Return

 All sorts of
'stuff' has kept me from
being here on a regular
basis, but I am
back now.
No, the cows
are not ours
but we get
manure
in exchange
for them
staying here.

 There is a lot
of work to be done.
We need a new shed
and all the fig, cocoa,
nutmeg, mango and
coconut
need attention,
as do the drains
and pathways.

T can't do it all alone
and hopefully
with us both here
the thieves will
lay off a little
and give us
a chance.

We need
to get
a dog.

Cocoa time again

 Today we went up
to pick cocoa again.
The new bamboo rod,
(the last one having
broken when the
breadfruit tree at home,
fell on it)
was still a bit heavy
for me, so T picked
and I picked up.
We put the pods
in a fine bag and
T put each load
below the mango
trees.

It was a cool,
cloudy day with
a few sprinkles,
sunny interludes
and as always
it felt lovely
to be up here,
working together,
at our own pace
in our own time
with just the river
the cow the dog
and the birds
for company.

Once we had
picked all, we sat
in the shade
under the mango
tree, where I cracked
the pods
and T emptied
the beans into the
bucket.

Suspense!

Still waiting for foot to heal so all posts suspended until I can hop over to the next river stone. T has planted hundreds of fig trees and 50 nutmeg trees, can't wait to see!

Picking peppers and other things

Weeding continues and has become 'mantra' like, but even my soul has difficulty being convinced that rooting out this grass is good for it. Especially as, just as you think you have it and pull up the root, it sticks a fine picker filament in your finger.

Some cocoa had finished fermenting and was put out to dry in the sun,

peppers  and cucumbers were picked and beans were weeded 

and this visitor stayed posing on the blade of grass, long enough for me to reach her. She has the most beautiful turquoise blue highlights which I failed to capture.

 Oh, and finally....
the mango thief has taken to stealing pen manure as well!

Mango Time Again

I stand beneath the big mango trees while T
goes to the highest heights to pick the half ripe
fruit before throwing them down to me. Am
always amazed at how heavy the Ceylon are,
but my heart will always lie with the Julie.

Drought

Everywhere is very dry, even Job's tears have dried up.

Three of the nutmeg trees are looking very unhappy

and several of the citrus have given up trying

including the lime tree at the top of the hill and the grapefruit that bore so well last year.

The saddest sites are the vast areas of forestry that have been burnt deliberately, like the hillside behind Cornel,but T's valiant efforts at persuading 'the river that has become a stream' to pass through our lettuce, strengthens our resolve and reminds us to count our blessings.

Construction

Along awaited essential piece of construction has taken place in Corn Buck this week.
Materials being at a minimum, T, as ever, rose valiantly to the occasion.
Not enough old galvanise for the door? No problem.... weave your own.