scent in the air

It's a beautiful day here today.  Still a little nip in the air.  Within the last two weeks my roses that were buds , have been slowly opening.   I am so happy when I see another rose open.  

                                   3 of my 5 yellow rose bushes.  How could something so perfect not lift ones spirits!   Our weather patterns have been up and down.  Lots of rain last week, a little sun then cloudy. Its still not stable.  We have had a very cold April.

                                      A different yellow rose- more  orangey in the middle. I have shown this one before Its grows to about five or 6ft tall the bush.

 This rose the outer bud petals are a reddy orange and then it blooms totally yellow. When I married mr. M . I had 18 yellow roses.

                                     This is a white rose, that slowly begins to get a very very light pinky tinge. Its scent is intoxicating.

                                   I  put cut some of the white roses and brought them into Olive cottage. Its smelling so sweet and lovely.  Roses just brighten my day.     My flowers are blooming fast.   I have some clearing and clean up to do during this next week.  I have a feeling that we will just go into hot summer days.

                                    While taking my photos and cutting my roses- I caught sight of my two love birds ... I can tell you, they really are in love.  They brush next to each other , rub beaks together. I sometimes wish i had a hidden video camera to watch more of their antics.   I was surprised to see that they don't fly off now, when the dogs are in the garden.  They seem to always like this side of the fence.

                            Early this morning - I decided on cutting some more flowers for the house.. The very large pink one in the middle, gives a very beautiful scent too.     Giving my roses more fertilizer this last year.. has worked.  They love to be fed, and well tended.

                                             This vase doesn't show them all.  There is a very light orange one to the right..

                               Just watching the doves and the birds that fly around is a blessing ..

Sweet scented peace is all around me today.    I wish you all  a very blessed Sunday.

Freedom celebrations

Today marks the 40th celebration year of the 25th of April coup - in 1974.

This day is very very special for the Portuguese people. And those who fought for freedom.

It is well documented in the history books.  In fact, there were new History books printed for the school children after the revolution was ended.

A Military coup- overthrew the regime. It was composed of high ranking Military officers, and Navy . Who opposed the regime. On the stroke of Midnight 25th April 1974.   A song was played on the radio.  "Grandola Villa Morena"- this was the password for the forces to move into the central government areas -tanks and soldiers.

                                     Images (courtesy) of soldiers with carnations in their rifles. The people were as you can imagine. Speechless at how it all took place.  No one but the military officers knew.. It was upon their command and the playing of the song.. That it all began.  Today, people are celebrating with pic-nics and family time. Watching the parades ..
                       I was born in a free country.    To read and hear the stories of some of the people , who went through that time.  It soul chilling.

 Crowds gathered all over the City Monuments all  over the country.
Portugal had been under a Fascist dictatorship for more than 60 years.   The coup is known as a bloodless coup.
The Military led interim government . Returned democracy to Portugal.  
Ending the unpopular Colonial wars.

Today Portugal is a true Democracy.  It's people free to choose their own political beliefs and party. To go and come as they please.

                                                             Not   one shot  was fired.

My thoughts today, are with the countless millions of people all over the world , that still live without Freedom -or human rights.  May they one day know what freedom is.
Also to the great men and woman who fight and still fight  for democracy and Freedom.

                                     Freedom is the core of democracy.  Without Freedom we are nothing.

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

      In June of the same year 1974.. Mr. M and me built our first home in Portugal.   I cannot believe that 40 years have passed already.

If you have the time :- The 25th of April revolution - is very interesting reading.

Wishing you all a very Happy Weekend.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post.                                              

Happy Easter

 Wishing all my blogging friends a very Happy Blessed Eater Sunday.

Thank you for all your comments on my last post.. apologies for not replying to them..

Life seems to be taking over. I am so busy, I cant keep up.
  My grand nephew arrived to spend 8 days with me.  Its been a very busy time.  

                    I took these photos on Wed.  Hardy and Jeffrey-Cassidy are getting used to Vouga  the giant.

                                         sniffing around

                                                   Jeffrey and Vouga are getting along fine.

                                            Wondering what is outside the fence.

               I let Vouga out of his enclosure now and again.. into my garden.  He gets very excited, he is slowly settling down..very loving.   They will be getting an easter treat later.

                                          HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY TO ALL.
                                                      Love and lots of easter eggs ..

Together always

Now and again ,my family of doves fly around near the cottage.  These two seem to enjoy sitting on the patio wall.  I watched them both for a while.  There was communication for sure between these two.. 

                                                   having a good discussion

                         The female is playing coy with the male.. she is on the right.  can you see the blue magpie.

                                                 now closer and enjoying each other

                                                                kissing and telling each other - we will always be together.

 Wishing all my blogging  friends a very happy Monday.

 Peace and love to you all.

just peeping through!

lOnly a few days ago, it was raining really hard. Last weekend up until wednesday. Slowly Mr sun has been showing his face.    

Today its already 18 or 19º

Most of my rose bushes have been slowly filling up with buds.  When I see this my excitement grows.  I know now that its really spring.

                                     The leaves are glossy and shiny - looking healthy - I notice that some of the roses the bugs dont eat the leaves. Maybe not juicy enough for them.

                          I have been busy these last couple of days. Having to go out sorting paper work out for the new car.  I haven't really paid much attention to the roses..  I was thrilled to see these few had already opened.      This bush is a hardy bush.. it has red tips and an orangy hue about it.

                                                  A reddy pink one starting to open

                              The white ones are coming on.. They start of as yellow buds then turn as they get bigger into white..   I have detected some  beetles this morning.. so it will be spraying this afternoon.

My Fuschia bush is growing so large. nearly every leaf has a bloom ready to open



I am sure most of you will remember on many of our posts that we complained so much about the rain.   I should imagine that we will have a few more April showers! But  I know over the weekend I will have to water the garden.  Are we ever satisfied. !


I am moving into Olive Cottage today.  I have started to pack.  The same old routine every year.
Guests arriving next month.   So lots of painting , cutting back the bigger oleander trees, and getting Rose Cottage ready for summer.
Always something happening around Quintinha das Rosas

Hope you all have a wonderful day.      Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post.
I do my best to get around to you all.


Happy days

val

Hydrangeas!!! & Azores

 The Azores - Archipelago.. 

 Officially the first islands were discovered in the 15th century by Portuguese  explorer Gonçalo Velho Cabral.

  I am sure that you all know about these beautiful islands.   Magical islands indeed.   The islands are situated on the mid atlantic ridge.
The photos (all courtesy) I am showing you are of the Island of FIAL. (Ilha Azul- Blue Island)
Fial, was the first Island that we arrived at on our epic sail from South Africa to Europe.   We were there for a month.  Which gave us time to get to know some of the people near to the harbor and the old town.

The Fial of today, is nothing like the Fial of the 80's..   It now boasts a marina and lots of new shops and tourism has become prosperous.

A volcanic Island.  It is well documented about the 1 year eruption on the Island in Capelinhos(little chapel)  Erupting on september the 27th 1957  until October 24th 1958.   It lasted 13 months.

Walking up to Capelinhos.. one is just walking on dusty paths, but my gosh.  What an incredible sight to see .
 I can imagine  Mars, must look like this!  There is nothing there..nothing grows.  A very eerie experience, that one never forgets.
The eruption destroyed 300 homes.  During this period of eruption 2.000 people emigrated to the USA and Canada.   In the US.. There are many Azorean fishermen ,with their large fishing vessels that live and fish in Cape Cod.  Mr. M and myself, had the pleasure of meeting some of these lovely families, on one of our trips to the US.
 Their children now 2nd and 3rd Generation Americans.   The same in Canada.  During the summer months.. many of the children come and visit the Islands where their grandparents had once lived.

      My main reason for writing this post today.    I have been thinking about our magnificent hydrangeas that we grew in our garden in South Africa, they were gigantic and the pride of our garden.
 We lived about an hour away from the city of Durban 2000 miles above sea level.  High up the hydrangeas grew to enormous sizes.
This lead me to start thinking this week, about planting some hydrangeas here in my garden .
My D.I.L Heleen has some growing their  Alfange Estate., their heads dont get very big.. but still they seem to do well.  So, they will be my next flower that I hope to plant.  I do hope they take.. i will have to see. They for sure, will not be anything like the size of the ones we had in S.A or the ones growing in the Azores.

FIAL. is known world wide for the abundance of wild hydrangeas growing everywhere , especially so in the town of Horta.   Along the roadsides, up on the hills all over the island the flowers can be seen. A sight for sore eyes, especially in the summertime. I have never seen so many.
Mainly blue hydrangeas .- as  Gonçalo Velho Cabral named the island "Hortensia"  Hortense in English is Hydrangea! Hence the town of Horta.

                                           A map of the Island of FAIL..  we were moored in Horta.

                                            Breathtaking views. Great climate

                                                  Hydrangeas everywhere.  Horta's fields are just thriving and full of these magnificent flowers.

                                                        Breathtaking.

                                                  "Capelinhos" Is the town where the volcano erupted.
 The Azores Islands have some of the tallest mountains on the planet. Measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean , to their peaks. Which are high above the surface of the Atlantic ocean.

When sailing. and the islands come into view. It is a very dramatic view and a feeling that one cannot describe.   One's heart swells with excitement, happiness, lots of feelings all rolled into one.. after the screaming and shouting..  Out comes the rum to salute the captain on his fine  sailing abilities.  We never had any electronic equipment on board.. We sailed over 10.500 nautical miles.

                                                       So so beautiful,,,,,

The Azores Archipelago is made up of  10 Islands.
             Covo
             Fial
             Flores
             Graciosa
             Pico
             Santa Maria
             Sao Jorge
             Sao Miguel
             Formiga
             Terçeira -  Terceira is the main Azores air zone command .  A detachment of the USA airforce have their planes there.  The Americans have always had planes on Terçeira.. NATO. forces.

                                       This is the "Yachties" wall at the harbor of Fial.    Passing sailors on their yachts paint whatever they feel they would like to paint -about your yacht , your crew whatever.  You can see the main church in the distance..  Manel painted his interpretation of "Scally" on this wall.

The Azorian's  , have their own dialect, that even for a native Portuguese speaker is hard to grasp until some time or  a few days ,until you get to understand the dialect.   They have their own cusine and traditions.  
Very lovely hospitable people.  We made good friends there.
My youngest son Filipe- plays his classic music  once or twice a month at Peter's sports cafe in Horta.. a very very well known cafe , with the sailing fraternity ... Peter We knew, died some years ago.  A world renown "Scrimshaw" artist.. His son also Peter, now runs the cafe.. He has opened one in Lisbon too.    Peter is very generous for Filipe's flight and two nights there. Let me say- he always wants Filipe back.

Dear friends.. I could of course go on and on about my travels.  Today its about beautiful Fial.. and if you are thinking of an exotic place to visit and have a holiday..  Keep Fial in mind.

(all photos -courtesy of wikipedia)-

I would like to thank all my kind blogging friends for your comments on my last post.
I have been a little behind with comments and posting.

I hope you enjoyed a little journey to Horta Fial.. !

Wishing you all a wonderful week.   val

Rain,rain,rain

I am now at a loss as to what to think about the weather.   The rain ,wind and cold weather is back again.  Mother nature, only gave us a couple of days respite.    There is nothing one can do, especially in the garden, where there is always things to do.      Its like a lake outside .   But have to remember its April.  And April showers come our way.

                                    I took this photo from my window.. you cant see anything.. its just pouring down.

                                    On the other hand,its good for my plants and trees. My pomegranate tree is full of new leaves.

                     Filipe , was down for the weekend.   We decided to go out for Sunday lunch. It was laughter and happiness all the way, with an extra few glasses of wine.

                                   Val, Filipe, Filipe's fiançe Diana, and my grandaughter Maria(Filip's) daughter.
 We go to our favorite restaurant.   Great atmosphere, and they know us so well.
 Filipe finally worked out how to take an automatic photo with my camera.. placed it on the table opposite and ran to be with us.. we laughed our heads off.
Such a lovely weekend.  Even though I say it myself.. I think this is such a happy photo.

 Off to make a coffee.    Wishing you all a happy 1st of April.

val