Roses

ROSES IN MY GARDEN

The 7 single  rose images below, and the two rose  bushes after them, are  growing in areas of my garden. 

Those of you who follow me, know that I have 5 hectares here of olive grove.

When moving here to my little cottage and re building .. I decided to make , what I call " My inner garden".. I fenced off an area , so it would be private , and just for my garden and pool.   Also so that  the horses cannot get in.

 My love for roses started, when I lived in South Africa..   I loved buying  large  bunches of roses for  myself and my mother usually on a friday, from our local corner store.  I remember saying to myself.  One day I will grow them.   At that time, I was well into growing hydrangeas .. feeding them to see how large they could grow.. they too are a lovely plant.  They dont do well here in our Alentejo climate.

Here now was my chance ,never  having grown roses before.    I decided that I would give it a try. 

   I now have one  area with 15 bushes.  - Another area with 10 bushes , and  another area with  11 bushes.  All mixed.   I have no idea of their names.  They are just so lovely to look at and I am lucky I can pick my own and have them around the house.

I never though, that I would enjoy growing them and tending them so much.  

Some of you will remember, that earlier in the summer.   Many of my bushes were burnt with the extreme onset of high temperatures in our weather.

Giving them a good pruning and plenty of fertilizer.  I worked on them for over a week. Then the next week feeding them again.   Roses like us, love to be fed.     It's now the end of August and I am getting a nice show again.  Its an on going job.  Deadheading, clipping, and spraying.  

This is a trellis design a friend in S.A sent me.  I rather like it.  Would love to have one in my garden. 

                                                 Zoom in , and here are a few tips on how to prepare the soil.


I have shown you this Rose book before.  Its like my bible.   Its well written, has mostly everything one needs to know about roses in it.    I take it from my shelf regularly to read up. Always something new to discover when growing roses.

I took this image from one of the pages.. I like to think, that I am getting close to growing that perfect rose. Maybe one day. !

When my friend sent me the cuttings from the magazine.. she wrote."Val, all you need now is this outfit..Rose blouse and rose slacks.    );- I laughed .. will have to look for a pair!!!

                                          Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.  Whatever you are doing.


                                                                                      Val

47 years ago today. Blog for my son Manuel.

It was around 8 pm ,as I can recall on a wednesday  .   Calling  to Manuel.-  "Lets be off, Ohh Ohh, my  contractions have started".  Hospital bag was ready.  Off we drove to  "Mother's Hospital" about 20 min away, in Durban City. -  

Manuel jnr. was born at 10.30pm that same night. (arrived just in time)

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

What joy it was to be told- " its was a boy"- Manuel snr, as you can imagine, was beaming from here to there. 

  In those days.   We never asked what sex it was.  Maybe the modern day machines were not out then.!  It was a normal delivery . Very quick . Manel  was born 9 and 3quarter pounds.. yes..!!! He was a big   Was kept in the incubator overnight.. and was presented to me early the next morning.  I remember, just holding him in my arms, as the tears ran down my cheeks. Another blessed gift from our dear Lord. 

.............. 

I remember the midwife, used to listen to my tummy to hear if baby was still ok and heart beating , checking me over . The midwives did everything in those days.    Using  a long device she would  put  her ear to my tummy .   I am sure many of you will remember this.!  

  Mother's hospital, was run by the Salvation Army.  It was a wonderful small , but well run maternity hospital.  

..........

 Sadly, on my last visit to S.A   5 years ago.. I found out that a big new building was erected where Mothers used to be.  I can tell you, it brought a few tears again to my eye.  Two of my children had been born there.  I went along to see it to take some photos. Sad in a way. 

47 years ago today.. My eldest son. Manuel Francisco was born.      We named him after  great grandfather-grandfather  and father Manuel.

MY THREE WONDERFUL SONS.  MANUEL IS ON THE left of the photo . FILIPE (my youngest  in the middle ) and MIGUEL on the right.     I AM BLESSED  , SO VERY BLESSED.    THEY ARE SUCH LOVING BOYS.   MOST OF ALL IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO KNOW THAT ALONG WITH THEIR SISTER- ANTONIA, THEY ARE THE BEST OF PALS..  AND SPEND HOLIDAYS  AND MANY MOMENTS TOGETHER.
They light up my life.
Manel 's career has taken him on many a journey through the years.   Traveling the world.
He holds a high position  within his working world.
He smiles all the time- generosity goes without saying. As my eldest son.. he has been my right arm, and still is.
I love them all. 

                                                     The sun made a shadow.. Manuel with his son Max, at 2 or 3 months old.  Now he is bringing up his own children-  That in itself is a joy to see. A loving doting father and husband.

                                                                   I love this photo of Manel.  - ( Here I must tell you all , that Manuel in Portuguese, is usually shortened to Manel.)  So Manuel jnr.. is Manel.

                                                     Manel and Heleen- taken a couple of years ago.     Happily married for 23 years.    Today, Manel will be celebrating with Heleen, his brothers and his three children.. Audrey Marie, Thomas Alexander and Max Stanley.   I can imagine what they will all be up too.. ):-

A rose for you my Manel. Thank you for always being there for me. 

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

             Manel, has led an extraordinary life.    Learning to sail with his father at the tender age of 8.. by age 9, he managed the helm like a true helmsman -   He has skippered for friends in the Adriatic, and Ionian seas.   Sailed the mediterranean sea many times.      Sailed the seven seas with us all.. on our beloved " Scally"- he learnt all he knew from his father.   Manuel was a 1st class seaman having been in the Portuguese war Navy.  He too sailed the world.

He is probably sailing now today... somewhere way up high.    (he is missed)

Manel has   sailed the coast of Spain and Portugal up and down, during his teen years.  He has never stopped sailing, when time allows he  will be sailing.
                                                                              .....
     In February of this year- He sailed his beloved "phenix" to Tobago. in the Caribbean islands.
   Starting from  Lisbon to the Canaries-    Then from the  Canaries to Cabo Verde Islands.     From Cabo  Verde Islands  - direct crossing to Trinidad and Tobago.   -  "Pheonix" is now moored in Tobago.

My son in Law Paul,  my son Filipe and my grandson Thomas were crew.  So much to share with us on his return, what a great time they all had together.
  His departure was delayed.. due to the sudden death his father, who was going along with them.    
 We thought that maybe he wouldn't sail.. but it was his father Manuel's  wish , that he sailed.

    As a family, we have had and still lead a life so full, full of love and generosity, of  tales and  adventure .    A full life indeed.

"S/Y Phenix" 76 ´ft  Bermudan sloop.  Boy does she fly.  photo of her anchored  in the med.

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Wishing you all a very happy Wednesday.  

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

Val. 

Around the Quinta

Sunset two nights ago.  Our sunsets here in the Alentejo are so spectacular. Often leaving beautiful hues of deep purple and pink light on the horizon after its disappeared .  Its a great time of the day.  The  heat subsides to a lower temp.  Sitting outside one's mind going over the day's happenings.  Its a peaceful time.

                                                               sun caught hiding behind the olive trees.

                                                     At  the bottom of my land, I have a man made lake.. its a natural spring . There is water there all year around.   The trees there are always green.  I have one enormous palm tree that is now being stunted in growth by the fence around the little lake.    I have to have a fence.   Its a deterrent for the sheep. Otherwise they would just fall in.  The big fur tree grows inches each year.  Its looking so beautiful.   I will have to think how I can make the fence wider in the area of the palm tree.

                                              August fields in Alentejo.   This field is pretty much been eaten ..

                                                      Rosie  enjoying early morning

                                                                      Pascoa- she likes to stay close to some of the overgrown olive branches..for the shade.  Not much left here.      They move around - still lots to eat for them both.

                          If you follow me, You will remember a few posts back.  That all my roses suffered with the intense July heat.  We had days that the temp went up to 40ºC.. My poor roses really took it badly.   I had to prune them back down.   I bought wood chippings to give better ground cover.  And for the past month they have been having feed once a week.      I am pretty proud of how they are coming back to life again.   Still not as lovely as last years show.

                                                                   Red roses - a photo from 2013

                                                Hello everyone.  I am really settled in here now with my new mummy and family.   I get lots of good food and big big hugs.

                                 I even like to take a dip.. its hot you see... but only up to my waist. I thought mummy wasn't looking );-

                                                  A few days painting.  Always some new idea that I like to do.  I am however getting down to finishing some other unfinished projects during these next days.

                                                 Blue  abstract flowers I am painting  for a girlfriends bedroom.

 A beautiful sunny morning here , with clear blue skies.     I am off now to the station, to pick up my grandaughter Di.

Thanking you all for the lovely comments on my last post.. Spending time with Max in Cascais.

Summer days, still are busy here.   This means less time to blog.    I am thinking of you all .
Wishing you a wonderful day..

Val.

Catching up- summer days

A few days away from home.  Feels like much longer. 

A week ago, I went to Cascais to have a mini holiday.  It was combined with me looking after my youngest grandson  Max.   I took him to the beach below the Hotel.. It took me back many years , to when I used to go there with my sons.

  I have posted about Cascais about 2 years ago.   It is where I used to live , many years ago.  Two of my boys, live in the area of Estoril.. its a station away.
It's known as our Riviera .      Some stunning homes along the Sea front .    Our Hotel.. is the one on the cliff overlooking the sea.    Over 40 years ago, it was a private home.   Then sold and was turned into a hotel.

                 Cascais Bay.- A familiar sight for me ... We used to anchor in the cascais bay..  Filipe now anchors there when he sails.    Cascais now boasts a Marina.    Filipe I know, still likes to drop anchor. He swims ashore.    Cascais is a lovely village.    40 years ago , when I first arrived . It was just but a small fishing village.   We built our first home here in 1974.      We rented it out to the German Embassy.   Returning to South Africa..   In 1982- we sailed the ocean's and came to live permanently in Cascais and the Bay was our last  anchorage after sailing from the East coast of Southern Africa to Brazil, Amozon, Fernando de Naronha, Açores Islands :-  Cascais.

 I took this photo early morning, as the beach lovers  were arriving, before the intense heat of the day.

                                       Taken at 7am.  Beach just been cleaned and tractor turned over sand. The sea is still. 2 people walking their dog.

                                            This whole coast line is beaches. This is a view from my bedroom window.Early morning.    Cascais village has grown.  It has many more shops.  Shopping malls. The population has grown.   It was full of tourists.  A beautiful place to spend a holiday.

                                                The Portuguese- O'Niel Clan's home.
 The O Niel's - history is very interesting.
(wikipedia) :-   A very well know powerful family.      This is their beach home.. just at the back of the hotel I was in.

                                                                      Stunning architecture.

                                    My bedroom..-  just before turning in for the night.

                                                                Hand painted tiles adorn the walls of the entrance.

      Also on the upper floor..       And    stairwell.                                                      

Always so glad to be home.


I hope all my dear friends, that your summer so far has been a good one.    I have missed out on some of your posts.
Still taking a break.   Will catch up soon.

Thank you everyone who left your kind comments on my last post.
Stay well and enjoy life-  Its short!
VAL

Its always so wonderful to come home to my little oasis.