I took the leg brace off our chick on Sunday and I was really pleased with the results. Really really pleased, as on Thursday things weren't looking good. Her leg seemed to be getting worse, not better. I knew to expect that she'd be a bit wobbly now the brace is off, however that soon passed and I think that you'd need to look hard to see that she had a problem. Now she can run without the brace she's building up strength in her legs.
Trouble is, now she has been away from the nest for 10 days, we are going to be unable to introduce her back to mum for a while. Luckily, it is getting hot now, so they don't need much extra heat, so even if little-one can't get under the mother hen, given the warm night time temperatures that shouldn't be a problem.
This weekend was the pottery fiesta at Salvertierre. We went a couple of years ago and went this weekend. There was quite a lot to see, although a lot was quite similar. There were nearly 70 potters there, over half from the village that held the fair. 30 were from Portugal. There seemed to be a roaring trade in little whistles, and a roaring noise from children playing these little whistles! We had a picnic on the way back before going to Zafra and popping into Carrefour. We are looking for a wall mounted hose-pipe. Which they didn't have. However they did have some towels that are great for the bathroom.
Tomorrow is the start of our new working routine. Both Ian and I find we work better when we work to routines. I have been working to a strict routine for almost three years and it works well for me. Now Ian has the About work, he has also started getting into a routine. However we decided that what would be best would be if we got into the same routine. This makes a lot of sense as one of the things that we need to do is to spend time on our own websites (which are doing well). So it makes sense to both be doing this on the same day.
The weather is not getting hot. We've been going for a walk in the morning as the asparagus season is over and it is too hot later in the day. It is surprising the amount of building work going on in the village. It appears that the recession seems to have missed the village completely! Although the village isn't rich by any means, most of the local money is made in the village and spent in the village. Which makes it pretty recession proof as it has its own micro-economy. The castle is having some renovation work too. I think they are just redoing some of the supports, however it will be interesting to see how it is finished.
I can tell it is getting hot as the pups graduate to the floor rather than all trying to squeeze on our laps!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
La Brujita
The nickname for people from the village is 'brujos' which is witches. They've just finished a new infant school which has been built next to the current school. We smiled when we saw the sign - the school is called 'the little witch'. 
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Chick Update
Actually, there's not a lot to say - which is good. The nine chicks in the barn are getting on well. It will be another few weeks before we let them out, but they seem to be growing well. I am looking forward to see how the black ones progress. Blackie is a very handsome cockeral, with long tail feathers that shine green and blue (that doesn't show up in photos) so it would be nice to think that some of his genes had passed through.
Little splayed leg chick seems to be getting on too. I had hoped that she could be out with the others soon, but maybe not for another few days. Splayed leg is where their muscles aren't strong enough to pull their leg under their body so it sticks out. It is rare when chicks are with their mothers as they build up their muscles right from the start as they climb through her feathers. It is quite common in incubator chicks, though. The splint is holding her leg under her body, but allows her to walk. Therefore the muscle should get stronger quickly. Her splint is currently a pipecleaner, however we may try a sticking plaster later.
Little splayed leg chick seems to be getting on too. I had hoped that she could be out with the others soon, but maybe not for another few days. Splayed leg is where their muscles aren't strong enough to pull their leg under their body so it sticks out. It is rare when chicks are with their mothers as they build up their muscles right from the start as they climb through her feathers. It is quite common in incubator chicks, though. The splint is holding her leg under her body, but allows her to walk. Therefore the muscle should get stronger quickly. Her splint is currently a pipecleaner, however we may try a sticking plaster later.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Chick and Cotton
Having specifically said we would NOT intervene with any of the eggs when they hatched, we gave in and helped a chick out on Saturday. The hen had left her nest and the egg was getting cold. It was cheaping really loudly and we knew that it wasn't weak yet. We helped it out and popped it straight back under mum. When we checked later, it had fallen from under her and was really cold. So we bought it in and popped it into an incubator and in no time it had fluffed up.
We didn't put it back out that night as we were worried that it might get cold again if it didn't get settled under a broody, and then the next morning we found that it has a spayed leg. Although it isn't too bad. It was OK sometimes, but not others, but needed treating. So we've made a little splint and it seems to be coming along fine. It was in my workshop, but was getting much too much attention from the cats -and Bob - so we have now put it in the shower room, where we can keep the doors shut.
I'm growing cotton! It likes hot and humid atmospheres. We can do the hot, but not the humid, so it will be interesting to see how I get on.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Fragel
We are currently taking to an animal rescue center in Badajoz about Fragel - http://www.adanabadajoz.com/fotos/displayimage.php?album=4&pos=9
He is five months old and has been hit by a car and has damaged or broken his last vertebrate and lost at least part of his tail. We're waiting to find whether he can jump. If he can jump then great, if he can't jump then no problem, the issue will be if he can jump but not very well. We wouldn't want him to not be able to get back if he went out over the wall.
The lady we are dealing with is very nice. She wanted to know more about our animals, to make sure that they wouldn't stress Fragel, so I sent her some of our pics of piles of dogs and cats. She said that she was pleased to see that they had got into the Spanish siesta!
He is five months old and has been hit by a car and has damaged or broken his last vertebrate and lost at least part of his tail. We're waiting to find whether he can jump. If he can jump then great, if he can't jump then no problem, the issue will be if he can jump but not very well. We wouldn't want him to not be able to get back if he went out over the wall.
The lady we are dealing with is very nice. She wanted to know more about our animals, to make sure that they wouldn't stress Fragel, so I sent her some of our pics of piles of dogs and cats. She said that she was pleased to see that they had got into the Spanish siesta!
Henry's Big Adventure
Henry is sat here now beside me, but yesterday he got out through the front door, which I'd not put on the chain properly. Luckily it was during my class and we were able to deploy children around the village looking for him and he was found by the sweet shop. They came back with him in their arms so he was obviously happy to be bought home. They then had a debate about what his punishment should be. The result is that Henry is banned from the next fiesta. Well, that will teach him a lesson!
There's chick mayhem at the moment. Spot has five and the other one has four, however they keep getting muddled up. I remember that from when we had chicks before. Mother hens are excellent at chick rearing in every aspect other than making sure that they have their own. They quite happily take on another few chicks, or loose a few of their own to another hen.
It's quite interesting to see that Spots chicks, which are only three days more advanced, look noticeably different to the others. Although I guess that seeing that at this stage they are twice the age, it is not surprising.
There's chick mayhem at the moment. Spot has five and the other one has four, however they keep getting muddled up. I remember that from when we had chicks before. Mother hens are excellent at chick rearing in every aspect other than making sure that they have their own. They quite happily take on another few chicks, or loose a few of their own to another hen.
It's quite interesting to see that Spots chicks, which are only three days more advanced, look noticeably different to the others. Although I guess that seeing that at this stage they are twice the age, it is not surprising.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Chics
Well, yesterday I was getting a tad worried. Three cockerels, two hens and not one fertile egg seemed a little unfair-however this morning when I went out to take a quick look I could see two egg shells. When we put down food, Spot got up to feed herself and there were four little chicks under her. One black, two white and one spot. I think that another shell was hatching, but didn't want to get too close. Tomorrow I need to take her out of her bucket nest as she will be able to get out and in, but the chicks won't be able to as they are too small and I can imagine them getting stuck outside the nest. The broody hen will stay sat for 24 hours after her chicks have hatched, after that she gives up on any unhatched eggs and starts to teach the young ones how to feed, so they will be up and moving around the barn.
I think that the other one should be hatching soon now. Our barn will be (hopefully) quick a chicky-nursery.
We were going to head down to the Romeria yesterday afternoon (village picnic), however we were engrossed in piles of laundry and didn't make it. Our clothes had been rained on when it rained when we had no tiles on the house roof, and they were going mouldy, so we had to wash everything. Yesterday was the first day when we could get everything out and washed and dried quickly. Friday it was so cold I was thinking of lighting a fire!
Part of the reason why it took so long was that we spent quite a lot of time debating not only who had bought certain items of clothing, but for what purpose (to wear, craft or fancy dress). Neither of us would own up to the corduroy jump suit, for instance, or one or two other strange items which no doubt made perfect sense when we did buy them (charity shops or jumble sales). Remarkably, however, we found a very nice fleece which we both claimed, with distinct memories of the purchase, of which, mine, of course, is the correct version.
Update:
One new black chick has hatched, so that makes 5. Two white and spotty, one white, one black and one black with white markings on his head. Nothing from the other hen yet.
I think that the other one should be hatching soon now. Our barn will be (hopefully) quick a chicky-nursery.
We were going to head down to the Romeria yesterday afternoon (village picnic), however we were engrossed in piles of laundry and didn't make it. Our clothes had been rained on when it rained when we had no tiles on the house roof, and they were going mouldy, so we had to wash everything. Yesterday was the first day when we could get everything out and washed and dried quickly. Friday it was so cold I was thinking of lighting a fire!
Part of the reason why it took so long was that we spent quite a lot of time debating not only who had bought certain items of clothing, but for what purpose (to wear, craft or fancy dress). Neither of us would own up to the corduroy jump suit, for instance, or one or two other strange items which no doubt made perfect sense when we did buy them (charity shops or jumble sales). Remarkably, however, we found a very nice fleece which we both claimed, with distinct memories of the purchase, of which, mine, of course, is the correct version.
Update:
One new black chick has hatched, so that makes 5. Two white and spotty, one white, one black and one black with white markings on his head. Nothing from the other hen yet.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
I really hope that there are no robberies today...
The village picnic is well underway, and every conceivable vehicle has been packed with food, drink, chairs, tables, refrigerators, cookers - and no doubt a kitchen sink or two as everyone decamps to the country. Ian and I are probably the only people left in the village, which we joked about earlier. However when we thought about it we realized that if a house got broken into over the weekend we'd be prime suspects! It will be quiet now until about 2.30 in the morning when they come home, in convoy led by Joe the policeman, to get a few hours sleep before they head back tomorrow! We will take advantage of the quiet weekend by going out asparagus picking. At least today we know that we'll not be in competition!
Actually, the festivities started last night. Surprisingly my class was relatively easy yesterday. I did wonder if they may get over excited with the thought of the fiesta. They were excited, but were also quite enthused by the class which was taking it in turns to make up a sentence for dictation. This entailed a lot of thought as they had to think of as many tricky words as possible to make it difficult for the others - their rules, not mine! I've bought them English/Spanish dictionaries for Communion presents. I thought that that would be as appropriate as anything. Oh, and I got them the story of the three little pigs, which is in Spanish and English. This will give material for the next couple of classes at least.
No sign of any chicks yet. I did try listening to the eggs, but as this entailed laying on the floor next to the mother-to-be hens, who take great exception to anyone being too close, I gave this up as a bad idea. Ian was worried about them getting traumatized, but after one tried to peck me, I was more worried about my well-being.
Workshop is looking good, the cupboards are up, the electricity is wired and we'll just need to bring the rest of the stuff in - wait another couple of days for pics, I've had to buy a new battery charger so waiting for that to turn up...
Actually, the festivities started last night. Surprisingly my class was relatively easy yesterday. I did wonder if they may get over excited with the thought of the fiesta. They were excited, but were also quite enthused by the class which was taking it in turns to make up a sentence for dictation. This entailed a lot of thought as they had to think of as many tricky words as possible to make it difficult for the others - their rules, not mine! I've bought them English/Spanish dictionaries for Communion presents. I thought that that would be as appropriate as anything. Oh, and I got them the story of the three little pigs, which is in Spanish and English. This will give material for the next couple of classes at least.
No sign of any chicks yet. I did try listening to the eggs, but as this entailed laying on the floor next to the mother-to-be hens, who take great exception to anyone being too close, I gave this up as a bad idea. Ian was worried about them getting traumatized, but after one tried to peck me, I was more worried about my well-being.
Workshop is looking good, the cupboards are up, the electricity is wired and we'll just need to bring the rest of the stuff in - wait another couple of days for pics, I've had to buy a new battery charger so waiting for that to turn up...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Chick Count-Down
I reckon we could be 48 hours away from the first chicks hatching. I'm not sure when the start-time actually is, as the hens need to get the eggs to incubating temperature. But anyway, chicks could be arriving by the weekend. Spot has sat tight on her eggs, but the other one has been pushing eggs out from under her, and then taking them back, so I can't think that they will hatch. We'll see....
Oh yes, one very gruesome thing - we saw a group of ants dismantling a dead lizard. They had removed the tail and Ian has some pictures. Quite frankly, I am glad that ants are the size that they are. I wouldn't fancy our chances otherwise!
Oh yes, one very gruesome thing - we saw a group of ants dismantling a dead lizard. They had removed the tail and Ian has some pictures. Quite frankly, I am glad that ants are the size that they are. I wouldn't fancy our chances otherwise!
Sunday, May 09, 2010
It's Raining...
...but not in my workshop! We've finished painting most of the inside, just need to wait for the new plaster to dry out before we can finish the painting.
On Friday we bought some kitchen units - not for the kitchen, of course, but for the workshop. We bought them from a big carpenter store and they actually make the flat pack units there. The units were really a case of buying all the bits, they weren't really in kit form. Luckily Ian knew what he was doing! The units are good quality, certainly good enough for the workshop.
Today we started moving things back in again. So far we've moved the books in, but there's no electricity in there at the moment, so need to get that done before we move electrical things back in.
It's a shame it rained today as today is the day when they go to get San Isidro from the country to bring him back so he can be taken to the romeria (weekend long village picnic) next weekend. I'm not sure what they do if it rains, I guess he gets popped into a trailer with a roof.
Manuel's dad came round yesterday with a muñeca of asparagus. He told us to stand it in water for a few hours before preparing. We did this, and it certainly stopped them wilting. Mind you, they were all as thick as pencils. Our measly strands are often beyond the help of water. I really don't know how they do it. We stand in the same fields, on the same day, in the same weather and, although we are pleased with our harvest, we have nothing like other people. We have seen people literally holding asparagus in both arms.
On Friday we bought some kitchen units - not for the kitchen, of course, but for the workshop. We bought them from a big carpenter store and they actually make the flat pack units there. The units were really a case of buying all the bits, they weren't really in kit form. Luckily Ian knew what he was doing! The units are good quality, certainly good enough for the workshop.
Today we started moving things back in again. So far we've moved the books in, but there's no electricity in there at the moment, so need to get that done before we move electrical things back in.
It's a shame it rained today as today is the day when they go to get San Isidro from the country to bring him back so he can be taken to the romeria (weekend long village picnic) next weekend. I'm not sure what they do if it rains, I guess he gets popped into a trailer with a roof.
Manuel's dad came round yesterday with a muñeca of asparagus. He told us to stand it in water for a few hours before preparing. We did this, and it certainly stopped them wilting. Mind you, they were all as thick as pencils. Our measly strands are often beyond the help of water. I really don't know how they do it. We stand in the same fields, on the same day, in the same weather and, although we are pleased with our harvest, we have nothing like other people. We have seen people literally holding asparagus in both arms.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Workshop Roof
The workshop roof is finished - and looks lovely. If you are wondering where the pics are, you'll have to wait! I have tidied away my camera charger - and of course taking pictures of a roof aren't enough of an artistic challenge for certain members of the family!!
I can't help feeling sorry for Manuel. He has done a sterling job, the house roof looks great, the workshop roof is super, and yet Ian and I have been stood open-mouthed marveling at a little wall that he has built separating the workshop roof from the big barn roof. We can't see the house roof really, however we can see this little wall, and he has painted it white and topped it with red tiles and it really does look lovely. I am sure he would prefer it if we showed the same enthusiasm about one of the bigger jobs though!
Interestingly, the snow that we had this year is changing some of the ways that builders work. Manuel treated some of the tiles with a waterproof paint where snow may collect to stop the tiles from absorbing water and cracking if it freezes. Also, he said that a lot of roof problems in the village were with new roofs, not traditionally tiled roofs. Old roofs were made with a lot of half-tube style tiles. The bottom half were laid with the rounded bit down, the top half was laid the other way with the rounded bit up. This meant that the tiles were able to move. Modern tiles 'lock' together and therefore cracked when the snow settled. Lots of houses lost their guttering too, as the guttering wasn't fixed to carry the weight of snow. We have new ones coming, as do lots of others in the village, and the manufacturers are delivering several on the same day.
We've spent the day painting the inside, most of it is done, however we are waiting for the new cement to dry out on one side of the workshop.
The next job is likely to be the roof of the chicken shed. This is going to be a little different as we may go for a flat roof and turn it into a sun terrace. This might seem odd -as lots of Spanish people avoid the sun, however it is very common to have sun terraces where they enjoy the sun going down. Lots of houses have them and we're thinking that seeing that we need a new roof, it will be a nice touch. Ian was remarkably positive, however I think he can see sunset photography opportunities without the need of him leaving home! Both Manuel and his Dad were here last night and said that the cost would be much the same as a normal roof (although we'd need stairs and railings, of course). They thought it was a good idea, so I think that we'll proceed. In the meantime, they've stuck a pole under one of the beams in the chicken barn and told us not to touch it.
The cockerels have been split up from our hens. Both of the ladies have gone broody and the cockerels aren't as sympathetic s they might be. In fact, they seem to regard the fact that the girls as sat quietly on their nests as being some sort of come-on! This has resulted in the cockerels stood outside the garage (or inside if they can get in) and crowing at us to let us know that they've been locked out the chicken barn. They come inside the garage and yodel at us from the back door. The chicks should start hatching in one week, I hope that we get a few more girls....
Oh yes, the banging noise on Saturday, when I wasn't sure what builders were doing, was them knocking off the tiles from the windowsill and step, and replacing these with red terracotta tiles. The previous tiles were not really for outdoors, and new ones are nicely contoured so are another neat finishing touch.
I can't help feeling sorry for Manuel. He has done a sterling job, the house roof looks great, the workshop roof is super, and yet Ian and I have been stood open-mouthed marveling at a little wall that he has built separating the workshop roof from the big barn roof. We can't see the house roof really, however we can see this little wall, and he has painted it white and topped it with red tiles and it really does look lovely. I am sure he would prefer it if we showed the same enthusiasm about one of the bigger jobs though!
Interestingly, the snow that we had this year is changing some of the ways that builders work. Manuel treated some of the tiles with a waterproof paint where snow may collect to stop the tiles from absorbing water and cracking if it freezes. Also, he said that a lot of roof problems in the village were with new roofs, not traditionally tiled roofs. Old roofs were made with a lot of half-tube style tiles. The bottom half were laid with the rounded bit down, the top half was laid the other way with the rounded bit up. This meant that the tiles were able to move. Modern tiles 'lock' together and therefore cracked when the snow settled. Lots of houses lost their guttering too, as the guttering wasn't fixed to carry the weight of snow. We have new ones coming, as do lots of others in the village, and the manufacturers are delivering several on the same day.
We've spent the day painting the inside, most of it is done, however we are waiting for the new cement to dry out on one side of the workshop.
The next job is likely to be the roof of the chicken shed. This is going to be a little different as we may go for a flat roof and turn it into a sun terrace. This might seem odd -as lots of Spanish people avoid the sun, however it is very common to have sun terraces where they enjoy the sun going down. Lots of houses have them and we're thinking that seeing that we need a new roof, it will be a nice touch. Ian was remarkably positive, however I think he can see sunset photography opportunities without the need of him leaving home! Both Manuel and his Dad were here last night and said that the cost would be much the same as a normal roof (although we'd need stairs and railings, of course). They thought it was a good idea, so I think that we'll proceed. In the meantime, they've stuck a pole under one of the beams in the chicken barn and told us not to touch it.
The cockerels have been split up from our hens. Both of the ladies have gone broody and the cockerels aren't as sympathetic s they might be. In fact, they seem to regard the fact that the girls as sat quietly on their nests as being some sort of come-on! This has resulted in the cockerels stood outside the garage (or inside if they can get in) and crowing at us to let us know that they've been locked out the chicken barn. They come inside the garage and yodel at us from the back door. The chicks should start hatching in one week, I hope that we get a few more girls....
Oh yes, the banging noise on Saturday, when I wasn't sure what builders were doing, was them knocking off the tiles from the windowsill and step, and replacing these with red terracotta tiles. The previous tiles were not really for outdoors, and new ones are nicely contoured so are another neat finishing touch.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Workshop roof
The workshop roof is finished now and they've knocked out and replastered some of the bad bits inside the workshop and are finishing the outside wall now. They are doing a really good job, it is going to be much better than I was expecting. I wasn't expecting them to be doing the outside of the workshop and I also wasn't expecting the new roof to have quite such an impact. Of course, we've blue skies now, so the red tiles against the blue skies is giving a good contrast.
I'm not sure what they are doing today, there is a lot of hammering, I think they may be taking old plaster out and putting in new, before the guttering is replaced. Today is supposed to be a holiday!
I reckon that I'll be painting the workshop next week....
I'm not sure what they are doing today, there is a lot of hammering, I think they may be taking old plaster out and putting in new, before the guttering is replaced. Today is supposed to be a holiday!
I reckon that I'll be painting the workshop next week....