Windy Easter day

Easter has arrived bringing some strong winds from the south ( scirocco) and  east  and a bit of desert dust. The sunny warmer forecast of a couple of days ago has changed but luckily we are going to town  in Oliena for  the Easter lunch. Some of the family are gathering together from Sassari in the North and Esporlatu in the centre. We are going to be at the table ( 16 of us) probably from 1 pm till 4 pm.

Formagelle - prepared for Easter while making the last batch of bread: pastry with grated fresh pecorino and baked in the fire oven.

Casadinas - another traditional Easter treat - light, spongey, lemony, cheesy in a silky smooth pastry case.  (Remind me (Lesley) of mince pies.....everyone offers you them, even weeks before Easter, and maybe you end up eating too many...!)

In the town fire arms will be making some noise as the processions of the Saint Mary and then Christ meet in the square around 11 am.
Activities in the land were taken forward when we were away in our Marazzino seaside house by Tony and Andrea. They added some planting ( beans, tomatoes, courgettes, lettuces) and some grass cutting around the house.

Burning olive branches following pruning the trees, one of the first jobs of the season.

Greenhouses 1&2 - with cabbage, lettuce, basil, courgettes, tomato seedlings, onions, spinach - G2 made out of the aluminium frame with recycled garage doors, window shutters etc.

Spuds!!

Our first attempt at lentils - now in flower.

Andrea loves working with the machinery.  Here he is preparing to plough the vineyard.

Vines in Locoe are very late in developing their buds and leaves as the temperature is still not warm enough.
The new vines we were supposed to plant are not happening as the documentation to get the finances for the work have not arrived. So, we pruned the existing vines and we hope to get at least a decent crop.
We can hear the shepherdesses shouting . Easter for them might start later when they finish their duties in milking the sheep.

We've also been treated to a visit by a herd of cows which were being grazed locally.  Notice how much bigger their bells are.  Some days there is a chaotic symphony of sheep and cow bell music all around us.
The hens still number three: Bianca, Panna and Carbone - and they are laying regularly now.  While we were away in Marazzino one of the annoying stray dogs that visit occasionally got into their compound but without incident.  Odd, seeing as it was later responsible for killing two lambs from the local flock.
We have had quite a few heavy downpours since Battistino and Tonino executed the latest of their attempts to stop the mysterious leaks in our bedroom roof.  Fingers crossed, we are getting somewhere with that one!  Although the ceiling remains stained and flaky, there seems to be no further wet coming in.

Replastered back and front walls, plus bitumen on roof.  Just got the side wall to do now.....

Supper in our (now watertight?) bedroom, together with Pietro and Andrea.

Easter day lunch at Aunties house. We started the  meal at 1.30 pm and finished around 5 pm. We had too much to eat as usual on these occasions. 10 different bits of starters; ravioli; roasted pig and lamb; salads; cakes and tiramisu' and more....Just salad for our dinner tonight ready for another marathon meal tomorrow countryside feast.