Our First Olive Harvest -Part1

Well we didn't think we'd have lot of olives, as it's the first productive olive season we've had
since their heavy pruning last year, but we spent all day Sunday picking (just the two of us as we didn't think we needed the help!) until we ran out of daylight.

First you knock out the olives with a long stick (sort of beat/slide the stick along the stems so it knocks the olives off onto the sheets below). Then you pick out and discard all the stems (a few leaves don't matter as they are taken out at the press)

We took 114 kilos to the press this morning (which should give us about a litre of extra virgin olive oil per 10kilos of olives- so around 11litres hopefully). We have approximately another 40kilos to pick. Next year should be alot more productive (so we'll definately accept the help next time!)

The nice lady at the press was kind enough to give us a tour of the place and show us how they make the oil- the extraction machine, various filters and tanks.

We go back in two days to see what percentage oil was in our olives and how much oil we can get back.

There is an option to pay the press a percentage of your olives in exchange for the cost of the pressing, but as our harvest is so small this year we have chosen to pay the press costs and keep all our oil.

It's all very exciting!!

Autumn is such a beautiful time here. We have had alot of rain which has greened everything up again and filled our well. The oaks are all taking on a golden hue, the 'azeitonas' are plump with fat olives, and the low sun reflects off the rocks.

We have been busy doing some clearing and tidying up the vegie patch for next year (and putting in loads of horse manure- he's hoping next year will be even more productive!)

I just wanted to share a few images of what it's like here at the moment, as my lovely brother Mike would say- 'Stunning'!! xx

Twigs and Mushrooms!

The new pup has settled in nicely- her name is Twiggy!

Thea and her mum Anne Dorthe have been staying with us this past week. Dorthe is a wild mushroom expert and has been helping us identify the local mushroom life- really interesting- our hoard has included Parasol mushrooms, Boletes (including a magnificent Cep!), Field mushrooms and Black Chanterelle.

(do not try this at home unless are lucky enough to have 'Madam Mushroom' to advise you!)

new addtition to the Velagota household!

We've been keeping a lookout for another boxer since we lost Mags last year- the occasional one has come up at the rescue centres aroung the country- but they've either been too far away or not suitable for us. So when we saw this litter advertised in the next village we thought 'aw- lets just go and have a look' (yeh right!). It was a lovely family home with two boxers who were very much part of the family- baskets in the kitchen, children playing with the puppies- so how could we resist?!

Just need to come up with a name now!

New arrivals at Velagota-

latest photos of new chicks and baby bunnykins- so cute and fluffy- don't mention rabbit pie anyone!

Festa for Tose'

Tose turned 50 this week and we held the party in our house. Only slightly hectic as you can imagine- not helped by the fact Tose told us it was 25 people right up to the last moment when he announced it was actually 40!

A great party anyway- and no shortage of Leitao (suckling pig) and wine (naturally!), finished off with some fado singing from Gloria and her brother, and some Beatles from me on the guitar! (everybody can sing along to 'Hey Jude'!)

new chicks

We have had a hen nesting free-range under some branches near the house. It's the second time she's chosen to nest outside the coop- the first time we moved her and her nest, inside the chicken ark, but she wouldn't continue sitting, so this time we've left her alone.
So far she's hatched three chicks- lets hope she hatches them all quickly and we can get them moved safely into the ark.

fun, festas and filth!

Big job this weekend cleaning out the well. The neighbours and their family members helped us and we thought it would be a pretty straight forward job. Actually it was bloomin' hard work- all emptied out by hand and bucket- we estimated about 5cubic metres of rotten vegetation and soil was dug out.

Lunch was a huge pork and potato stew and lemon meringue pie.

A very good job done- now we have to be very frugal with our water until it fills up again. It's very dry here and we haven't had rain for a couple of months now- so here's hoping!

After a well (haha 'well'- geddit?!!) deserved glass of cold Pimms (courtesy of Rob!) we walked up to the square to watch the dancing.

(apologies for photo quality- due to poor light if you click on the photo you can see the image much more clearly!)

side terrace

Paul's been working hard while I've been away and we have a lovely new side terrace- I just have one more thing to plant on the left hand side(a dwarf indian bean tree).

Messing about on the river!

Geese

The Family- right outside the back door- nice to see them out and about!!

Cheers PigsEars!

Pigs happy in their new home!

making hay while the sun shines