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.

Tuesday 22 September 2020

Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness

 

Indeed I do...feel gratitude that is!   I just feel I need to say thank you for your blog friendship! You may say "Why?"  How can I describe it I'd say it produces a feeling of belonging! I had this feeling in blogland before but being away from my blog for so long I lost it!  I am feeling it again and it is so good that I have found it!  When I receive comments on my blog or of course replies to comments I have posted or see my blog there in your blog roll I feel I am belonging . Perhaps I can simplify what I am trying to say.  It is a good sensation and it makes me happy.

  

 

 

Checking the mountains are still there!

 When the heat here in Alicante decreases and Autumn starts to bring in the cooler weather we usually take more Sunday trips up into the mountains. We start this usually at the beginning of November but Sr P has had some ear trouble recently, He is is on the mend but meanwhile he isn't allowed to go snorkeling or swimming so the beach is off limits for a little while. As we have had some showers this last week we thought we go and check out one of our favourite places in the mountains which is not too far away from the city. 

 

I t was really good to see that the countryside was not looking so dry and parched. The recent rains had brought back some colour to the terrain.  I took this photo on our way up to the Maigmó Greenway  (Via Verde) in the Maigmó mountains. The Greenway was originally a railway track from Alicante to Alcoy that was built in the 1920s which never actually entered into service.    The track has been reconditioned into a public trail for hikers and cyclists and covers approximately 22 kilometres from Agost  up to the Maigmó pass and back down the other side of the mountain.

 

 

 

  Our objective was not to walk the Greenway this time but to walk along the Drovers trail under the old railway bridge(now part of the Greenway) which borders some olive and almond fields on the slopes of the mountain croplands.  Our goal.....ALMONDS!!  Unfortunately the almond harvesting was at the beginning of September and if you want to pick windfalls one needs to be here at least two days after the harvest so we are a bit late and consequently there were not a lot of windfalls.                                         

 One should not stray from the Drovers trail at all and cannot enter the fields and pick from the trees as they are  private property even though there are no fences. It would be considered stealing!  Nonetheless, there is a rogue almond tree on the pathway which is fair game and there are always some windfalls too.     We only take sufficient to have a little snack and at times Sr P carries a bota de vino with him to have a swig of wine as we munch the almonds!! 

 

Beginning of Drovers Trail







 

 That is Sr P picking up the windfalls. He is right on the edge of the trail....tch!!! The rogue almond tree on the right has been picked clean. However we picked up enough for a snack and a few to take home to make up almond sauce to add to a chicken dish.

 


Lovely!!!


 



Now I have to talk about being naughty...

 

 

 

 .....not totally my fault by the way because this Miss has been messing about with that magical stuff she sprinkles around .......    I was so tempted when I saw these at half price I had to buy them....


 
 
By the way I still go to the local haberdashery which I posted about in 2012 (doesn't seem that long ago!) and you can read about it here . I am trying to frequent more the small local shops who are having such a difficult time! 
 
 
 
 
 I made this in April during lockdown for the Random Acts of Crochet Kindness group. I used a free pattern I found on the webpage Thoresby Cottage.   I did tweak it a bit!  Great stash buster!
 
 

 
Many thanks for all your generous comments on my last post Mandala Mirror. I was surprised to receive an offer to buy it but regretfully I had to refuse it as I do not sell my makes.                                                  It also looks very nice on my wall!  🌸🌸🌸
 
 
 
 
Stay safe everyone.    
 
Amanda :-)
 

 



24 comments:

  1. Ooooh! Scrumping almonds, how delicious! That yarn looks good. What are you planning to make? I know a few "cat people" who would love that basket. Must have a look at the pattern...
    Stay safe. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting HH :-) I am not sure what I am going to use the yarn for. It has gone in my stash which is in full view and I can admire it for awhile. I just had to have it! The pattern...really quick and easy. I can send it to you if you like I think I have it in pdf format. Stay safe A x

      Delete
  2. We are waiting patiently for rain over here in uk. In the south where we are it is so much drier than up north, I can't remember the last real rainfall.
    I'm loving that cat basket.
    Briony
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Briony. I can send you the pattern if you would like as I downloaded it and made it into a pdf file. It has rained here but hardly enough. A x

      Delete
  3. I love the idea of picking almonds, what a delight. Beautiful stroll you took us on, you are surrounded by beauty. Love the basket, another great make.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Picking almonds is indeed fun but only for a short while as it gets too hot towards midday. Thanks for calling in :-) A x

      Delete
  4. Beautiful photos and I thank you for sharing a part of the world I've never been to. I'm glad you are back to blogging as I had missed you. Every time I think about stopping I think of all of the wonderful friends I've made here and I just can't leave.
    That yarn looks like fun. Do you have plans as to what you're going to make with it?
    Take care and many blessings to you and yours,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In many ways I have your very same thoughts about blogging Betsy! I am thinking something Christmassy for that new yarn with a strong Christmas Holly green as background. Not sure exactly as yet though :-) Thanks for calling in Betsy xx

      Delete
  5. It's neat to be able to sew the countryside where you live.. and to find almonds free on the ground, how cool! Love the pot cozy, you're very talented. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Teresa! It would be easier to go into a shop and buy a bag of almonds but then there is no fun in that!! I don't know what's the best finding the almonds or eating them!! A x

      Delete
  6. It looks such a pretty area where you live Amanda ...those mountains look stunning. That yarn you purchased looks wonderful too .. I love the real mix of colours in those balls. Have a great week Amanda. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is Julie but not so pretty towards the end of the summer when the earth is so scorched from the heat and months with no rain!! Just seeing a little more greenery makes me feel better. A x

      Delete
  7. Of COURSE you had to buy than lovely yarn. What are you planning to make?
    The photos are lovely - what a beautiful place it is where you live. Manna for the soul.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joy glad you like the photos. I am think perhaps that yarn will be used for something christmassy :-) A x

      Delete
  8. Amanda, I am glad you are feeling the blog love again. It is a unique place for us isn't it?
    I laugh at your GREEN landscape photo. That looks like the dry dry desert to me. But, If you say so!
    We are still thick with green leaves and just a maple or two are beginning to turn yellow/red. I want to grab every leaf that falls and glue it back on the tree. Im not done with summer yet.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coming from the Uk where rain is plentiful and one can feel saturated in green my first impression when I came to live here in this part of Spain was that the Mediterranean scrub looked so barren and lifeless! I so missed the green and I still do but I grew to accept the Med terrain and appreciate when it actually does sprout some greenery. It does have some pretty seasons but summer definitely not!! I look to the beauty of the beaches and the sea during the hot torrid summers. A x

      Delete
  9. Hi Amanda, lovely to read your post and apologies for not answering your email as yet I have been totally consumed by this new CAL I have started. Yes it is lovely to be a part of blogland and I find it incredibly sad when people stop posting most seem to have gravitated to instagram but I just can't get away with it. What lovely scenery and Almonds as an extra bonus what a treat! I'm glad that your local haberdashery store is still thriving, a new one opened in out town centre and was closed again within the year such a shame. That yarn is yummy there is no way I could have resisted that, I wonder what you will make with it. Thank you for the link to the planter I have saved the pattern. xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I enjoyed your post, thanks for commenting.
    My friend was so upset that someone got into her blog settings from a link up. she deleted her blog right away. I didn't want to do that just yet-blogger doesn't have everything worked out yet on the new platform-the biggest things is I haven't figured out how to get into my settings from the blog. for now if you want to see my art and crafts I am going to post those on the new blog-and at the same time not link up any more to T or other events with a link up. I work from my blog list as well this morning all my friends are saying not to worry it's not a problem no so sure. Happy wednesday Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. good morning, I came back to really read your blog-I really love my readers here too on my blog. we are seniors and don't have much family left what we do have is far from us, and not allot of friend-so my blogging friends has been my life line for communicating with someone.
      I have always loved the mountains-nice that you are close enough to visit them Happy Friday and weekend hugs

      Delete
    2. Many thanks for calling in again Kathy. We are just on the outskirts of the city and near the main highway that goes up into the mountains so we can get on route within a few minutes. The same highway goes to the beaches in the opposite direction so they are reachable in 10 mins too. Everything is nearby but I would give it all up for a little house on the beach! A x

      Delete
  11. Your blog is wonderful to read. I am so glad you returned to posting.
    Y'all have beautiful landscapes to walk. The almonds fresh off the ground sound marvelous. I imagine the taste is better than store bought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so right...the almonds we pick up from the ground are by far better than shop brought. The shop ones are drier! Thanks for calling in :-) A x

      Delete
  12. That looks like a lovely walk through the mountains. No almonds here, but we are foraging hazelnuts and blackberries at this time of year. I have replied to your comment on my blog, but I don't seem to have a reply button, so I will have to look at the settings. Meanwhile I'll copy my comment here too:-
    Hi Amanda, thank you for your lovely comment. If you can crochet then I am certain you could also knit. I'm planning to blog more regularly, but no promises :) I'm happy for you to mention me on your blog. I'm on Instagram more often and have a YouTube channel where I vlog monthly. The link is on the home page and in my Instagram profile. xx
    Best wishes, Paula xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for calling in Paula :-) I would definitely like to be able to forage for blackberries.....I dream of my mother's blackberry pie or crumble! I have seen your reply on your blog so I presume you have that fixed now. A x

      Delete

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