It's a rhythm thing....

Getting the rhythm of the land, as expressed in the ways of the people who live here in the west Algarve, is something that grows over years, the sense of flowing with the seasons, and appreciating doing the work involved in this flow.

As the summer approaches its end, we move into the plans for the autumn and winter, and this year, more than ever before, I feel that the Várzea is in a position to put some really positive schemes in place and bring developing ones to a much more productive stage.   The structure is in place, and with a great down-to-earth family, this time from England, Jim, Tracy, Sam and Tom,,,,

...staying and helping through the winter, the balance of people here is about the best I can remember.




Ând young life too - seven, to be exact, all in ages 3 to 7, resident here at least until the spring. Here is a sample of them,  enjoying the tree-house (there are also several "bases" - we used to call them dens - around the Várzea) ....

Continuing and developing this land, based on understanding gained through the connection with it, is a basic feedback which nurtures the life of the land and likewise our lives. Meditate and talk as much as you like, but don't complain about lack of grounding. For myself, the only true grounding is in what is done, positive action, which inspires and vitalises life.

It hasn't been a particularly hot summer, but dry after a fairly dry winter and spring, but the well, though low, has allowed the solar pump to work continuously all summer, so plenty of irrigation water for the trees, which are doing well, and the garden, which, under Chaym's creative energy, is going from strength to strength...

and we have some interesting new plants to plant for the autumn.

August was, always the quietest month of the year, rightly a time to relax and take time with the children and water and beach - here is Canal, where I spent my 60th birthday recently...

, ... but I have made the tree-nursery ready for the autumn and beyond....

... and the rabbit house, with great help from Jim, (keen blog readers will remember the restoration of the ruin last spring - well, things do tend to get done eventually around here...) is nearly ready....

For now, we pick our grapes...

 and dry our figs and tomatoes (plenty for our beautiful friends too)....  

First rains due this week, autumn equinox is nigh, and I am much looking forward to digging and tree-planting again shortly!         Até proxima.....