WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Rain and animals.

This is what the sky has been like ,the last couple of days.  The first summer rain has arrived.  It rains , then the sun comes out. I am not complaining - We need some rain at the moment.  Its been very hot and became very dry, so the rain is most welcome.

                                      I was watching the early morning news , when I heard a bang bang outside.. I know the sound well.   It was the horses, kicking the water trough .. I hadn't filled the trough with water,  as I thought the rain would have done that for me.  
I soon found out, that that was not the case.  There was only a little water left in the trough after two days of rain.   Not enough had fallen to keep them happy.
I felt really bad.  As I am always out early to fill the trough.  So I donned my wellies , turned off the electric to the fence, then walked around to  sort out the hosepipe.
 The yellow hospipe had come out of the bigger black hose that is secured to the steel strips that run across the trough.

Pascoa and Surprise, had moved the hosepipe with their noses.
 After sorting out the problem .. i then returned,  to turn the tap  on and started filling the trough-   To my amazement, as i was watching them both ready to drink some clean fresh water... there right in front of me.. they moved the hosepipe again.
They knew I was there, they were telling me .  That they didn't like the hosepipe in the place that i put it.
I do believe, that animals are far cleverer than we sometimes give them credit for.
They did not like the hose on the right side of the trough..so they moved it to where you see it now in my photo, on the left.


 After a long drink.  Mother and daughter went down to the bottom field.
 My pastures are so full and very high in places. They are both in their element.




Before going back inside.. i took a photo of my first gladioli of this year.. its a lovely yellow and the stem is full ... I was so pleased to see it. As this part of the garden , is becoming rather overgrown.  
The thunder is clapping in the distance and the skies are grey again.  Our nights are still light. Its a little chilly now, so I am closing up for the evening. 


Thank you to all my dear blogging friends for your comments on my last post.. My storeroom is coming along.   I have started to buy the big plastic containers to put things in.  I have also bought some shelves.. I have tiles for the floor that I bought a few years ago.  
More progress as the time goes by. 
  
Wishing you all a happy week.

Val


23 comments:

  1. stinker horses! :) glad you're getting some good rains to keep things green a while longer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are they not just so smart.
      I will have to fix it better.
      So pleased we have rain.. it was getting so unbearable with the heat.. I can save water now.. xxx Thank you Tex

      Delete
  2. It's a full time job taking care of a big place and animals, too. I'm glad you're getting some rain. We've gotten a few showers but need more. Enjoy your week! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Diane .. Indeed it is a full time job , but i love my life here in my little paradise.
      We so much needed the rain.
      xxxx thank you for coming over .. val

      Delete
  3. I sure enjoy reading about your little farm cottage life. I once had a pony that was quite a lot smarter than me. haha! I'm sure we will get to Portugal in the next year or two.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jacqueline.
      Likewise.. i love to visit your beautiful blog.. always so interesting.
      Horses are very smart.
      How great that you might visit Portugal.. its a beautiful country.

      Delete
  4. My horse has a thing about hoses and will pull them out of the tank so I finally had to cut a hole in the tank and put it in through there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Sunnybrook.
      This is a great idea.. did you put a sealer around the hose, once you had cut the hole in the tank!!! My horses are just too darn clever for me. Thanks for your visit.. val

      Delete
  5. Aren't animals amazing, they know so much and have their own opinions. I love that the horses rearrange things to suit themselves. Your yellow gladioli is beautiful Val; you grow a lovely collection of flowers. Have a good week and may the garden enjoy the rain! xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Patricia..
    Yes indeed.. animals are so clever. My horses are real clever..
    They watch me..then do the opposite.
    I had more gladioli in my garden.. they somehow got turned over with the clearing . Thanks for your lovely comment Patricia... val x x x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Loving seeing your Galdioli out Val, we can only dream of pretty blooms on this side of the world. Brrrrrr Happy Wednesday wishes Shell - A Darlings Nest

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shell, hope that your weather is a little warmer.. Thank you for your comment.. I so wish that I had more gladioli.. but will catch up next year.

      Delete
  8. Your wellies are adorable and your horses are beautiful and clever! I enjoyed the water trough story. The gladioli are beautiful. Happy summer! xo, Jen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jen.
      I do love my horses. and my one and only gladioli this year.

      Delete
  9. Funny how your horses wanted the hose moved! Yes they are smarter than we think! Had my first gladioli bloom last week as well; yellow like yours. Happy for you that rain has come. We've had rain here as well. Welcome, as I hate having to drag hoses! Wishing you a happy week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sanda..thank you for your comments.. Can you believe, they have done it again. I will have to do something about it.. Sunnybrook Farm ..gave me a good idea.

      Delete
  10. I love so much rural life and horses are always adorable because they are smart , beautiful and friendly. Enjoy summer time!
    Warm regards
    Olympia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have lived in the country since I was 8.. I couldnt see myself living in a city. Thank you Olympia for your comment..so nice to see you.. happy summer too

      Delete
  11. Val,
    How funny that Pascoa and Surprise want their water trough just the way they like it. Yes, animals are smart, indeed. I would loved to have seen you going out there in your boots, which are so cute by the way. You surely do take care of everything at your countryside home.

    Happy summer days, Val. It has been a little overcast here too the last couple of days, but also hot during the day.

    love,
    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sheri, for you lovely comment. Can you believe it.. they are doing this again. I have to sort out another system for their water. I too love my boots.
      Happy days Sheri.. x

      Delete
  12. Oh, Val, how cute. Those beauties really are smart. I'm glad you are getting a little rain at least. We had overcast skies yesterday but nothing came of it. I hate to say it but I would love a huge thunder storm. I remember how my sweet Buddy hated them and it was such a problem when we had one. It would certainly remind us of him but it would be more comfortable now. We do miss him a lot.Hope you have a great weekend especially now that you have satisfied those babies..Judy

    ReplyDelete
  13. Animals are much smarter than we often give them credit for, Val, and also often creatures of habit. You did something differently and they didn't like it. :-) I'm glad you got some much-needed rain, as we have today.

    ReplyDelete

comments will be published after approval