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