http://alisonslife-in-the-slow-lane.blogspot.com/ Life in the Slow Lane: LOOKING UP AND DOWN

Thursday, 11 April 2013

LOOKING UP AND DOWN

It's time again to join in with HELENA and her weekly photographic meme
Helena’s Creative Maven

My pictures were taken in my own garden this week....

LOOKING UP


The carob pods are appearing on the carob trees.....I will be picking them off very soon, as when they ripen they smell foul then fall from the tree, and  lie all over the garden, tempting small dogs to eat the beans which are inside.

LOOKING DOWN

 Dried out Carob pods from last year -even Boo can't get  anything out of them!

The ripened carobs used to be used as animal feed.....and because of this the trees themselves have, historically , been almost 'sacred' here in Spain...and we still have to have permission from the 'AYUNTIMIENTO' (Town Hall) to cut them down! 

Knowing that chocolate itself is toxic to dogs,  I originally panicked when Boo started splitting them open and eating  the actual carob beans....  but they don't seem to have any effect (at least in the small quantities she manages to find!)

I hope life is being kind to you this week!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx





Posted by Alison at 21:48
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18 comments:

  1. Jane11 April 2013 at 22:58

    it's interesting seeing what you have in your garden

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  2. Ella Swan11 April 2013 at 23:32

    Very interesting! I buy carob coated rice cakes and they are delicious!

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  3. scrappyjacky11 April 2013 at 23:57

    I think carob is probably totally different to chocolate.....I know someone who is allergic to chocolate....but can eat carob....I didn't realise the pods smelled foul!

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  4. Margaret12 April 2013 at 00:27

    I think you can even buy carob treats for dogs.

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  5. helena12 April 2013 at 07:02

    lovely trees and another interesting snippet of Spanish life

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  6. Sandra12 April 2013 at 09:44

    It's always interesting to find out a little more about local tidbits :)

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  7. Linda12 April 2013 at 11:24

    Great photos and interesting to hear about the carob tree:)

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  8. Becky12 April 2013 at 11:46

    Great photos. When we were in Australia we went to a carob plantation where we saw them producing carob chocolate from start to finish - really interesting.

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  9. Fiona@Staring at the Sea12 April 2013 at 13:04

    How interesting Alison. I have never seen carob growing before, although I have eaten it!
    Fiona x

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  10. Sian12 April 2013 at 14:23

    I love how you have taken two pictures which tell us all something new and interesting about Spain. Great choice!

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  11. Debbie P12 April 2013 at 17:31

    Oh my goodness, what an interesting tree. I've never seen one! That is so cool and very interesting! tfs

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  12. Jen Mc12 April 2013 at 18:26

    Thanks for sharing your photos! I'm hoping it will warm here soon so I can really contemplate my flowers for the year...
    Have a great weekend!

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  13. gracescraps@gmail.com12 April 2013 at 22:15

    Hi Alison, Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I can't seem to find enough hours in the day. Thanks for always stopping by to leave such sweet comments on my posts. I always love when you do the photography challenges. You have such great perspective and take such interesting photos!! ~ Blessings, Tracey

    http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

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  14. Amy13 April 2013 at 00:24

    I haven't seen a carob tree before, that's really interesting Alison!
    I would have been worried for Boo too - at least she's not getting too much.

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  15. Maria Ontiveros13 April 2013 at 06:26

    A perfect pairing. I love to see such a close relationship between the two. Like Amy, I've never seen a carob tree before.
    Rinda

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  16. Anonymous13 April 2013 at 21:22

    Interesting info about the carob tree. We have to get permission here to remove oak trees once they get past a certain diameter--and they can be such a nuisance because they shed leaves and acorns for almost half the year. Their saving grace is the welcome shade they provide.

    Pets do have an amazing way of finding things they probably shouldn't have. Our female cat seems to have the ability to smell anything that is small enough that it would be fun to bat around the hard surface floors we have. Pencils, pens, bulldog clips, and twist ties for electronics are among her favorites. If we are missing a pencil or pen we know to move the family room couch because it's almost guaranteed to be under there, courtesy of Miss Peaches.

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  17. crimsoncat0514 April 2013 at 20:57

    very interesting information about the carob trees! I never would have thought that you would still have to get permission to do something with it because it's on residential land. Our dogs try to eat EVERYthing they can find in our backyard... I don't know what the tree in the neighbor's yard is, but the dead leaves that fall from it apparently look like / taste like potato chips to the dogs... lol! We rake up what we can, but they eat their share.

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  18. Jo15 April 2013 at 11:10

    A very interesting and informtive "looking up, looking down" this week x

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