Time flies.....

Well, today is a special day for several reasons. It's the of 1st December which is when Simon Sparkletoes our Christmas Elf comes to visit. He sits up high on the bookcase and keeps a watchful eye on a certain 8 year old. He monitors her behaviour and reports back to Father Christmas and that determines whether she is on the naughty or nice list. He also gets up to mischief whilst we are asleep and manages to send me photographic evidence! Naughty Simon!

Our advent calendar is also hung and filled with treats. Luckily I have been able to find it in amongst our boxes - phew!

It's also my lovely hubby's birthday. He can't be with his girls as he is working overseas. Boo! We packed him off with a few treats hidden in his case so he knows he isn't forgotten. We will make up for his absence when he gets home.

Last but not least, we have been here for 6 months already. I can't believe where the time is going. There have been tough times but in the main I am thoroughly enjoying our new life in Spain - we all are! What have I learnt since being here? Well, patience is the key. Spain is very laid back. If you expect things to be done swiftly then this is not the place for you. Mañana is spoken often.
The people are warm and friendly. You have to try and integrate in order to move forward and enjoy your time here. Tradition, culture and old fashioned values are a big part of Asturias. If you want 'all day breakfasts' then Northern Spain is not for you. Make your own path and follow it!

Amaguestu

Well, I've been a little lax with my postings lately. Forgive me - life kinda took over. We have been busy just getting on and enjoying it!
Anyway, here is our latest post.

Autumn is here and around every corner there are piles of apples by the roadside ready to be loaded on to the transport and then on to the sidre houses. There are chestnuts everywhere. People are seen walking with their obligatory carrier bag and stick - hoping to gather as much as they can.
Here is Northern Spain, the chestnut is just as important as the apple.

The Amaguestu (Chestnut Festival) occurs every year in late October or early November. It is a Harvest Festival of sorts where the community gathers together to celebrate. Chestnuts are roasted and the first pressing of the apples is tasted (sidre dulce).

Schools throughout the region have their own celebrations and Shanna's school was no exception.
We headed to Torazo (a neighbouring village) and our tour began. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.

It was a wonderful coming together of young and old and it was great to see everyone so enthusiastic and willing to join in. We watched the village elders make 'tortas' which are a very basic but tasty flour pancake.

The children also had a go at pressing the apples.

There were also ladies who were making fresh chorizo. This goes hand in hand with the harvest as now is the time that the pigs are slaughtered and the wild boars are hunted. Yes, I know that's not to everyones taste but we are talking old traditions here and its important that the younger generation do not forget these skills.

As parents we were each asked to make a dish. I chose to make some empanadas.
Now, I'm no expert in Spanish cookery but I'm pleased to say they were gone in a flash! Phew!
The table was laden with food. It was a lovely community feel.

The chestnuts and sidre were particularly delicious!

Hasta luego!

Woodland Wanderings

Just opposite where we live is some lovely woodland. Tons of beautiful trees and the odd wild boar or deer if your lucky enough to spot one!
It's a regular dog walking area for us Bells and Hettie loves it too. Lots of space for her to run around in. We are always guaranteed to see something different every time we visit.

We put on our boots and off we go!

There many types of funky fungi that we see. Shanna has a good eye and can always spot the tiniest of mushrooms. Some are edible, some are not. Different shapes and sizes too and all interesting and beautiful in their own way.

                                                      
                                       

Last week we spotted lovely crocus and some primroses. I'm easily confused as I thought these were Spring flowers! I'm sure it's Autumn - the sheer amount of chestnuts showed me that!

Signs of Spring in Autumn??!

A fairly steep climb to the top rewards us with a great view!

Santolaya de Cabranes in the distance

Nearly home!

Figs and Walnuts

The hedgerows and trees always gift us with lots of delicious delights. The figs were turned into a relish with fennel and balsamic vinegar (lovely with goats cheese) and the walnuts are slowly being eaten as snacks, added to salads and baked into cakes!

Thank you Mother Nature!
Hasta luego!

Apple Festival at Villaviciosa

My little ray of sunshine and I decided to do some Saturday shopping with a treat of churros and chocolate thrown in. We headed off to Villaviciosa which is about 10kms from Santolaya de Cabranes and is where we do most of our shopping and day to day admin.
We arrived at the town centre and heard music so naturally we followed it! Seems that we had stumbled upon the Apple Festival!

There was a great market with handicrafts and all things appley. We headed off to the indoor market and were met with a sea of apples. It was laid out like a village/country show with produce on display. The only difference being that the produce was nothing but apples! None of your fancy cakes, scones and jams - nope, apples, apples and more apples! There was the obligatory bagpipe band playing too.

Shanna had a go at processing her own apples. She had to squish them and mash them (technical terms!) and finally press them before she could taste the lovely apple juice.

We went back into town in the evening to meet with friends for dinner. The menu was, of course, apple related. The starter was a lovely salad with apple and the delicious Asturian blue cheese. Next came pork stuffed with apple and almonds and finally apple sorbet for dessert. With wine, sidre or water and bread, it costs 25 euros each! Not bad for a three course dinner. Another great day for the Bell girls! 

             

Autumn is here!

The beginning of October signaled the arrival of Autumn here in Asturias. We have bright sunny mornings with a little chill in the air. The trees are slowly losing their leaves and the farm folk are busily harvesting their produce to see them through the winter.

A beautiful sunrise greets us most mornings.

Wondering where our day will take us.

Autumn also means it's time to gather all those apples! Sidre (cider) is big business here in Asturias. Everywhere you go, there are apple trees. Every garden, park, and field has them. There is even an Apple Festival (that'll be the next post).

Chestnuts are everywhere too! Here is our haul of castanas from the garden.

If I find a chestnut festival I'll be sure to attend! Yum!

Have a great Autumn folks!

Photos - part 2

A few of my favourite pictures from our time at El Molin de Riu Tendi.

                                    

A reminder that there is no mobile reception here! 

Lovely carving everywhere!

A lovely chicken house - sadly no chickens were there!

My 'washing machine'!

My cooker! We didn't starve!

Forgotten Photos

Now that we are all settled in Casa Verde, I have taken some time to go through the photos that I had taken since being here. Not the ones on my phone (so convenient) but the ones on my Fuji Finepix which is fast becoming a bit old and clunky.

The next few posts will be a mish mash of pics from different days out and trips but hopefully you will like them nonetheless.

This was the Sidre Festival in Nava. Sidre is big business here in Asturias. There are over 30 different varieties of apple commercially grown here and it is a skill to mix the right combination of sour crab apples with the more sweet tasting varieties to get that 'perfect' sidre.
Once they have awarded the prizes and made their speeches, the barrels are opened and you can grab a free taster! There are also plenty of food stalls, funfair rides and music and entertainment.