Bulgarian Storm Is No Deterrent For Bonfires

Bulgarian Storm Is No Deterrent For BonfiresBack on the smallholding in Skalitsa I was looking forward to some outdoor work this weekend mainly weeding and general pottering around in my element as I tend to do. However, I found that Galia had a particular fascination on the farm that kept here boiling over with enthusiasm throughout the weekend.

We arrived early Friday and no time for even a cup of tea as I changed into my Bulgarian blue village clothing and got to work on those weeds. Within the space of three hour the whole area was basically weed free as the clouds gathered.

It hadn't rained here all week and the ground was like dust as I worked through the weeds leaving a dust cloud as I hit out of those unwanted green bits whose roots cling for dear live into the nutritious soil. Talking of clouds, above, they were now gathering in and looking menacing with thunder and lightning in the distance, but here doesn't mean it will rain. I've lost count of the number of times I have presumed it will rain and held off watering the crops only to find that it didn't rain. With this in mind it was full steam ahead with the water from the well giving the whole area a big soak. It was so much of a soak in fact that I had used all the reserves of water from the well and had to wait a couple of hours for it to fill up again. Of course wouldn't you know it, the heavens open up and a violent storm ensued with torrential rain on a well-water soaked ground whilst the waiting pursued!

Bulgarian Storm Is No Deterrent For BonfiresAnd what was Galia doing leading up to this? Well she has a secret passion for bonfires. Last weekend I had the scythe out and cut down the long grasses on the chicken run and verges. Having no rain all week mean that the grasses had dried and was perfect for burning. I don't like burning hay but I have no livestock right now and the quality of hay isn't good enough to store anyway, which is what I'd normally do. Besides the stables are still half full of last year's hay. The grasses were bundled and stacked and the bonfire was lit and under way. Galia took the bull by the horns and became a self nominated and unanimous leader of the bonfire pack as she spent the next two days governing it and keeping it going even through thunderstorms and monsoon fashioned rain! She was on a high all weekend playing and twiddling with the bonfire looking for more stuff to burn and try and overcome the rain that kept damping it down. In fact all the plastic had now disappeared up in black smoke that had been stocked up in the stables to take to Yambol and put into the town bins. Bulgarian think nothing of burning anything that burns, besides no one is going to tell us off for bonfires in Bulgaria - Such a great joy here to be able to do so when and where we want!

There wasn't anything at all we could do on the land apart from those first few hours on the Friday as it rained continuously for two days thereon. This gave us a chance to relax for a change, apart from bonfire monitoring of course.

Bulgarian Storm Is No Deterrent For BonfiresIt is back to Yambol later today (Sunday evening) and more partying on as it is a public holiday until Thursday. Also there isn't much we can do on the City farm assuming that Yambol has had the same amount of rain.

By the way potatoes, sweetcorn, water and honey melons respectively have not truely sprouted and we are taking back with us lot os onions and garlic which Baba loves so much. The pumpkins not quite up yet, but they were only sown last weekend. The first crop of strawberries will be ready to eat in a couple of weeks along with the cherries on the tree that are intended for more rakia making. The grapes have ther first vine leave out now only a short while and we'll pick a few to use for sarmi (mince wrapped in vine leaves.) Wild spinach (Bulgarians call it laput) was also gathered from the grounds to take back to Yambol, Baba will make a meal that will last us three days with this. Free food we love it and to be quite honest couldn't manage without it!


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30 comments:

  1. Hi Martin,
    Sounds like you and Galia had a great weekend...glad to hear the crops are all coming up!! I've envious of your free food!!! That's the best--in taste and in price!!!

    Have a great day,
    Sher :0)

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  2. Samantha Hristova4 May 2009 at 02:18

    Ah cherries. I spent the better amount of my time in summer up a cherry tree eating fist fulls of those off the tree. :D What I really want is figs though. I'll have to find out what month they appear and plan our next trip to Bulgaria for then!

    Glad your farming is going well and that you are enjoying the bounty of the land. One day...maybe we can farm in BG too. ;)

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  3. All those hardwork resulted in yummy fresh produce. :)Seems like you were pretty busy busy weekend.

    When I was a kid, I loved bonfires.

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  4. Martin sounds my sort of weekend. I actually miss the produce growing that a more temperate climate offers. Oh for new potatoes from my garden, oh and runner beans as well!

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  5. Ohhh I know what you mean...it feels really special when we got to eat vegetables and fruits harvested from our farm in Palawan. I wish cherris would grow there too- they are my favorite!

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  6. Martin, sure glad you got the weeding done before the rain , otherwise you may have had to get the hoe out to cut them . My favorite time to relax is when it is raining and maybe a good book or movie on the dvd player and just RELAX glad you got in a little of it because from what I read about you , you will be back at it the first sign of sunshine . Take it easy and give each other a big hug from me and Ciejay Malcolm
    I love too eating food from our land .

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  7. Hi Martin,
    I can relate with the 'just pretending to want to rain' cloud that would then just pass by without wetting the ground. It's good that you got a good rain out of this last one, though. And good on Galia for that bonfire, too. A big bonfire in a thunderstorm... that has got to be a sight to see! :o)
    Cheerio,

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  8. hi, i won the second place of pinayjade.com - im here to claim the ec credits: my profile link http://entrecard.com/details/122382

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  9. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:33

    Hi Rosa,
    Congratulations, 1000 credtis have been sent. Please confirm that you have received them. (They were from my Bulgarian Scrapbook account not Bulagrian Slivatree for your information)

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  10. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:34

    Hi Smorq,
    Thanks for you visit and commment.
    Yes, you have to be there to believe that bonfires are not a male domain.

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  11. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:36

    Hi Malcolm and CieiJay,
    Hope yo are well at your end. It's funny Malcolm but I am more relaxed working on the land than sitting indoor when it rains.

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  12. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:38

    Hi Jade,
    Yep, too right - Fresh ripe cherries off the tree, booooootiful!

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  13. got it. thank you!

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  14. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:39

    Hik Mike, there's a joke in there somewhere.
    How do you make a potato puff? Tell it to chase the runner beans! lol

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  15. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:40

    Hi Lina,
    Nothing is hard work in Bulgaria, it is all done slowly it doesn't fell like work.

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  16. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:42

    Hi Samantha,
    Figs come out quite late it the season Septemeber/October, we havea few fig tree here as well in the farm - More conserve coming up later.

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  17. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:44

    Hi Sher, good to hear from you.
    Yes a good weekedn even though there was two days of rain. Free fod alwasy tastes better somehow. Take care.

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  18. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 09:46

    Hi Rosa, spend them wisely and enjoy!

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  19. Martin in Bulgaria5 May 2009 at 10:15

    Sorry rose, you also won your 125x125 avitar to be displayed for a month on my site http://www.doshforu.com site. This is now showing.

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  20. American in Britain5 May 2009 at 15:35

    Ahh, raking in the fruits of your hard labour. And I do envy you the freedom of bonfires.

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  21. Samantha Hristova5 May 2009 at 15:51

    I live for fig jam...and shipka marmalad. You can never get figs here. Luckily our World food store has tons of Bulgarian, Greek, and Turkish food imports.

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  22. Hey Martin,

    My, my, my...fresh home grown veggies!! I love it!!
    I don't know how it is there, but here (in Portugal) grapes will only be ready to eat from August onwards (and then the big harvest party is in September/October).

    You have a healthy life there. Once can sense that you are a happy chap :D!

    Have a fantastic week!

    Cheers

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  23. Martin, looking at the picture at the top there, the shemenko bottle, what a beer that is, im in sweden now and just had 2 bottles of bulgarian wine LEVA from thraician region and Mozaika wine. nice they are, looks like the wine from bulgaria is getting around. theres two bulgarians in my immigrants class at school too, ill talk to them more soon.

    Cheers.

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  24. Martin what an excellent weekend and I include the weather in that. With the rain lashing down you must of felt cut off from the outside world to some effect, peace and quiet, just the two of you, no intrusion, the pair of you and the elements, great stuff, therapeutic. It all sounds very relaxing in a funny sort of way.

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  25. Martin in Bulgaria6 May 2009 at 12:49

    Bonfires are many people's passion its a privilege to be able to have the freedom to have one.

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  26. Martin in Bulgaria6 May 2009 at 12:50

    Hi Max, Good to see you here.

    Happy yes, as long as thing stays the same as they are here ijn Bulgaria.

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  27. Martin in Bulgaria6 May 2009 at 12:52

    Hi Richard, glad you could pop in here.
    Shumensko is my favourtie beer in Bulagria and of course comes from Shumen a bit further north. We are right ien the thracian valley and the wine from this region is second to none, outsiders never get to know. All the rubbish is exported and the best drunk here as you well know.

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  28. Martin in Bulgaria6 May 2009 at 12:56

    Hi Martyn,
    Five years ago I would never have dreamed in a million years a weekedn like that coudl happen. It has opened my eyes and others should also open their eyes to what is godo in this world other than trying to make lots of money. Life is too short. You too are a pioneer in this field.

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  29. Ah, I love a good (contained!) fire myself. Well done Galia! This sounds like a wonderful weekend. And now you have me wishing I had a vegetable garden of my own. Great photos, Martin! I love learning about your life in Bulgaria.

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