IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS...

Well, we all know the famous saying, 'it never rains but it pours', perhaps it should be 'paws' instead!!  This morning I went outside to clean up a wound one of our cats has, probably from a big cat fight the other day.  Whilst cleaning I realised how nasty it was, and he has a big infection.  So I bit the bullet and trundled him to the vet.

After about an hour we emerged, cleaned up, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and bandaged.  I have to play vet to him for the next week probably, cleaning and re-bandaging the wound twice a day at first, then every other day.  So Adolf, as he is known because of his little black moustache, is staying first class in our small bathroom with his own bed and loo etc.  Good job I'm not working full time at the moment.  Anyway, I am sure he'll be fine now.

Update on Rufferty Roo (our boxer), his ears are improving already, after just two days of drops, which is great news.

So what with the dog, the cat and the turkey, I am hoping that's it for a while! no more animal sickness please, I need to look after some humans too!!

I managed to pick up some gas bottles this morning (we don't have piped gas to this part of the island), but only just before they closed, as C is trying to make marmalade and it uses a lot of gas on the hob!

The other day, C was in the vegetable plot turning over some of the beds and getting rid of some weeds, which grow like crazy here.  He let the chickens out and they followed him about picking up insects and big juicy worms - lovely for them.

C digging over one of the beds, the girls pecking away and the roo strutting his stuff

Whilst pruning one of the pear trees, that had been completely overgrown with a climbing plant, I discovered some very strong spider web strands, perhaps they were made by another insect/animal but these were so tough and sticky they were difficult to break and pull off the tree.

Silk threads in the sunshine

The chickens are enjoying their weekly treat of foraging in the vegetable plot, however, the cockerel is getting a taste for cabbage leaves, so we have to be on guard, I need to build something to keep them off!

The girls going through the parsley & lettuce! 

 Samuel Sprat sizing up the cockerel!

Spot Samuel Sprat - hiding out

MARMALADE AT LAST

We finally have a small batch of marmalade.  

Made from a few of the mandarins off our only two mandarin trees.  This was a test batch to see how it would turn out.  It seems that many people struggle to get their marmalade to set properly here but C used extra pectin this time - bought in from the UK.  We only have a few jars but one went to our local taster, who reported that it was the best flavour he'd ever tried! However, it was a little too sweet.  So the next batch will be altered slightly with the amount of sugar used.

The trees are now completely groaning under the strain of fruit, we need to get picking pronto!  C is going to make another batch or so of mandarin marmalade and obviously several batches of orange marmalade.  I think we will have to order in some more pectin as without it the setting process seems to be a failure, and runny marmalade just isn't the same!  So, much more to come in the marmalade department.

Today is Ruffa's birthday - he's 2, where does the time go?  He is now classed as an adult, although he still behaves like a puppy most of the time.

Not a good shot but Ruffa was trying to climb onto the bed for cuddles whilst we sang happy birthday to him! - He is definitely NOT allowed on beds or sofas in our house.















Whilst doing some writing this morning, C came in from cleaning out the hens and Hilda, with a whopper of an egg.  We now have two whoppers and three much smaller eggs - I might have an omelet at lunchtime!

We are hoping the two on the right are double yolkers - hooorrah!

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!