Hoop petticoat daffodil, Narcissus bulbocodium

Walk to choza at the top of Finca al-manzil

We had a misty rain yesterday which left everything refreshed and a bit greener. Went for hike up to the high olive grove and the big choza which is apparently the site of an iron age hill fort, certainly has amazing views. The woods smell wonderful, centuries of damp humus under foot, wild honeysuckle, unidentified fungi appearing, wild asparagus spears pushing up, griffon vultures flying around the peaks, maybe something adding to the decaying layers.

SOL Y SOMBRE

The beginning of June and it's getting hot; the landscape has changed, from the glories of spring wild flowers and myriad shades of green to a golden tawny background with evergreen oaks and olive trees creating the essence of an Extremadura summer, the nightingales still sing but they are accompanied by cicadas and the deep hoot of eagle owls.
We crave shade and have been busy erecting the various shade sails and parasols around the finca, especially by the pool.
So looking forward to our summer mode; cool mornings for walking and some chores, relaxed lunch on the terrace and then a delicious siesta in a cool shadowed room behind thick shutters, later on a swim and reading, possibly artistic projects if any (none at moment but something is bubbling gently and will hopefully result in something fit to be seen)
Evenings are long and sultry, late light tapas and cool wine, candles and star gazing and of course a good chat. If the moon is between waxing gibbous and full it's light enough to walk around, a magical experience to take a short walk in bright moonlight, everything transformed.
 In between all these precious lazy days there are busy busy days of organizing the houses, welcoming new clients and saying hello again to all the people who have stayed before. Summer!

SOME DIFFERENT LOOKS AT THE CORTIJO....WORK IN PROGRESS

Two Mies van der Rohe chairs, the 1927 MR 20 design,  cantilevered tubular steel with cane seats,  these were made in Italy in the 60s and have just been restored.
Chair in corner is Victorian dentists' chair, it's extremely reclined for better access to the rotten molars, hate to think of what went on, it's a relic from my gap year antique stall at Eton market, a very long time ago but still have many things I couldn't bear to part with....some business woman!

Painting of the Porte de Gazelle in the Tunis medina, an old fondouk, it was my winter project, mixed media on board, inspired by a photograph taken on our Sicilian/Tunisian holiday.

 It's sad that we will probably not visit Tunisia again, there were already signs of imminent chaos a year ago and since then several tragic events including the shootings in the Bardo museum, the Bardo  was one of my main motives for visiting, I remember a wonderful peaceful afternoon immersed in the splendour - see my Tunisia post here
 http://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/tunisia-part-i-tunis-bardo-bizerte.html 

 Moroccan kilim from the Atlas, painting of the Majorelle gardens in Marrackech by me, William IV secretaire with many secret drawers and compartments, a delight of my childhood, Tibetan prayer scroll, 16th century carved wood Flemish madonna, blue and white Chinese bowls....books and more books.

Wooden fetish figure from Mali, Akuaba fertility dolls, Moroccan henna mixing bowls, a Berber parchment scroll, my homage to Tàpies, Fortuny Palucco lamp, a knock- off but the gold leaf is real.

Victorian chair covered in black suede. Grain measure and table found in old shed on finca. 

Art Deco chest with roundy corners bought in junk shop, painted by me with added recycled  bakelite and chrome handles.
Pictures are altered photos from the 1920s, a painting done by my aunt in 1958 and a naive bird painting from 1930s.  Chrome dish is 1950s junk shop buy. Boring lamp, must dig out something better.

Doors found on rubbish dump, rug from Marrakech, chair bought in our local 2nd hand shop, painted to go with new upholstery, a heavy linen Ikat design.

 The sculptural barbers' chair bought in Portugal, it had a seat once but we prefer it without. The ancient patina and metal reinforcements are original untouched by my faky paint effects. The adjustable headrest conceals a box for the barbers' tools.
Mud cloth hanging from Mali.

                                                                      THE KITCHEN

Massive stone table brought from Portugal, many feasts prepared here.

Shelves for bits and pieces and cook books

The kitchen collage....all about the face

More little details of cortijo and barn coming soon.............

HOW WE CUT THE GRASS AT FINCA AL-MANZIL........

ANOTHER PEACEFUL MORNING AT FINCA AL-MANZIL

VERANILLO

Veranillo means little summer, similar to Indian summer. In Spain it can be anywhere between Veranillo de San Miguel, 29 September and San Martin, 11 November.

Here in Extremadura it started on 17 October and still continues in all its splendour. We enjoy it even more after 2 weeks of rain, beautiful after the long dry summer but  just about enough. Thankfully the sun broke through the mist and it is glorious. Temperatures of up to 29c during the day,  balmy nights with no wind, still eating outside, haven't unpacked sweaters yet!

We have been out and about for short trips in the immediate countryside to two different lakes, Aldea del Cano and Lacara are both beautiful and tranquil walks around large areas of water which attract a lot of birds.

Some of the most rewarding walks are right here on the finca. The path up to the peaks and the high olive grove with an ancient choza (primitive shelter) is particularly wonderful.The choza has been investigated as the site of an iron age fort, it certainly has extensive views. The walk from the finca up to the olive grove and choza takes 20 minutes.

              LOTTIE SURVEYING THE OLIVE GROVE 

The rock formations up there are amazing. Lottie loves exploring all the twists and turns of the magical path through the woods. Pure nature, we have left everything as natural as possible, the horses keep the path clear with their walks up  in the higher parts of the finca. Birds find an idyllic sanctuary in the silence of the woods.  

                BLINK AND IT'S GONE, AN AUTUMN COMMA BUTTERFLY ON CORK OAK BARK

RAIN + SUN = GREEN!

The sierra behind the cortijo

The autumn rains are very early this year, we have had rain on and off for the last 2 weeks, plenty of sun in between, ideal conditions for the miraculous growth spurt for all green things which have  been  lying dormant waiting for the first rain since last May.

Exquisite fronds

Moss!

The springs have started to flow again

Leucojum autumnale

The moss is the first to revive in all its emerald glory, then come the small seedlings pushing up shoots over night, the most delicate little white bell flowers and the acorns start to turn from acid green to golden brown. 

The horses look forward to acorns from holm and cork oaks

Perfect example of a choza at Casa Alfarera, its a primitive shelter

Willy enjoying the last hay

 The horses and Willy the donkey are getting the last hay, they will survive on fresh grass and acorns from now on.  This may not seem so magical to Northern Europeans but for us it’s been a long hot golden summer so  all this sudden verdure is pure delight.

Lovely Lottie, only 6 months and still growing and growing.....

Cortijo draped in honeysuckle and an instant green slope

More pet boulders around the cortijo