What a blessing, it has rained
Nectarine tree and in the background part of my farmhouse
The importance of rain
Living on my green farm since 1981 I am aware of how dependent one is of weather. Over the years I have seen a big change in climate, it is getting warmer and there is less rain.
These past winters have been very mild with temperatures of around 20C. For some people depending on where you live, that might seem nearly summer. Also, this winter has been rather warm and only once there was a little snow on the mountain to the west but it was only visible for 2 days.
The orange field was plowed and the drip system laid out to start watering. The field is in 2 sections and each will get 6 hours on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The last good rain was on 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25th of January, after that nothing. There was really a need to operate the drip system as I saw the trees started to suffer.
Thankfully it started raining on the 20th of March. Everything looks clean and the colors have intensified.
Spring has started some time ago but with this rain, everything is accelerated, lots of blossoms all over the place.
Closeup of Nectarine blossom
Update on Spain
We are staying at home to only go out once a week for shopping. Supermarkets, pharmacies and the places where you buy your newspaper are open, all the rest is closed.
A big house cleaning is on its way and this past Saturday we made marmalade. The effort of a whole morning working resulted in 16 jars filled with deliciously tasting organic orange marmalade.
The President is on the news each day with a long speech, informing all the citizens of the latest steps taken by the government to combat the crisis. Today he said that the state of alarm will be prolonged till the 11th of April
I hope you are all staying safe and remain healthy, take good care of your immune system.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Photos: private
Recent Comments
74
Hello Taetske,
I love your beautiful pictures, especially the close-up of the nectarine blossoms, that'a awesome.
As to the state of emergency, it is very similar here in CZ. People are at home, only groceries and pharmacies are open, everything else closed. I think many businesses will have to shut down. We are also ordered not to leave house without a face mask on.
For me, nothing really changed as I work from home. I still go for my long walks with our dog and enjoy being in the nature.
I'm curious how long this will take and if we are able to go to Spain this year at all. I still hope!
Have a nice evening,
Lenka
Good evening Lenka,
Thanks for stopping by. Michael has to do weekly shopping alone as only one person is allowed per car. I was told some Spaniards are trying to squeeze past the rules. Somebody was seen walking a toy stuffed dog. It even gets worst, some people put a chicken on a leash so they could go for a walk.
Anyhow, this will pass but the total consequences are difficult to foresee.
I hope you will be able to make your trip and come to visit, that really would be nice.
Stay safe and healthy.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Thank you for all the information, Taetske.
We've been going to Spain every year since 2015, in some years even twice. So even though we probably won't be able to go this May as we originally planned, we might go later this year. I still hope.
Hello Taetske,
All quiet here, though I have a feeling that the paint brushes will be coming out soon. Only one of the four offspring is still 'going' to work, one's been laid off, one's working from home and the other is 'home studying'.
Many businesses are closing, one by one.
We're following the updates, as and when they filter down.
Keeping safe and healthy as I hope you are too.
Good Morning Twack,
While I am writing this it is raining which is very positive. The temperature has dropped some so it is not the famous around 20C winter temperature anymore, it is more like 14C.
2 People in a car are not allowed for the moment and that is why Michael will do the shopping on Wednesday by himself. I called the health shop this morning and ordered what we need. The woman said most people do it like that. The door of the shop will open so you get your bag with items, you pay with your card and the door closes again.
We are lucky to have websites so really we cannot get bored.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Those sound like really good and sensible measures.
I don't envisage running out of work to do, anytime soon, that's for sure.
Hello;
and thank you for sharing the info,
from the photo, I can see that you have a beautiful house on the farm! and you are lucky to have chosen the farm life!
I noted that you write down that it starts raining on the 27th of March (today it's the 23rd of March in Australia)
also here in Australia, we have still been able to be free, and go as usual and normal, few implementing rules are been put in place by the Government on how to be when in general contact to all shops and business, today the will close down all the pubs,
people start to panicking and gone to buy a refrigerator and freezer to fill them with food!
Noted Milk, eggs, sanitation products, toilet paper, medicine, and much more are vanishing fast from the shop shelves
so the shelves at shops now start to look empty
like never before!
seems like living in a movie ( unreal )
stay safe
and
have a good day
Good Morning Pietro,
Dear me, now that was really a slip from my pen. I have never been good with numbers but this was too much. The first rain was on the 20th not the 27th, I quickly corrected the date on my post.
We had just cleaned the big deep freezer and stocked up before the crisis started. The supermarkets also look more empty but fresh food like fruits and vegetables are still being supplied regularly.
Our place is only one and a half km from the village but as I am surrounded by avocado farms it is really quiet here.
If I do not put on the tv is seems like usual. The moment you go to the village there are a lot of policemen around controlling your movements. You are only allowed to go grocery shopping or go to the pharmacy.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Gracias, and by the way where do you live in Australia? I was born there but that is a long time ago.
Taetske
What a beautiful post...This reminds me very much of the writing style and prose of the local small newspaper where I grew up. That was long ago now, but perhaps its time has returned...
It was a delicious way to spend an hour or two, reading about the day to day life of those around us, a sense of normalcy in abnormal times...
The flowers, the gardening, the marmalade, the rain. These are all things we can appreciate. Although times are tough, it is these things that we can hang onto and perhaps appreciate just a bit more...
Hang in there, this too shall pass. As isolated as you are, less will change than for many others, but keeping it real and appreciating the small things can make it all a bit more bearable...
Enjoy the week, and I hope it rains some more for you there. I know you could use all that you get. We had the same here (rain) and even some hail last night!
Between the rains, the heat came in ferociously, a taste of what is to (surely) come. I am not looking forward to that, but the pool water is getting warmer, so there is that.
Lots of uncertainty here, as people are realizing that this thing is not going to be a 2-week inconvenience, rather a prolonged set of sacrifices in many ways.
Lots of people who can have left. Where they are going it may be worse, but they want to also get home, wherever that may be. Perhaps they too have a lovely farm with Spring flowers, and rain...
You and Michael take care of yourself! We here in Dubai are hunkering down for what may be a long period, and planning for the worst, hoping for the best (as we all should)...
BTW...
I have given up Facebook for a short period as I concentrate on the business at hand, there is a segment of users there that are abhorrent and I just need to let them be who they are, they are beyond hope...
Unlike that terrible Uncle that you had to put up with for the holidays year after year, I can do this, hehe. I advise others to do the same...These people are not worth the drain on the spirit and nerves IMO...
Take care!
Cheers!
Dave : )
Good Morning Dave,
Yes, I missed you on FB.
In times of crisis, one is confronted with the best and also worse of humanity.
In the meantime, Mother Earth is happy having a break of her virus=humans. No smog from the industrial area of Malaga coming into the valley and the big cities in Spain have no more air pollution. The same happens in China and other places worldwide.
As in Venice, the water has cleared up swans and dolphins have returned to the canals.
There are also reports that as schools are closed 5G antennas are installed on the roofs. This report was from Denver.
I do not know where this will lead us, let us hope for the best.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
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Looking lovely Taetske, I know your marmelade is sublime, and on a little farm like yours there is always something to do. Imagine people in a lockdown living in a little appartement without a garden. That must feel like jail.
Stay healthy and safe.
Greetings from up North🖐️
Good afternoon Loes,
We are saying that every day that we are lucky to live on the farm, here you can stretch your legs.
This morning I talked to a friend who lives on the coast in Torremolinos. She can only do a few steps on her balcony.
Keep smiling and stay safe.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske