And so begins the new year..

With a fun and loving family.

Cheers on Noche Buena, Christmas Eve

With the distinct feeling that there have been more peaks than troughs in 2014 and that we're happy to climb mountains in 2015.



Barney McGrew survived the axe this Christmas some of you may be glad to know. I can't promise he will live to a ripe old age but for now, he's one happy chappy, though he may have noticed that one of his two 'friends' has disappeared - but this was a mercy killing as one of the two cockerels had a damaged leg and he couldn't support himself properly. FR did a good job of dispatching and cooking him and we wimps were none the wiser as to exactly how the dinner arrived on the table that day.

Christmas Day was enjoyed by all, with presents, good food and games.

Mateo still half asleep....

Christmas Day - no turkey!

And on the whole, it has been a very quiet Christmas and New Year but we've played Uno, Cluedo, Charades and other silly games with gusto.

And when the temperature drops outside, we're cosy indoors.
I guess I should really have positioned my cushions before taking this one, I do apologise...

The weather has been beautifully crisp, blue and clear apart from the one day that Ruy went to his Archery club up in the mountains to the north of Granada. It was SOOOO cold and damp and horrible that day that I don't know how he managed to even lift his arms, never mind win prizes in the fun competitions they had that day. But he walked off with some good wins including a hand crafted leather arm protector that he'll have forever and with which he was very pleased.

We went into Granada a couple of times and yesterday on our way home, we drove up to a little 'Ermita' or Hermitage which we have intended visiting for some time. It's perched high up on a peak to the west of Granada above an area of quarries. It was spectacular, no other word for it. And odd to find an ostrich or two there too....

Looking west towards Alcala la Real - which isn't visible but is somewhere behind the odd looking set of mountains.

Looking south-east towards Granada and the Sierra Nevada

This very inclined rock must once have laid flat on the sea bed. We didn't find any fossils but we did see a few fossil hunters....

The lovely Ermita Tres Juanes - we'll have to return when it's open for a visit.

Looking to the north and to part of the quarry works that are in the area.

Ruy acting daft - and anyone who has known me for a while will recognise my trusty old favourite skirt! I must have had this for about 15 years. Ditto the leather shoulderbag -  TK Maxx - what a bargain hunter's delight! Suede jacket from ebay - cost me £1.99.  You don't need to know this but it's what struck me as I saw this photo,,,

And with lots more time to sit and tangle, I 'invested' in some wooden shapes. I'd intended doing trees and tags before Christmas but the order didn't arrive in time for that so these may have to wait until next year. 

Valentine's hearts anyone?

And of course, there have been lots of sunny walks with Pip and time to reflect on the year that has passed and to think about the year ahead. And whilst I no longer make resolutions, I think I will definitely be trying to keep up with my blog and those of my blogging friends in 2015 - I've been rather lax recently and miss reading what people are doing. And with that thought in my head, I shall publish and move one....whilst still Being Here, of course!

Happy New Year - may it be a good one.

Axxx