No Water

 ... in the kitchen sink.

Our kitchen renovation continues.  We started with a new floor in 2021 just after we moved here. This summer we got a new refrigerator and contracted for counters and cabinet work.

Tuesday the counters were installed with a new sink.  Unfortunately counter guys don't do plumbing and we had booked the plumber for two days after the install but that was when the install was to be the week before. Changing the date for plumber has meant that we must wait until the 31st for him to come to connect the sink.

Cabinets will get new doors and drawer fronts, and the boxes refinished some time later in November.

In the meantime we are loving the new counters: a quartz mix.

As far as doing dishes since we don't think dishwasher will function either, I tried using the bathroom sink.  Too small, and a ceramic sink is not conducive to dishwashing.  I purchased lots of compostable plates and glasses but still using sink was awkward.  Daughter Sarah suggested setting up a camp sink with three tubs. Daughter Emily has those I can borrow.  That's next on the list to set up.

My Desk ...

 ...gets messy when I make cards.

I'm working on Christmas cards.

One design but have different patterned papers to use.

Twenty made so far.  Many more to go.

A Hermitage

 

In our travels along the main route to and from Priego de Cordoba where we stayed in Spain in September I kept seeing this sign.  One day as we set out for another small town and I knew we would pass this turn off, I told Dan let's investigate.

It was a very winding road up to a mountain top.

The site dates from 1260.

There were only two cars up there.  One from another visitor and the other belonging to Jose, the groundskeeper.  He spoke no English but with Dan's Spanish we learned that the  statue of the Virgin of the Sierra was in the town of Cabra for the month of September. The hermitage where the Virgin is kept for the other 11 months was not open for visiting.  The grounds were.

The scene below is one of the few vistas where olive groves were not the prominent sight.  Jose told us we were looking at horse country.

Below is a small version of the Virgin in a grotto.  Notice the half moon and star.  All the various versions we saw of the Virgin Mary had that symbol.

Jose said we were looking down here on Roman ruins.  Looks like an old bull ring to me.

I imagine the hermitage is maintained by all the leases it has with cell phone companies. The highest point was well sprouted with towers.

We enjoyed our unofficial tour with Jose.

Rain, Rain

 Go away. Come again another day.

Remember that ditty?

I think too many people have been reciting it this year and now the rain just can't go away anymore. Not that it really worked all summer.  For the year we are 7 inches above average.

Here's our rain gauge.