Playing outside with the neighbors

It is still pouring and therefore there is little else to do, than what the locals do: in between showers you clear your land and prepare for winter. Collect your wood for the stove. We ask neighbors Graça and Luís, to come and help sawing and collecting the big chunks. As it is weekend, they immediately show up with their tractor and sawing machine. In no time the big ones are in their trunk, ready for their woodpile. And they really enjoy talking to us, fill us in with the latest village gossip (luckily I hardly understand) and to comfort their own curiosity for our activities.

Sweet

The small chunks are being fired up the next morning. We can not dispose of it otherwise and it is too early to start a compost pile on our own land. The necessary permission was obtained and instructions for all circumstances carefully checked. And it is utter safe fire playing weather: a little drizzle and it is pretty windless. But, give the guys a box of matches and, despite their age, they will be such sweet busy boys… Martins, our neighbor opposite the street, can’t wait to start when Luís arrives! He has a pitchfork and a shovel, and all garden waste is burnt in three piles on a safe spot. That clears up!

For another part of our land we need some heavier artillery. Luís contacts the APAS Floresta. They provide special forces for maintenance of wood and overgrown land. They may come and play soon!