All Hallows eve

                                My vigil lights for all saints eve..  Remembering all souls departed.
 Today my parents were in my heart.. I think of them often . I will fill my home with flowers tomorrow.  Thinking of also dear friends and family . My candles will be lit all through the night. and tomorrow.
                           
                            Hallows eve, has always been simple in our home. Remembering the dead and   Attending mass on 1st of november.

All saints Nov 1st
All soul's November 2..

                                                  Let peace and love into your heart. Light your candle and remember..all who have gone before us.  Its a day to celebrate the time they spent with us in our lives. The eve of the dead. They bring us goodness and somewhere within our thoughts , thinking of them . Peace will come upon us.
                                                                           Val

Something different.

Years gone by, when all my children were around, I seemed to always leave christmas shopping to the last minute.  I would often buy something early, then closer to Christmas, would add more to my christmas gifts,always thinking that there wasn't enough..Or this one wanted this or that! 

 Around the christmas tree the presents extended and overflowed into my lounge.

Christmas tree and gifts still overflow in our home, but in a different way. My children add all their gifts for their children  and the family to mine under the tree.. so the overflow is even bigger.

For the past couple of years, I have tried to start my list and looking around for Christmas gifts somewhere end of September.

It seems to be working.   Its made life much easier. I don't rush around and seem to have more time to plan.

Getting prepared with some ideas.  I went over to Suzy's blog. "Rustic Vintage Cottage".. She always has something cute on her etsy shop site.    After seeing some hearts she had posted there.  I decided I liked them and that I would order some items from her.   Something different for christmas ..

                                               Beautifully sewn red hearts with green silk ribbon.

                                                       The cutest little cotton bottle top cover's.. I chose various colour's and Suzy, added her gifted touch too.  I am so thrilled with them.  They are so pretty- pink's and blue's and yellow and white with pink and red flowers..

                                                     Testing the cover's on my new bottles.. filled with all sorts of spices and for eventual goodies!.. I think they look rather splendid.   Some of that old country cottage simplicity, will be around this christmas..

                                             Dear Suzy wrapped each of  the bottle covers all in individual little  soft coloured tissue paper .. It was like Christmas for me  just opening them all.

                                                   I would like to say a big thank you to Suzy.
                                    You might like to pay her a visit. She has a lovely blog.
                                                 "Rustic Vintage Cottage"..

                                                                    Thank you Suzy.. am so thrilled with my goodies.

Happy last Sunday in October everyone.

                                                                               Val

                                              

Green Friday 19 @Val's Alentejo. linking with Fiona @ Rainddrops and Daisies

It's been raining non stop now for two days.   In between the showers, that I might add , have been so so heavy. I nipped out yesterday morning  to take these photos. Its really green now with all this rain here around the quinta .  

Here my Jeffrey-Cassidy was looking straight at the camera. As I clicked he turned his head.

Freddy felt rather lonely without his flowers next to him.  I arranged him a few roses to keep him company. Very heavy with the rainfall.

This plant is a strange green.. and gives flower all the year around, but I have never seen the blooms as big as now.

My great niece on her visit to the Dentist, spent a day with me. We ran out in between showers, and i was able to quickly take some photos.. G is a darling. The photo is blurred. It was the rushing I think.
It's becoming a little cooler .    I can feel that the weather is changing. Heavy rain clouds gathering again.
Time to watch a movie this afternoon with a nice hot cup of tea and guess what!  A little chocolate.!
I came back tody from Lisbon, after taking  my lovely niece back to catch her flight home.
We spent time last night together , had a light dinner and then  sat  in Starbuck's  chatting the night away.
I was up with the lark . Caught the 9 am train home.  I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

Wishing you all the same.

linking with Fiona @ Raindrops and Daisies.

GREEN DAY 19

                                                                                                Val

Crystal clear

3000 years of glass making.

80 miles north of Lisbon is "Marinha Grande" and Stephen's crystal factory. Set amongst beautiful pine forests.

Artisans for more than 3000 years have been making glass by applying intense heat to sand.

The Art of making lead crystal is relatively new .  Its discovery generally attributed to an Englishman-named - George Ravenscroft 1632- 1683.

Ravenscroft introduced lead oxide to the raw materials for glassmaking.

As a result it was as brilliant as Rock Crystal , with a greater transparency  weight and sonority difference than other forms of glass..
 It was baptized   "LEAD  CRYSTAL"  -" Glass with a soul."known to the collector's.
Crystal Glassware is a high quality glassware that does not actually contain crystalline structure.
It's a heavy lead based type of glassware that is often identifiable by the Intricate pattern faceting.
Collector's of glassware can most often recognize what factory each piece of glassware comes from and where it is made.


Little is known about Ravenscroft's personal life..  He was born in 1632.  Much is written about the way in which Ravenscroft applied his art of glassmaking and adding Lead.
Unclear , though probably certain that he lived in Venice , Italy.  Learning and working as a glassmaker and taking back his techniques to England.
Venitian glass was imported into England as early as the 13th century.
Venitian glass makers were hired in the industry during the 16th century.
It was Ravenscroft however , who introduced this beautiful method of glass making to the world.

                     

  John Beare(Englishman) 1748-  Started the ROYAL GLASS FACTORY (Real Fabrica de Vidros)in 1748. Known and still known as - MARINHA GRANDE:

In 1769 ..William Stephens, bought the then very small factory and developed it under the protection of the "Marquis de Pombal ".   Pombal lent him 80.000 Cruzads(currency of that period) and gave him the right to cut wood in parts of the forest of  Marinha Grande, for use in the factory.
He also recognised a demand for building materials after the Earthquake of 1755 and saw a way he could make more lime by using "anthrocite" waste(culm) shipped from England. After which it was produced in Portugal.
Stephens became the richest industrialist in Europe.
In 1826.  The factory was given to the state.

GUILHERME STEPHENS ( WILLIAM STEPHENS)
Born(  in England in 1731 - He died in the Stephens family home in Lisbon in 1803(illegitimate)

In  1746 Stephens came to Portugal to join his uncle John Stephens , then a successful established  Commercial businessman .. British businessmen were exempt from taxes during this period. They became a very very wealthy family.

Lapidated Stephen's red lead crystal (collection. ) 

In the European Council.On only glass poducts
containing at lest 24% of lead oxide may be referred to
as "Lead Crystal"
Products with less lead oxide or glass products
with other metals used in place of lead oxide
"must "be labeled -
"Crystallin of Crystal Glass"

                                                             A modern "congnac/brandy lead crystal bottle)
 made to order at the " Marinha Grande" lead crystal factory.

collectors piece (stephen's factory)

Sketch  from stephen's drawings.

GREEN LAPIDATED LEAD CRYSTAL  "Stephen's factory collector's piece)

                                                                          Glass blower

                                                           Ravenscroft Crystal

Ravenscroft Crystal Chandalier.

BUST HEAD OF GUILLERME STEPHENS(WILLIAM STEPHENS)  at Marinha Grande.

Lynford Hall.

Lyne Stephens family home.

Decades later the Stephen's fortune passed to his cousin Charles Lyne Stephens.1801-1860

Stephens Lyne- Stephens. was a Tory politician, who represented Barnstaple before the 1832 reform act.

After Inheriting the family fortune from glass manufacture in Portugal in 1858- Stephen's Lyne Stephens  became -The High Sheriff of Norfork.

Stephens was said to be the most wealthiest commoner in Britain during that period.

In 2003.  Jenifer Roberts wrote a book.

"The strange history of the" Lyne Stephens fortune."

I first found out about the story of Marinha Grande, from a very close friend of mine.  Ever since its always fascinated me.

Most of my information has been taken from "Wikipedia" ..

I have tried to relate as accurate as possible. 

I love all types of Crystal.  When younger having guests around for dinner, always serving after dinner drinks with some excellent Crystal glasses.

Its been a little long this post.. i do hope that I haven't taken too much of your time.

The Portuguese have a long standing history with the British businessmen .Many of the families carrying on the family trait and now belong to our very big Anglo- Portuguese families.

Wishing you all a Happy week.

val

Green day 18 @ val's Alentejo. linking with Fiona@ Raindrops and Daisies

Friday October the 19th.   Here at Val's Alentejo, its been raining non stop for 3 days.  The rain, has been most welcome.  Our dam's were becoming pretty empty.   A respite this morning.. but the rain clouds are forming once again.

I took these photos early this morning when the sun was trying to peep through the heavy skies.

The pink bush is laden down with the rain.. the oleander leaves are heavy and droopy, you can just make out the rain drops on the leaves.

I love my "tin" flower holder.. This arrangements sits on top of one of my cabinets...pink roses with green leaves.

My summer lemon juice pottery vase.  I have it full of branches of bay leaves and rosemary. Drying out for use in the kitchen.


Wishing you all a happy Friday..
Think of positive things.
Dream a while
enjoy your coffee or tea.

Linking with Fiona @ Raindorops and Daisies  "Green day 18"...
Dear Fiona's little cat passed away.. she is sad today.

Cinema night-Linking with Marcia @The shop around the corner

Lights out please!   All  ready to roll.
 
   Its film night at Val's place.
              Film:-  a Comedy Romance ..
"When Sally met Harry"
              Love is in the air!!!

An exciting romantic love story, with one of my favorite actresses.. Meg Ryan and ever happy go lucky Billy Crystal, one might say.."playing the part of a typical macho male"!    Both Meg and Billy Crystal and Carrie Fisher are so young in this film.
I have always enjoyed watching Meg Ryan .. I think she is an excellent actress.  They both play good parts in the film..very convincing love scenes.  Its funny too.
I simply adored Meg Ryan in  "You have got mail" with Tom Hanks.  That too was a most romantic movie.

I watched this film with mixed emotions, as it took me back to my youth.!
 Love!  I believe , to be one of the most powerful of all emotions, sometimes happening when we least expect it.     It can lift our spirits high  or take us  down low just as quickly. Its a powerful feeling,  each one of us dealing with it in our own way.

Lovers with a strong chemical attraction for each other.. Can it last! We might ask ourselves!  That is one of the questions..    I think we all know , when we love someone , weather friend or lover .. Its love.

Popcorn  inbetween ..a must on film nights. nibbling during the "hot " sequences.!

Imagine, falling in love in Central Park . It truly is a most romantic place.

                                                             

It's strong and powerful taking us to places we have never been before.!

                                                            Nora Ephron ..  seemed to have hit the mark very well in this film, most enjoyable. Here Billy and Meg in a very close moving scene.  They made it so real.!

Love is like a box of chocolates.. ! All the senses rolled into one.

Love can be friendship mature and everlasting. 

         Everyone has their own interpretation of love..  For me friendship and love are everlasting and intertwined.
 We cannot have one without the other. Perhaps I might be wrong!..but it works for me.
Its not make believe...!!!!   Its for ever.

                 

                                       Linking with "The shop around the corner" for Movie Night.

A sunny day

Today is the most beautiful October autumn day . 

After a quick shop in the village and the post office . I came home and decided that I must try to work some more and try different techniques with pick monkey.

Walking around my inner garden, I took some photos of the flowers still in bloom

My collages of a sunny day.

                                        Here are my two bottles of sealed "pot pourrie" with the yellow rose. using the method 's available and trying this and trying that. I think I am advancing!     few months to go before opening the "pot pourrie" ,  maybe for christmas and adding some cinnemon sticks.
 The other flowers are my ever blooming geraniums, I mainly have the pinks and the white.. and my most gorgeous yellowy lemon rose.    The Rose came from Germany. I bought it from a friend who was ordering at the time, she asked if i would like a couple as well. Of course i said yes, I have no idea of its name, but its the most beautiful of yellow roses.  One stem sometimes has 4 blooms on it.
 The other is a budding pink rose.. and the bottom right, seeded itself from the bush at the back of the cottage.  I dont know its name either. its very common around here.. It becomes a large bush.

October is really a lovely month.   It can rain for a couple of days, then its dry for days.  Whilst walking around this morning, I see that I will have to give a good watering tomorrow,as its not rained now for over 2 weeks.
Its a lazy monday for me today.  Catching up on e mail's phoning friends and part planning christmas, sorting books and papers.  Always something to catch up on.

Wishing all my blogging friends a happy Monday.  
Thanks to all of you who leave your kind replies or comments on my posts.  It makes blogging worth while!  
   If I have missed answering anyone.. Its a lapse on my part .. I like to reply to all of you . You all have added something different to my blogging days and even in my every day life.  I learn as I go along from each and every one of you.  Such energy and magic out there..  Thank you again.

                                                                       Happy days

                                                                                 val

Boxes and Badajoz.

Tuesday this week around 1.30pm.. I received a phone call from my dear friend Dita. 

She had closed the restaurant a few days before and taken a week's holiday at her daughter's home in Arronches.   She wanted me to join them for a few days there as it was her two young grandsons birthday's  I accepted.   

 Another excuse to take a trip away and visit Arronches and Spain again.

I have blogged about Arronches and Badajoz  before.  Its a very charming village about 45 min from the Spanish border.  I think , I can see myself going there now and again.  Last time for this year.

Maybe next time an historical visit!

I have been looking for small boxes where the lid opens.  Pretty fancy boxes with a christmas look about them.  Not like the shoe box type  where  the top has to be taken off, but with a flap that opens with two little ribbons at the front. I bought a lovely one for my apartment about 2 years ago.  That's where i got the idea from .  Boxes  for a christmas project that i want to do.

With this in mind, I thought I could kill two birds with one stone and go see my friends and then go with them to Badajoz in Spain the following day.   Thinking  I might find the boxes there , at the new Mall  "El Faro" that was opened last month.  

                                                                The landmark for "El Faro" shopping mall in Badajoz.

A very impressive Mall.   I am not partial to shopping in big centers  but, as my friends like to shop there .. I went along.
 El Faro is big, not as big as I thought it was going to be.  On our last visit there , we saw it being finished off. It looked much bigger.    I think there are about 100 shops in total.
 The usual .. Zara, C & A, Primark (new shop for us all)  shoe shops, boutiques, perfume shops. candy shops,  well, as you can imagine, nothing that many of you have not seen. Only difference- people were talking Spanish.!
I spoilt myself in C & A . buying a few clothes for christmas.    By this time, and after going into a few home boutiques.. still no boxes.  I was getting disheartened.! Time to rest.

After a few hours of walking around, I had had enough!   So, a meeting point was suggested  for all of us, in case we lost each other , and off I went to sit down and take a break.

This is where I sat. -  Opposite the most intriguing fountain.
 Instead of the water spurting out of the bottom .. It spurted out of the top. Iluminous jets of  coloured water in quick jet spurts fell  from the cone like shape hung from the ceiling above.  The designs  of the water   changed  simultaneously as the lights changed.
I have never seen anything quiet like it.!
People were fascinated by it, and so was I.    It was hypnotizing and at the same time calming.
The lights, changed to hues of , blue ,green, pink, red, and purple.   The shapes of the water as they fell onto the pond and lights below were incredible.

lilac shapes zig zag design

green shapes with a full round drop.

the fountain changing its colours ..here its individual spurts deep midnight blue

Also spurts of colour after the drop from the bottom part. The whole bottom part of the fountain is made from white marble.  very effective.

A little retail.. should I ! Do I need it.  - No

 two crochets pillow covers. just caught my eye. (china I presume) I like them.

Couldn't resist this new diary for 2013.  Designed and written with quotes of Paulo Coelho. A favorite author of mine.  Its beautiful.

Inside intricate   kaleiederscope drawings and designs  on different pages, 

You can see the different designs jetting out from above.  If any one got close  one could feel the spray 

A small break before starting again.

This is my box where i keep a few things during the week. I tidy it up once a month and use it for other things. Its this style of box that I would like ..but smaller. in gold and black design.

My last photo.

We all then met up, taking our last look at the fountain .. by this time the Mall was full,  (we all wondered where the crisis was at!) People spending like there was no tomorrow. Ourselves included.
With ice creams in hand, we headed back to the car and to Arronches.
I arrived home yesterday afternoon. As always Its great to get away sometimes!

Arriving home to my family (4 legged)

After taking many photos of the fountain, I came out of my hypnotic state and told myself to stay focused get back to the boutiques "Val" to see if you can find the boxes. ..maybe another shop or another.
Alas!   No boxes.. Where have all the boxes gone!

                                                          Jeffrey-Cassidy euphoric with his little teddy and showing off rolling over and showing me how clever he is.   Hardy and Bonita ran out and disappeared and appeared later . Isaa below waiting for my hug too.
                                   

                                                     Oh its  great to be home.


  Wishing you all a very happy October weekend.


                                                      Val..........