Olive picking and hens

olive-picking201113Today the wind had dropped and we decided to pick the olives on the old tree where the hens live. We had to leave the gate open, so Babs and Ginger used the opportunity to have a wander round the garden. We placed the babs201113nets under the branches and collected the olives, which were mostly black, large and shiny. There were only 2 nearly full buckets, much less than previous years. We then pruned the tree.

 

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Whilst I was picking the olives, I noticed the ripening grapefruit, the tree’s branches laden.

A quiet Sunday

The weather forecast was 100% chance of rain between 6 am and noon;  we wanted to plant two new olive trees, mainly to provide privacy, but the oil is a bonus, so we spent the morning working in the garden.

Yesterday we had travelled up to hear a Christian author name Adrian Plass at Torrevieja. The two hour journey there and then back, had been rewarded with a good lunch and a very insightful and funny  talk.

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The lime tree has a lot of fruit on, I have already picked and made a batch of lime marmalade. I have promised some fruit to a friend pics6061013for Tuesday. The male canaries are beginning to sing again after their moult in the summer.

 

 

pics3061013The pomegranate tree is laden with rosy fruit, although the juice is sharp, the hens enjoy pecking the pink fleshy seeds. Rio wanted to get in the picture.

 

 

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Although there was actually no rain this morning, the odd showers and the lower temperatures generally have encouraged the climbing rose and the pics2061013pampas grass to flower.

 

 

 

 

pics7061013This lizard (Psammodromus algirus) looked very comfortable basking on a white stone.

Trees planted and some general tidying, completed today’s labour in the garden,  we had a a few drops of rain out of a very dark cloud about 1pm.

Pickled chillies and cake

In Arboleas I buy the canary and hen feed from a very good store which sells many items required for Spanish rural life. Earlier this year I bought two pimiento picante plants with a plug of roots; I planted them in a terracotta pot placed in the courtyard.

With fairly regular watering the plants have flowered and the chillies have grown and appear to be turning yellow, I researched the internet and found a Jamie Oliver recipe for pickled chillies.

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I was keen to try these, as I had recently bought a jar of sliced chillies and enjoyed topping chilli con carne and fahitas with them, unfortunately the supermarket had not restocked the supply.

The recipe was quite simple, sadly I didn’t have enough chillies to fill the jar, they have to be stored in the refrigerator and can be eaten after two chilli1300713weeks.

 

 

 

The hens continue to provide hours of entertainment and eggs most days. Today I sat in the garden sharing out a ripe banana in the chicken run, firstly, Ginger greedily jumped on my lap, then Babs jumped up, keen not to miss out. What struck me was how hot their feet were, Ginger became bored with the banana and began to peck the buttons on my blouse, banana eaten they jumped down.

We obviously make the most of a supply of lovely eggs, I have become quite an expert at Spanish style tortilla, we enjoy it with salad. I try to cake300713keep a supply of cakes, we have a slice with a cup of tea in the afternoon.