Bathroom

Room with a view. Not quite what we were hoping for after over a year of living here, it's still an outdoor bathroom facility.
Whilst hot sunny days are a pleasure to soak up all the surroundings whilst in the tub, wetter ones like today means a 'no-wash' day.
We hope guests next year will enjoy the pleasure of outdoor showering that we plan to set up but as a back-up plan we must have an indoor facility prepared by then. 
If our builders are reading this "please hurry up, the summer will be over soon.."

Butt

Soaring temperatures and scorching sunshine but now the light has gone at least temporarily and the rain has found a new place to fall. 
The spectacular thunderstorms over the past few evenings have not been for the faint-hearted. Secluded as we are here, every frightening flash and majestic boom from the thunder is exagerated from the raised location of where we live.
Maco hides away under the old hen house from the slightest distant rumble leaving us with little fearless Harik.
Cat, we have no idea where she goes..
What the rain does do is save us an hour of watering the vegetable garden in the evening. The butt providing the polytunnel's needs.
A constant requirement is to check for weather updates, even more frequently than before, when the only concerns were whether to take an umbrella or not.

Tomato

Probably the best tomato I've ever tasted..
Although for the first 20 years of my life I never went near to eating one, just one of those childhood food hates which prolonged and prolonged.
But now I am making up for it with all the plants we have growing and starting to produce fruit.

30+C temperatures everyday and heavy rainfall from the occasional vicious storms have put a lot of burden on looking after all that is jungle-ly in the garden. Not a 'proper' job maybe but in today's climate it will save a few pennies at the supermarket in the on-coming months.             

Cat

Cat (Muro) is being very coy about it's relationship with Maco. It is still in its early stages but the signs are good, we still have an alive cat.
The mouse population is reducing every week, whether with a garden fork but more likely these days with the nimble paws of cat.
The new spring in Maco's feet has taken away the aged-ness he was presenting after a tough cold winter. 
As the heat now persists, and the perspiration hits the brows of all creatures great and small in Havran, Maco is bucking the trend and is showing more ignorance than usual in his pursuit of little Muro.
An extra mouth to feed is easily catered for by cat enjoying the cheeky delights from the dog bowl, usually followed by a chase into it's many out-of-reach hideouts away from Maco and Harik.
After all this said does it show that we have never owned a cat before!?

Mouse

Intentionally hanging off the end of the garden fork, fighting for it's life. Looks harmless, but it's friends gave us nights of misery in the winter months and is now part of the gang to disturb our vegetable plot. I want the dogs to finish the job, I can't do it. Calling Harik, our smaller dog, over to grab the specimen. Starting to feel bad now but it's out of my hands. With a little pressure of Harik's jaw it's life has gone. Maco, our larger dog, wants a taste of the action and next I hear is the crunching. Life is sweet again. End. 

Tipi

A busy week since our last post and all to do with creating something we have needed since our first day here, a little extra space.
After all the digging to provide a flat space, our imaginative first attempts of a wattled fence to prevent any soil erosion, a constant supply of wheelbarrowed stones taken from the land and building site for the base, and finally the puzzlement of vague instructions we have a tipi erected of sorts.
Long time coming as we had brought it over with us when we first arrived. But after keeping dry in it from an evening storm and then watching the sun set, it wasn't just a nice picture it created but a good feeling inside that we had made something special for us and people visiting to enjoy. 

Cat meets dog

A world exclusive picture from yesterday evening, our kindly donated kitten (the first new arrival at Havran since us) coming face to face with Maco. A few seconds of staring but with no noise has either heaped more fear into "Muro" or has raised his bold challenge once he comes down the ladder from the hay attic.
Of course our new furry friend has been a distraction this last week, if one of us is missing from view around the cottage, we are usually getting acquainted with Muro. Tentative steps, each day is learning curve for him but we are both nervous about his survival instincts once he is down on ground level..