Category Archives: Life Style Spain

Jun21

The girls are back in town ;)

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When we arrived on our mountain 7 years ago, one of the first things on our plan was to have chickens, roaming free, chirping and pecking and supplying us with lovely fresh eggs.

So on my Dad’s first visit over, just some 2 weeks after we moved in..we put him to work, he’s very handy, if he has the right tools 😉 ..So scouring the neighborhood, for scrap wood, broken pallets etc, and few days toiling under the hot sun, being regularly refreshed with a cold beer. Our grandiose chicken house was born.

Now the hens arrived, after a few days settling in their house, we let them out..they were in heaven…and so were the local ‘campo’ dogs…:(

So then a large Chicken run had to be made, now we have plenty of land, so that was no problem, but we needed a regular water supply, and fencing and shade. Job done.

So over the next few years , we were blessed with eggs. We even incubated eggs form the U.K that traveled over land 1500 miles with good old Dad ( Now named chicken Grandad), in his car, with Incubator, ready to be watched eagerly, hourly, daily by my 3 children until they started pipping, and our baby chicks were born. With my son, even keeping night vigil watch, eager for the first sign of a tiny beak.

We had a few losses, and gained a few wins, with Ducks being rescued and taking up residence too at La Rosilla, we kept the local community Egg Bound, as my son, traveled with Go-kart and hand made trailer (made again with scrap wood) , selling the daily lay.

Then one very sad, and chilly morning..MR FOX made a visit and ate the heads off everyone. A sad and devastating sight.

So for a few years, we’ve been chicken free…But I’m glad to say

 ‘The girls are back in town’…..

 

 

Out for lunch at a friends house last week, and after a few Vinos 😉 the children had been to visit, ‘Juan the man’ , a local very Andaluz Spanish man who re- homes all manor of animals, in quite poor conditions, but looks after them to the best of his ability . “Mum ,Mum” they shouted “Juan the man has chickens for us.”..So off I go, to collect my birds, huddled into bags, we quickly sped home, and introduced the girls into their new home in the dark…

5.15 am the next morning we were rudely awoken by not 1 but 2 cockerels …that’ll teach me to make spontaneous ‘merry ;)’ choices.

They are not laying yet, they must just be enjoying a holiday, with lush vegetation, shade, fresh water and organic food..

 But come on girls lay a little egg for me …

 

 

Jun12

Food glorious food !

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Wow what a week, I’ve been submerged, in recipes, ingredients, cooking, creating , picking, delivering, & entertaining .

My La Rosilla season has started with a BOOM 🙂

Visitors to the region, staying in charming villas & guests arriving late in the day ordered my service of ‘Holiday Dining’ so each day I have been preparing sumptuous fayre, and had the pleasure in the evenings to deliver to waiting, expectant hungry folk.

Fortunately my veggie patch hard work, is paying off, and daily it is providing lovely treats..this week I incorporated my pickings into some great dishes, Moroccan Vegetable tagine, with courgettes & yellow & green beans from the garden,Thai vegetable curries & herb salads, with parsley, mint, coriander and nasturtiums.

 

Along with tasty savouries, my cake making and decorating skills were put to test, with 4 ladies arriving for a ‘Girly’ break, celebrating a birthday. So I thought chocolate..a girl can’t have enough chocolate 😉

 

I finished my ‘foodie’ week last night, with a ‘ladies night’ supperclub. My day was sent to test me…toilet broke, (OH not home to fix) , which meant guests would have to use my bathroom..something else to clean :/, remembered I was collecting all my guests, to allow them to partake in a tipple or two, OMG car to clean too….:/

This time it was a balmy night, once everything was prepared, flowers picked, tables laid, bread warming in the oven, champers chilling, I jumped in my MPV to collect my diners.

On return, they sat sipping Kir Royale, and enjoyed canapes of Moroccan Courgette Puree, herb hummus, and stuffed piquant peppers….

 

 OH NO A POWER CUT

Cooking on only electric, this was going to be a challenge…SERVE MORE WINE.

 Breathe, keep calm …

Fortunately, 15 mins later, my luz (electric) came back to life…

The ladies made their way up to the terrace, for their Supper , mozzarella & pesto pancake pockets, Prawn Thai Curry & to finish, Walnut and banana loaf and choccie sauce.

 

The bathroom problem proved a success, with all ladies returning to the table after spending a penny, saying ‘oh you have to go to the loo…the bedroom is lush !’

The joys of a home restaurant……

 

Jun12

My two favourite things ..

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Dinner & dancing, two of my favourite things… So to start off the season of my supperclub ‘La Rosilla – Supper on the Terrace’ , I planned ‘Tango on the Terrace’ . Now this year the weather has been all over the place, by this time of year we are almost guaranteed balmy nights of lazy, long suppers, but not this year, and not on my inaugural night.

 

Busy cooking in the kitchen, and shouting orders to ninos to sort plates, cutlery and glasses, writing lists for the OH to prepare..no matter how organised there seems always so much to do at the last-minute. The weather in the meantime, was there on the back of mind, and cooking with fingers and toes crossed, and twitter friends crossing fingers and toes for me two, I kept popping my head out to see, checking ‘eltiempo’ for its hourly updates..and thinking please god, be nice to me.

 

At the 11th hour, we took the gamble and laid our tables for 16 , and my prayers & extremity crossing worked, not balmy and sunny, but just good enough.

 

 

Guests arrived promptly and were served Mojitos, and Empanadas, before sitting down, to their night of feasting and frolics.

Erika & Ken from Casa Media Luna – Tango Holidays entertained our guests beautifully with their graceful dancing, with the mood of dance in the air, my daughter decided to do and impromptu ‘Flamenco’ so quickly swapping her apron for a shawl, and sensible shoes to her dancing shoes, she too added wonderfully to our evening.

 

With the warmth of patio heaters, and a few guests still sipping, we sat down to join them, trouble is when you sit down you don’t want to get back up….3.30 am…WE MUST GET UP 😉

 

 

May5

The Birds !

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Birds, birds everywhere…

Being awaken by bird song, and cuckoo’s cuckooing is sure sign of the weather improving. This last few weeks, I’ve had some strange and amazing bird experiences .

The swallows and swifts on the mountain, have been enjoying the thermal breezes, swooping and diving, and flying into my house !!! Now birds I love, but NOT in my house, and don’t do that flappy, flying thing !!! So on numerous occasions, I have dive bombed on the floor, to avoid being flown into, I’ve dived out the door, and been found, calling the bird to fly out, I know they don’t understand the human tongue, but hey anything is worth a try. I’ve even been swooped while sitting on the Loo !

Taking a rare five minutes to catch up on my reading & enjoy the peace and quiet outside, I had to retreat inside, due to the constant tweeting, and squawking taking place around me, from mating birds.

Sparrows, are nesting under our pergola, and get very fractious, if we go out and sweep, or sit or eat, its as if there saying ‘Oi this is our gaff, not yours’ the Daddy is very busy gathering food, and very brave, coming right up to the door, and having a good tweet ‘hey being La Rosilla, you must have some tasty scraps’ The chicks have been born, fingers crossed the survive the perils of flight.

At the golf course, we are fortunate to have beautiful mountain scenery, as well as fabulous ponds with great wildlife, but now too we have had 2 resident Ducks arrive, now with a surname of Drake, I’m very fond of my 2 legged relations, so each day my OH has saved his crust to feed them, they too now have become part of the family, and turn up for afternoon tea each day.

Driving to work the other day we passed a tree, with no leaves, but many green large fruits as we thought, but on closer inspection, the tree was full of green parrots, eating away, and just happy to sit and have their photo taken, before they flew to pastures new.



Then my most recent bird encounter again at the Golf Course, whilst feeding my little ducks, I spotted a very rare Black Headed night Heron, sitting on old branch, statuesque, surveying the scene.


So although not a natural ‘Twitcher’ I’ve enjoyed my encounters…well some of them.

Mar4

A week of all weathers !

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Clear blue skies and temperatures mild,

exlporing , den making, perfect days for a child.

Sun shining, time to sit with my book,

Inspired for alfresco Paella to cook.

With tasty leftovers in hand,

a day at the beach, picnic on the sand.

Return to La Rosilla with rosie cheeks and smiles on our face.

Memories created, of our special place.

As temperatures drop fire gets made,

time for yet more logs to be laid.

A loud crack, and a flash lights the sky

as rain starts to fall, in my bed I cant lie,

chilled to the core the world has gone mad

Wait a minute is that snow ? Oh my goodness a week of all weathers we’ve had !

Warmth, sun, lightening, rain now snow

Remind me where I live and what month its is,

Cos’ one thing for sure my body and mind’s in a tis.

Feb18

Friday flowers and flapjacks !

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After a morning, of head down, eyes look in on my laptop, together with mundane chores, and day to day drudgery, as the sun shone and crept its way to the window, I realised life was beyond the humdrum of my dull day. So I stopped, tea in hand, and went and looked at my view. Now it is a view to die for at La Rosilla, and it works , going to look a the view, it puts a spring back in my step, when the sky is blue, the sun smiling and the scent on the breeze is sweet as honey.

So I needed a little more ‘Spring’ in my life today, I needed to shut out the things trying to get me down. So I picked tiny ‘Narcissi’ that had emerged to say hello, and popped them in my favourite cup and saucer, to give a cheery look, like petite pretty dancers, with tutus of gold.

Hyacinths, in fuchsia, bold and balmy with essence and fragrance, and lavenders, with a spice and sweetness, to calm and restore.

Little jugs of blooms, can’t fail but to bring a smile to your face.

Feeling a little restored, I needed to bake, and give us our daily bread.

So flour, yeast, seeds and herbs in hand, I kneeded and shaped my dough, and placed it in the warmth of that sun that had crept through the window, to grow and rise. Poppy seed, Rosemary and Walnut loaf, to be enjoyed fresh from the oven, with a ripe fresh goats cheese, and caramelized onion chutney.

Now just a little sweetness needed, to welcome my brood home. A family favourite recipe Natural oaty goodness of Flapjacks, unctuous mixture, good enough to eat, added a zest of a fresh picked orange, and baked for just 30 mins, to golden. Left to sit until set, but comfortingly gooey, until tiny fingers and grubby hands could wait no more. “One more please Mum” “Well they are healthy, they’ve got oats in”

Well why not it is Friday ! Enjoy yours x

So easy to make, just measure, melt and mix !

250 grams Butter

250 grams of Golden or Demerara sugar

175 grams of Golden Syrup

Melt above in the microwave for 2 mins.

Then stir in 500 grams of oats, and the zest of 1 hand picked orange (optional)

Tip into a lined baking tin, bake for 30 mins on 180 c until golden. Let sit in tin to cool slightly then mark into squares…and don’t eat them too quickly.


Feb12

My journey to living the dream !

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SIMPLY SOLANO – PART I

How magic it is when you find something, you’d forgotten about, something you’d tucked away, done nothing with, Well this has just happened to me, searching through my book case, looking for cooking inspiration as per usual…There it was.

I Recognise that cover, that scrap book..It was my journal of the Start of my “new life” in Spain Living the dream…Oh what a fascinating read…how little I knew, how naïve I was. But hey that naivety, has allowed me to live my life, oh yes there’s been ups and downs, but still sitting here I feel I can now tell the tale..

 


So I thought I’d share a few excerpts with you over time….

I call it

‘Simply Solano’

29th May 2005

2am – Harbury Warwickshire – Cold and tired, I stand a wave and anxious husband on his epic journey across Europe for the start of his new life, oh and ours but ours starts in a few days time.

Fully laddened, with more things than of course necessary, with our Shiny new trailer on tow, stuffed to the gunnels, well you never know what you may need. Dad following behind, with microwave as his passenger. They travel just for 50 meters than a huge bang ! Car at a standstill, I bound as boundy as I can, in nightdress, slippers and no bra to his aid ! The stabilising bar of the trailer had snapped off – GREAT – Unditured they set-off once more, until the next timely mishap.

I feel surreal ! He’s gone, I’m here should it begin like this ???

 

5.30am Run out of petrol !

7.00am ferry Dover – Calais

500 Miles later Tours France Overnight.

 

Monday – Tyre BLOW OUT

500 Miles later – Burgos overnight.

 

Tuesday – Madrid the ‘frying pan’ – No windscreen wipers

Sierra Nevada – Pulling trailer – 1st Gear all the way – HOLY SPIRIT FELT

Dusk-  arrived COLMENAR .

1st June

4.30am- I think I’m ready, well it’s too late now. I just need to get there. 3 sleepy children, unaware of the extent of what’s to come, pile into my brothers landy (a supporting shoulder for my Mum) – To Birmingham airport,

Adios Inglaterra – Hasta Luego.

It was a wrench to leave my Mum, she seemed alone so hollow, she’s been so great, supportive, patient, generous and strong – I shall miss her terribly.

Customs – Baby Emily (No 1 daughters Doll) got hauled, seemed a dubious weight – I tried to explain she was meant to be heavy, she was ‘lifelike’ – They didn’t seemed to be impressed, heard it all before I guess. No 1 daughter certainly wasn’t, totally mortified was an understatement – Finally after much scrutiny, baby Emily was recovered, we went on.

The flight – oh how enjoyable, don’t you just love flying with children, or is it just other passengers facial expressions, when they see 1 Mum and 3 kids sitting by them !! So 4 of us, 3 seats, baby on lap – Need I say more ?

Malaga arrivals, no trollies, no assistance, very hot – HELP

Dad and OH waiting – Where’s my airport running “movie style’ welcome ???

 

Happy to arrive – Sun’s shining on our faces…

Bring on the Vino .

 

 

 

 

Jan26

Just a taster of things to come !

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From one extreme to another, Spring last week was dangled to us like a carrot on the end of piece of string, clear skies, taste of warmer climes to come, giving a general feeling of well-being and positiveness.  Then as predicted, our revelry of that moment was short-lived, and the winds changed, the temperatures dropped, and our thermals were located once more.

 

The diversity of nature, the juxta pose of natural things, makes you wonder how on earth !  Blossom can bloom on trees with snow-covered branches, seedlings can shoot through ice-cold earth , lemons can hang and ripen, teasing the taste buds…maybe natures way to give hope and promise of brighter times.

Mountain living, exposes you to all these miracles, I often say “We live in the weather’ In the billowing clouds, in the heaviest rains, in the hottest heat and the brightest sun , in the howling winds and with the bluest skies.  Often periods of relentless weather, but just a chink, just one small change is all takes to lighten the load, to boost the morale and put a dance in your step.

So just this spell, this little glitch of natures way, to say, hey don’t get ahead of your game,  I’ll tuck my seedlings up at night, under their soft fleece.  We’ll hunt and gather, some more fuel for the fire, Gathering winter fuel I’ll make comforting food to feed our souls, we’ll light our candles for that calming glow, and we’ll sleep cocooned under the worlds blankets,

with our noses so cold and our bed socks on,  ..dreaming of …………………………

 

Jan24

Wonder of nature !

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As I logged on this morning, I was pleasantly informed today was ‘Black Monday’, oh joy of all joys, what a great way to start the day, with a positive mental attitude and all that ???

So I thought well, I’m going to prove them wrong.  Often we are all guilty of focusing on the negative, sure we’ve all got challenges, and somedays they do get on top of us, and we wish we were someplace else, or somebody else, but do we ever take stock and have a look at what we have got ?

Don’t get me wrong I’m not some highly charged P.M.A Rhino, and I’ve had my fair share of momentary lapses in life, but today NOT today, today is a good day.
Wild lavender
Looking over my land to the Montes of Malaga, the mountain has become alive, with growing flourishing nature. Plants and trees have been fed plentiful waters from the rain, and daytime temperatures have been lovely and warn allowing them to stretch and warm the faces in the sunshine.  Almond blossom buds, are bursting open, and filling the air with soft sweet perfume, which fills minds and hearts with memories and thoughts of the soon coming spring.

With sun shining and faultless skies, the campo becomes a hive of activity,Olives being harvested, lands being ploughed.

For me preparation of the vegetable garden for the La Rosilla kitchen, and the resurrection of La Rosilla ‘Peckingham Palace” home for happy hens. Our previous hen house has laid dormant for a year or so, after Mr Fox, decided to pay a visit, hopefully now it is Fox and dog proof, and we can enjoy lovely fresh organic free range eggs once more for all our homemade recipes.

I’ve planted out, many varieties of lettuce, and fennel, and peas for their shoots, terribly trendy at the moment, but look totally fab in salads.

When we arrived at La Rosilla 6 years ago, I said I would walk to the end of my land, and sit,wonder, savour and breathe, each day…how life gets in the way.  Well yesterday I did,  making my way the shrubbery and overgrown mountain side, scrambling over rocks, and winding through olive trees, accompanied by my ever loyal Spaniel ‘Spencer’ , as my legs brushed the wild lavenders and rosemary the scent was amazing, like pure essential oils, orchids were bathing in the sun, and eagles were flying high in the thermals. I reached my pondering rock, feeling like miles from anyway, on top of the world…that’s when I thought, Yes this is why I’m here…