A Saturday Scribble

Saturday (Savvato in Greek) a day of rest for most and for me too - well at least for another 3 weeks before the summer arrives and we welcome our visitors for this summer 2016.......

Last night we had a good rainfall, much needed as I was getting slightly worried for this forthcoming season, its okay having a mild winter but we do need the rain to fill the wells and the wetlands here...... I am thinking visitors, gardens, fields with crops and forest fires........

However after the rain last evening,  I sat outside on the veranda and I saw my first fireflies of the year they were twinkling over the greenery, the locals say it means the Broad Beans and Artichokes are ready............ so summer is really just around the corner.  Not many, but they were there all strutting their stuff, a bit too quick for me to photograph but once there are a few more will endeavour to do so and share........In Corfu, the fireflies can be seen normally from April through May so unless you are an early visitor you will not experience this magnificent sight...........it's also very romantic....

So coffee consumed this morning Saturday and a slice of toast  we are off to Acharavi, a nearby resort around 20 kilometres away from our village here just turn left at the Sidari junction and continue past Roda and into Acharavi.   Acharavi is a well known holiday destination very cosmopolitan on the North Coast and is ideally located between Sidari and Kassiopi , however recently it is no longer just a holiday destination - it is a hub of activity all year round with many of the main Greek Supermarkets chains and the nearest bank for our area located there. The bank being open Monday - Friday - great as you now longer have to travel to the main town area of Corfu Town. We were there today in Acharavi to revisit our Wi-fi and telephone package, well that was quickly sorted with some lovely, helpful and professional ladies in the office and then back to Sidari for our weekly shop.

Back home and back on the patio I was admiring the wild flowers, known as Margaritas which seemed to have blossomed overnight (see photo) so had to pick a few of these for the hallway. We then had a visitor whom was explaining about his missing eggs and the outcome ...so here is today's story for you and anyone with chickens and missing eggs.... try it, it works (again see photo)........

Spiros our neighbour has just retired and now has time for his little garden area.  He thought he would buy a few chicks, which he did and had fattened them up and were ready to lay eggs, however every morning he hears them clucking but can't find the eggs........where are they?????

So over to my dear Greek mother in law, a sprightly lady of 89 years still working on her land down below the village in an area called Kookiniakades, with her own chickens. She had a few more in those earlier days when I first moved into our house here in the village and when we went to visit her in the valley had almost over 90, however nowadays has just as many as she needs for her own use. So I was telling her about the neighbour's problem and she advises me....tell him to place a large white pebble from the beach in the area around where they are roaming...... you must also remember here our chickens are really free range and just wander and eat and come back to their homes/pens at nightfall....... is the new name Farm Free or something?

Pebbles are easy to find down on Agios Stefanos beach, so with pebble in hand he plants the stone, and WOW can you believe it the following morning he find 4 eggs (well he has 4 chickens) and is so happy with our help offers us today's catch........

Fresh eggs, spring onions, celery - mmmmmmm I can see tonight's menu just maybe an omellete as we also have some spring onions, lettuce and rocket ready to harvest in the garden.........

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend..........