Ronaldo and Jorge, this year's churra breeding rams

A few days ago, we selected our two breeding rams: Jorge and Ronaldo (above). Lambs expected from early january onwards! We also gathered the few young males left to bring them together with the other males (below). Pictures: Marion J (Annecy Photo Lab)

Pomegranate orchard in Peroguarda (Ferreira do Alentejo)

Pomegranate production seems to be on the rise in Portugal. We already mentioned D.M.'s large orchard in Beja, in an earlier post. Here is a younger and smaller one that we came across along the road, at the entrance of Peroguarda, coming from Alfundao. The oldest part follows a pattern of approximately 3 x 4 m. Probably Mollar Pomegranates.

Don Quichote and Jeropiga

The other day, we came across Don Quichote at the farm. He was having a conversation with Jeropiga, in the fresh morning. He was teaching her something. Apparently, Cervantes had forgotten to mention that they were accompanied by a small white dog (named "pouca confiança"). So I joined them for a few minutes... Thanks to A.G. for the pics in which A.G. appears (A.G. = Alicia Gosseries or Axel Gosseries).

Les grenadières de Juliette Combet

Faisant un petit tour avec D. dans le Vercors en mai, nous y avions rencontré Juliette Combet, qui y réalise de magnifiques poteries en grès de Dordogne, émaillées de bleu (notamment à base de cendre de vigne). Je lui avais alors proposé de réaliser quelques prototypes de théières en forme de grenade (des "grenadières"). Le résultat nous est arrivé au Monte, super joli. Merci et ... bravo à Juliette!

Et voici une comparaison avec une petite théière japonaise du même genre

Pomegranate crown variability on a single tree: 6, 7, 8 or... 9

Our oldest Asseria pomegranate tree at the Monte is now 6 years old. And looking more closely at the young fruits, I discovered that it had some fruits with 6, 7, 8, or even 9 teeth. All this on a single tree.

Pleurodeles Waltl again

Last summer, Marion J. found our first Pleurodeles Waltl at the Monte. Here is another one from this summer, found in straw mulch while pruning a young pomegranate trees at the Horta.

In Marion's fingers...

... and in my hands

Azinheira, Azenha and... Azijnhout

Little trip today with our friends Christien and Leo to the south-western edge of the Netherlands, in Zeelandic Flanders. We begin (after a delicious meal) with visiting a nature reserve called « vienkennest » (« Finch nest » in old Dutch) extensively grazed by belted galloway bulls. Plenty of orchids, including the elegant Epipactis palustris. And an unsuccessful search for... tree frogs.

Sjaak Herman, who launched this little nature reserve a few decades ago, also happens to be... the miller of the late 19^th century « Nooit Gedacht » windmill in Cadzand. A few minutes later, we reach Sjaak’s mill. We start discussing about wheat and gluten. And then, as the conversation unavoidably ends up revolving around Portugal, he shows us an old piece of holm oak (Quercus ilex/rotundifolia), the emblematic tree of our… Portuguese montado. 

So, here is another intriguing link between the Netherlands and Portugal (besides many others such as Baruch Spinoza or … Campinho's makelaar). Apparently, dutch windmills tend to use holm oak wood for one piece called « wielkam » (wheel comb) because it is one of the hardest woods. This is why the Dutch also refer to the tree as « steeneik » (« stone oak »). More surprisingly, we also discovered that the Dutch refer to Holm oak wood as « azijnhout ». Nothing to do with vinegar (« azijn » in Dutch). Rather with « azinheira », the Portuguese name of « holm oaks ». Now, this is of course only the beginning of the story… What is the exact link between "azijnhout" used in windmills, "azinheira" that refers to the tree from which this wood comes from and "azenha" that means... water mill in Portuguese? Perhaps a look at the arabic origin of both "azinheira" and "azenha" may help us finding out...