by Donna:
” Sow your seed in the morning, and in the evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. ” Ecclesiastes 11:6
The intense cold and consistent rain of January has passed and we have been enjoying lovely days of sun and clouds and intermittent rain. Although not official, Winter is ending and Spring is just around the corner! Yeah!! The trees think it is Spring already and are blooming, the birds chitter and chatter all day and the ground is now covered with a lovely blanket of daisies! Since the ground is soft and pliable we have been planting. We are having a go with companion planting. The idea is that you plant different plants together, plants which either protect or shade or deter insects from each other. We planted letteuce , cabbage , kale, broccoli, Chinese cabbage interspersed with onions, coriander, and some marigold flowers. We shall see what the results will be!! We also planted potatoes in a separate bed and we will add a few more elements nearby in the coming days. We also added more flowers to a new area. Making use of the cold weather and the while the land is still soft from the rains, we landscaped the surrounding area. Now, at the side of the cabin there will be a useful area for bbq’s or times when it is more convenient to do everything on that side. Gonna be fun!
A lot of our time went to pruning this month. It is crucial to prune the trees and vines during their dormant season. This can be done in late November or December or late winter to early spring before buds begin to swell. About 90% of the previous year’s growth is removed for a healthy productive grape harvest. Likewise, the olive trees were pruned, some more, some less and we are looking forward to a hearty olive crop this year!
Meanwhile, we chopped down the fallen pine tree at Emanuel’s place. It was necessary to remove it from the pathway which gave access to the support building. Unfortunately, quite a few pine trees fell nearby.
During the Chinese New Year holiday, Emanuel, Mandy, Gabriel, Selen, Isabel and Aurora headed off to Lamma Island and enjoyed a nice trek and campout in nature. They met up with friends which made it all the more enjoyable! (See pics below).
As it has been our tradition for many years, we watched the Chinese New Year Gala on CCTV and were impressed with the robots as well as the humans! Everyone keeps pushing the boundaries! What does the future hold for us? Big conversation!
Grandma spent time with Cristy in Lisbon as she was very busy moving houses. All went well as they had little Afonso to help with the packing!
We also received news of the new dog at Philip and Julie’s home. He seems to be the new darling of the home and makes the kids rejoyce all day. (see pictures below)
Well, here we are back to the basics, trusting God that he will provide, protect, strengthen and prepare us for all that lies ahead. He goes before us and has promised us that He has overcome the world. Lord, help us abide in Jesus, the true vine, and bear fruit until He returns or He calls us home.
Enjoy the photos:
Blessings to all.
D.