Kevin Lossner
@kslossner.bsky.social
Writer, technology teacher, translator, scientist, and martial artist. Retired to the Portuguese countryside in the borderlands with Spain.
Young Quartus accompanied me on a tour of our hectares gathering goat snacks: blackberry, sarsaparilla, carob, hawthorne, wild asparagus and olive, cork, holm and kermes oaks. Mostly he pulled things out of the bag and bit holes in my best jeans to remind me that I should not have worn them.
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Young Quartus accompanied me on a tour of our hectares gathering goat snacks: blackberry, sarsaparilla, carob, hawthorne, wild asparagus and olive, cork, holm and kermes oaks. Mostly he pulled things out of the bag and bit holes in my best jeans to remind me that I should not have worn them.
And now, after some rain improved the quality of our olives, it's time for Greek-style brine curing. One week in 6% saltwater, then into 12% brine for 3 months, with a change to fresh brine a few times if I want less bitter olives. Caps loose on bottles because of gases generated!
November 25, 2025 at 10:18 AM
And now, after some rain improved the quality of our olives, it's time for Greek-style brine curing. One week in 6% saltwater, then into 12% brine for 3 months, with a change to fresh brine a few times if I want less bitter olives. Caps loose on bottles because of gases generated!
Another cool thing about my Spanish library is that it is next to a monastery that makes all manner of sweet things and wine and sells them.
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Another cool thing about my Spanish library is that it is next to a monastery that makes all manner of sweet things and wine and sells them.
I'm becoming a major fan of Spanish libraries. I joined the Badajoz municipal system two weeks ago despite not being a resident, but no printer at that branch, so I went to another for a physical card. And 10 minutes later I was set for electronic lending too!
November 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I'm becoming a major fan of Spanish libraries. I joined the Badajoz municipal system two weeks ago despite not being a resident, but no printer at that branch, so I went to another for a physical card. And 10 minutes later I was set for electronic lending too!
I sent the request for an account on BiblioLED on Friday, and this morning I received the approval mail. Altogether it took less than 5 minutes from there to my first e-book loan in Portugal's national network!
November 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I sent the request for an account on BiblioLED on Friday, and this morning I received the approval mail. Altogether it took less than 5 minutes from there to my first e-book loan in Portugal's national network!
Our old Serra da Estrela, Ciro, accepts his #1 fan, Quartus. The bitches not so much so far.
November 17, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Our old Serra da Estrela, Ciro, accepts his #1 fan, Quartus. The bitches not so much so far.
Quartus is 8 weeks old now, en route to his new home at our quinta. Very calm, sovereign little fellow.
November 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Quartus is 8 weeks old now, en route to his new home at our quinta. Very calm, sovereign little fellow.
Next up on my contrarian listening list....
November 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Next up on my contrarian listening list....
Adapted my old chocolate chip cookie recipe as carob chocolate chunk with Greek yogurt, because what else is there on a rainy day? Books, of course, but books read better with a good cookie.
November 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Adapted my old chocolate chip cookie recipe as carob chocolate chunk with Greek yogurt, because what else is there on a rainy day? Books, of course, but books read better with a good cookie.
I love Spain, and its occasional surprising simplicity. Libraries in Badajoz are open hours later than in Elvas (Portugal), so I decided to see if it were possible to get privileges.
"Why not?" said the librarian. "It's free, and everyone is welcome." Ten minutes later I left with a book.
"Why not?" said the librarian. "It's free, and everyone is welcome." Ten minutes later I left with a book.
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I love Spain, and its occasional surprising simplicity. Libraries in Badajoz are open hours later than in Elvas (Portugal), so I decided to see if it were possible to get privileges.
"Why not?" said the librarian. "It's free, and everyone is welcome." Ten minutes later I left with a book.
"Why not?" said the librarian. "It's free, and everyone is welcome." Ten minutes later I left with a book.
Portugal now has a nationwide electronic lending system for e-books and audiobooks, but some local libraries are ignorant and claim it's only for citizens. Not true. These screenshots from the BiblioLED app show how anyone with a library card can request access.
November 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Portugal now has a nationwide electronic lending system for e-books and audiobooks, but some local libraries are ignorant and claim it's only for citizens. Not true. These screenshots from the BiblioLED app show how anyone with a library card can request access.
"Did you really buy a sleeping bag?"
"Yes."
With some trepidation, I ask "Why?"
"To sleep with the puppy and the new goats when they come."
Hmm. Camping in the new stalls? Sounds like an interesting adventure. Waking to baby goats dancing on your gut.
"Yes."
With some trepidation, I ask "Why?"
"To sleep with the puppy and the new goats when they come."
Hmm. Camping in the new stalls? Sounds like an interesting adventure. Waking to baby goats dancing on your gut.
November 11, 2025 at 12:58 AM
"Did you really buy a sleeping bag?"
"Yes."
With some trepidation, I ask "Why?"
"To sleep with the puppy and the new goats when they come."
Hmm. Camping in the new stalls? Sounds like an interesting adventure. Waking to baby goats dancing on your gut.
"Yes."
With some trepidation, I ask "Why?"
"To sleep with the puppy and the new goats when they come."
Hmm. Camping in the new stalls? Sounds like an interesting adventure. Waking to baby goats dancing on your gut.
Seeing badgers on the MMS camera feed is always a special thrill for me. Tonight is the first time I have captured one in this area, far from the usual favorite spots. That bowl of guts on top of the rocks from yesterday's bird hunt is a strong motivator!
November 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Seeing badgers on the MMS camera feed is always a special thrill for me. Tonight is the first time I have captured one in this area, far from the usual favorite spots. That bowl of guts on top of the rocks from yesterday's bird hunt is a strong motivator!
Patinho's mother heard him following me around and began to call for him. So I let him meet his mother and siblings for the first time. The encounter started well, but after a few minutes the Muscovy hen tried to kill him. As she did right after his assisted hatching.
November 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Patinho's mother heard him following me around and began to call for him. So I let him meet his mother and siblings for the first time. The encounter started well, but after a few minutes the Muscovy hen tried to kill him. As she did right after his assisted hatching.
Patinho's first day outdoors. He's come a long way for a little duckling who would have died in the failed attempt to hatch. Still behind his four siblings in development, but he is vigorous and follows me all around the yard now.
November 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Patinho's first day outdoors. He's come a long way for a little duckling who would have died in the failed attempt to hatch. Still behind his four siblings in development, but he is vigorous and follows me all around the yard now.
Regarding how long to water-cure olives: I have found that it also depends on how much excess water is in the bottle. A liter of olives in a 5 liter bottle was done debittering two days ago, but a full bottle collected at the same time from the same tree is still too bitter.
November 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Regarding how long to water-cure olives: I have found that it also depends on how much excess water is in the bottle. A liter of olives in a 5 liter bottle was done debittering two days ago, but a full bottle collected at the same time from the same tree is still too bitter.
To be fair, I could probably injure someone badly hitting them with my German-style sourdough rye. The nuclear option of breadly weapons would surely qualify as a felony, unlike that squishy pap from Subway.
November 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
To be fair, I could probably injure someone badly hitting them with my German-style sourdough rye. The nuclear option of breadly weapons would surely qualify as a felony, unlike that squishy pap from Subway.
Lunchtime for the garden bantams.
November 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Lunchtime for the garden bantams.
Behold "Quartus", our future goat guardian, inshallah. A Castro Laboreiro who will be the fourth one to watch over our quinta. A wonderful Portuguese breed.
November 2, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Behold "Quartus", our future goat guardian, inshallah. A Castro Laboreiro who will be the fourth one to watch over our quinta. A wonderful Portuguese breed.
Note that I wear a metal mesh butchering glove on the hand that pushes olives into the cutting tube. Otherwise I end up with small fingertip cuts most of the time.
November 2, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Note that I wear a metal mesh butchering glove on the hand that pushes olives into the cutting tube. Otherwise I end up with small fingertip cuts most of the time.
Now it's time for water-curing some riper olives, mostly black. These are pushed through a scoring tube that makes cuts to help ferment and leach out the bitter oleuropein. Today I started about 8 liters of this type of olives.
November 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Now it's time for water-curing some riper olives, mostly black. These are pushed through a scoring tube that makes cuts to help ferment and leach out the bitter oleuropein. Today I started about 8 liters of this type of olives.
Tasting the water curing cracked green olives, I found them sufficiently debittered after a week of fermentation and daily water changes, so I bottled them with a brine solution of 122 g salt and 135 ml white wine vinegar per liter of water and some bay leaves. They'll keep in the fridge for 1 year.
November 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Tasting the water curing cracked green olives, I found them sufficiently debittered after a week of fermentation and daily water changes, so I bottled them with a brine solution of 122 g salt and 135 ml white wine vinegar per liter of water and some bay leaves. They'll keep in the fridge for 1 year.
The siblings of the house duckling. They are much stronger.
October 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The siblings of the house duckling. They are much stronger.
I'm immensely grateful to have a partner who believes in rescues and the right to a dignified life for every creature. One such is a one-legged Indian Runner Duck who has his own safe place that still enables social interaction with the rest of the mixed flock.
October 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I'm immensely grateful to have a partner who believes in rescues and the right to a dignified life for every creature. One such is a one-legged Indian Runner Duck who has his own safe place that still enables social interaction with the rest of the mixed flock.
The latest training equipment acquired by my fencing club in Badajoz. I prefer this to versions I've seen with pipe, a sword, and bungee cords on a pillar.
October 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The latest training equipment acquired by my fencing club in Badajoz. I prefer this to versions I've seen with pipe, a sword, and bungee cords on a pillar.