Projects and Puppies, Panoramas and Pigs

The news from the States continues to make my head spin; imaginary terrorist attacks in Bowling Green and Sweden being reported by the White House staff and even the President - and I just learned that the House of Representatives has passed an NRA-backed Bill that legalizes the killing of bear cubs in wildlife refuges. I wake up each day believing that this-will-be-the-day that somehow, someone will have stopped this hand basket ride, but no, it just gets worse. And each day I am torn between rage and the deepest sorrow I have known.

And so I will pull back, again, and focus on what is right in front of me, and for a few minutes I will bring you along on this journey that offers so much beauty and peace, far away from the madness.

Our new neighbors' new horse (and Mulhacén)

Sam gets some love from our neighbor's puppy and her visiting sister

This week we enjoyed a hike that provided a restorative day with good friends as we walked for hours up and down hillsides through forests of cork oak and orchards of almonds and figs. The views of the Mediterranean were not as promised, but instead there were trees emerging from the fog, and distant bells that became cows as we walked near to them. It was a day above, and at times in the clouds, and it was lovely. 

An olive tree emerges from the fog

Looking towards home from the Sierra de Contraviesa

Some hobbled horses among a herd of free-range cows

Almond blossoms just beginning

Sam and Rich having a short rest

Sam has several projects going including a wall of shelves in the storage/utility room. 

An entire wall of shelving

On Thursday several neighbors gathered to help move a heavy piece of equipment and then we sat on the terrace enjoying coffee, cookies and conversation. 

Our new Belgian neighbor, our British neighbor, our Spanish neighbor and Sam moving the shredder

Manuel continues to build stone walls on our property, shoring up terraces in a way that will last far in to the future of this land. 

Dry stone walls (no cement) defining the terraces on our land

And yesterday Sam participated in a mantanza, or pig slaughter. He decided that if he is going to eat pork, then he should understand all that is involved. The whole thing was conducted as humanely and respectfully as possible, and he took photos, but I decided not to post any here.  I went later in the day and instead took photos of the peacocks that live on the same farm.

A proud peacock

I am taking a couple of weeks off from the blog. We are going to pick up our first set of "kids" who are coming for a visit.  Andrew and Lisa will fly into Madrid and we look forward to sharing our new life with some of our family. I'll be back in March to share some of that with you.