This week.....

We have had the most glorious weather recently,  breakfast as well as elevenses and lunch out in the garden and we haven't been coming indoors till 6.30 or so in the evening.  By the time we've cooked and eaten, washed up, fed and walked the dogs, it's quite late.  So that's why there hasn't been anything written for a week, not that we aren't busy, just haven't got around to sitting down here at the computer.

Still gradually pruning the olives and dealing with all the greenery.  That's what takes the time,  John can cut  out big branches really quickly but it takes ages to clear up afterwards.  We've also started digging some of the vegetables beds over, they are looking lovely and green but full of weeds, fortunately easy to dig despite the lack of rain.  I pulled out all the chilli plants and put the chillis to dry out ready for grinding, then dug and replanted with herbs.  Rows of sage, basil, parsley, coriander, rocket and chives.  Last years mint bed seems to have died off, maybe it'll regrow now it's warmer.  But there is lots growing in the running water up at the fuente so I pulled some out yesterday morning and have  got it in a large pot of water.  It's happier 'growing' like that than in a pot of soil.

After the deep freeze of early February,  most of the geraniums are brown and floppy but the new growth at the base looks ok.  I'm leaving them till winter is definitely over before pruning the old stuff out - just in case it gets chilly again.   We also have a dozen or so plants in pots and they are all crunchy.  They were only rooted cuttings from last spring but I don't think they'll pull through.  I've emptied the pots out this morning, and will have to replant - assuming we have enough cuttings available.

And we've had friends drop in the last couple of afternoons,  2 couples who walk a lot and stop for a chat when they're passing by.  Sometimes it's cup of tea time, sometimes it's late enough for a glass of wine, as was the case yesterday  - and the day before, now I think about it!