2014 Christmas and family& New Year

Christmas behind us, presents put away..  e mails and sms's answered with  lots of good cheer, and good wishes for 2015.

Once again another wonderful Christmas at M and H's  Herdade dos Alfange.. My cottages are too small for  our  large family when we are all together  during the winter get  togethers.
 Christmas Eve Heleen's meal and fare was divine - on the table and kitchen table goodies all around .. christmas lights and trees . presents for the children.  More for little Max to unwrap..as he is the smallest.  He was kept very busy christmas day.  

Christmas day. was with me... food prepared at my home. 10lb turkey and all the trimmings. .Then taken to Alfange ..where Heleen and her mum had set the table with Didi.. It was a really wonderful christmas.   My three boys 4 of my grandchildren.
Happiness all around.  Christmas music and story telling from christmases past.
Nina had visited  from Switzerland  the week before. So the two of us had a little pre christmas dinner together here at Quintinha. Then she spent time with her brothers in Lisbon.
I got to be with all my children during 2014.
Nothing better than togetherness with family.

                                A summer photo.  Part of the beautiful Alfange garden... we all took a walk around on christmas day.  Some of the trees are much much taller now.  My dirt track road ends at the entrance gates to Alfange.  Its walking distance from my cottages.

                                                               Entrance. image from one of the top bedrooms.

                                This morning .. A beautiful morning- The sun shining brightly. We have been blessed with such good weather over this last couple of weeks.   Not to say, that it isnt nippy. Indeed it is, especially at night. I have the wood burner keeping me warm.

                                              clear blue skies.. As close as I could get my zoom to the top farm..you can see my old home on the right.    Through the trees you can see M's sheep, that are now Filipe's .. Also within walking distance.

A jet plane early this morning ,leaving its long white jet stream behind it, on its way to somewhere-    Thoughts of new beginnings.!  of  a new year even better than 2014!  hopefully dreams coming true. For all of us.

So dear friends.. with thoughts of this  christmas past , of future ventures for  2015 -
I wish you all a very Happy and Wonderful  New Year.  Full of love and good health.

Saying good by to 2014.  I thank all my close blogging friends for  supporting my posts. some good and some not so good, but I made it through another year.  Its been great.
 Blogging has become a part of my life, sometimes not knowing what to blog about, then the light bulb goes off and I am on the keys again, writing about this and that, Running around with my camera, taking it everywhere I go, photos here and photos there.  Never thought I would be using my cameras so much.
 Reading all your news and happenings over at your blogs. All a pleasure to visit and to read.
 I am blessed to have made such lovely friends.  Many of you have awsome blogs , I have learnt a lot through these blogging years.

++++++++++++++++++++
. Looking forward to 2015.
To friends in.
Britain
Norway
Italy
Germany
France
Greece
Asia
Australia
America
South America

Happy New year for 2015

                                                                              VAL-  VAL'S  ALENTEJO.

Christmas

Christmas is now upon us dear friends.   Its a time for family and friends.  

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas .

Thank you to my close blogging friends .. Enjoy these next days . 2015 is nearly here.

                                                                Keeping Christmas simple.  My olive tree branch christmas tree..    

                    After all,   It is the birth of our Lord that we are celebrating.

                                                           HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.

VAL.                                    

Adding to Christmas fare

My last  walk around the pool area before sunset last night.   I noticed that I had flowers on my little 'Madronho' tree.   A friend gave it to me over nearly 2 years ago.   I was delighted. for at one time, I thought i might just take it up.  

 Its been raining on and off, and I really didn't take much notice of it, Its blossomed with this weird weather.     They take a long time to grow.  Its still about the same size as when it was given to me.  I was delighted to see that the fruit is growing.

                                   I think it such an exotic tree.  Even the flower and the fruit are exotic looking.  I rushed back into the house ..Got  my camera and took these photos.

                                         The fruit  on a larger tree .It looks like a leechi !! (courtesey)
There are a couple of species of the Madrono tree..  But all grow in warmer climates.. Mediterranean, Western Europe -North America, where its warmer areas.  
The fruit is edible.. but not really nice .

Once distilled it becomes a sweet fruity liquer .


I am sure that most have you have seen or know about the Madrona tree.... In Portugal its 'Madronho' .
The hills of the Monchique area of The Algarve, is where most  of the production  is distilled.  Some people distill the madronho from the fruit of their own trees.   A very old tradition.

This is what my friend did ..  2 bottles of home made Modronho was produced..
Its been a long time since i had a shot of this potent drink..  This last weekend.  My eldest son and family together with me... we all had a toast to Mr. M.   We could see him laughing at us all.  We had all had a little shot of Madronha and an extra for M.




 Christmas is closing in, and after I took the photos of my little tree.      Thoughts of what drinks my family like at christmas came to mind..
  Drinks with christmas lunch , a starter drink and then afters!! Christmas Eve, Boxing day.

I think everyone does it their own way.
We all drink mainly red wine so I am stocked up with that.   Some like now and again a white.. I have that too.
 I get a warm feeling, when we all make a toast around the christmas table.. The fire burning bright, and the laughter of my grandchildren.  Can't wait.

                                                                                                                Whisky on the rocks.. so i must get ice cubes ready.

                                                      Tea, coffee or hot chocolate, for the T T.!!!   A few varieties .. for before or after..                    
                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                             
       

My favorite-

Baileys.. sometimes with coffee.. sometimes with chocolate.. or just on the rocks.   Sounds like I am an alcoholic!!!  but not so.     When together with the family we all enjoy our wine.  

After all its Christmas.   

Christmas -opening presents.. with a nice hot home made mince pie..!

I am pretty much prepared for next week.  Can't believe that 2014 has gone so fast.  (for me anyway).!

   Our free range enormous Turkey will arrive wed morning.. I will then prepare it for the oven, for christmas lunch.    A very large bowl with water ,  mix in the spices and let the turkey  rest  in it  all day and night.
 - Traditional English stuffing- (I make my own ) no packet made.  i have all the herbs needed.  Fresh rosemary, from my garden, thyme and parsley from a friends veggie garden in village.
This year, Filipe has asked to be with me, while I prepare the stuffing and get the turkey ready.   Its his first year, that he wants to be in the kitchen with me.  Looking forward to that.. with a little tipple to get us in the mood. );-


This year , as some of my daughter in law's family will be with me.. we have delegated some of the desserts.

My sprouts are blanched and in the freezer.. carrots tomorrow, and the rest on Thursday.
When i was at my apartment last month .. I was able to take a visit to the english shop.  I bought lots of goodies.

I have never rushed at christmas time.   Living in the country is perfect.  Life goes at a different pace than the city.  I get my fresh produce that is grown locally .. fresh fish on a wed at the little market..
Its a relaxing way to get prepared for christmas.

          Christmas Eve.    We always have the traditional Midnight  meal.   Bacalhau. (dried codfish)
A Portuguese tradition for centuries.   Christmas Eve  is all  Portuguese goodies.. good cheer and toasts all around.

                                                                Traditional sweet potato cakes..
But most of all dear friends.  Its not the Tree- or the food- or the drinks- Its being together with family and remembering what Christmas is all about.

Wishing you all a happy week.

Val

The sun is out

The heavy low grey clouds , wind and rainy wet  weather of November has gone. 

 For the last few days, we have had bright blue skies.. and the sun giving some warmth during the midday hours.    The birds are happy, twittering and flying around. 

 When the horses hear my whistle, they run with sturdy gait to where i feed them.  I know they too are enjoying the warm sun on their backs.

                                                           The quietness of the fields- enjoying the sun

                                                Jasmine blooming early... getting mixed messages .. its truly springlike today.

                              With this strange climate-  the flowers are growing like mad.  I even have new shoots on my roses.

 Last week was a busy week for me.   Invitations to birthday party and dinners.  It takes me a couple of days to get back to normal, an extra glass or two.!! After all, its the Christmas season.

                                                           Keep your Advent candle bright.
  Val

after the rain -comes the sun

I was out at around 7.30 last night and took these images of the night sky in all its glory.  The last night of November.  As I was looking up and watching the clouds.   I felt happy, seemed that the clouds were saying  good night sleep tight.  Its December tomorrow.! 

                                          This image is from the other side of the garden... No, its not a fire..its the sun still going down.  It was glorious . As quick as I saw it, it went down.

                  Yesterday afternoon I took these photos.    I  really thought that my little green frog would have disappeared with the heavy rains we have had.  I was wrong, there he was cuddled up on another leaf. his eyes caught mine again.  I was pleased to see him.

                                    The Blue azure magpie- eating some of the horses rations..I caught them really enjoying themselves through my side widow.

                            Hay arrived . I just have to get some more plastic to cover it all.. But so happy that the horses now have more food.  They are perky and happy too.

                                                                  One of my last November roses.

I have not been blogging as much these days.  Our weather has been so bad , I have not felt inspiration to post.
Thank you to all my dear friends who left comments on my last post.  I do try to reply.
There is a time difference between USA.. so comments will be later.   To my American blogging friends.. I hope that you all had a peaceful Thanksgiving.-

Today the sun is shining bright.   I am a sun person, its so great to be able to be outside a little.

I hope to catch up on all your blogs.

Wishing you a happy 1st of December.

Val.