Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Wednesday 7 July 2021

Blood Lines

 Extended family

I don't very much like the way some people use this term as if it stretches the limits of family relations.

Some would say too extended perhaps and that my sister's great grandchildren are no relations of mine.  My nephew is their grandfather and my great niece is their mother and that is family to me! After all they have the same blood line! Anyhoo I don't want that to be like that so I call them all nieces and nephews .😁 

 My great niece who lives in Devon has granted me permission to post these gorgeous photographs of my nieces and nephew.


These two pretties are my nieces, Edith on the left and Lottie on the right,who I haven't met yet except on video chat, which isn't quite the same.

It was good to see in the photographs that the little something that I had sent over to the two girls was also enjoyed by their younger brother too.  Here you see them dressing up with the contents of a couple of  typical Spanish souvenir packs containing castanets (castanuelas),hair combs (peinetas), colourful bangles (pulseras) and the typical earrings.


 

Kaylan is a minx so my sister tells me and is totally mothered by his big sisters who love him dearly

 They are the little 'uns that I made these shawls/blankets for before they were born:

 



 Edith's baby blanket.


Lottie's baby blanket


 

Kaylan's shawl


 

 Which brings to mind the saying "Time flies" or if you prefer the original latin version "Tempus Fugit". Children grow amazingly quick!   I so hope I am going to get to see them before they get much older.



I have a Castle in Spain 


Do you know when Sr P and I  were courting he told me he had a castle in Spain! 

Naturally I thought he was joking however he was so insistent and got so offended when I scoffed at him that I finally believed him...sort of. There was a split second there when I went into imagination overload and thought perhaps his family were impoverished aristocrats and there were a  few stones from the ruin of an ancestral home on the land he also told me he had. Lucidity hit in after a few seconds of those imaginative thoughts and all this was pushed to one side as we went about our romance.

 It wasn't until 1973 after the birth of my daughter that I went to Alicante to be presented to the family that I thought those possessions, that he said were his, would come to light. As I didn't speak a word of Spanish then I couldn't ask the family about the castle,the land,and the orange groves and the yacht. Yes, Sr P had added to more to his list!  Nevertheless, I was determined to get to the bottom of all this, so I kept on at Sr P about it.  I am sure you will have guessed by now about the castle and at that time I suspected he was talking about St. Barbara Castle which overlooks the city, but there was a little bit of a niggling thought that he might just take me to those ruins of an ancestral home. I was still holding out hope!   

 Sorry to disappoint but as suspected the castle he had been talking about all those years was St Barbara Castle and that first day he took me up there he showed me the plaque which was engraved with something along the lines of it is dedicated to all Alicantinos.  Tch!  

 


I then went after his yacht so he took me down to an obscure part of the port and told me to look down into the water and asked me what I could see and yes I could see the wreck of a small boat under the water ...I repeat "boat". I asked him where was the yacht and he said casually that it was a linguistic mistake as he didn't know how to say fishing boat in English at the time. It seems said boat had been his grandfather 's. 

 

A view of the Port from the Castle. It has changed a great deal since I saw Sr P's boat there.
 

By then I was quite annoyed and mostly so because I had been taken for a ride and also I was cursing myself for being so naive!  At least the land and orange groves did exist but they belonged to his father and not to him!
 

From that moment on I realised my husband loved to tease and joke! I eventually found out how to detect when he was joking/teasing as he can keep a very straight face but his eyes betray him. He smiles with his eyes!   Since then this anecdote has become a family joke and it is frequently repeated as a conversation piece especially during the big summer barbecues we have here in the garden and at the end of the meal when everyone is feeling very relaxed and sipping sweet sparkling cava. 🍸🍹🍷🍸

 

Here you go a few more recent photographs of Santa Barbara Castle!   🏰

I have tried to take snapshots of places and corners within the castle grounds that are hidden away. Ones that don't often appear in the typical snapshots I usually take of the Castle,sorry Fort as Sr P keeps telling me off about this, even though everyone here calls it the Castillo or just Santa Barbara.

 


About the only old public drinking fountain that has survived the rest are modern box like things that just do not fit in but I suppose are more hygienic.


 The guardsmen must have been very fit having to climb these stairs umpteen times a day to get to the battlements.

 


 Nice big fig tree which offers a little bit of shade conveniently over the steps and wall walk.  

 

and this dove looks like it is marching along the wall walk 



 

The old prickly pear cactus bush that has been there for ever practically. Sr P says he remembers it was there when he was a boy that would be about 68 years ago. I see they have a sign up asking people not to engrave their initials on any part of the bush!   Really! get a tattoo if you love initials so much !



Bravo!  Mr Old Prickly Pear continues to grow!


 

That contrast of the guard turret against the Mediterranean blue,that I always find so stunning. They could certainly see the pirates arriving from here...such a clear view. 

 

 


Hope you have good days ahead and happy blogging

 

Amanda :-) 

 

 









 

 

 



 

26 comments:

  1. Fabulous photos of the family and Alicante. I particularly like the fig tree photo, the prickly pear cactus photo and the little turret. Just wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Thanks Ellie. That castle is the best place for snapshots. I always seem to find something to photograph. A x

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  2. The photos of the children are sweet and Alicante looks beautiful. In Italy we address known non-family members as Zia (Aunty) and Zio (Uncle) out of respect and the young people would do the same when talking to us. We're called Nonna (Grandmother) and Nonno (Grandfather) by our grandchildren. The grandsons' girlfriends and our granddaughter's boyfiend also call us Nonna and Nonno. I don't mind the term 'extended family' to include our growing family of young people. Best wishes to you and your family Amanda.

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    1. Hello Linda. It is very similar here to what you have described about your family in Italy. I learnt the importance of family here in Spain and thoroughly enjoy the warm relationship we have with all my Spanish family. I am Tia Mandy here to a large number of the family whether they are close,extended or no direct connection it makes no difference. One belongs and that is it. I dislike the use of the term 'extended' when used to mean of no importance or insignificant, which need not be considered. This offends me. A x

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  3. Your nieces and nephew look adorable, such a sweet idea to send them a little package from sunny Spain. Your husband's little white lies were to impress you because he was obviously smitten, his tales did make me chuckle.

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    1. Hello Jean, Incredible really but those cheap little packs always seem to be successful with the kiddies! I can laugh about Sr P's fibs now but I didn't then. Mind you that is the way he is made and I have learnt over the years. :-) A x

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  4. Good morning Amanda, enjoyed all the photos-the nieces and nephews look like they are having allot of fun with your gifts, lovely crochet pieces. and fun tale of Mr P. beautiful photos around the castle loved the one looking over the water for sure.

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    1. Hello Kathy, They did have loads of fun with the gifts and their Mum told me it also gave her some quality time. It is great when simple gifts like that are so well received. A x

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  5. Good Morning again Amanda! The children are so sweet looking. I think it's wonderful that everyone is Aunty or Uncle. The family roots will grow deep for all of you through these very children.
    I laughed out loud when you said "tempest fugit," as my Mom used to say that all of time. I loved visiting with you today and look forward to many more messages.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Hello Betsy, Sweet looking yes...but a handful! I love to see how the family is expanding and try and keep in contact with everyone. It isn't an easy task any more. A x

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  6. Your nieces and nephews address so cute Amanda and I love all the lovely gifts you sent them. I think it's wonderful that you have a lovely extended family like that, I don't, my family is very small and my nephew's don't even speak. I have a better relationship with my nephew in law. I had to laugh at Sir PS little white lies at least there was some truth in them. Your photos are beautiful as always. Take care. Xx

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    1. Hi Linda, Cute little minxes who are adorable! My niece has her work cut out for her with those three! Lol! Some truth? I am still waiting for my castle or stately home! :-) A x

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  7. How long have you lived in Spain? It must be wonderful to look at that gorgeous blue sea.Ours is grey and stony looking.

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    1. Hello Cherie. The ever-changing colour of the Med and the sky here is something I never tire of. A x

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  8. What a fascinating post, Amanda, I really enjoyed all the anecdotes and your fabulous photos. I am also fascinated with family relationships but, unfortunately, even my extended family is quite small.

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    1. Hi Chris. Glad you enjoyed the post. I have a large family. We were 7 sisters and therefore lots of offspring and lots of extended family. I try to keep in touch with all but it gets harder and harder. A x

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  9. Love visiting here Amanda always entertaining and interesting. Take care

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    1. Thank you Wendy and very glad you enjoyed this post. A x

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  10. Your nieces and nephew look so cute in their Spanish adornments. I'm glad Sr P's little white lies didn't put you off him, but it's a shame you don't now own a castle, although imagine the upkeep and dusting! Love the photos of the area. I bought a fig plant at the Oxfam shop on Saturday, but it only has 3 leaves so far and I doubt it will grow to the size of the one in your photo! xx

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    1. Hello HH, I dread to think of the taxes we'd have to pay out if I had a castle! I am more than happy with my little suburban castle/apartment although we need to downsize from that too;four bedrooms is far too much for us. I think fig plants have a slow grow rate so your little 'un will take awhile. That tree in the photo has been there for "donkey years" long before I married Sr P so it is well over 50 years old. A x

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  11. Your baby blankets are so lovely!!!!!! I have prickly pear cactus growing here in Southern Wisconsin. ITs crazy!

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    1. Hi Kathy. Thank you. Prickly Pear Cactus are hardy but I wonder how it will get on during your Wisconsin winter! A x

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  12. I find where you live is so stunning, every photo you post makes me want to visit. Those little ones are indeed adorable. stay safe.

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  13. Family are just that, family, great photos of your nieces and nephew. Love the baby blankets and the stunning photos of your area xcx

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    1. Many thanks Chrissie. Great to hear that you family managed to get over and visit. I am so longing for this to happen :-) A x

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)