NOVEMBER ALREADY, BUT STILL BEACH WEATHER

It is now November.  The clocks have gone back, Halloween has just passed us and the nights are drawing in making me ready for hibernation!

We currently have a small, prickly visitor to our cat food bowl out the back, I had to remove him as the cats were hungry the other night.

MR OR MRS HEDGEHOG.

After removing him/her from the bowl, it scurried off so fast, I missed where it went! 

The new hens and chicks are doing really well.  One of the new hens is laying now.  Very small white eggs, with each one she lays they are getting slightly bigger.

The one on the left is from one of our older hens.  The white one is the first one our new white hen laid.

I need to get out and try to do a little weeding if I can this weekend.  With such warm weather and the odd storm, the weeds are springing up all over the place.  

The nights have a definite autumnal feel about them now and the house feels very chilly so it could be about time to start lighting the fire for the evenings.  Cosy.

Having said that, during the day it is wonderful on the beach if it isn't too windy.  People are still going into the sea, although I'm not brave enough now - bit chilly for me without a wetsuit.

I leave you with a few extra photos of the past week.

The chicks up on their balcony.  I have a big tarpaulin over part of their pen now, in case of rain!!

Saying hello to the chicks

Chicks investigating their new temporary home (when they are bigger they will go in with the other hens)

The new tarpaulin on the roof of the hen house.  I am amazed the house is still standing actually!

The bougainvillea is still looking good - it will be cut back this winter. 

The chicks enjoying their run.

CATS, KITTENS, DOGS AND HENS

We have had a crazy time of it recently with various animals appearing, disappearing and joining the family.

Firstly, our four mother cats all had kittens.  In total I think there were 12 kittens.  Sadly 4 died because of sickness etc.  The others seem to be doing OK.

We have had another two new additions to the family also. 

Puss our new indoor/outdoor cat, as you know from the previous post.  Pink has joined us, she is a lovely little dog, her breed is Ratero (possibly mix), she came to us from friends who are about to move to the UK and various people who said they would have her, changed their mind!! My friend's only option was a dog home - or us.  Of course we would have her.  She has been great, but as she has a habit of escaping and disappearing for a week or more at a time, we are keeping a close eye on her.

PINK GOING ON A CAR RIDE TO THE BEACH.

She is quite nervy but terribly sweet and I hope she'll be with us for some time.

A HOT DAY ON THE BEACH. 

PINK MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE KITTENS

AS DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE BEACH, WE WALK ALONG THE ADJACENT STREETS AND PEER AT THE SEA THROUGH THE OCCASIONAL CLUMP OF TREES.

The hens seem happy for now.  We have no veggies growing so they are running about the veggie plot and pecking about quite happily.  We have a broody hen, who I need to do something about still.  But she is feeding and drinking in this warm weather.  About 31 degrees today.

More to follow very soon.

WALK ON THE BEACH

Today is a lovely sunny day and the temperature outside is about 13.5 degrees, the sun feels lovely and warm on your face.  We decided that we would go for a walk on the beach, and take Ruffa (our boxer), to see if we can find pine cones and bits of wood.

The beach was fantastic, no chilly wind, warm sunshine (although still only about 13 degrees as mentioned before).  There were loads of empty shells to pick up but no drift wood today.  I think we need a big storm so we can go collecting again.

We decided to walk back under the pine trees (along the beach) to collect some cones and twigs, we gathered a bag full but most of the cones are still on the trees, another week perhaps?!!

Ruffa had a lovely walk and was quite well behaved for a change.  I am trying to get him used to water but he is scared of the sea and its little waves, when I manage to get him to stand at the waters edge he freezes and won't move! So I didn't push it today.  I wish you could have dogs on the beach in the summer (or a specific beach for dogs only would be better) then he could learn to like it more and have a bit of fun.

This week coming is the time we are going to get rid of Spock!! so I can prepare him for Christmas.  It will be a difficult week for us all I think.  

On our return to the house our old cat (old abuela) was taking a drink out of the dogs water trough!