Clearing

 Sunday morning, I was woken to the sound of a tractor.   Ze . who attends my olive trees,had pruned them at the end of December, begining of this year.      The old olive branches are cut to make way for new growth.   the trees have to be hollow in the middle.   Much like a rose bush, after pruning.

                               A friend of Ze pushed and dragged the branches and put them into large piles.

                                   Slowly the left part of the land started to look like a different landscape.

                      Here is one burning pile.    We are only allowed to burn during the 3 months of winter. We still have two more piles to burn.  

         These olive trees will only give olives in 18 months. They had a good heavy pruning.   Now the fields are nearly clear, and the little yellow flowers and the tiny white daisies are popping up their heads.

                                 Spied a new flower bud ready to open on one of my geraniums .. I am amazed how some of the flowers have gone flowering through the winter.  But the garden needs some color.

                        Filipe came for a visit in the afternoon .  To give Pascoa some excercise.  We will be getting the electric fencing ready soon, for the horses to come down from the top paddock. (thought her and Shilah were pregnant, but they are not)..

    Some more progress with the store room.   We have had heavy rains with some sun inbetween.  Hoping to get another wall up this next weekend.

      And so the days are busy around "Quintinha das Rosas"..  Here you can see how the land looks so different with the bare olive trees.  
I am finding that the plants are growing fast.  I started this inner garden about 8 years ago.  The bushes and flowers and trees have grown.  There is so much to attend too.

Its been cold and rainy again these last two days.

Hope that all my dear blogging friends are safe.   Lots of bad weather traveling the world.

Wishing you a good week.

val

A sunday story

An aquired taste.

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

Tea has always fascinated me.    Principally the bush and the process of how it arrives on our shelves, and the very very hard work and labour that is put into the processing.

I became taken with tea, on my first visit to the Island of Ceylon-  with my parents. 

Ceilao was was given its name by the Portuguese who arrived there in 1505.

 High up above on the hills of Candy and its surroundings.   I saw, my first magnificent sight of a tea plantation.  The memories of those days stayed with me. Of Ceylon, visiting  twice their after on our travels.  

 I learnt much about tea throughout the years.

High tea at my parents house was a tradition .      They were wonderfully exciting sundays.  My mother would always have a variety of cakes ..and little petit sandwiches for sunday tea. It was when we caught up with all our news of the week, and became together as a family. 

  During the 32 years  of my married life.  Tea  became an integral part of my life too.    So much so, that at one point, in the late Mr. M's life and mine.  I started to collect teapots.

There was also was a purpose behind the buying and collecting of my tea pots.!
Together with another couple of good friends.  I decided one fine Sunday to ask good friends to tea.
And so started our weekly sunday get together's at 4.
We called it our " Tea tasting Sundays" -

 My mother being a tea freak and addict.  She knew just about every tea that was on the markets.Often going to the Indian market or the Chinese food store to buy.  

 I had a good background on tea buying it.  I do like to think so.
I love tea- but only black tea. (no milk -served as is).  
The ritual behind our ceremony, was to indulge ourselves in the tasting of various teas , experiencing the full scent and flavor of it.    Our discussions would take us to all parts of the globe.

 We went on until the evening. And so  went our sundays  for some years.  Sometimes introducing other friends to our sunday afternoon ceremony.
We took our tea the eastern and asian way.  No milk or sugar.  Milk and sugar was introduced much later onto the tea drinking scene.  The milk looses the actual flavors and aromas of the tea.

They were wonderful sundays that are  remember so well.     Not only did we drink the tea.. It was made:-(must be with boiling water,straight onto the tea leaves) left to stand and stew-timing is critical. , It has  to settle before you drink, so that you get the best .  This is how you get the quality of taste and aroma from your tea leaves.    Using a warmer tray so as not to let it get cold.   There is nothing more comforting , than sipping a hot cup of steaming tea.
  
For each tea ceremony. I would use a different tea pot.  (tea pots should never be totally washed clean inside) Some of the flavor of that particular tea will remain in that particular pot . Use a different tea pot for different teas.- You can note the difference.
  As soon as we took the lid of a pot we found  out that the aromas in the pots were different, and would fake the taste of a particular tea .
 I never use the same tea pot for different varieties of tea. Always a different pot.
Not so much now, as I have grown older and my family have flown the nest.  
I cheat a little too now and again.  I use a good blend of Assam tea bags. ( can you smell it!)

   My collection of tea pots started to grow. They were not and are still not just a collection.  On some Sundays, I still have a tea ritual with my children.
 Today being one of those days - at 4pm-  Today I am using hand picked fine tea leaves from Kenya.  Bought at a farm growing it now on the high hills not far from where I used to live.  Given to me by my close cousin  who lives  not far also from this same area in S.A. Its a deliciously flavored and aromatic.

 The top photo is of a small collection of my tea pots , I just picked for this post. I possibly have around 25 tea pots .(all in my china cupboard)
More often than not, I would serve  and still do -chinese tea, along with Indian tea - our ceremonies we used both.
  Tea from southern and northern China- Jlangbel . jlangnan - tea plantations reaching south to the Yangtze river. This tea is excellent.

 Tea has been with us for more than 5000 years.   China is still the top producer of tea today. Pu'er from the Yunnan province being the most famous. I like its very deep rich black flavor.

 Our Tea ceremony sundays ,were just simply great times that we had.   After about 4 or 5 months into it.  We decided to add a cake into the ritual.    Here is where it became even more interesting.
 The husbands had to bake a cake.   They were not allowed ,( by wives vote) ,to bake just ordinary cakes.  They had to produce something exotic , aromatic , moist and fruity.     It really was so much fun.
The 4 of us being good friends.  The "Tea Ceremony" brought us all closer together.   Wonderful days to remember of my years in Africa.

      Picking tea from the bushes in China.  Tea bushes are grown on the slopes  in a semi tropical areas with mist and special climates.

 Fresh   new tea buds.  The little tiny buds are the ones that make the finest tea.

 Catarina of Bragança - Born 25th november 1638- In Vila Viçosa   Alentejo.
                            Catherine's marriage to Charles the ll of England is well known to us all.  She was a good and gracious Queen. She married at the age of 23.

The duke of Bragança Dom Duarte of Bragança- is a direct descendent and cousin to the Royal house of England.

The Jesuit priests , who were trading merchants in China. Bringing silks and ceramics back home . It was these priests who  most probably introduced tea into Portugal.
It was used as a medicinal drink.    "Cha´) is for tea in Chinese.  In Portuguse Tea is Cha´.

Catherine of Bragança is also famous for not only being the Queen of England,Scotland and Ireland- but is also known for introducing tea into England- It was her preferred drink .

This imposing painting above (courtesy) is of Catherine - painted by -Benedetto Gennari.


My father always used to say " A cup of tea or two a day, indeed keeps the doctor away"-  He lived until he was 89- My mother until she was 84- They both drank around 4 cups of tea a day.

In some medical circles, it is said that tea is not good for you.  This I have heard often.
I do so wish that knowing and learning the benefits of tea.. One would know that drinking tea is the healthiest drink after water.

My preferred tea is Chinese tea .     Although I enjoy to  drink Indian tea - my favorite of the indian teas being Assam.    The fine tea tips are full of rich goodness , with a captivating smell and aroma.
Tea was introduced to India much later . It became a very lucrative trade. The Chinese holding the monopoly over the trade.  
  The British east india company imported it into India, later in large quantities.

The seeds had been imported from China.    There are earlier recollections of drinking tea in India before the colonization.  The plant was known as Sanjeevani..also used for medicinal purposes.

Today in our 21st century.  All types of tea are grown.   Many names are given.  Some good some not so good.  The new teas with aromas, of many different tastes are now offered on the shelves.

For me .  There is only one tea.   That is the black fine tea from China and India.

 Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday.      Enjoy your afternoon tea - Savour each sip.  Its medicinal happiness in a cup.

val

"Beata's soup"

Our sky  an hour ago.  Its been threatening to rain again.  We are having a few hours of respite. I think the clouds look spectacular. Hiding behind them is mr. sun.

                                         Heavy accumulation of rain clouds getting low over the horizon of the garden

                             I went to buy a few groceries yesterday. Mainly vegetables.   I had promised myself a nice soup for a couple of days.  On the way home.  I saw this 50k per hour.. sign. obviously workmen.  We dont get many around here. Usually the telephone or electric techs.

 Further along before the entrance to my "Quinta! were long long tubes of green and black piping next to it. I stopped to asked one of the workers, what they were doing.   He told me that its the telephone company.  We will be getting -Fibre Optics in the village.

                Our little village is moving up in the technical world of communication.  I have satellite tv. both English and Portuguese.   So possibly when this is all finished. I might be able to get the cable.. more choice of channels .   Not in a hurry.  As I have so many channels already.  I only watch a few. It will also improve internet also.

Turning into the dirt road to my home.    Farmer Daniel's barley is so so green and thriving on this rain.
After my shopping, I met up with a friend.  So the soup was on the back burner.

       After taking the shots of the sky and seeing the rain on its way again.   The soup making came off the back burner.     We all make soups.   I have seen some delicious soups that some of my blogging friends have posted.    I never make the same soup twice.  I might make it , but adding another twist. I like to taste the outcome of adding something different.

 More or less.. a quarter of a cup of pure olive oil into your frying pan.  Add one large chopped onion  with 3 cloves of garlic and cut up into pieces fresh bacon.   Stir and stir.. do not let it fry.  Its "sauted", for about 4 min.

                   Dice the amount of carrots that you would like to put into your soup.  I love carrots in my soups, and meals.

        Add the carrots to the saute'd onions ,bacon and garlic.  Keep stiring

                                    slice your sausage. The amount you want. depending on how many people.

                Add  1 or 2 sliced fresh sausages..  I never measure my ingredients.  I cook by what i call "My feeling"- As did my mother .  So you can use your own amount of what you like. I use a wooden spoon with all my cooking.  I also use it to bake my cakes.  No modern gadgets for cooking or baking. I enjoy the challenge of simple cooking, with simple kitchen utensils.  The only gadget I have is the blender.

                         Here you have transfered all the saute ingredients to a large soup pan.

                          Add your potatoes + the amount of water that you would like. Thick or thin.! Let this all cook for about 4 min ..

             Then add your butternut and cabbage.  I just used half of each and less potatoes this time round. Again use the amount you want.

                             The cabbage and butternut added.  Salt ,pepper

                                                 Its looking and smelling delicious.  It will be an early supper for me today.

This recipe, you can add the vegetables that you like.   I make it with butter beans too. or chic peas, noodles..   I call it "Beata's soup"   Beata is a friend of mine in the Algarve from Germany. I have made it often as I said, but in various different ways.   Today I will be topping it with parmageno cheese and a dash of worcester sauce.

MMMMMMMMMM

Hope you like the recipe. 

cold spell

              Our skies are heavy and full of rain clouds.  Its been raining on and off, but yesterday and today, the heaven's have opened.    The photo above, I took on Thursday morning. I couldn't see the bottom of the land.   Mother nature was telling me, get inside and get cosy again.

  This morning i took these photos through my lounge window.. If you look carefully near the cut olive branches on the left of the photo you will see an Iberian blue winged magpie.. There were many of them flying around here this morning.  I have often put them on posts.  Its raining so hard, i wasnt able to see further. You can see how the wind has blown my fence netting down.

                             Taken at 10am this morning, another rain cloud. This one is here to stay for a few days , so the weather man tells us.  
We cant have it all.   I am not complaining. As sometimes its a nice feeling to put on the side lamps and sit by the fire ..and ponder on the day, and maybe think about some new projects.
    At this time of the year, mid winter, there is not much going on here in our rural area. We do need the water, to fill the dam's and our wells.  

 I am now waiting for some sunnier day's to try and slip out and get these bulbs and seedlings in the ground.  I bought them at the hardware store on sale.

                            Got three Hyacinths in jam jars.  With some sun, hoping I will have a nice smell soon around the cottage.

I know that many of you are experiencing bad weather. I wish you all a pleasant weekend and stay safe.

And so the wheel turns dear friends.  Before we know it Spring will be upon us.

val

Winter days

                        Cloudy skies , sometimes getting a peek of the sun, windy and some rain

                                           moving sky over the olive trees.

                                  The sun was out on Thursday..My neighbors sheep soaking up some of the suns rays.  Egrets looking for a feast.

                                       The little white daisies look like snow. They are popping up all over now.

                                         Flowers on my bottle brush tree, with new buds and leaves . This tree grows very fast.

                                      Seeds pods on the oleander bushes. I have had lots of little new trees grown from the wind blowing them to other parts of the garden.
                                                     Started the rose pruning on Friday.

                                       All bushes are now pruned and some have tiny new growth already. You can see how windy its been, with the leaves all over the bark.

                      While cutting the excessive oleander branches yesterday.. I found this magnificent winter Yellow rose.  A sign for me, of hope and new good things to come.   I had to hold my arms up high to take the photo.

Light pink roses I painted(oil) last year. The frame was a gift from Mr. M. He has a yellow rose painting of mine hanging in his lounge. He really loved it when i finished it.. So I gave it to him .
Filipe loves it. So it will continue to be cherished.

Maybe a nice new yellow painting.! Feeling inspired












Here at "Quintinha das Rosas" - We are well into winter garden mode.  Not much happens during these unpredictable days. So when its dry, I try to get as much done as i can.
 These last 3 days have been clearing, pruning, cutting back.  Still a way to go. Thanks to Pedro and Maria.
we all got through a big clean up yesterday.  Lots of burning to do , when the rain subsides.

Can you smell the scent of my rose.! Blowing it to you all. I wish you a delightful peaceful Sunday.


What have you my dear blogging friends been up to these days.  Some of you experiencing very heavy winter days.
Thanking you all for your kind comments over at Val's  Alentejo.

Val