WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Monday 30 December 2013

Happiness to you all

 Joy, love, peace, health , friendship ..and all thats good.   I wish to all my dear blogging friends..   The last Monday of 2013.

Thank you for all the good posts, that have made me laugh,made me cry, uplifted me. taught me..and so much more.  I am blessed to have you all as friends.. and look forward to more good posts , each year learning more about each other.

God bless

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

WITH LOVE.   VAL .

Saturday 28 December 2013

boxing day..

I arrived at Miguel and Sasha's at 1pm Christmas eve.  I hadn't been to Estoril in a few years. The highways were full of traffic, coming and going. All on their way to families and friends for Christmas. It was a little intimidating for me driving the outer ring roads.   I am so used to the country and  hardly any traffic where i live.  Anyway, I arrived safely and spent 2 wonderful peaceful happy days with Miguel and Sasha.   Just relaxed and enjoyed each others company. 
 I took a few photos of christmas. but on my tablet..and i have no idea how to get them onto my blog.
just happy times we all had.
These photos i took are on the way home from Lisbon.   I have shown some areas here before.  I took the back road to my village. I like the drive and the day was sunny and lovely.
The area here is from Alcaçer do Sal to my village..  Its a winding road, so one has to pay attention.
In this area are very very large farms.   Cattle, cork, pine trees, and the salt paddies.
                               The storks are back again.   I took this from my car window. The municipality of Alcaçer, have erected poles specifically for the storks, as they were using the telephone poles and electric posts.
                                 A lone church  just outside of Torrao.. about 30 min from my village
                                      The rice paddies are dry at the moment, and are being prepared for the next season.
                             I couldnt resist this photo.. The trees looked like ghost trees against all the green of the other trees.  I have never noticed them before.
                                  A lone  Iberian pine.. The fields are getting greener and greener
                             A private Estate.. I  stopped to take a little walk around, my legs were stiff from driving.  I spotted these beautiful cows.  they have rich ground cover.
                                 Very well kept.   The trees you see are cork trees
                       A close up of a cork tree.  You can see where they have stripped the bark.. they dont trip the whole tree, as it would kill it.  The cork is harvested, every 9 years.
                    Our little Buddy.  One of my little doggies.. He spent most of his days with Mr. M..and as soon as we arrived home.. he jumped out of the car and ran up to the big farm.  He was sulking and didnt eat at Miguel's. He is happy to be home.   He is with his big pal.. Vouga, the farms watchdog.
Stopped at the side of the road.. My little village in the distance.  I always get excited when i see this sight. I know i am on my way home.  
                              We had a very big storm during the 2 days of christmas.. but some of my roses survived.  I have normally pruned them by this time of the year.
                                Poor roses.  but some weathered the storm.. I wanted to see how long I could get roses from the bushes..and they have'nt stopped blooking.   They must however be pruned this week.   The pool patio.. the storm had blown leaves and sticks all over the place.   It started to rain again this morning. So no hurry.  Will clean up when the weather gets better.  It's 15 deg. today.. its warm.
                         I was invited boxing day afternoon to my Dutch friends house for a buffet with friends.
As i was leaving , this duck sat there staring at me as i drove down the drive. I stopped and took this photo.. (this is for you Tex) What kind of duck is this.. I want some. Never seen them before.

           Fallen leaves from the storm.    Its just stopped raining.    Glad to be home.  lots of projects on paper and on the go.  2014. lots to do.

I loved being with my son and the break was super.
But i love to be home.

How about all of you.  Did you all have a good Christmas time.!

Thank you for all your lovely christmas comments..

Have a good weekend. The last of the year
Val

Monday 23 December 2013

Christmas greetings

Wishing all my dear blogging friends who have followed me through this year., for all your kind comments ,and following me.    Its so rewarding for me, to know I have never met you all, yet I feel I have known you for so long. You have all shared your happiness and woes.   A few times i was going to give up on blogging and so many of you encouraged me.  How wonderful is that from friends one hasn't met.
Thank you dear friends.  I look forward always to reading about your lives and happenings in your world and mine in our family lives for some years to come. 

.........................................................................

              At dawn this morning "S/Y PHEONIX" set sail from  Ilha do sal in cabo verde. Off the west coast of Africa. 1st destination Port o Prince in the Caribbean.   Skipper  our eledest son Manuel, his  crew-  our grandson and his son Thomas 14, our youngest son Filipe with his first coast sailors certificate obtained and in hand.. and our son in law Paul the same.  
 The 4 pirates are on their way.  I didn't sleep much last night.. thinking of them .   I spoke to them in Sal yesterday, and wished them fair winds .. (Mr. M. was to have gone with them)  alas..he will be watching over them. Just as he watched over us and took 6 of us on our epic journey from South Africa across South and North atlantic oceans. A most competant Skipper. Our children learnt more behind the helm, than behind any desk.!
 The trip already delayed by one month.  They are now well on their way. Pheonix, with good winds can sail at around 11 to 12 knots.. I hope they get some good days.
                           Lying at anchor in the med here.  I sailed with them that year.  " Pheonix" is the most beautiful bermudan sloop. and is cherished and loved by our son.  She is 76 ft. and is made by Jongaart of Holland.
A front view of "pheonix" everything is of the highest quality all electronic.. Manel having followed in his father's footsteps as an electronic engineer. If the electrics fail.. he is well conversant with the sextant and can steer by the stars, has done it since he was 11.. Tom is now starting to follow in Grandad and dad's footsteps.   
Soon a special star will appear and that will guide them on their way.

I will be spending christmas with my dear son Miguel and wife Sasha.  You all met them through the wedding photos of this last August. 
I will be packing my bag later and be on my way tomorrow after breakfast.

Wishing you all a most blessed Christmas.  together with your loved ones.
Let us all remember too people who are alone at this time.
Our christmas will be simple. to be together is a gift.

Hugs of happiness to you all.

val xxxx     

Monday 16 December 2013

Olive trees

Lit my woodburner early this morning. Our weather is glorious. In the mornings and evenings the temp drops. I keep it burning for a while, then it heats up the whole cottage.

                                    Having had my tea and toast.. getting my book ready to see where I left off.
   Snr. Jose Maria. came once again to finish pruning the olive trees on the left side of the cottage.  I am really happy, as they look so nice now, and will give a good crop in 18 months.
                  Our sheep grazing on the lovely new olive leaves.
                                   Pretty radical..but was necessary.
                                     They didnt know which way to turn,there is so many branches

 There are a few more trees on the left side to prune.. but the other side , will be done after next years harvest.   So you can imagine, the chain saw has been going  zuuum zuum all day long.

I really cannot find the words to thank my dear dear blogging friends who left the most loveliest of comments  for me to read , upon the death of our dearest Manuel.

There is so much i could write.   My life was like a story book.. I have all those memories close to my heart.

"That though the radiance which was once bright be forever taken from sight.

 Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass

 Glory in the flower

We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind"

William Wordsworth.

Please forgive me for not answering your wondeful comments.. they all touched my heart.
you all know that i am sure.

I need to slowly start posting again.    My friend is with the angels..
I must plant flowers.

val..

Thursday 12 December 2013

no words

Yesterday at 2pm I lost my dearest best friend and the man I have loved and shared my life with for 48 years.  Of the 48 we were married 33.. but always neighbours and good friends, and always shared things together.  We shared much in common and liked to be in each others company.  Especially on some weekend occasions when our children and grandchildren . We have travelled many roads together. 
      I am grief stricken.  

Later today we will have his vigil in the chapel ..in Viana do Alentejo.
Tomorrow he will be buried in the cemetery there.

I was not going to share this..  but  many of you out there are such wonderful blogger friends.. and always have time for me.

Say a prayer for my dear Manuel ..   I will miss him so much.. and a void has come to my life.

val


Monday 9 December 2013

sunny days

We have not had rain since the beginning of November.  It seems like spring.  
                              Looking up a plane on its way to somewhere.. the skies are blue blue blue.
                      I planted my Colombine creepers that i had in pots, but due to no rain. they are just making it. I watered everything well this morning.
             I have not pruned the roses yet. They such seem to keep blooming. This bush, the rose is about 6ft high.   I can see it will be pruning in January now.
                                My roses give me such pleasure ..and when there is a new bud.. I feel hope is always with me.
  We are all amazed at the weather.. it really is beautiful.   The rain will come when its ready.
I was in Lisbon last week, to see Mr. H.  The christmas lights are all up, chestnut vendors on the corners.. I didnt take my camera.. but such a festive air in the city.
As always however.. I am glad to be home..

Wishing you all a happy week.

val

Sunday 1 December 2013

A new store room

The little brick house you can see here, has been there for more than 4 years. Each year, I say i will extend it and make it into a proper storeroom.   Pedro my garden and all round handyman, started on Friday.  He is pretty much on his way to building up the walls.
                           Bricks arrived.,. slowly will disappear for the new walls
                    The size more or less of the little store room will be 20 x10..    I want to put some tiles on the floor.. and shelving.  Then i can buy more big boxes to put things away in.


                                       something like this.
winter clothes.  but mainly the garden furniture and sun beds.  I am getting excited, and looking forward to the end result.  I will just put a simple "lusolite" roof. 
                                cement mixer ,borrowed from my son
 Foundations setting.











And my first ton of wood has been delivered. We are having wonderful weather.. no rain but getting cold.  I have the wood burner burning bright and warming the cottage.

Thank you dear friends for staying with me.   Dear Perpetua from "Perpetually in Transit" ...has been so very helpful.  I cannot thank her enough.

Hope you all had a very happy weekend.

will be catching up with you all during this week.

Thank you Sarah..for posting for me.   It seems that its a spelling error.. lets hope all is ok now.


val