Happy return, settling in, hoop-jumping

After five months of visa delays, we arrived safely in Terceira on the morning of August 21. Right away, we got to work cleaning…mold and mustiness on the inside of the house from months of being closed up and a jungle of weeds and vines on the outside along the driveway and lower patio level. Aside from an initial walk through the garden/orchard, we have not even started tackling the morning glory vines and invasive ginger in the back yard. We’ve also been busy ordering appliances, attempting to get internet at our house, meeting with an immigration attorney, and buying a used car (to be picked up today!). Needless to say, we’ve been VERY tired by the end of each day…

It has been reassuring to see just how well the fruit trees prospered without us. We counted four big bunches of bananas, numerous unripe custard apples (cherimoya), and an apple on the mystery tree from March.