Top Cat

Our Sunday walk in zero degrees but bright sun took us halfway up the mountain to the area where the paragliders we often see over our house launch themselves into the sky. We sat there briefly as the view was stunning and the air bracing.    Very soon the Siberia wind penetrated my four layers of clothing, t shirt, wool jumper, fleece and padded jacket so we didn’t linger.

We encountered few people out but on the mountain at least half a dozen unaccompanied dogs, mostly of the large sheepdog variety, and one horse wandering on the road.  There were a lot of cars parked outside the village hotel which was open for lunch.  We’d forgotten it was Valentine’s Day until we saw a couple come out of the restaurant the lady carrying a single red rose.

I was very pleased to see that despite such cold days and minus 6 degrees overnight, the first blossom is out, both pink and white.  I have no idea what it is, I think maybe a wild cherry, it is all over the hillside and down in the valley among the olives, there is even a small tree opposite our house.  I’ll keep an eye on it and see if any fruit sets.  

We came home for a pot of tea, to warm up in front of the stove and to rescue Grigio who was once again climbed a tree and jumped onto the roof of the house  where she was stuck.   We must prune that tree before it bursts into bloom, or better still just after, to stop her using it as access.

Tuesday morning Grigio found a new place to risk her life.  She probably jumped from the house roof onto the terrace chimney stack.  While Mr FF went for a ladder to get her down she jumped back onto the house roof and I was able to let her in through the bathroom window as usual.  I wonder if she’d like to join the village paragliding club.