I can't believe we're in the middle of August, and neither can you! August is typical for festivals and people escaping from the cities in droves and planting themselves on the beaches - sometimes getting up at first light to get a good spot on one of the most popular beaches. Those who don't leave the cities always have a festival they can attend.
Here you have a couple of delicious treats that I've consumed this week.
Lime sherbet and delicious even if I didn't make it myself. The box comes with 3 limes and this is the last one.
Recently my friend Kathy from Missouri has been talking about her mango margaritas. I've had sweet ones, like strawberry, but much rather have the sour ones. This is the margarita I made with lemons instead of limes, which I discovered had gone hard and bad. I would have probably had to add some lemon juice anyway, because I didn't have enough limes. I call the lime sherbet and the margarita my lemon-lime detox.
Weatherwise, we've had a great week of cooler temperatures. As a matter of fact, I woke up in the middle of the night cold, so for the first time this summer have had to use a quilt. It will no doubt be too hot again in a couple of nights, but I'm enjoying the weather we're having at the moment.
One thing I didn't mention last week in my post was that the people in a block of flats in Madrid had to escape with just their lives as part of the building was coming down. This happened at about 4 a.m. when most people are sleeping. Fortunately everyone was able to get out in time, and the entire building had to be pulled down.
Because of the age of the building (more or less the same age as mine), I'm guessing the supporting pillars were wooden like they were in my building until we replaced them with steel ones. Buildings here, especially the older ones, have to pass inspection every 10 years and apparently that building had passed inspection in 2012. Another factor that may have caused the poor condition of the pillars to go unnoticed is there was a banquet hall where the pillars were located that had been closed for years. But as this is still part of the building, they should have had access to this space when the building was inspected, although perhaps the rotten pillars wouldn't have been detectable. I'm not an architect, but feel sorry for those poor people who have lost their homes.
I'm going to take some time off from doing a weekly post on Blogger but will return in October. I'll still visit you and your posts, and, of course, you'll see me on FB. Have a good week everyone.
August is cat-sitting month for me. Sami is the little sweetie that I help look after in summer along with another of her human friends who co-sits. Two things have surprised me this time. The first thing is a couple of bees come in for a visit every day. The other day Sami had left the tiniest bit of Gourmet Gold on her plate, and the bees were swarming round. Suddenly I looked and the plate was clean. I'm almost positive Sami didn't sneak and eat the last morsel, so it must have been the bees, right?
I don't know if you remember me saying that Sami was extremely ill in the spring. Thankfully she's recovered now but is still thin. She's always been a small thin cat. I gave my friend a packet of Sun Chlorella tablets for Sami. I know the Gentle Barn that I follow on FB always gives Sun Chlorella to their sick animals. Those of you who have pets know how difficult it is to get them to take medicine. They'll eat all the cheese or whatever you hid the pills in and spit out the pills. This is my second surprise. I'd place two tablets (they're really small) on the table with the idea of mixing them into Sami's food. Before I'd opened the tin of cat food, she'd gobbled them up! I'm going to have to ask Chris if that's how she gave them to her. I'm almost certain Chris said she puts them in the food.
The only animal that I've had that never gave any problems with taking medicine was my dog Honey. She would take pills from my hand. There was a period in which I had to take her temperature every day and make a chart for the vet. She let me do that even though it must have been unpleasant for the poor darling. The vet was impressed with my temperature chart. I miss all my pets that have crossed the bridge, but Honey especially. Even though you love all of them, there is always one who is an angel in every way, and for me that angel was Honey. I named her well, because she was so sweet. I never saw her get angry.
I suppose I could say I've received 3 surprises so far. After July being called the hottest month in history, last night was so cool and perfect sleeping weather with only the windows open. When I got up this morning, it was 16º C (about 60º F). Compared to a low between 20-24º, last night was heaven. I'm not too sure of the temperature at the moment except that open windows are sufficient.
I'm posting this a little later than usual, but the day has been worth the tardiness. I hope everyone who reads this has had a pleasant weekend and hope your next week is equally good.
This was our sky about 8 p.m. on Friday when I was going to throw away some more paper and then on to sit outside and have a last drink with Cathy and Chris. I can't believe what an incredibly nice day it was - not hot at all! Despite all dark skies and clouds and sun, we only got a few sprinkles of rain. Yesterday it was hotter, though not unbearably so, and today hotter than yesterday. We'll be up to 100º F + in a few days, which is why I'm enjoying these days.
Here's another view of the bullring that I took years ago either in the autumn or winter. It's from a different angle, of course, than the photo from the other day. It's a photo that I sometimes use as a cover on FB. Notice in this photo that there aren't any flags flying (those of Spain and the Community of Madrid). Until recent years, the flags were up only when there was a bullfight, concert or other event in the bullring. I'm sometimes caught unaware that there is something going on there. I think the Red Bull Street Fighters was the last show that took place in the ring, with other lesser motorbikes making noise until 1 or 2 in the morning. Noise from outside is a big problem in the summer.
Chris has left for the beach and then her home in Wales. Cathy isn't going away, so I just might meet up with her, especially if I go out to eat with a friend and her family from Texas who are in Spain this month. Last summer we went to one of my favourite Mexicans and since they're having a 30% discount on meals through August... I know Sue from work as she worked in the language academy and lived with my friend June for a year. Actually her son goes to one of the universities in Madrid.
Because it's been so intensely hot for such a long time, I and lots of people I know haven't felt like eating a lot. The past couple of days, however, I've felt like eating a bit more, so think I'm going to make quesadillas to go with my salad. No other plans for today except more decluttering.
Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend. Were you able to see the blue moon on Friday night? We had some cloud cover, but the moon could be seen. In my photos it did appear blue too. Have a good first week of August all.
