Easter 2013

There was a group of 12 dolphins showing off and having fun about 2 1/2 hours out from Santander, if you ar eon the ferry it is worth being up front for an hour or so around three hours from arrival as that is often where the dolphins are. Catching them on camera is not an easy matter. 

First sight of Spain was a barely discernable shadow under the clouds. 

The lawn had sort of grown a bit, the whole finca needed attention but was not as wild as I had imagined it might be.

 The boys planted a load of fruit stones mostly cherry and some of the wild peach/damson thing that is endemic in galicia. Not sure what has come up but it might be one of each as the leaf colour is very different.

 First trip out after sorting the house was to Vilarrube of course and as usual at this time of yeaer the car park was wonderfully flooded.

Lorena and Stanley were straight in for a paddle.

Vilarrube weird sand

Rowan was straight into the water, He claimed it was warm but I had a paddle and it was just tepid however compared with Cornwall just now where the sea is like stepping into ice cream it was rather wonderful.

Sand stuff making its own contour lines - this was really useful for the boys conceptualising what contour lines on maps are all about, why they are closer on steeper bits etc.

The puddles were definitely warmer than the sea and just deep enough for swimming.

Sand tree.

Bits of the dunes are falling into the sea as the river course eats into the dunes, each clod is a wonderful slice of fine grasses and seaside plants, we threw loads back up onto the dunes.

These trees always stand out like a flame at this time of year.

Lots of current at this state of tide - fun to walk in, less fun to swim against.

I love what the sand does at Vilarrube, details of days gone by saved and mixed with today's artful weathering.

Jen, Cal and Mel on the track back to the car park.

A bit of a bonus - when we got home there was a rather plump bat roosting in the wood store.

Photos of house and garden for potential guests.

The house is located on a 9000 sq meter finca near a small road through Vilaboa village, there is very little traffic on the road, although twice a day a few cows and occasionally some sheep are herded along it. This photo was taken in 2011 the trees were cut back to over 50 meters away from the property late in 2012. Adjacent the the house is what was a carniceria below which is a storage area. This is not used as residential space.

This area is to the south of the house and is for sole use of guests.

THis photo was taken just before we left on our last visit, sorry about all the strimming mess but it shows the north aspect and the long stone table in the front garden. There is a wood burner but there is rarely any need to use it after Easter. 

Looking east from the garden there is a small church and a scatter of houses. 

 Looking south from the garden towards the lake. 

A close up of the church on a misty morning, at the height of summer the early morning mist can be beautiful, it usually signifies a hot day ahead and rarely surrounds the house. It usually clears by 7.30 am.

Looking west in the morning, the garden gets sunshine from sunrise until around 9pm during the summer.

 En-suit bathroom off the larger bedroom. 

The kitchen has an electric oven, hob and microwave, a dual sink, fridge freezer and a breakfast table.

We fitted a patio door/window to the kitchen in 2012 but forgot to take any pictures when we had finished. This is looking through the opening taken while the work was being done and showing the view from the kitchen. 

Same view better photo.

This is the corner of the garden we usually sit in.

Looking East from the garden.

The main bedroom.

Main bedroom.

Dining table in one half of the living room.

Moonrise over the church.

Early morning view, this is close as the mist usually gets, it flows slowly across the valley and lake. 

Vilarrube in May

I have not had time to take photos during the first few days but I have got lots of little jobs done around the house. Today was a mix of stormy clouds and sun, no rain though.

 Late afternoon I headed down to Vilarrube where the same skies cast sun and shadow over the scene.

 I wouldn't want to set out too far from the edge in this castaway raft

 As always the beach provides lots of abstract textures and colours

 It is full moon and there is a fast tide on the ebb.

 The current carves enticing shapes in the couple of hours it takes for the sandbanks to be exposed

I spent an hour looking at ripples and pools 

 Not a footprint to be seen

 Feathery wings of fresh sand swallowing the ripplescape.

 Can you see a face in there?

 Euphorbia are at their best for colour just now

 I sat on the walkway, sipped coffee and watched the shadows grow longer

 Back home the emerald green fields were striped with late sunshine