Helder with his dog Bandalha (Campinho, mid-summer 2016)

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