Summer is winding down. Today’s high temperature was 28 degrees. Right now, at about 1am, it’s 18 degrees outside. Still very pleasant, but it’s getting too cold to spend the whole evening out in the courtyard. In the next month or two we’re going to lose the last of the leaves on our grape vines and fig trees. That will be a sad day. By the time January comes around I suppose we’ll also find out how good adobe-brick walls are at keeping out the cold.
Back in July and August we had daily highs between 35 and 40, and clouds were a rare sight. The locals use all that sunshine to dry fruits and vegetables. No cooking, no additives — except sometimes salt. Just leave it out in the sun for a few days.
We sun-dried our figs, but we also tried it with other things, like grapes, pears, and peppers. Some experiments were more successful than others, but at least we have a few things stored away for winter.
Regular readers of the blog will already have heard plenty about our fig-growing efforts, but I’m still going to show you another fig photo because we love them.
OK, just this one and no more fig shots, I promise.
Peppers threaded onto string, drying in the courtyard.
Green peppers turn red as they dry. Who knew?
Drying grapes and slices of pear. This didn’t really work out, but they look cool together.
Our grapes were much better fresh.
What else can I tell you? In fact I’m behind on posting and there’s a lot to talk about. We’ve had visitors, we’ve been out to see a few more of the fantastic archaeological sites in the area, and we’ve been busy building a sedir (low outdoor sofa) for the courtyard. But those things deserve their own posts. I should say, though, that our cat Molly is doing much better lately. Thanks for all the good wishes sent her way.
I’ll leave you with a photo taken yesterday from a hill on the other side of the village. We used to think it was all private land up there, but we found a dirt road leading to a picnic area at the top of the hill. Great views of Hıdırbeyli, Germencik, and the Menderes Valley to the south, but also a great spot to get some perspective on our place.
We’re the last house on the right, and that’s the fig orchard up on the hillside. The fig trees are a lighter green than the surrounding olives.
Farmhouse outlined in yellow; orchard outlined in red.
Good news re Molly. Surprising how fast the time goes and how much you get done. Looking forward to summer here, but weather is still a little err equinoxal. been 3 earthquakes since I got here too, 4.9, 5.5, 5.1, so wil be gald for anice bit of lovely warm sun :-)
Thanks, Lorraine. Wow, three earthquakes? I thought we were the ones coming to the earthquake zone! :) I’m sure NZ won’t let you down in the sun department as summer approaches.
Your fruit all looks amazing, look forward to trying them all. Sounds as if you are starting to settle in for the cooler weather. We are in Hong Kong leaving for home today. Really enjoy getting your posts.
Love to you both – Marg
Thanks, Marg. Hope you’ve enjoyed your trip and that Hong Kong is not too steamy. Safe travels and we’ll see you next year I hope.
Hi Jason, Great update. Fruit looks great. It was nice to see the photo showing the boundaries. Good to hear Molly is getting better. Are you still visiting the vet daily?
Thanks a lot, Jane. Thankfully the daily vet trips ended a while back, when Molly did well on her blood test for liver function. We’re feeding her some vitamins and some water daily, but apart from that she’s eating and drinking on her own, and looking a lot happier and more sociable.
It didn’t take long for you two hardy souls to become spoiled………too cold to stay out all evening at 18 degs indeed. What happened to your long-suffering acceptance of the lovely, enviable, English climate? It’s 9:30am and it’s already up to 8 degs. Won’t be long before we’re lighting the log burner.
Glad to hear Molly’s getting better. Please give her a hug from us.
Well I think it got down to 15 the night before! ;)
Yes, we have definitely become spoiled. I think the human body has some sort of internal thermostat that gets adjusted after a few weeks in a new climate. I don’t know how we would cope with 8 degrees right now.
Will definitely give Molly a hug, thanks.