A Late Spring

I kept getting excited by early signs of Spring but I am still waiting for any sign of warm weather. I take heart from the fact that the weather is warmer here than the UK (not very difficult) but the almost continuous rain just drags on. The Galicians are not very happy either. I haven't seen any potatoes being planted, normally they are in by now. Vegetable gardens remain neglected all around, little ploughing has been done and the land sits with puddles on it and full drainage ditches.

I am also having problems with rats here. Although I haven't got any in the living areas of the main house they are in the stables (the ground level floor of the house) and in the loft. I hear them scrabbling and squeaking at night. I am reluctant to use poison as it kills predators and might possible kill my own cats. The trapping is only partially successful, my eldest cat does his best but I only see evidence of the occasional rat kill, usually the corpse, or part of a corpse in the sitting room. I therefore decided to have another try at keeping a dog. I found a perfect litter of mixed breed puppies at the local Sunday market. They were 30 euros each and were described as very small. I think there is some Yorkie in there somewhere. We have called him Sam, he is two months old and has made a great start. He has shown no tendency to chase livestock (unlike my other previous hooligan pair). He sticks to me like glue is biddable and so far I haven't had any problems, there is of course still time for him to develop bad habits.

I hope he will in time become a great ratter. Finally yesterday we said goodbye to the male goat who returned reluctantly to my neighbours. Pepe who is 86 came for him with the usual loop of string. The goat ran madly round the stable as though it was a 'wall of death' bouncing off the walls. Pepe flung himself at the goat and finally secured a leg. He was nearly knocked flying several times. Finally Pepe won and dragged him out of the stable. Somehow I can't see Pepe sitting in a nursing home with a cup of coco for a few years yet. Assuming that the goats are both pregnant, they should be due to deliver around the middle of July, very exciting times for us.

It's snow joke

More snow overnight. We have had a lot of snow this winter. Just as all of the bulbs were emerging and I had my tomato plants in the unheated plastic greenhouse, the cold weather has hit again.

The goats are out, prancing through the snow, while Monty the kitten practices his pouncing.

I am really hoping that this will be the last episode of snow this year for us. Everything needs to dry out and I am keen to have a good growing year. The extremes of weather make it difficult to plan anything. I am almost afraid to go and check on the poor tomato plants.

Nothing however seems to upset the ducks as they break the ice and insist on the usual morning swim.

Life goes on

The birds are singing their hearts out. They also like to tap on the roof windows and the shiny cowl on the wood-burner which sounds like Morse code. For the last few days there have been frequent showers with occasional small gaps in between. Yesterday I dashed out and got a double row of peas in before being rained off. In the last few days I have sown field beans and parsnips outside and many more seeds inside.
The Autumn sown broad beans are in flower.

The bulbs are looking beautiful. I have my first flowering Anemone with many more flowers to come.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that my oldest goat called Tensing may be pregnant. She did not come into season when expected to and pregnancy is the most likely cause. If she is, then she will be due to kid in mid July. I have another week to wait until I will know if Pixie, her kid from last year is also pregnant. Then I can dispense with the services of next doors Billy. He is eating his head off and refusing to let the girls eat the best bits, he is certainly not a gentleman.

Meanwhile I continue to inspect all of the newly planted trees to see which have survived their planting out. The almond is in full leaf and the buds on the peaches are swelling with an exciting hint of pink blossom but only time will tell if they are all going to live.