Thursday 23 August 2007

A cat, a cart and an horreo

This afternoon was spent sawing wood. I never look forward to it, but as Matt always says, 'if we don't do it now, we'll be cold in the winter'. Put like that, I can't really say no. Once I'm sawing, however, I get into the swing of things and always stay longer than planned. It's enjoyable to be out in the fresh air, getting a bit of exercise and looking at a splendid view, all at the same time.

This is where we store and saw all our firewood:



It's an horreo, a traditional Asturian, rodent-proof grain storage. You can see them all over the region. They're now protected as several years ago Asturians were in the habit of 'accidentally' knocking them over with their tractor so as to let more light into their house. Matt says he remembers similar structures in Kent when he was a young, and rather mischievous, lad.

I always have company when I'm sawing. I may head up there alone, but sooner or later Elbi, Mahou or Beeps, or all three of them, will come and join me. Today I was honoured with Beeps's presence.

Eyeing up a mushroom

On the horreo steps





On the old cart we use as a sawing horse


And even when you think she's not watching, she often still is:




Keeping an eye on me from the next-door chapel roof

I was rather surprised she was hanging around as we'd just given her her monthly flea-worm treatment which is comprised of a simple, but very pricey, pipette squirted onto the back of her neck. The other two get cheaper tablets and pipettes, but giving tablets to our smallest cat is impossible, anyone would think she were fighting for her life when we tried. We've given up with tablets as we were heartily fed up with being scratched and even bitten. As it is, one of us still has to sneak up on her, gently, but firmly grab her, wrap her in a blanket and hold her neck straight while the other one does the squirting. All as quickly as possible, as she still puts up a fight - claws out and teeth bared. She wasn't a pleased puss after we let her go but from the looks of it all was forgiven fairly quickly.

And finally, here is our lovely, growing woodpile which will keep us warm and snug this winter.

4 comments:

lorenzothellama said...

Oh, that dear little Beeps!
Love your woodpile, but that reminds me I have some wood to saw up from our oak tree. A big branch fell down the other day, but it will be lovely for burning in the winter.
Has it stopped raining yet?
You have reminded me I have to de-flea Scaredy!
I see you are beating Maalie in today's vote!!
Lorenzo.

Ju's little sister said...

Hand saw or chain saw?

Plumps has asked me to tell Beeps he thinks she should be a model.

xx

Unknown said...

Hand saw - Matt refuses to get a chain saw, he says they're dangerous, expensive, smelly and need constant maintanence. He may have a point but when we're freezing in winter and need to cut more logs asap I often dream of sneaking out to buy one.

Dear Plumpy is very kind, although Beeps is much too shy to be a model most of the time. The people from Whiskas would have to come here and then hide in camouflage gear in the garden if they wanted to get near her!

Lorenzo, Hurray, I won! I won't say any more as I really don't wish to gloat - not too much anyway. And no, it's still raining. We're set for a sunnier wekeend before the wet weather returns. Humph.

Thesaurus Rex said...

Rural Spain looks like the kind of place where great pictures are achieved by pointing a camera almost anywhere. Got to you via Wordimperfect. I shall read more. Have you read Chris Stewart (I think), 'Driving Over Lemons' Explains language and culture stuff via his own story.