Early morning and - pot pourri

                           I was up early this morning. catching the sun  rising behind the olive trees.  A few clouds in the sky!   It was around 7.30 gmt.  - This photo and the feel of the early morning gentle breeze.   Tells me its going to be hot again.  After all, we are still in summer. I have had the aircon on and the fans.  Its been between 38 and 40º.. Shade is the place to hide.

                                          One of my palm tree's  move in the gentle early morning breeze.

                                          Difficult to take a clear shot of the sun..but here she is peeping and saying good morning. Sun rise is a little later each day. I love these early mornings..its quiet and still. Thoughts of the day ahead come to mind.  Reminding me of the wonderful tranquility of the countryside.

                                                   My pepper trees are full once again-  I thought that i could add a few too the pot pourri process..

                           I started cutting the old rose blooms a couple of days ago.  It all looks a little messy,!but  it's part of the process.            After taking photos of the early morning sunset . I set too  dead heading  some more  old blooms  . Beginning the making  of   "Gina's" pot pourri.  from her beautiful post . Hoping I follow the instructions as best i can.

There is still more too do, but  I have started . Two sealed jars already full.  the salt  has been added .   I also filled an old butter bean jar..it  has a sealed lid.  I will be buying a few more bottles to add to the collection. 

                                 I  pushed them all into the jar , they can take quite a few.   adding more petals during the next couple of days.

                                          An intriguing process .. i am excited about making my own pourri

                                         The filled jar.  I think it looks good.. hope it works, if you look carefully you will see the salt .

                Just a few cut blooms  adding a little perfume to the air.  They will be next to go into the new jars .  Later i will add the citrus peel..
This is just the beginning of the process.   As Gina say's, it takes a few months.

Maybe you would like to take a visit to Gina's blog.   Ginaceramics blog spot.com
She is a very talented artist and her blog is always full of exciting posts.  Her own designs on hand made ceramics and her magnificent garden and flowers.

Thank you Gina for the inspiration to start this great process of pot pourri.

wishing all my blogging friends a happy wednesday.

Thank you

 Thank you to all my dear friends who left comments on my son Manel's birthday post.

This week is a Virgo week.  My youngest son Filipe.  is 33 on Sat.  And the wheel goes round.

. 

Time goes by so very quickly. 

wish they could be ours forever and a day.

Two Virgo's in the family

Wishing you all happy summer days, see you soon
Val

A birthday

Today is a special day for me. 45 years ago today my eldest son Manuel was born .   Here a photo of my 4 wonderful children. They have given me so many years of happiness and joy. I am so very blessed, to have them in my life.    Manuel is the last on the right with the blue shirt. This photo was taken on the day of my youngest son's graduation from the University of Evora. 

  Left to right.   Filipe- Miguel-Antonia-Manuel.

They were all born smiling and still are. 

                                               Manel's first day at school - he was so proud in his new uniform. That was the beginning of his days as an A student all through his life.  He is just a natural. He loves study and learning, its pleasure for him. If he has his head in a book- he is happy. His collection of books is from floor to ceiling .

                                             First day starting High school.. S.A  with sister Antonia . She was already at high school , best buddies ,were and still are.

                                                    With little baby Thomas. Now 13

                                                    With our little sweet Max 1 and half.. loves the water

                                               An old photo ..but i love it. My three boys together"the mafia boys" They are all very close .  Great sportsmen and sailors. Full of love for life.

 Antonia , is the eldest of my children.  She lives in Lucern Switzerland.   Every year Manel and Antonia and family meet up to ski.  They spend every other summer together and there are visits throughout the year.  All three boys live here in Portugal.
I share these few photos with you.   Manuel is a very very special person. Giving and loving.  A poet a a writer ,a sailor, has a love for photography and a great collection of camera's to boot.   A wonderful husband and father, and son.     He adores us all, and respects life and holds  family values dear.
I hope that my message of Happy Birthday, was the first of the day early this morning.

Thank you for sharing dear blogging friends.. and thank you for all you lovely comments left on my posts.

Wishing you all a wonderful Monday the 27th of August.

Most precious

Having sent a small parcel to Olympia some time ago, something to say thank you.for her kind comments and care she takes in reading and commenting on my posts.
I find her to be of such a sweet nature, always positive in everything she writes and her posts are always interesting.    I was delighted to receive on Wedensday a parcel in return.
 Something I was not expecting.

 I would like to share with you what Olympia sent to me. :- Olympia's blog is "OLD THINGS" she writes of her beloved Greece and her hometown.
Her land in the country, where they plant olive trees and spend time with family and friends.
Maybe you might like to pay her a visit.

I carefully opened the   thick brown paper parcel all tied up with string, and inside beautifully wrapped with orange ribbon another paper paper parcel.  I couldn't wait to see what was inside.

As soon as I saw the Helenic stamp,  I couldn't mistake that the parcel was sent from Greece.  

                                       Here is the beautiful checkered soft fawn and white table cloth ,were the threads have been removed to add a touch of class. It will be used well and my white china will look great on it.

                                       wondering what these little red boxes contained.  and the paper napkins all carefully folded into little parcels.      There inside each one are  filled with flower seeds and pumpkin seeds all sorts of seeds for me to plant for the next season.  What elation.

                                                          The boxes and seeds are carefully put away now, until next  planting season.

                              Here is where  the "precious" part comes into this post.!  Two of the most intricately hand crocheted cotton squares.  Not just any squares.  very special squares

                              The fabric, is made of beautiful white cotton and  is made from  Olympia's wedding shawl of over 31 years ago.
 Its a Greek custom for the priest to place a white shawl over the back of the man and woman during the wedding ceremony giving them his blessings.    The fabric is usually about 3 meters long.  Most of the women , after their marriage, make a dress with the material.
 Olympia decided to keep hers.   One day, her mother asked her " are you going to make a dress with the shawl"!  Olympia had decided she was not.   Her mother then said to her," then I will make a table cloth and some napkins and other little embroidered things with it."  Olympia has had them all these years. Putting some aside for her children.

 When  Olympia told her mother, that she had received a gift from Portugal.. Her mother said to her.
" Ok. now you will send a gift from your bridal fabric in return"
  Just look at the beautiful  handy work of Olympia's mother.    I think them too precious to use other than to add to the decoration and show them off  on this lovely tablecloth she sent me.

                                                      I cannot tell you how I felt upon reading Olympia's letter and reading the story . I cried as you can imagine! I have never received such a "precious " gift.     Only an angel would think of such a loving thing to do.

I will treasure them with all my heart.  Thank you dear Olympia and special thanks to your mother. I congratulate her on her beautiful work.

Now I invite you to tea with me and Olympia.

Wishing all my dear blogging friends a very happy weekend.

In and out of "Casita Rosa"

A few photos of my Rose Cottage (Casita Rosa)  Rose cottage is my guest cottage for around 6 months of the year.      Yesterday I had decided , that i was going to make the Pot pourri, that Gina has so kindly explained on her blog  Gina ceramics.  Take a look at her site, its charming and beautiful. A very talented artist indeed. I was outside starting to dead head the old roses to start the process for the making of the pourri.. and decided to take some photos of around both in and out.

This photo was taken late winter..around feb this year.  I had the cottage painted in a pinky salmon colour, but decided to paint it a lovely pink..only on some walls outside.

                                                         Couldn't resist adding a touch of  yellow to my arrangement of yesterday.

                                          The vase , with its pink rose design.  I bought at an old antique yard last some time ago. It cost me 2.50 euros.  I like it and it adds to the flair of the pink roses    

One of the side tables in the main bedroom.. The vase can be used anywhere. you may notice how I love the pink shades. Against the oak furniture I think it looks super.
I only started to like pink about 6 years ago.  I was never very girly, on the contrary somewhat of a tomboy growing up. My tables are also from an Indian boutique..  oriental.

On side table 

This very unique lamp is totally hand made. You can see a tiny little pull button on the front. i pull that open and fill it with pot pourri..  hopefully filling it with my own in a few months. although the process takes some time.
Inside the lamp is a candle. You can see below the shade, there are little punched holes and when the candle is lit the smoke comes out there.  I use it at christmas only.

                                         The rose in the vase is silk.  I added a touch of blue with the vase.

                                          Entrance door to main bedroom..  I so love my red hand made wooden doors.
above this door is an exotic long piece of wood from India.  I found in in an oriental boutique.

                                             Old fashined latches on my doors.. took me ages to find them

The carved wood above my bedroom door

Door to the guest bathroom

Entrance to Rose Cottage.  Its around 40o most days here.. I am surprised my roses still have buds, and blooming
I water them at around 9 pm.. then they get a good soaking

 

                                   I  bought this off white and pink reversible quilted bedspread for the guest bedroom, last year.. I fell in love with it. I change it over now and again.

                                           It has reversible sides

                                           Guest studio. I have added a little purple.. I thought it would add to the pink tones around the cottage.

                                          Another vase I bought at the same antique yard.. 2.50euros. Here it is on my tall chest in the cottage cabin. Photo of my little grandaughter Amy.. She will be 15 next month.

I love the little cupid design on it.

                                                 Silk flower arrangement in a bird cage.. hanging from the pergola .

                                             Here I stenciled roses around the book alcove. I mixed the pink myself.for the backround of the alcove.

                                                Wishing you all a Rosy summer's day.