Ribadesella has fallen quiet once more with only a handful of day trippers and weekend holiday makers. Life is returning to normal after 2 months of more traffic and busy bars. The weather has been mixed and certainly not typical for this part of Spain. Generally speaking it has been fine with cooler and wetter periods than normal. The sun has now returned and we are enjoying warm days and cooler evenings.

Having just spent nearly four week in the UK is seems comfortable to be back at La Pasera and slowing down to a more civilised pace. The kittens are growing fast but still unsure and cautious most of the time. They can be handled without too much trouble although Wentworth hisses and spits if he is in that mood.

Dad returned with me on the ship so we had a nice week birdwatching and going for local walks. We also went to see Paca and Tola - two semi wild brown bears that were released back into a protected reserve. Each day at 12 noon and 6pm they come down from their mountain to feed on fruit, nuts and treats the wardens bring.

Luis is busy with chair restoration and translation services, not to mention the veggie plot and garden.............harvesting well.....all suggestions for what to do with Marrows should be sent to our email........