Nearly out of the 'teens'

It was almost 20 degrees today and the sky was a gorgeous deep blue. I know that sounds daft, but sometimes it isn't a typically Mediterranean blue, but a rather wishy washy pale colour.

Went into Cadiar early this morning for market, bought some baby vegetable plants to get started with, 20 leeks for €3, 10 cauliflower for €1.50 and a big bunch of onion sets for €2 - probably about 100 in the bunch. We have leek seeds but this will give us a head start.

We then drove out to the other side of Cherin to see the new rockfall . . .

More info here.

Our brussel seeds are up, as are the coriander seeds and in the new herb area J has made we are going to put cumin, mustard, parsley and basil. The rocket has self-seeded, the sage goes on from year to year so do the rosemary, chives and marjoram. We also bought some peanut seeds, about 35 for €3 so now need to find the right space for them and this year grow them for more seeds, then next year grow for roasting and eating. Always of course keeping spare seeds for the following season. Tapas tonight was almonds 'toasted' in olive oil and cumin - ours of course. I'm sure they taste nicer when you are sitting looking at the tree they were picked from a few months previously.

We spent yesterday strimming the top terraces, raking all the trimmings into piles for compost, clearing acequias of strimmings, emptied one compost heap and bagged it to be moved to the most needed veg beds and turned over the second compost into the newly emptied one. We've moved the climbing bean/tomato frames down a bed to a newly prepared one ready for planting up. Still lots more to be dug but there is now enough space for the first vegetables/seeds to go in to. We are having to water the broad beans and peas now as they are podding - despite all the rain! The sun is drying out the ground really quickly and it's cracking in places.

Happy Easter to everyone, wherever you may be.