Medina --The Artist

An artist is a creator, and as such lives his life in what he has created with hand and mind.

The artist has certain priviledges that puts him apart from the rest of humanity: To be able to live beyond his life span. (Medina California 1942)

Self Portrait.

Henrique Medina was born of a Spanish father,from whom he leart his art. (His father was a famour painter also)and a Portuguese mother.

He started painting at an early age at the Porto school of fine arts. At the early age of 18 he left for Paris . There he was a pupil of Carmon and Bernard. He worked diligently with them , until he achieved supreme success of seeing his painting hanging in the Luxembourg Museum (now Jeau de Paume) He was awarded the "Legion d' Honneur"..

Later to further his career in England,America and Brazil

Born August 18 1901 died 1988. He died in Portugal

I have had this wonderful book of the life and art of Medina for many years . I sit and read it once in a while. I never get tired at looking at his portraits ..for me he is a genius.

He might be new to many of you..to art world he is said to be one of the greatest painters of his day.

My book: A study by Rene Huyche of the French Academy

Portrait of : S.M Humberto II de Italia. (Humberto lived in exile in Cascais Portugal. His magnificent palacette home, has now become a hotel). It has a view across the North Atlantic, as far as the eye can see. I was sad to see a hotel there.. part of the original palacette has been maintained. As you can imagine it was magnificent. He was well loved by the people of Portugal.

Amelita Galli Curci (metropolitan opera house New York)

Medina was not just restricted to the Portuguese school of art. His work is influenced from

the places he lived and from his own unique style.
Greer Garson 1946 ( Museum of Metro Goldwyn meyer.)

Medina is well worth reading and getting to know about him. He led a very interesting life.

As you can imagine. I could write lots more! but its all written down in History.

Hope you enjoy this post. These are just a few of his portraits.

Happy Friday everyone.

Elegant delights

Today I woke with a cold, and felt rather miserable. I took some of my old magazines out and thought I might share a few of the elegant things I like.
A beautiful elegant silver candle stick and flower holder.

I would want it in my bedroom, with fresh roses every

day.

I have always loved elegant bedrooms. My mother was a specialist at making the most cosiest elegant bedroom, even the spare rooms had fresh flowers. I always felt so safe and cosy when i was in her bedroom. The smell of her perfume and the fresh flowers beside the bed left fond memories .They are things I like to do she taught me well. When my roses are in bloom I have a little vase of roses next to my bed every day.

In my own home during many years. I had 4 men around. My bedrooms were just simple neat and hopefully some days tidy. I was lucky to be able to make Nina's room a little prettier.

just a simple night side table and lovely soft sheets, a simple candle and some pretty prints on the wall.

I have always wanted a chaise lounge in my bedroom. "If"!! I ever add on another bedroom! , I will have something like this green checkered chair and stool .. My side table full of the flowers of spring, a little writing desk , with my family photos on top. (I am sure you get the scene.)

This blue bedroom with the canopy bed is just sheer elegant indulgence..
This simple white bed and white linen, with a few nuances added here and there. Is one of my favorites. I love the palm tree in the corner. Soft lighting of an evening.

Simple yet elegant and so inviting.. with a charming painted bed head. Wallpaper or just paint..this bed is so lovely.
This bedroom I like.. the photo is not too good. Its very simple and I like the way the art is just sitting upon the back of the bed.
I like simple paths..
Wood in a lounge gives a warm feeling. Rustic and simple. I have wooden beams in my cottage.
Adore this sofa.. its very like mine.
A little old entrance table with a marble top, flowers in a simple vase and figs. I like this idea, and I have about 5 or 6 fig trees makes for different decor.
This just suits me .. Its how I love to live. I have already started to be outdoors. My dogs are around me and I might paint or while the time away with a good book.
An elegant glass topped table with wiker chairs..lots of creepers ..divine.

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Dear blogging friends. All the photos are taken from my collection of magazines I have collected from over many years. - "Casa e Campo" -- "Country Living"--" Beautiful Homes"-"Romantic bedrooms". I can add one more, and that is gardening magazines summer and winter.

I buy 2 or 3 magazines on home decor a year.

I enjoy the challenge of making my home my own. My own signiture on the way I organise it.

I dont like to move furniture around. I like to add a few things now and again. That gives me much pleasure and joy.

When you read my profile. I wrote that I daydream.. I love to daydream.. This has been one of those days. If we dont dream.. life is not worth twopence..!!

What type of room is your favorite room. Is all just fun.

Happy Tuesday

My cold feels a lot better now. I have enjoyed sharing this with you all.

Sunday lunch

A little Sunday lunch for myself. I opened a nice bottle of Alentejo red, some sliced cheese and walnuts to whet my appetite. Took a sip of my wine and decided to make chicken.

Cheers... you might like to try it one day.

I hardly ever make the same recipe twice. if I do, it has another flavour added. One large breast of chicken. bacon rashers

(tinfoil on bottom.so as not to be too dry)
simple spices -paprika.red pesto

Onion,garlic, virgin olive oil(i use my own) lemon, red wine. chop the onion very very finely into the olive oil. then the garlic-very fine. squeeze half a lemon -add- a little red wine and mix.

spread a thin layer of the red pesto onto the chicken. add a little paprika..then add the olive oil with the other ingredients.

Going into the oven 200 deg. in electric oven for 45 min or so.

A plain simple salad to go with it. Just perfect for a spring sunday lunch.

Happy Sunday everyone, wish you could have joined me.

Hot cross buns and cream for afternoon tea.

Lisbon for 3 days

I took the late train to Lisbon on Wednesday.. My Eldest Son and Heleen, had asked me to baby sit our Little Max. The next few days were pretty busy for them, and they needed some extra help. I prepared my bags, and as always enjoyed the train ride to the City, and be with my family.

A view from the lounge window at Chiado 16.. A ferry crossing the Tejo estuary, and a navy Frigate in the distance. The rooftops..belong to the Admiralty.

Max wanted to play with my camera. but was able to take these few.

Another view.. The Building of the "Bank of Portugal" Chiado , is downtown Lisbon and a very old borough. Beautiful "calcada" paved designed streets.
Another view- stone's throw away, is the "Se" Lisbon Cathedral. It was built on the site of an old Mosque in 1150 for the first catholic bishop. The English Crusader --Gilbert Hastings.

The building looks like a fortress from the outside.. Inside is Romanesque and Gothic.

One of Lisbons oldest buildings.. It is the oldest church.

Perhaps a little more on the "Se" in another blog!

Fascinating history.

On the highest of the 7 hills of Lisbon is the Medieval castle of "Sao Jorge"..St. Jorge. This view I love.

It overlooks all of downtown Lisbon and has magnificent views of the Tagus.

History has it..that it was built in the 2nd century B.C.. You can take a picnic and spend a delightful sunday afternoon in the grounds.. Perhaps another blog! Lisbon has a wonderful history.

On my arrival home today. The shepherd had brought the horses from the top paddock to me again. What delight to see them eating the new growing grass. Although very dry here, its slowly growing. Clouds are coming over.. We might get rain. Sheilah..
Pascoa "Easter"..she was born on easter morning 17 years ago this Easter.
Pascoa and her baby Surprise. Surprise, because she was a surprise!! she is very clever.
Missing one horse here.. Dear Julia.. she is now very ill. She is 27 and we fear she wont last too long. I miss seeing her.
My little angel Max. lots of fun, building the blocks and knocking them down.
Hello everybody.
See, I too can take photos...

Wishing all my blogging friends, a happy weekend.

Techno savy and Science

Dear blogging friends. The photos you see below are familiar items to you all.! Necessities of every day living in a Techno world.

As you read along..You will understand how I became ,or think I am becoming.

"Techno Savy"! -------

During this last week. I have been typing my comments on your lovely blogs, in morse code.!!

..h..p..thanks.... and so it went.dot.dot. You cannot know, how much I laughed at myself, while typing. (you have all been very understanding. thank you) Once again, all back to normal.

Computers, have become part of our every day life. A great communication tool.

Today, my new keyboard arrived by special delivery from my eldest son in Lisbon. Aren't sons just great.! How delighted i am. He spoils me. Without a keyboard, one is lost.

I speak for myself here, but I do enjoy blogging, I never thought that I would, but I sure do.

I know the same goes for all my dear friends who have taken time to join and read my blogs.

All your blogs are amazing, each and every one, something so nice to read. New things to learn about, great ideas,lovely homes and gardens, history, cooking, art ,farming, travel and much more.

Sometimes I am at a loss as to what to write about,as life here in rural Alentejo moves at a very slow pace indeed. Somehow, i do get there.

"Cyber socializing"- We can thank technology and the brains that go behind this new age . The Bill Gates, and the late Steve Jobs, and all the other fantasticly imaganitive intelligent brains that go into the making of all the new Techno "gadgets" and widgets,click on and off buttons . All offering something new and magical for us to play with, or add to our ever growing necessity

and dependence on so many of them.

The mobile phone.. an sms to a friend thousands of miles away.. and the reply within seconds.

Its amazing. I remember my first mobile phone, I was terrified, I thought i would never learn how to send a messages.

Skyping family and friends.. and there they are, as if they were in the room with us. My sister and I have coffee together ,her one side of the ocean, me the other. skyping, what wonders.

Getting the picture correct and positioned. checking again and again the skype instructions. A piece of cake now.

I started blogging last year. Most of you, will know what trouble I had in trying to aquaint myself with the techniques and tricks and do's and dont's of the blogging world. I think, I started about 4 blogs . I truly didnt know what or how to remedy half of the wrong things i was doing..I would read and read again, and get all mixed up. I had some great help from blogging friends, I think thats the way we learn more, I certainly did. The rest you all know, I was back again after a while.

Over these months. You all might agree..that i have learned a little more.. I like to think so, and each day, I learn something new, as my techno savy gets better and better.!

Its so pleasurable passing by and reading all your most interesting posts.

We all have something new and wonderful to share. Life is good.

Cyber friendship is truly amazing. Let the blogging continue.

Household technical gadgets.

What would we do without a mobile phone..! We also cannot forget the charger.

I must have had to buy a few chargers since the mobiles came out. My mobile goes everywhere with me. When i recieved my first sms reply.. I was jumping for Joy,I had finally added another useful wonder to my daily routine. Travelling communication.

This photo needs no explaining.. we just cant do anything without it. I have loads of them around the cottages.

Portable house phone.. sheer luxury.. can take it out to the garden and have my sundowner. It even records messages, and reads them to me.. wow.!

The Commandos. They are on my little side table.. and are all tuned in to my favorite channels.They do what they are commanded to do. click click.. We have an image!

Paper and ink all set .. always printing off that something we like from the net.. type our agendas or print that photo..or photo copy.. amazing machines. Mine is a simple Brother works and prints just fine.

This one needs no explanation. My link to my family and friends far and wide .We use ours sometimes at family breakfasts and include friends and family who cant be with us we chat away to each other,as though they were with us. Its just incredible.

little black box(modem/router) a true techno wonder nothing would work computer wise without it. I always hope the little green light keeps flickering.! On line then

Tv. boxes and cards that must be exactly fitted correctly.. battery charger and dvd player..great to watch or record that special film. I sometimes enjoy a late night movie.

My new keyboard.. All lovely and shiny. ): ): on my face.

Finally my digital camera.. I couldnt live without.. takes pictures like this below with just one click. upload them to your photo album on the computer and you have your photos always at hand.(just make sure you back them up) All pheonominal techno wonders we just cant do without.
Shots at different angles.. of one of my paintings(it was a day when I was inspired by Van gogh).. I will be buying a nice big straw hat for summer painting, must get into the swing again.

I cant show my camera.. Its a simple little HP digi camera..another wonder.

Happy blogging days to you all.

weekend ..16th.march

Wishing.u.all.a.happy.weekend.my.keyboard.spacebar.has.packed.in.will.be.away.for.a.few.days.

must.get.to.the.apple.dealer..ugggg...however..my.little.wild.margarites.are.smiling.

val.

Inside and Outside !!

Spring is truly here. Today I am working in my garden and ... inside!!.. Some flower seedlings that i will throw around the flat surfaces .. the veggies, I have a little place for them..not too many as unfortunately, the rabbits and hares come around and eat them at night.. So I lost interest.. But this season i will try again.

Also if the gates are left open.. the horses come and eat everything just about.
My garden is a rustic garden. Its not a design garden, its simple and easy to keep really I have too plant plants that grow well and adapt to the Alentejo hot climate. My oleanders give the most show during summer..
Some of my pots ready for their new plants.. upon my next visit,which will be shortly to the garden centre.

The twin pots below.. I am planting white rambling roses in. I want to try and get them to creep up the side of the cottage walls. I also have compost fertilizer for my plants today..

INSIDE.

Paints at the ready.. some left over colours from the final touches i made to my little rose heads painting.

I am all set up to paint this ceramic plaque of Mary and baby Jesus. I bought it about 6 years ago, and never got around to painting it. I really like it and would like to hang it on my bedroom wall.

I took these images from the web. I like the colours and will use them for colour references..
This image, is an old Byzantine icon image.. but i think these colours are beautiful .
This one, I am not sure.. possibly Russian or Greek orthodox.. but this is how i would like my end result.. to take it to the carpenter and have it framed in wood.. Where I could "antique" it afterwards and paint angeles on each side..

Am I ambitious or what.. but it starts today..
Its 23 deg. Ideal for spliting the day .. for Inside and Outside..

Wishing you all a happy tuesday.. with warm spring weather.