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.

Moving in and moving on!

Oops! I realise that I haven't posted any updates for a while. Standby - it might be a long one!

We finally moved into our new rental home. We will be living at Casa Verde for a year or maybe more depending on what lies ahead and only Mystic Meg can predict that!

The Green House as seen from the woods

We have relocated to a lovely village called Cabranes.

It is perched high on a hill giving great views of the surrounding area. There is your usual bank, pharmacy, 3 bars (two  double up as a shop), sports centre and school. There is also an Ayuntamiento which is the equivalent of the Town Hall where you can carry out anything 'official' that needs to be done. Its a good source of information too! 

Shanna also attends the local school here. There are only 8 pupils in her class. A good class size to introduce her gently into the Spanish education system. I'm pleased to say that she is enjoying it so far and long may it last. She has made friends and likes her teacher (always a bonus). A happy Shanna = happy parents! Phew!

Cabranes hosts a market on the second Sunday of every month. Anything and everything is for sale but it is mainly local produce, artisan breads, yummy empanadas. 

Some of the stalls.

This lady was selling seeds and plants along with a huge jar of goldfish and 2 siamese kittens!

Delicious empanadas! Yum!

Cabranes also hosts a rice pudding festival in May. A party with singing, dancing and rice pudding! What's not to love??! Rice pudding, or Arroz con Leche (literally rice with milk) is big business here in Asturias. It's one of their national dishes - think Ambrosia with a creme brulee top! Its delicious and varies from restaurant to restaurant. I, for one, will certainly be heading for the tasting table! Yum!

On the move!

We have been a bit quiet of late.

The news is that we are leaving The Mill and moving to another home - a more permanent one without the need of a generator. It has a 'real' shower, not a waterfall, there's hot water too (can't wait!) and we won't have to share with bats, mice and the odd escaped sheep!

At times its been hard living here. Having to adjust to a different, pared back, simple way of living is not for everyone but we have survived. I have great admiration for those who follow this way of life. It has certainly made me appreciate what is around me more. 

We have seen an array of creatures which has kept Shanna happy - me, not so! Did I mention the bats - urgh!

 Nathan has enjoyed revisiting his childhood (some will say he's never really left!) and being a little bit 'Huckleberry Finn'. 

We have laughed and cried but we have come to realise that we will always have each other, no matter what situation we find ourselves in - good or bad, we are blessed. 

Whatever you do - be happy doing it!

Fab Fiesta Frenzy!

Its August which means in Asturias its fiesta time! 

Every village hosts their own and they are  either a day long or last a full weekend. They normally come to an end mid September.

Close to The Mill are the villages of Priede and Samalea so we went along to see what it was all about.

After a 3km trek uphill (for uphill read mountain!) we arrived and had a cold beer.

The beer was cold - I was hot and almost the same colour as my t-shirt!

We arrived to silence! The menfolk were in a serious card game. Nathan went to watch. There were only 40 cards in the deck but he couldnt figure it out which game they were playing. 

Next came the childrens games!

Despite having only a smattering of Spanish Shanna joined in.

Huddling together to think of a team name.

Hoopla!

Carrera de sacos.

The children were from ages 3 to 10 years old. They all got on, there was no sulking or moaning. It was quite refreshing!

The finale was a tug of war!

Needless to say Shanna was thrilled with her prizes!

We headed home soon after as the music and singers weren't due to start until midnight! Eek! It had already been a long day.

We couldn't leave without a final go on the bouncycastle!

The bouncycastle with a view!

We are busily trying to find out where our next fiesta will be...

 

Jardin Botanico Atlantico

It was a hot n humid day so we decided to visit the Botanical Gardens in Gijon.

The site is 25 hectares with 16 hectares open to the general public. There is over 30000 plants to see and enjoy and at only €2.90 per adult and free for children under 12 years old, it seemed like another cheap and easy day out!

We were given a brochure in English which included maps and recommended walking routes. The gardens are split into four themed areas. There are plenty of picnic spots, indoor exhibitions, items of interest along the way and a childrens forest (tick in the box for Shanna!).

Off we went to the Plant Factory. This is set out to show the plants we use for food, medicine, textiles etc as well as invasive and unwanted plants - weeds.

There is also a typical Asturian farmhouse with a mill, sidre press and stables.

A 'Buddha's Hand' citrus fruit.

Pomegrantes.

Quinoa.

An educational video in the Chemists Workshop.

We met a few creatures along the way too!

We definitely recommend visiting.  Another good day out had by The Bell's.

Hasta luego!

 

 

Groundhog Day!

Day 27 in the Big Brother House - I mean the Old Mill!

The inmates have awoken again to bright sunshine. This has confused them as the forecast said it was due to rain! They will now have to change their plans.

Meanwhile, Shanna is playing with her dolls after having eaten campfire pancakes for breakfast. 

And Nathan is yet again preparing Padron Peppers in the makeshift kitchen!

Cheryl is knitting a blanket to aid her sanity after the trauma of breaking her Kindle. She only attempts Soduku intermittently.

To while away the hours the inhabitants play 'spot the dog'.

They try to catch the dangerous animals that attempt to steal their food.

They defend their land from potential stampedes.

Mostly they are happy and surviving as they know there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is approaching at speed!