from my balcony today

one year on

Nearly one year to the day of my first blog post - about my first snowfall in Extremadura - last Saturday, the 18th, the highest peaks in the 'sierra' woke up once again with a white crown. The difference, though, is that this time round I'm living a little further away from the Jalama, the most magnificent of all the peaks in the area. The walk along the river nearest to my new village may well become a weekend routine:

The next day there was more snow again, just like last year, and a clear blue sky. This is the view from the road just beside my new home:

But the day was just too beautiful for one to remain inside doing household chores. We went for a long drive looking for the best views of the Jalama and the other white peaks.

This is the Jalama seen from the old and winding road that lead to Acebo, my previous village, and from where one gets spectacular views of the valley. There is also a newer, easier road to the village - which is probably why it gets so crowded in the summer.

After some more driving and walking we headed to another valley where there were a few more white peaks and a river I hadn't visited before.

I think this one really deserves a visit in the summer, when the trees will probably offer a welcome protection to the scorching sun.

With so much going on workwise, so much to see, so much to do, I wonder if I will find the time to start embroidering again...

colour wheel

I've been hearing some inspiring words about colour theory lately. Will I be able to put them to good use? With my hands itching to start embroidering again I just hope that 2014 will see me trying out some new ideas, as well as finding the time to finish off one or two things...

a brief respite

Two weeks of constant rain makes one crave for clear skies. We were lucky that this happened yesterday during waking hours, and at a time of day of beautiful light. Our normal walk is north of the bridge on the picture bellow, through the woods and along the narrow, shallow and tranquil river. But the severe flooding lead us to explore a new path.

The might of the roaring river was breathtaking. 

The path lead to a lovely beach that made one think of warmer and drier times...

And then, after going up an oak covered hill, with its frighteningly slippery ground, one could see the meandering path of the river. Better to wait for the ground to get drier before carrying on exploring...

It was nice to see the Jalama again, the beautiful peak that dominates the sierra, and which I used to see from the balcony of my previous home:

I hope to write a little bit more in 2014!

48 hours away

When the continuous and oppressive heat, the crowds of holidaymakers in the village, the loud noise/music of the two bars next to my flat that go on until the early morning every single night, and the mosquito bites... when all of this became too much I just had to get into the car for a short break - a three hours drive last week that allowed me to enjoy 48 hours of peace and quiet.

Like the Spanish I have learned to live like a mole, in the dark, with my shutters down the whole day. Lighting a lamp means more heat, so no embroidery in the last two months. Today the temperature dropped a little and the night breeze lasted until midday. I came out of the slumber...

slowly, slowly

Trying to cope with the heat has been hard. Last week the temperature reached 40ºC, after slowly going up the previous weeks. It is likely to stay there for several days more. Things are moving very slowly around here.

My embroidery too is advancing at this slow pace. When not working or cooling out in the river I may even manage a few stitches - only to stop soon after to scratch the many mosquito bites; and if I can then add a few more I'll have to get up after a short interval to get ice cubes for my swollen feet...

But I have made a little progress, though. I just hope I'll manage to keep embroidering, even if at this very slow pace, a few stitches per week...

to the swimming pool I go...

Tomorrow there will be rain and the temperature will go down, but this week we had lovely hot weather here in the sierra, so I thought I should make the most of the beautiful day while the sunshine lasts. Walking 30 minutes from my flat towards the narrow end of the valley, with the Jalama to one's left,

one reaches the parking lot for the swimming pools.

There are two, a shallow and another very deep, which I prefer. To get there I walk past the drinking fountain, with its lovely icy cold water.

But I like to stay at the other end of the pool so that I can lie on the stones and hear the water.

The problem is that it is really hard to get in, as the water is PAINFULLY cold. One can go in little by little or just plunge, but to be honest it makes no difference as both ways are equally hard. 

But once in, after the initial cramps are gone, it is just so wonderful to swim and then, afterwards, lie on the hot stones to get warm,

listening to the birds, to the water, and being able to look at the beautiful peak in the background...