Some days of bewilderment!!!

 The blue azure magpies are here again.  These two seem to be male adults.   A cheeky bird, but i love to see them.

Monday, started of with a post.  Maybe some of you read it.  "A Strange day"..... I woke Monday morning, with a strange feeling.  One of those days, when you can't just put your finger on what it is.  

I put my toast in the toaster, and it burnt. I went to answer he phone and my tea went cold.   The sun was peeping through then disappearing - a very odd day indeed.    I went for a walk during a break from the light rainfall and took some photos of the wild flowers growing in my fields outside my inner garden.  And so the day passed.   At around 4pm , the same day.  I decided I would go to the shops to just buy in a few things.  I changed my shoes and went to my car. When I tried to start my car. I realized that the battery was flat.  Oh.. saying to myself " it really is a strange day"..  I phoned a friend , to tell her what had happened.   We continued to talk about the weather and how it cant decide to settle.

 Upon putting the phone down.  I called Pedro, my handyman.  "Please Pedro, can you come after work and see what has happened to my car battery"- I must have left the lights on or something. ( I had only replaced the battery 6 months ago.  "Ok, he replied."-  He arrived at 5.30 with Maria his wife. As I had also asked them to buy me a loaf of fresh bread.

 Pedro , duly took my jump leads and connected my battery to his.  Something he has done many many times.   He then came inside.. and said to me, that it would take some minutes.

                        (interlude here)   Fresh farm eggs from the big farm.  Mr. M had and there still are now for Filipe lots of hens.  I dont eat too many, but felt that I would like a nice boiled egg tomorrow.)

                                  I think this is honeysuckle.. not sure.. was surprised to see it hiding behind the growth.

                                                          A near perfect daisy from my daisy bush.

Its been about 12º most of the day.

Rain clouds forming at around 2.30pm.. Its drizzling already.

 A few minutes past.  And I heard a loud pop, bang-  I looked at Pedro and Maria, and we all rushed outside to my car.   The car had blown up.   YES DEAR FRIENDS BLOWN UP.  I thought a bomb had dropped on it.   In all my years of having cars, I have never every heard of it or seen anything like this.

                     My poor little Fiesta. She has been so very reliant and faithful to me.
I phoned the fire department. They were a little slow in arriving.  When they did arrive, the big truck, could not get through my gates.  The firemen ran up with the extinguishers.. to help Pedro and my neighbor , who by this time were dowsing the fire.  No sooner had they dowsed it..then sparks and fire came out of somewhere else.    I was in a daze.

Photos speak for themselves.    The Tow truck is coming to collect it over the weekend.

And on a positive note  " my son Manel , said " well ,mum... it sure went out with a bang"-
I was lucky that no one got hurt.  The police left at 8.30, after taking statements. As if you call the fire department, they have to know why and make a report.

A very strange week indeed.   The whole affair has still left me in bewilderment.

I hope to start March, with a new chapter, better weather, some sort of car.   I really am thinking about a donkey and cart.):-

Wishing you all a good week and entry into March.

val

           

A strange day

This morning , the sun came beaming through the windows.  I woke to the blackbirds  singing their love songs and the doves  cooing, sparrows twittering.   

Up early .. opened the curtains to greet  Mr  sun.  

 My heart skipped a beat, at how beautiful the sky looked , how bright the morning was. Were we getting a break in the weather !. Could it be, that I perhaps could  start thinking about planting some new flowers.  Spring is getting closer , I thought,  I could feel it in the air.

Then just as quickly as the sun had been with us.   It decided to rain. 

 The heavens opened up and it poured for some hours.  The sun was short lived, and the birds were silent.  The ground wet and soaked again.

Then just as the sun had gone.. It came  out again in all its shining  glory -  It was at this point , I thought.  What a very strange day.  In fact, its been strange weather on and off for over a week now.

Changing .. with camera in hand.  I decided to go for a  around the  fields next to the house . They are looking lovely.  Still very wet, but the afternoon sun, brought the plants to life.
   Again my heart skipped a beat.  How lucky I am to live amongst such wonderful fields of green.   Full of all kinds of different wild little flowers.     I have no idea of their names.  Except for the Margarida, and the dandilion !    
Each little flower , I am sure.  Can tell a tale of how the fairies live there amongst them.

Beautiful natural colors of nature.  No paintbrush could ever paint.

                                     I loved this one.  2 tiny little red type of leaves..  

 I returned to the house feeling like a spring chicken.. hop skip and jump.   The dogs of course loved it.
 When it started to rain.  I had already taken two books from my shelves.. and was going to settle down to an afternoon of reading.
How much better, to be out in the open air.   Seems like such a long winter.-  I enjoyed my walk .

Two good books.  I recommend.  Maybe many of you know about the wisdom of Deepak Chopra.  I enjoy his wise words .  As a positive thinker, I enjoy to read his books.  

  The book above is about re-inventing the body.. the way we eat and live daily.  Mind over matter -  positive thoughts and actions.  

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

The other book foods for moods...- this is an excellent book.  Ideal to keep next to you and read a few pages or chapters at a time.   It helps us understand the way in which food can affect our mind and mood. 

My books ready for the evening.. I then went to make myself a hot cup of Camaille tea.  Just perfect to end the afternoon of a very strange day.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

val

A spring like special day.

Activity around Quintinha das Rosas today.  

 Mother nature has given us a respite once more.   There is a brisk breeze blowing, the sun is out.  Pedro was here early morning and  more work has been done on the store room.  We are both pleased with the progress. It will come in so handy during the summer months. 

                       I decided to put a white aluminium window in.  I will be able to keep the store room less humid in the winter months with this addition.  The door will be maroon. my D.I.L   H. had a spare one ..so I was lucky there, didnt have to have one made.

           This side of the property.  Where I live during summer in Olive Cottage, needs some clearing and tidying up.     Jeffrey looking on , while I take the photo.      Taking the photo 3 fighter migs flew low over our area.  Such excitement to see them whizz through the sky like a rocket. Pedro and me were waving - we must look like little ants to the pilots.
Portugal, was neutral during the second world war.  So the Germans made an airforce base in the City of Beja.  -- Their planes flew lower than the alied radars.  The migs are based there at the airport today.
of course. Portugal making up part of NATO now. And a member of the common market.

Balloons for a special boy.  Its my second son's birthday today.

MIGUEL STANLEY. born 21st February 1973 in Durban South Africa.   Daddy M. is holding him tight here.
Always and still is a happy boy. Full of life and loved very much by us all.
His published book is about - How to live healthy through happiness. 

                                             A photo from some years ago.  A rare photo of my three sons together.
 I do miss , very much family times together.  When they do happen. I am in seventh heaven.
   My children all grown up now, with their own children. And so the wheel of life turns on.
  It seems like another life time ago that I was a mother with 4 children, running a home and all that goes with bringing them up.   I loved every minute of it.
  
      Miguel is on the right of the  photo, Filipe in the middle, and Manel on the left.

D.I.L -  Sasha, even though very worried at the moment about her family in the Ukraine. As we are too.   Has organised a wonderful event for this evening in Lisbon .

                                   I have to brag a little here-  I am so so proud of Miguel. He has dedicated the last 22 years to his profession as a Dental Surgeon.. He runs a very successful clinic and has tv programmes .... I have written about Miguel before, He married our dear Sasha in August last year.
  Now and again,  mummies are allowed to brag! - I am sure you will agree.!

 For me, the greatest gift of all.  Is that all my 4 children are very very close and love one another. Their faces light up when they are together.  Laughter fills  our homes, with the sound of the grandchildren too.   -  That is so wonderful, I am so lucky.    It brings me peace knowing  that it will always be like this.
This morning I also wished that Mr. M. could have been with us.  He is however watching and smiling from up above.      Happy Birthday my son.

                               ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,......................................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

A respite in the weather

Not much been happening around my Quinta.  The weather has been shocking.  As it has been in many other areas around the world.  This year it rained and rained.. my ground in many areas is just waterlogged. I have lost a few bushes.  I am hoping that when the sun comes out warm and smiling.  My plants will smile too.

                                                                        My daffodils have been slow in coming through.  I was pleased to see yesterday that I have a couple of heads .    This morning the sun is shining.. no rain in sight. So we might be getting a respite from up above.

                                    My snap dragon is looking healthy and has a couple of heads on it.

                                  I have shown you a few images i took of my Fuschia.. Its growing like wildfire - it has been blooming with one or two flowers all through the winter.  I seem to have put it in a place it likes.

                         A rainy day over the weekend.  I saw bird poop on my kitchen window sill.  So I thought to myself. Put some bread there , and see what bird it is that is making this mess.

                  Here he is.   A beautiful   male blackbird.  I was sitting having my herbal camemile tea, just relaxing with my arm.. have had a few twinges in for some days. When I heard.. tap, tap, tap.. I didn't give much thought to it.  But it came again. tap tap tap.   I peeped around to the kitchen window and there he was, tapping at my window. I went to get my camera , and stealthily tried to take a photo.   I can tell you, that It took me over an hour to take these couple of photos.. He knew I was there watching him.

                                  Blackbirds are very intelligent.  You can catch them and teach them to speak.  Young friends of Filipe - used to have a couple.  Dont see it any more.  They mimick and are very clever.

                                                                                He cought my eye.. it was amazing we both froze and i clicked as quick as I could

                          He was off like a shot.   His wings opening here and he flew away.

                                 This morning saw this bird on my pool cover.  drinking from the collected rain water.  Never seen it before.      You can see from the photo, how wet and damp it is around .  I dont like this time of the year.

                               Anyone know what type of Bird it is.  !!!!

  Looking forward to catching up with you all.
Wishing you the rest of a wonderful happy week.


val

Weather cycles come and go

Our skies heavy with rain clouds. Its been non stop rain . Interludes now and again . Then it returns together with winds and heavier rain.

               Not to complain really, as the fields are becoming greener and greener.  Lots of food for the horses when we move them down to my pastures.

               My pebble area in the front garden -  It seems a collection point.  The ground is more clay here, so it collects quicker.

                               puddles everywhere.
This february , I would say, is the worst I have known for many years.  It's not so much the rain, although bad.   Its the cold.  Its been bitterly cold.    Our temperatures going down to 3º --

                         This is a familiar image for many of you.   It is the only place that the Blue winged azure magpie likes to fly down to.    I watched them for over an hour.  They are a beautiful bird.  They swoop down in groups of around 4.  Take the bread i leave then fly off.   They are very alert and quick
Once they see me at my kitchen window, off they fly.

                  Pedro cut the grass last month.   Its ready for another cut.  I can't see that happening for a while.  The land is soaking wet.

        Pedro also spent a day building up the walls last week. We had a few hours respite so , cement mixer was on and he was able to do a few hours work.  Its coming along really well.   You can see that the right side of the little store room is higher than the other.  That is where we will put the beams .. I have decided on wooden beams.   You can also see there is a cut in the back wall.  That was the small original store room.  I have made it bigger - ordered the aluminium window.  I have the door, and floor tiles. Had them for some years.  I am happy with this project. Its going forward.  Advancement in this area. Lots more to do, but slowly does it. We will get there.


So as the cycle of winter is still with us.  Our weather man tells us , that this weather is here to stay for another week.

In The North of Portugal. In the seaside town of Nazare and along that coastline.
waves of over 100ft hit the promanade entering the road .  and flooding the streets.
In Porto.. High waves entered the river front and swept cars up like a thimble and carried them down the road.
You might have seen on the tv. a Brazilian riding the biggest largest wave in recorded history. In Nazare.  A very very dangerous coast during winter.      The American surfer- Mac Namara. comes every year to ride the big waves.

I am not sure what bird this is.  It looked like a kite- but could have been a hawk.  It was hovering for sometime over the area.. it must have seen something on the ground.  It was there with two others for a while.

 Amazed at how my Fuschia has survived so long.  It has a flower on it just about every week. See how the leaves are thriving.


Thinking of all my dear blogging friends, who are being affected by the floods in England, blizzards in America, monsoon's in india- such bad bad weather this year all over.   Climate change is upon us.

I have only been out once this week. Its just so bad.  

Wishing you all a relaxed and cosy weekend wherever you are.


val