Friday 30 December 2011

Just a catchee-up


This is as far as I got in regards to the Christmas Tree this year. No decs, and  not even having its artificial branches fluffed out. I put it back into its box yesterday apologising to it for my lack of effort. It's not that I didn't want to make it pretty with baubles and lights, it is just that Christmas seemed to arrive quicker than I expected, overtaking me with a speed which was quite surprising.

But at least I did put a little bit of dressing on our front door, the Christmas wreath having been kindly donated by a Dutch friend.



The tall plants either side of the door are small olive trees. They set up quite a good show of olives earlier on in the year, most of which remained right the way through the summer, and even now some still remain. They taste awful though. Perhaps they will improve as the olive trees gets older. I think, though, that they have a long way to go.

The little chick is still doing alright, managing to finally get up the high step into the Tall barn unaided. Fuzzy Sideburns, the little chick's mum, has a tendency to march into the barn and not wait for the chick, who is left to run up and down along the bottom of the step chirruping frantically to remind her that she didn't ought to be doing that. In previous days we have rescued the chick, but today it managed to fly up onto the floor of the Tall Barn unaided, and then it fled over to where Fuzzy was, all furiously racing feet and wildly flapping wings. They really can move when they need to, the little ones.

Our builder paid a visit yesterday, and is now booked to put the ceilings up in the kitchen and the dining room. Hubs had thought about doing it himself with me as his 'go-for'  but it was a relief when Danny stopped by and gave us the quote. If we do the work it will take us many months to get started let alone finish the job, so better to pay Danny to do it. He is also going to get moving with the shower and loo. It will be nice to stand in a waterfall of water to get washed, rather than rubbing a flannel over myself. And Hubs will be able to go to the loo in peace, because he has insisted on having a separate loo rather than having a shared loo and shower room. He says that it will be a relief to sit behind a locked door and take his time. I don't quite understand his thinking on this. I think it quite chummy to have a chat when he is on the 'throne', and the dogs like to visit him as well to see how he is getting on.

We have had some glorious days of sunshine, and now it is wet and rainy. Rain is good. Cold is good. Wet and cold is not good. Never mind, the new year beckons, and soon 2011 will be done. Wishing you all a very happy new year, and thank you for popping in to have a look at my blogs. 

10 comments:

Horst in Edmonton said...

Hi Vera, looks like things are rollin with the house. Once the house is done that will be a big load off of your mind. Take care and have a wonderful New Year.

Travel said...

Don't olives need to be cured in some way? I don't have a clue how, but I have read that they need to be cured by drying or brineing to cut the bitter taste.

Vera said...

Horst, hoping that the New Year will be good for you too.....

Hi Travel, Thanks for the tip about the olives. Will have a search on the Internet, - I don't know why I have not thought about that before! Sending blessings to you for 2012, and thanks for visiting.

Roz said...

Happy New Year Vera, hubs and menagerie - lets hope for a productive and happy year. We are on our way to the summer (sound convincing do I?!!)xxx

Wylye Girl said...

Happy New Year, Vera. I have a friend with an olive farm in Tuscany. She says you can't eat them straight off the tree as they are too bitter. Green olives need to be cured in salty brine and black ones in oil. Look forward to following your adventures in 2012

DUTA said...

The little Christmas tree is cute despite its artificiality.
Your sense of humor is great as usual. I've much enjoyed reading your paragraph on the little chick and that on your hub's loo.

Happy New Year!

Jean said...

Happy New Year, Vera. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about all your adventures and look forward to lots more !!
It certainly looks like 2012 is off to a good start for you.

Vera said...

Hi Roz, yes indeedy, we are on our way to the summer although presumably proper winter will stop by first!

Whylie Girl, Hubs says thankyou for the info, and much regrets losing the harvest, albeit just a handful of olives made up that harvest! Wishing you all the best for 2012.

Duta, thanks for keeping company with me during 2011, and look forward to keeping in step with you during 2012.

...and you, too, Jean. Looking forward to keeping in step with you too.

Ken Devine said...

It sounds like you are going to have an eventful New Year...as if it can be anything but,at Labartere:)

Vera said...

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