The boys arrived promptly on Saturday morning to complete the wall at the top of the Inacio field - well! to nearly complete it. They'll finish it this weekend. You can see - far right - where the new wall meets the old dry-stone wall. The new section incorporates several trees that grow along our border with Armenio's carob plantation. He's delighted to be sharing such a fine partition at no cost to himself.
A dove surveys the world from the top of the chimney. The doves are the tamest of the local birds and will peck away confidently on the bird table while we're working nearby. They are messy feeders, swiping the bird seed left and right to discover the best bits. The sparrows perch on the sidelines to plunder the scatterings.
March is the month of orchids. We stop frequently to point new ones out to each other. Naked man specimens are everywhere although most are windblown and straggly. Here is a rare perfect flower.
Jones has exploited a sunny week to get back into her garden. We've tried to think of ways to ease the annual burden of clearing winter's extravagant growth - without much success. Even when she's not gardening, Jones can't ignore a glaring weed.
Of an evening she heads up to the summit of Espargal hill to see the sun safely down. In the morning she's up early to ensure its return. I did my share of early rising in the monks.
Our occasional worker, Nelson, and I have done lots of burning and clearing. Jonesy hates the burning but there's no other way I know to get rid of the forest of almond twigs. In the summer, such dry vegetation becomes a fire hazard.
My back hasn't had a good week. In fact it's been a proper pain. I've been grateful for the ministrations of Jodi the physio. Dogs have much more sensible backs than humans. Here they are on their best manners at treat time.
Jones took this picture of her ceramic snail. This is my kind of snail. The neighbours prefer the slimy sort - regarded in these parts as a real treat. Snack bars will stick a sign in the window to say that there are snails on the menu.
Back to the orchids. This sawfly beauty greets us twice a day on the crystal path around the far side of the hill - so called because we found lots of crystal stones on it. We have given names to all our paths - useful for explaining where we are or where we're going. I often set off with the dogs before Jones.
The barbary nuts bloom among the rocks. When I'm not being overwhelmed by nature's abundance, I reflect on the feast of flowers we enjoy here. Truly Espargal offers us the best of both worlds - town and country.
We've not seen many mirror orchids this season. For one thing they are easily overlooked in the undergrowth, which is still knee high. Most of the locals have been out with their tractors, turning over the soil. I hope to follow suit this coming week.
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