WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Sunday 20 January 2013

After the storm.

Friday afternoon started the heaviest downpour and storm, that I have not experienced in many a year.  During the middle of the night , I thought that I could be Dorothy.. !! Thinking to myself..gosh! with the winds blowing at about 80 miles an hour.. my roof might blow off.  I then nodded off and took a trip to the land of Oz.! My garden chair was on the other side of the grass. You can see the green fence netting was blown and ripped off the fence..  When it rains here, It really rains. My road is a dirt road , off the main road.. there are pot holes and puddles all up and down. 
  This morning Jeffrey said he wanted to show me the damage.!  Netting torn off.
                                   More netting blown away..

                                              Yuka plant overturned..  Nothing much to worry about really. Just a little more work to add to the spring garden clean up.
             I decided to go out for lunch today.. As I was driving down the road.. I stopped and took these photos.. A flock of homing pigeons.. they belong to one of my neighbours. Incredible how they fly around all together.   The sky was dark and low..
                          Not sure if this is an eagle or a hawk.. Its too high up..and I dont have a longer zoom. He has been hovering over head here for a few days.. He was out this morning looking down at what the storm had left for him.

                                      Pascoa and Shilah.. feeling a little forlorn.. Turned away from me this morning, as if to say.. we dont like this weather.
                                I had a very traditional Alentejano lunch..  Cod fish cakes accompanied with herb rice and brown beans.. nice and warm ..Very inviting for a wet day like today. A small jar of excellent red house wine..  My mind was taken away from the heavy rain and cold days..  Everyone talking about the heavy storm.  One of the villagers had a tree totally pulled out of the ground..  We do have to remember.  Its a village!!!! and the stories are sometimes ..well, you can imagine..):

 Back home before the sun went down.. To my doggies and a nice warm cottage.
Hope that you all had a good weekend..
Been reading many blogs and lots of you out there have had heavy snow, on both sides of the Atlantic.

Have a happy week.


val

36 comments:

  1. glad you did not have worse damage! stay safe and dry!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tex.
      Not much damage at all..but for us here to have such a storm is very rare.

      Delete
  2. Hello Val:
    How very alarming, and not a little frightening, this must have been. But we are so pleased to know that, relatively speaking, your property suffered little in the way of damage. And this is such a contrast to the snow stories which are currently abounding.

    Keep warm, eat comfort food [which you clearly are] and think of spring to come!

    Warmest wishes from a snow blanketed Hungary!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jane and Lance..
      Yes, i am warm and all is well.
      The storm was really scary.. Its something that very rarely happens here.

      Delete
    2. Incidentally, we are very taken with your latest 'header' picture.

      Delete
  3. Hi Val,

    Thanks so much for stopping by and your kindly comment.
    Yes we havep lanted Lauro/Alloro kind of them . we need more indeed to cover our self.
    beautiful land you have on the new header.
    have a nice weekend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ayu
      The lauro will look good as a hedge.. a very good idea.

      Delete
  4. Hello Valerie

    How frightening it must have been. I respect wind and storms. Your lunch escape is the perfect antidote to inclement weather. I love cod fish cakes.

    Hope you week is more sunny

    Helen xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lunch was a warm welcome. The fire was blazing at the restaurant , a respite from this horrible weather.
      You would love these cod fish cakes.. home made... delicious
      still bad weather.
      Thank you Helen for passing my way.

      Delete
  5. Wow, that was one wild storm. I love how animals notice and want to tell you about any changes about the place. Jeffrey is so sweet and was probably anxious, as were the horses. The cod cakes, herb rice and beans look delicious and a perfect warmer after the cold and rain. Hope you see some sun this week. P.xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was a very heavy storm.. something we are not used to here.
      The animals seemed relieved as was i that the storm had passed.
      thank you for your comments Patricia.

      Delete
  6. I hope the weather is improving for you Val. Oh and I wish I was at your place for lunch. Too yummy !!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. There's nothing like being snug and warm in a safe and sturdy house when there is a storm outside. It looks like your property survived - and I'll be the horses will show you their happy sides again soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pondside,
      It has been cosy and warm in my cottage.. the cold weather still with us.
      thank god the storm passed quickly.

      Delete
  8. Oh I'm sad for the storm but the cottage seems soooo cozy :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Val - your response to the storm was perfect - off to the village for a traditional Alentejano lunch, which looks very nourishing and in a warm friendly atmosphere.
    Hope all of the broken bits and pieces are readily put back together again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its about the only thing one can do around here Rosemary.
      I am so out in the country.
      My friend Dita owns the resteraunt and I pass a few hours away.
      The weather is still not settled. So will leave the garden work for a while.

      Delete
  10. Hello Val....I often experience winds like this, too. It is quite windy on the prairie. I do so enjoy reading your blog. Through your camera I am able to experience you life in Portugal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it must be even more windy on your prairie's ..!
      We have had one day respite... but its back again.. the wind is howling.
      pretty depressing.
      Thanks Meggie for leaving your comments.

      Delete
  11. Dear Val, I can picture you, the wind howling, gorgeous flannel Portugese sheets drawn up around your ears. If only you could have ejoyed it all had you known there was going to be little damage. Around here we go to the post office to find out how everyone fared after a big storm. I like your idea better...having a warm and comforting meal at the local restaurant. ox, gina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gina..
      Yes, that is what i was doing.. cuddled up with my eiderdown.
      It was little damage... but for me its a lot.
      Our village is somewhat the same.. Its amazing how the village people get to know things so quickly.

      Delete
  12. Hallo Val!We had a very bad weather until Friday!!A lot of rain and very windy!Nice you've enjoyed that fantastic lunch!Your sweet doggy looks great in front of that warm fire!Wishing you a lovely and a happy week!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your weather will be a little more harsh there Dimi.
      We still have heavy rain and wind.. just one day of good weather. Its all wet and soggy.
      thank you for passing by.

      Delete
  13. I'm glad that the storm damage was no worse, the photographs certainly don't look like the usual ones you post. 80mph winds are no joke. Still if you take off down the Yellow Brick Road you never know what you might find:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rowan,
      Our weather is bad at the moment.. but like I wrote.. it is winter after all..just that the storms seem to be getting worse.
      80mils per hr.. was indeed no joke. i was alarmed to say the least.

      Delete
  14. i enjoy seeing where you live.

    you are far away and I love that you will follow me. i will do the same.

    thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you wild Magnolia..
      look forward to reading more of your lovely posts.
      welcome to my blog

      Delete
  15. I'm back. I had to go google your location. Portugal! Cool!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I hate scary storms with lots of wind. I hope everyone is alright. I love the photo of the pigeons...how amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. ~ Your lunch sounds just perfect, under the circumstances, Val !!
    I always feel sorry for our animals during storms and bad seasonal weather, like over here..Glad you buckled down and kept cosy and rode it through ok....
    ~Always lovely connections with our blogs (Wizard of Oz) also mentioned discreetly on mine...hehe!
    Keep cosy, Love Maria x

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hope you managed to sort a few things out. I love it when it rains. Sometimes the heavy drops make an incredible sound as the hit the window paines.

    I remember when, at the end of Summer, in Italy, we had rain. The tar on the roads was hot, so the rain produced a lot of steam... I still remember the smell!

    You had a wonderful luch, Val... those cod cakes appeal to me! At Christmas time I was given some salt cod (baccaà) and cooked it with celery, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil and lots of olives. A fantastic soup!

    I'm sure all the damage will be repaired, soon. The snow is on its way out, here. I am so looking forward to Spring, now!

    BUONA GIORNATA!

    ANNA

    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All will be put to rights..when i return from England.
      I do enjoy Dita's food she cooks simple traditional food..warming in the winter too.
      I too am looking forward to spring Anna.
      Thanks for leaving your comments.

      Delete
  19. I'm glad you didn't have any severe damage from the storm. We do have snow and it is beautiful to me because I am warm and comfortable inside. I hope you are having a good day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lisa..
      It like the pitter patter of the rain when i am in bed .. like you all warm and cosy

      Delete

comments will be published after approval