Persephone's Day

Sand and stone awaiting the cement mixer

No wonder the Greeks believe(d) in myths. After a month of grey, wet days today was glorious, a real new beginning. This morning the sun and bright blue sky girded us into action and it was off to the builder’s yard to order sacks of sand and stone for the next round of wall building. It was just like emerging from the underworld as we have spent the last few weeks indoors. Time has not been wasted however as I have been making doll’s clothes for the grand-daughter and scanning in all the old family photos.

We took the dog with us in the back of the car for the short journey, in order to try and get her used to traveling without being sick. Yesterday she went to the vet in Lefkas for the second of her three 3-weekly injections against Leishmaniasis. The vaccine has only just become available here and is rather expensive but not nearly as dear as the treatment for the actual disease, as our neighbours found out when their dog contacted it. Fortunately, after the first year it will only be an annual injection. So yesterday the dog had a tablet against motion sickness and all went well. As the tablets last 24 hours (and at 5 euro each they need to) perhaps she still had some benefit from it this morning as she wasn’t sick, there or back.

Nice clean ppool

It was warm enough to have meals outside but as we have the French windows barricaded against the dog scratching at them to come in we didn’t! For the first time since we moved here we are using the front door, but even that we have to stop her jumping up at as she is scratching it with her claws. Whose brilliant idea was this dog? Things will have to change as the spring moves forward.

Trimmed rosemary bushes

There were butterflies and big black bomber bees flying happily about outside in the sun. I happily cleaned the pool in T-shirt and jeans. It wasn’t too mucky as there has been a huge improvement now we have finished the wall at the end of the pool and drastically pruned the olive tree at the other end.

Later in the day I trimmed some rosemary plants as they are growing rapidly. I left one with long shoots as I will be able to take cuttings in a week or so. Most of the plants seemed to have survived the winter as it has not been nearly so cold here as in other parts of Lefkada. A bit more sun then a bit more rain and everything will be growing like crazy and there will not be enough hours in the day to get done all the things we want to do. And we are, of course, both another year older.

We have both had birthdays since Christmas and feeling our age like mad. The upside of this is we have leftover Christmas pudding to eat tonight as it is a family tradition for Ray to have it on his birthday and we didn't quite manage to eat it all on the night!

Meanwhile I am getting ready for a trip to UK to deliver said doll's clothes to said grand-daughter. Hope my protective angel is still on duty and I've not pissed it off completely.