A Walk with the dogs after four months drought - I took the pics on a two hour walk through this amazing scenery. I will make the same walk after rain when the desert blooms

Coming down from the Casa De La Realidad -Dashinka looking good.

On the terrace by the Ram Pump

Looking into our Oasis

Fidel and Schwartz walking back after a chill out in the pool

Fidel strolling along

Bibi getting his feet wet

Dashinka and Blondina cooling down

Guapa and Fidel enjoying the water

Coming down the hill towards Casa De Realidad

At the top of the hill resting a little under an olive tree

Crossing the plateau

Another "chill out" tree

Hot dogs

Looking across at the old Cortijo on the hill

View down the hill at the land previously cleared to plant hundreds of almond trees. We stopped the planting and the land was not restored

Looking down the hill into the valley that we have just walked up

Along the path

You can see our walking path up the hill

Looking down into the dry river bed of El Rio De Aguas

Coming out from the Oasis

Drought

The goats have grazed the land 

An overgrazed terrace

Bibi and Dashinka under an Olive tree

A  collapsed terrace wall and consequent erosion

Severe erosion

Having climbed the hill I am looking back down the valley

Heading for the hills

A Carob tree at the end of the valley coming out from the oasis

Coming out from the oasis

Through the rocks to the river

 The start of the path along the Irrigation line

A beautiful Sunday - some views around the house.

 Check out the mirrors !

Machu Pichu - small with big spirit - Dashinka and Blondina.

Front terrace and our newest addition to the doggie family Be Be (Happy)

A little oasis

The first Hydrodistillation of "Siempre Vida" also known as Cotton Lavender and it's Latin botanical title Santolina Chamaecyparissus .

 Evening time. 

Our hydro distillation family.

We have taken delivery of the "still".

This "still" was made by hand in Portugal. It arrived today and is specially designed for  the production of plant essences. 

Joshua is preparing a garden for aromatic herbs. 

We will be buying bulk "stock" for distillation "on line". All looking good.

A new project in born, Creating essential oils.

 Distillation of eucalypt leaves and water. The Still. 

Eucalypt leaves soaked in water

Filling the still with leaves and water

Setting up - ready for action.

We have eucalypt water.

The maestro - Joshua - keeping an eye on the process. 

Eucalypt water

extracting the oil from the water

Yes, it works and we will upscale. More later. 

A blast from the past

 2011 and I am acting as the bank manager in the film "The Dalton Brothers" - filmed at Texas Hollywood. We had a lot of fun on this set.

From above ground to below ground. More maintenance.

 After 28 years we have to assess leaks in our 9,000 litre water tank. Earthquakes and the passage of time have taken their toll. The tank is leaking so action to remedy the leaks is essential. I am going in !

Inside 

We are going to remove the black plastic liner. We are measuring up for a new "made to measure" butyl rubber liner with water exit pipes welded into the rubber so as to avoid leaks from around the two water exit points.

We are removing the black plastic liner

and more plastic

Plastic gone - all is revealed 

 

a large crack

The plastic is out - now we will order the "made to measure" butyl rubber envelope.

Part 2 when we take delivery of our new "made to measure" liner