Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Sunday 15 June 2014

Small steps...

We have such a lot to do. Sometimes when the job ahead seems overwhelming, the only thing to do is to take one step at a time.
We've had a few setbacks in the past couple of weeks - I'll spare you the details but it has something to do with living in a small village where minds are not quite as open as they might be - and so progress has been very slow.
And now the temperature has risen to well over 30 degrees centigrade, so FR is often found working as night falls and the temperatures drop. It may well be excuse for any wonky walls....working in the dark makes it difficult to see the spirit level....

But a little shape is forming:

FR's curved wall

Here's where we must imagine a cooling oasis of blue....

The beginnings of steps up to the patio...and a new door ordered and expected on 20th of this month.


Where FR is will be the summer/winter kitchen. The plan is to have a bread oven in there plus a place to cook that will save the house from getting hot in summer. It will also be additional storage space and home to the big chest freezer that currently lives in the kitchen. I am looking forward to this being done....

In taking small steps, it's also important to keep an eye on little things too - like this beautiful rose that came to us from Sam and Dave's terrace when they left. I need to report that they seem to be thriving in Scotland, and although they are really missing being here in Alcala, they are making the most of being back with friends and family. And importantly, both are working in good jobs and the girls are happily settled in their old school. Doesn't stop me missing them but it helps to know that things are going well!


We have several rows of tomatoes growing and having learnt a lesson from last years' glut of cherry tomatoes, which were so difficult to turn into sauce, we've opted for the biggest ones we could find - and they're showing good signs so far!

I'm not absolutely sure that FR saw the funny side of his first sowing of corn seeds. He wanted to grow corn for the chickens, but they ate the little seedlings one day when he let them out! I found it comical but he wasn't amused at the time. The second lot is doing better and he has another couple of rows in different parts of the garden. I was just really glad it wasn't Pip who ate them!

Another little step of progress is that the trees we planted last year have produced a little fruit this year. OK, the one fig was pretty pathetic and the nectarines dropped off before ripening  but we have at least two plums....(they're as hard as stone at the moment but I'm taking it as a good sign for the future.)





Grapes we will have in plenty!







Pip - in a brief moment of release from the dreaded plastic collar. Isn't he just a handsome boy?
(Still an absolute pain in the backside though!)
And my own little step. I have a morbid fear of sewing machines...I jest not. I bought one in England many years ago from eBay as I felt I should have one. I think I've used it all of three times in all the time I've had it. We need to put up awnings over the front of the house - for which reason FR has had some iron frames made. It's my job to make the awning...and I'm dreading it. We can't quite decide on the best material at the moment so I took the opportunity to face my fear and replace the chair covers we have on our dining chairs. They needed replacing badly!


 Pip enjoyed a little chew on the corners when he was very young (I am hoping he's grown out of this habit completely now!)
So yes, they were in a dreadful state.


And I made one! I was so pleased with myself, although in a dreadful mood as I worked on it.

My sister uses a sewing machine as I use my Zentangle pens....give me Zentangle anytime though!


They're not puckered at the front, honest, they're 'gathered' as they are removable and on an elastic underneath. Washable.

I admit to being rather proud of myself.
Just another two to do and maybe one extra as a spare for when one of my mucky lot spills their lunch.





So, I might not be blogging as much as I used to. I am certainly not reading as many of my blogger friends' blogs as I used to and I apologise for that, but we are not sitting around on our laurels here in Casa Rosales. (Especially as when we did - to watch both the Spanish and English World Cup matches - we wished we'd been doing something else!)

Actually, I was doing something else. This challenge, by Laura Harms, a Certified Zentangle Teacher based in Canada, was to create a tangle that was inspired by 'Beads of Courage'. Her own little boy suffers from Moebius Syndrome  and has an impressive collection of beads from his varied contacts with doctors, needles, tests and hospital visits. I was very moved to read the stories from some of the other tanglers about children in their own families who suffer from serious conditions or have had life-changing accidents...there are a lot of very brave people around and it feels important from time to time to think of them, to offer thanks for the health and happiness of those we care about and to hope and support initiatives that might find cures for those who suffer. Small steps maybe - but in the right direction.

Beads of Courage. For brave children and families everywhere. 

Thanks for popping by and know that if I haven't visited your blog recently - I will be doing very soon!
Axxx


25 comments:

  1. It's good to catch up on all that is going on at Casa Rosales, and the garden is certainly starting to look impressive. The summer kitchen sounds like a brilliant idea. I have been taken by surprise with the 30 plus temperatures here this week, and am so pleased it has cooled off a bit. Ceiling fan for our bedroom has been ordered ! Its lovely that Sam and dave's rose is thriving, and that they have settled well back into life in Scotland. I bet Sam will be visiting soon ! Pippin looks amazing. Actually, I have started building up ( accidentally, of course) a collection of French pot dogs that look remarkably like Pippin... I'll send you some photos. Lots of love Jxxx

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    1. I can imagine parts of the garden now, Janice and the summer kitchen will be a great addition to the house. It's been unbearably hot this week but I think next week will be a bit cooler. It feels as though we need a storm as it's humid, which is unusual for this area - usually it's very dry heat and I can cope with that.
      Look forward to seeing the French pot dogs. Pip is handsome but still a handful! I still miss Darwin dreadfully too....though he would have hated this heat!
      Axxxx

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  2. Your alterations are certainly taking place and looking good. Funny enough we too are landscaping the bottom garden as all our agaves died, leaving the whole area in need of a total revamp, but again like you, its too hot unless its very early or late. I'm sure you will be looking forward to using your summer kitchen and filling up all the storage space!

    Well done for over coming your fear of the sewing machine, the chairs look good. Much as we love our pets, they do not have a strong respect for our furniture do they?! lol
    take care, xcx

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    1. Lovely to hear from you Chrissie. It's very hot to do too much work, isn't it. We're not good at early, so from this time onwards, FR is very busy - it's 9.30pm here.
      Yes, bring on the summer kitchen! Maybe I will make some cheerful curtains for it - I've done three chair covers now and my confidence is growing. Pip will not be allowed to chew the new ones! (Although he wasn't allowed to chew the old ones!)
      Axxx

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  3. Ah...this time the text appeared....I must have mucked up something coming over from Facebook.

    These little local difficulties...aren't they just sent to try us! It pays to realise that when you move to an area not your own, even if only a few miles, you move not only to a house, garden and physical surroundings but also to a mental culture which can be distinctly alien and what appears obvious to us is not at all so to people in the mesh of family 'histories' going back years....and where logic has not even managed to creep in through the cracks, yet alone advanced so far as to have been thrown out of the window....there's generally an awful lot of talk about fairness while each hugs its perceived advantage to itself.

    That summer kitchen will be a godsend....apart from providing a home for the freezer...and work is really going apace given the heat.

    I share your fear of sewing machines (I am also afraid of pressure cookers): you look to have overcome the hurdle with your chair covers though...just think of the awning as an enormous chair...

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    1. You recognised so much in my single throwaway line, Helen! There's a lot of frustration sometimes and FR often reacts strongly to the lack of logic and the corruption he finds - I try to smooth things down and yet still make the necessary progress....I smile a lot and that seems to help!
      Even given the heat, progress is quite slow but mainly, it's preparing the ground for the real fast stuff...I think. I am just trying to provide moral support and not nag and fret. I'm not too bad at that. But I am looking forward to that summer kitchen very much.

      I've done three covers now and feel an enormous pride, though the awning is still metaphorically looming over me, if not actually!
      Axxx

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  4. Oh, blow! I wrote a long comment earlier and there must have been a blip when I posted....

    It's great to see that there is progress despite the heat and some lack of understanding from your neighbours. Rural areas can be very conservative and slow to accept change - even reasonable change. The outlines of what you're planning are showing clearly now and the summer kitchen will be such a boon when it's up and running. Even now things like the promise of future fruit harvests must be encouraging. :-)

    I'm glad Pip can now be without his collar at times. He is indeed a handsome dog, but I hope for all your sakes he stops growing soon or you'll need to build him his own extension - well away from those beautiful new chair covers. I do admire you for getting to grips with your machine and making them. Helen's right - the awning is just a much bigger chair cover and you can do it.

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    1. Thanks for persevering, Perpetua...sounds like there might be a few gremlins around my blog, though I hope not as bad as the ones that got B2B's!
      As the 'incomers' and half-foreigners (they call FR 'el ingles' despite his undoubted Spanishness!) we probably attract more attention from the neighbours than we'd like sometimes...but we are keeping things as sweet as possible.
      And Pip - well, I have to remember he's only just 6 months old and still a baby a lot of the time. He's going to have his own home eventually although I do trust him a lot more with the furniture now...but he's always looking for mischief!
      Watch out for photos of the awning - I will do it!
      Axxx

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    2. I think it was Blogger having a blip, not your blog, Annie.

      We've been very aware of being 'les anglais' in our tiny rural village and not the only ones either. Our immediate neighbors have always been friendly and helpful, but acceptance by others in the village is by no means automatic, though speaking reasonable French does help. Country people have traditionally been somewhat suspicious of incomers in the UK too, though we've always found our bit of Mid-Wales very welcoming. Give it time - a year is no time at at all by country standards...

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  5. I am impressed with how much you are coping with and doing in the Spanish heat - a few hot days here and I am flaked out - I suspect that it is our humidity.
    Glad you are slowly overcoming the local difficulties, I can imagine that could be problematic - different language and views etc.
    Really impressed with your zentangle beads of courage - what beautiful and creative piece of work.

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    1. Yes Rosemary, you are right - it's the humidity that is difficult to deal with and work in. Here it's usually a dry heat but we have had a couple of 'heavy days' as rain is forecast. Thanks for your kind words about the Zentangle - I do love doing it even though I don't have as much time as I would like... I do it when it's too hot to do anything else! Axxx

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  6. I am another who is afraid of sewing machines [and pressure cookers!]... you've got much further than I ever would... I can't get passed trying to thread the needle. Luckily I am quite good at hand sewing.
    Good luck with the renovations, it'll be worth it when it's done.
    Sx

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    1. I've still got another chair cover to do but have had an awning reprieve ...FR has found a suitable (and cheap) alternative and I don't feel like arguing! As for threading the needle...with my eyesight, it takes an age - hate it!
      Thanks
      Axxx

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  7. You'll get there, Annie. Bon courage... X

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    1. I do hope you're right, Gaynor! I will maintain 'bon courage' as and when...Axxx

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  8. Blooming Heck! You are doing SO much and all so very worthwhile. Blogging and zentagling don't have quite such useful results, but are, I believe, more creative forms of chilling out than iPhone games and bingo! (I'm such a prig!)

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    1. It does feel as though it's all happening but most of the time, it's a nice 'buzz', Nilly. I do so agree about one's chosen ways of time-wasting...
      Axxx

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  9. I love the idea of an outside kitchen. Great for cooking fish. The garden is going to be splendid, I'm impressed that you have fruit on your trees already.

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    1. The outside kitchen is a very typically Spanish thing...and such a good idea - fish, pizza, bread, anything in the oven...can't wait!
      Please note, I didn't actually say the fruit was edible....next year, maybe!
      Axxx

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  10. I think you are doing so well , and as you say "little steps2! We had a bit of warm weather and our huge garden to mow, my hubby was not happy , so not sure how he would be if he had to do what your husband has to do :-) ,, I think it looks wonderful and yep a shape is forming, Rome was not built in a day Annie . I do feel for you in the hot humidity. We have had awful humid weather here but not that hot either . Take care Anne. xx

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    1. Thank goodness we don't have to build a whole city!! Our garden isn't huge but it needs such a lot of work, Anne, and it is difficult in the heat - but fortunately, we don't get the humidity of England. I find that sort of weather really difficult but can manage in the heat. I'm not - repeat not - labouring though....that's FR's job! Axxx

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  11. It's all coming along nicely Annie, and I do know that feeling when there is so much to do and its difficult to imagine the end result. But eventually it happens and you can then relax. I also share your dread of sewing machines. Haven't touched one since I was at school when I completed buggered up an electric machine, much to the disgust of our domestic science teacher. You've made a good job of the chair covers though and I'm sure you'll manage the awning...rather you than me!!

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    1. Thanks Ayak - slowly, slowly...but at least there won't be as much World Cup distraction now that Spain's out!
      I've had a reprieve with the awning too, as FR has put up some temporary great netting and we're happy enough with it not to pay a fortune for anything different this summer. It keeps the sun out and most of the rain but has little vents so the wind won't rip it off. I might decorate the edges....as a token gesture!

      Just one more chair cover to go now and I do feel I've made friends with the machine at least. Axxx

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  12. Oh, Annie; I very much understand how life takes over with all its busyness as I have seen this blog and kept waiting to have time to sit down and savor it. Time finally came at 5:30 am this Saturday morning and how very glad I am to have had the time with you here, seeing all the work you are all doing on your home, your garden, the vision of where the cool, blue water will be, your zentangles and the cause you promote - all so inspirational. Good for you for conquering your sewing machine fears and creating such good seat covers. Yea!

    Enjoy your weekend - and try to ignore the neighbors.

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    1. What lovely, lovely words, Penny. Thank you so much. I have still one more seat cover to do - this afternoon's job. Can't wait for that blue water to be real....Axxx

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