Springtime

At the bottom of one of our steep hills is the Loxley village green and the Loxley Valley Road.  The valley road is a popular one with quite a few side roads, public footpaths leading to other villages and onto moorland.  Yesterday was a good day to see the sheep out in the fields since it's lambing time.  

To the left of the farm gate are stone steps as there's a public right of way by the side of the fields.

What wonderful weather we've had lately!  Mr P is feeling a little better each day, but is still not 100 per cent well. Thank you for your good wishes. 

Once more we're grateful for the covered area and the garden where we can sit, relax and enjoy the sunshine and all that's happening there.

apple blossom

plum blossom

pear blossom

the front garden

the back garden

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope that you're keeping well.  Whatever you're doing have a lovely day.

Out-and-about again

Yesterday we decided to see what the roads around our local area were like after the heavy rain and potential flooding. Floods are an ongoing, severe problem for those further afield.  We didn't know what to expect and, therefore, stayed on the high roads where we live with the aim of doing a circular drive stopping briefly at the nearest garden nurseries for some more hyacinth bulbs and plant feed to put under the fruit trees.

We stopped on the brow of  a hill and I walked down to take a look at the view of the Don Valley 

from the top road making sure I didn't slip on the wet leaves on the pavement.

These chickens and geese were roaming around and the geese started to follow me although they could not get too near because of the high retaining wall.  Their hissing was disconcerting.  A lady who was walking by down the hill laughed and told me that the geese always hiss as locals go by this house and land. 

We drove down into the next village that merges with ours and along another lane that overlooks the Don Valley and by this time dark clouds were rolling over.

Along this lane we encountered some flooding and back in our own village/suburb the weather had certainly changed so that by the time we arrived home the drizzly rain meant we were pleased to have gone out, but also glad to be back home again.  Thankfully the rain didn't last for too long, but the weather remains unpredictable.

Friday Bliss #11

When we were in Italy in October the grape harvest was coming to an end and the first process of making wine was underway.  It's a busy time of the year as following on from the grape harvest is the gathering of the olives. Our neighbours and relatives were in the olive groves around the area harvesting their olives before taking it to be processed into olive oil at the local oil mill press.

We went to visit Mr P's sister to thank her and her husband for the wine - below- that they had given us (2017 harvest) and found my brother-in-law pressing this year's grapes.

The olive trees in their garden were laden with olives. Later when most of them were gathered and pressed this year's yield was 20 litres just from these few trees. Others were gathered and preserved for eating. 

After lunch we were offered an unusual fruit which had been given to my sister-in-law by a niece from trees growing on her land.  I've never seen them before so was curious to try one.  My sister-in-law calls this fruit faiola. (I made a note, but I'm not sure of the spelling). Apparently it's a S. American plant (feijoa) which grows in the mountain areas of S. Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina. 

The white, gelatinous flesh inside has a slight fragrance.  It can be scooped out from the green skin with a teaspoon.  I found that the ripe fruit also had a faintly perfumed flavour and it was very different from anything I'd ever tasted before.
The orange fruit is a home grown persimmon.

Finally, below is a loquat tree in our garden. It's an evergreen shrub or tree indigenous to south-eastern China. In October there were clusters of flowers that will gradually develop into the fruit that will be ripe in late Springtime. 

 The ripening fruit in April/May

As well as eaten fresh the loquat is used to make pies, jam or jelly or can be preserved in a light syrup.

Today I'm joining in Riitta's Friday Bliss linkup

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all who are enjoying a national holiday at this time.