A Happy New Year

Its amazing, how with the click of a "mouse"!! we can all communicate and write and read about each others likes, journey's. our families and hobbies and all our interests  
Story's from days gone by, from the here and now, how we pass our days, our travels .. Its all  magic-   Just with a click, we are communicating to the 4 points of the globe.  I have made many  friends around the world in blog land.
I thank you all. you have added lots of pleasure to my days. I have enjoyed sharing my life with you all too.

Another year has come to a close.
Its been a great year blogging with you all.  Looking forward to lots more in 2013

All the best , lots of good things and may all your dreams come true for 2013..

HAPPY NEW YEAR  VAL..  From VAL @ MY ALENTEJO.

Mr. M . Turns 80

Mr . M turned 80 yesterday.

Our daughter from Switzerland,  organised a surprise party for him.  We started to organise it about 3 months ago.  It was such a wonderful day.  A most rewarding way to finish off christmas and enter into the new year.

M and I are neighbours.  we were married for 33 years.. and still have a very special friendship together.

Our children were so so happy.  In the photo below are 4 of our children and manuel's daughter. who makes it 5 children. She lives in Germany ..His best friend from Canada came, his 4 remaining brothers and sisters.   Everyone was hiding behind the curtains in Dita's restaurant .. when he entered you can imagine the look on his face, it lit up with glee , as you can imagine.

The photos are in no particular order.

just wanted to share our wonderful week together as a family.

                                                             Grandaughter Audrey Marie and Mr. M

                                              our children toasting daddy

                                           Mr M and myself danced the night away.. son's singing and playing their guitars..

Since christmas eve. Its been non stop around here.   I wrote on my last post, that we had christmas at my son's estate  "The Alfanges".. So much love has been circling around here. I think we are all still up high in the clouds. It took us ages to pick up the wrapping paper and strings and things.. all so delightful.
I still have to put some of my gifts away.
But mostly, what I wanted to share with you all my dear friends.  Is that to have my children all together along with my grandchildren, was the best present of all.

As we were all leaving the party last night.   Mr. M turned to me and said.. gosh val.. I cant believe I have made it to 80.. my reply.. " you are still looking great".

I am sure that all of you have been together with family and friends and enjoying this wonderful week.
Enjoy the rest of this saturday and a happy blessed last sunday tomorrow for 2012.

A little christmas sharing

              Christmas eve started with this greeting from my two grandchildren Thomas Alexander on the left .. Josie in the middle and my youngest son Filipe..  It was a beautiful day.

         Just some of my christmas gifts..  great confusion and elation on Christmas morning, with 25 people opening their presents.

Lots of joy , happiness and laughter. The best present of all, was to see my children and grandchildren together.
the "Alfange" was full of love and good cheer.   OOhs and ahhh's all around.
It was a sunny wonderful christmas day.

Happy Boxing day to you all, spending time with your families, eating those nice warm mince pies and christmas cake..

Best wishes to you all.    val

Christmas Greetings

Its starting to get busy around the cottage . Friends for lunch and afternoon tea. And preparing for the arrival of my family this Saturday. It will be the first time in 20 years that My family and Heleen's family..my D.in Law's family..will all be together since their wedding.  There will be 25 around the christmas table at - 'Alfanges'. Manel's Herdade that joins my place.

Finished the touches to my simple decorations . All Stocked up with wood, goodies in the pantry. I know the grandchildren will go straight to see what is in there! When they pop over to grandma.

  Very happy at the moment that its not raining. Its rained all week until yesterday after noon.. To see the sun was a delightful bonus. I  hope that we have some sun for christmas day!

                                                little angel watch over us all

                             The lovely red hearts with the green ribbon that Suzy @Rustic Vintage Cottage made for me.  I have hung on the curtain rod at the entrance to Rose Cottage. I think they look lovely.

                          I have hung up some of my plate collection. Still more to hang.  -4 are painted by me.

                        I posted the holy family on one of my recent posts .. Every year it has the same place on my little antique table at the front door entrance  of the cottage. At night i light a candle  to remember all my friends and family gone and thank The holy family for all the good things that have happened through the year, and to watch over us all.
 I took the photo again  during this morning  as you can see it better.     I painted it many years ago . Our lady's head veil is of gold leaf..and also Joseph's coat.

 I finished  last week, my last oil painting for 2012.  I am very happy with it.   Roses from my garden.

  Me .!

 In my Christmas fairy dress my dear mum made for me.    I remember helping her glue the sequins onto the dress.(1954) Where have the years gone! 

 It seemed always to be Christmas in our home.  I was blessed with wonderful parents that made life seem like a dream. I miss and love them very much.

 I send my fondest best wishes for a wonderful happy peaceful Christmas 

  to all my dearest blogging friends who have taken the time to read and leave your kind appreciated comments on my blog. Thank you and a big hug.

    I am very happy I have met  you all. You have all given me inspiration and added a new dimention to my day's, besides my art  I can add blogging and photography now as another hobby.!   I have learnt so much from reading all your wonderful blogs.  

 2013 lots more to come!

   We have met family and friends from all over the world,exchanged wonderful recepies  and  read each other's posts of  our ups and downs and joy's.     Stories of our loving  animals . of awards and giveaways. 

 Travelled  to many countries with each other .

  Learnt about different customs and lives  and so much more.

So for now dear friends ,once again  THANK YOU..

From me Val-  Hardy on the left, Issa in the middle and Jeffrey Cassidy on the right.. Bonita is getting a little too old for photos.

A HAPPY HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

Looking forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.

Take care and God Bless.   

Have a wonderful time with your families. 

Val.xxx

The little angeles of Sandy Hook School

 There are no words to describe the horrific massacre of these sweet  innocent little angeles.

My heart goes out to the mothers and father's ,grandmothers and grandfathers ,sisters and brothers. Friends and families, of all these little children.    For the teachers who brave each day to take care of these litle angeles.
May they all rest in peace in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray.
 pray , that no one walks this earth with a gun.

God bless them all.


please ..no comments today.. 

Getting started

A Nativity scene outside our local post office. Not much money this year, due to the economic crisis ..but it was so nice to see that they had made an effort.
I have been busy since Saturday.  My son and family arrived for the weekend from Lisbon .. You might remember, that i mentioned a week or so ago that I was going to Lisbon.  Manel , said to me.. "mum..stay there its cold" we are coming down to the farm and we will be together.
My D. in L.. was also getting ready.. she put one of the christmas trees up at their place.
I had lunch with them on Sunday.
Monday was shopping for the boxes again..  'found two'.

Today , I have been at home all day.   Easel was up early this morning and I have been painting all day.  Started a new canvas and nearly finished another one.  I have so much to catch up on.  Just before the sun went down .  I took this photo of a tiny red rose.  Its a very small bush, with lots of little red roses on it.  Its not stopped blooming all year.
A little bit of red to start of Christmas cheer.

Fire fire burning bright.  Keeps me warm all through the night.!    The dogs love being around the fire in their baskets, but only when i am sitting in the den. I often sit and just watch the flames and dream off into slumber land.!

                               Starting to get the decorations into place.  Here you can see the two boxes i found. They are not the size i wanted.. but I have use for them.

                                     My sideboard  has enough now.   Still some finishing touches.   The usual christmas decisions of where to put what.!

                           Within  20 min of taking the photos.. of the red rose .. I nipped out and took this evenings sunset.

                           Another day coming to a close. The dark blue sky heavy with the evening mist arriving.              

                       The Holy Family at  my entrance to welcome you all.   Its made from 'marbalite' a marble composition.  I painted it myself some 12 years ago.

To all of you who have left your kind comments on my posts.. Thank you.
I apologize for delay's in replying.  

Is December passing quickly for you! Have you much to do.

Happy wednesday.
val 

Friday morning drizzle

I took these photos early yesterday morning.  Very light rain was falling. shoes on and still in PJ's!  I  couldn't resist taking these photos. Here the rain is starting to close in. Ever so different from our hot summer days.

                           I was getting a little wet by this time. The sky was low and dull. No sign of Mr. Sun

                                   If you look closely you can see that the entrance is wet and soggy. It rained the whole night and all day yesterday.    On the news this morning.. parts of Lisbon have had flash floods. At least our rain can drain away. It also fills my well.

                                   Shilah enjoying all the sweet new clover .. we are weening Rosie  her foal..She is up in the higher pasture. Poor Shiliah, was becoming rather thin and a little exhausted.

                         From time to time I throw some bread out of the kitchen window. Mainly for the little sparrows.  But now and again the big boys come along swooping down so very fast ..the poor little sparrows, dont stand a chance against this  'Iberian Azure blue Magpie'..when they arrive its in large numbers, and boy do they fly around fast.     I was lucky to take  these  photos from my kitchen window. By this time, I had come inside .  I was a little wet as you can imagine.

                        Here you can just make out Surprise.. She is keeping Shilah company..and we are weening her away from mummy Pascoa.

                                       A quick shot of a little sparrow.. he is determined to get some bread

                                     Although a very cheeky and territorial ..I think they are a beautiful bird. I was hoping he might turn his head.

                                               A favorite spot

                                                3 Roses blooming on branches with just a few leaves. I am loath to prune ..I still have roses blooming, although very woody now.

     Take a close look and you will see the rain drops dripping from the leaves.

  Its been a very wet week.   Also busy with getting christmas things around the cottage.. very simple decorations this year.

What is the weather like in your area.

Wishing you a happy Saturday

val 

'whetting your appetite'

Most of you will remember my lovely "Avoca Cookbook" giveaway, that I was so lucky to win from Christa @  'Emilie's Daughter'..  I have cooked a few dishes from the book and they came out just super. 

Today Monday the 3rd December.. I thought that i would tempt you and whet your appetite a little with some christmas ideas from this beautifully illustrated cookbook..

  The book is not only a cook book with recipies.. but it has a story behind it. With lots of lovely photography and ideas for the various seasons of the year.
Today is just a couple I chose.

                                             Some ideas

                                  21 days to go.  We can all start thinking about the goodies that will be upon our festive table.

                                   This one I will make for my guests next week for my christmas get together. Hot Celeriac Soup.

                      not sure about the apple and stilton scones.. but a great idea too

                              My daughter in Law asked me for some ideas for xmas eve..I thought i would mak this to add to the menu.. It's already making me hungry.!

I have a friend coming over to stay wednesday night.  This is what I have chosen for our evening meal.      Winter Chicken Pie.  made with puff puff pastry..
Mushrooms and herbs.
I love a chicken pie ..and this recipe looks super. I have never made it with puff puff.  This will be a first.


 I think it looks great.  I only wish that i had those little cooking dishes to serve individuals..

                     You might me able to read some of the recipe

                                   Explains a little of how to do this particular one..  I myself will add a few extra veg, having made so many in the past.

                Just a little something to "Whet" your appetite and get the juices flowing with some ideas for cooking during this December season..

Wishing you all a happy Monday.  

Stay warm and safe.


Val