Though we haven’t had any rain to speak of yet - we’ve had one thunderstorm and two days drizzle since May - it’s just damp enough to produce a lovely early crop of mushrooms and we’ve been busy little bunnies making the most of them. A fantastic bonanza of Caesar’s mushrooms, (like the basket-full Daniela has in the picture above), as well as Parasols a-plenty … Wonderful to be able to get out and about in such clean air, warm sunshine and beautiful countryside with the kids and the dogs and grab dinner from amongst the cork oaks!
Many people have urged me to tell the Quinta’s story on this blog, and seeing as I haven’t written anything for, (heavens above!), two months, it seems only fair that I should do something a little special, so here’s a small video Daniela and I put together over the last week; we hope you enjoy it!
OK, for everyone who reads this blog or who may stumble upon it by accident please note that I’m going to be in the UK next week, principally at the British Birdwatching Fair. I’m going to have the same stand as always, Marquee 4 Stand 97, and sincerely hope to see you there!
I’m also going to be giving a lecture on the Threat to the Montados and what we can all do to save it, (Sunday 23rd August 15.30, Lecture Marquee 2), so I also hope that some of you will be able to make it to that also! I haven’t posted a picture of this as there’re plenty on this blog already, but please come along and have a chat at the Birdfair; see you there!
Let me introduce Honey, the Quinta’s newest dog …. yes, another one! We’re a bit of a soft touch when it comes to animals and people around here know it, so we weren’t surprised when Zé Manuel popped over a week or so ago with this bundle of fun, but we set our hearts to stone and refused his “gift” ….. until the children saw her! Zé Manuel is actually one of our local bee-keepers and the one who runs the Quinta’s bee hives now that I no longer do it myself, so what with that and the puppy’s colouration, you can see how she got her name!
Just before Christmas we found a puppy lost in the middle of nowhere – the lucky thing! After enquiries we also found the owner, Zé da Choça, one of our neighbours up the track, but he had five others and thought it was a good idea we kept it – so now we’re up to four dogs again!
Of course we had to have The Christmas Swim … well I say “we” when I should say “the brave ones” – personally I don’t go in till the water’s a tad warmer!
