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 5 May 2013

The hills beyond & home

The 1st sunday in May.  A magnificent spring day here today.  I took some photos of the hills beyond my 'quinta' . The birds are still twittering in the trees. There is a light breeze in the air.





All so green ..with purple flowers everywhere.



 I am surrounded mainly to the east side and in front of me by hills of Olive groves , cork, and sheep in the fields.

 Yesterday two of my grandaughters Maria on the left and Didi on the right spent the afternoon.  It was their first swim of the season.
Hardy finally shows his face.  "come on in grandma , come on".. Oh my gosh! I think I would have died of fright.. I usually take my first swim around the 11th or 12 th of May. So If this good weather keeps up.. next week .. I will take my first dip.


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Hardy and jeffrey wanted to get in on the scene.

My Geraniums are growing like never before.. I think I am getting the knack of this gardening with the smaller flowers.
I have had my little statue boy for over 20 years. My mother bought it for me one day. I like this side of the garden..its at the right of the pool.. its semi wild.. and i put all sorts in there. 

 I have had a very relaxing day today.   My grandson Thomas came to chat..that was such a treat .
I spoilt myself with a couple of scoops of chocolate ice cream and watched "Midsommer murders"..
The dogs stretched out in the sun lazy and happy . I had a light tuna salad for lunch.
And I sat and took in all the beauty of the hills around.

I hope that you all had a lovely Sunday with your family ..  I share these beautiful white roses with you . I think them simply perfect.
I am blowing their scent to you .. wish wishes of a beautiful May ahead.

val 

38 comments:

  1. those roses are stunning! white and peach are my favorite rose colors. :) glad your granddaughters had a good time. you live in such a gorgeous area. truly beautiful!

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  2. Thank you Therese.
    You will have to come visit me some day.. I live in a beautiful part of Europe.
    happy days.

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  3. Good to read you had a relaxed day, always nice to have. I work to much on the moment, but that will be finished soon. Love photo's and your new header. Groetjes, Gerda

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    1. Thank you Gerda.
      I really enjoyed just switching off today.
      nice to see you.
      hope you will be a little freer soon.

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  4. It all looks so blissful Val, lovely granddaughters sitting around the pool, dogs playing, and your gorgeous roses. The new photo in your header is picture perfect.
    We are so fortunate they we are able to enjoy our grandchildren they are such a blessing.

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    1. The girls had a great time.. dive bombing as they always do.. the dogs were running around happy.
      I was exhausted when they left.

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  5. What gorgeous photos Val, your garden is looking wonderful and it is lovely to hear of your treasured grandchildren. I love that the weather is being kind to you . Enjoy your May sunshine

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    1. Thank you Shell,
      The weather is lovely now. I wish it was like this all year around.
      Grandchildren adore coming to the country.

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  6. What a Sunday treat you have provided. Your flowers are stunning. Ah olive trees. You live in a beautiful part of the world. Hope your granddaughters enjoyed their swim. Still too early for that here. Nice days for past couple of weeks but today it's cold again.

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    1. Every other weekend during the good warm summer days.. the kids come over to me. They love to come to grandma.. as they raid my pantry!
      Enjoy your day Sanda.. Thanks for your comments.. val

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  7. Thank you for blowing the scent of those gorgeous white roses my way, Val. The rose is the Queen of Flowers, I love them all. Lovely photos of a perfect Spring day with your pretty granddaughters. What more could we Grannie's want? xxx

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    1. I hope the scent reached you! The white rose bush has lots of roses..not a lot of leaves. its a strange bush. Yes so true Patricia..what more could a grandma want.
      thanks for coming over..

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  8. Val,
    The rose on your Header is simply beautiful. I'm so glad you got to spend time with your granddaughters. I didn't know you had a pool, lucky you. When we moved, I left behind our gorgeous pool, and I miss it very much. Thanks for the white roses. They are so pretty.

    Have a happy week, Val.

    Love,
    ~Sheri

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    1. My roses are getting better each year Sheri.. I am working hard with them.
      It pays dividends. Yes..I have always had a pool.. have one in my apartment too.
      cant live in this hot 6 month summer heat without a pool.
      Pleased you like the white roses.. they smell divine

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  9. I love the beautiful rose in your banner. What a nice way to spend the day. I sat in the sun for a little while today...the warmth feels wonderful! Enjoy your week and your sweet family. I wish mine lived closer!

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments.
      My roses are looking stunning at the moment.
      You must be having great weather in Florida.

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  10. It is so nice that the gilrs had their first swim! I look your arround area ,it is so peacefull and lovely ! The flowers are healty and beautiful !

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    1. Dear Olympia,
      how pleased i am to see you.. I had a lovely weekend.
      My roses are looking so good.
      x

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  11. Val, your headers always take my breath away. GORGEOUS!!!!
    Enjoy the sun. I've been enjoying our pool a little today too.
    xoxo's

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    1. Thank you Marcia.
      My roses are really beautiful this year.. I wait so long for them to blossom.
      my vases are full all the time.
      Yes, its nice pool time now.

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  12. Wonderful to have your granddaughters with you. Spring is a fun time you have lovely property and flowers.

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    1. Thank you for your comments.. Spring is a wonderful time.

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  13. Hello Valerie

    Sounds like an idyllic day with your beautiful grand-children and swimming and just appreciating the beauty of the day

    wishing you a week of joy
    Helen xx

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    1. A nice day Helen with two of my grandaughters. They were splashing and dive bombing and ..then i took them for ice cream and treats.

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  14. Dear Val,i love your new banner!!It's lovely to have your granddaughters visiting you!Wonderful pictures!And your garden looks great!Have a lovely week!!
    Dimi..

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    1. Thank you Dimi.. I love these roses.. They are from the rose bush i ordered some years ago from Germany.
      working on the garden.
      x

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  15. It's so wonderful to have your grandchildren near. I love seeing the views of your hills. I want to get some geraniums going too. Lovely!

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    1. Thank you Jaqueline.. My 4 of my grandchildren i see once a month.
      The hills around me i never tire of. Hope you get some geraniums..

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  16. What a wonderful way of spending a sunny Sunday at home in your lovely garden with your family and dogs! Hope you manage a swim this week!
    Sarah x

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    1. It was a lovely day on Sunday. The girls and myself had lots of fun.
      The dogs are getting used to coming into the photos.

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  17. Such pretty and happy photos Val! x

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  18. Thank you Suzy.. it was a happy weekend.

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  19. Hi Val, the hills are gorgeous, so green. By the way, I just made a post about the hills next to my home. How nice to have your granddaughters for a visit; looks like they had fun. Your geraniums and roses are so beautiful.

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  20. Val, that looks like a little piece of paradise you have there, with the wonderful landscape and your gorgeous garden and above all your lovely family. :-) I'm pleased to say that the sun shone as brightly here on Sunday as it did with you, but I wouldn't have wanted to swim outside nevertheless! Enjoy your first swim of the season.

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  21. Your blog posts are still not updating - I have the same problem. It is so frustrating, isn't it? Wish that we had a pool but not for days like today - it's been raining on and off again, just when we thought that the weather was improving!
    June

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  22. You've described a perfect day......grandchildren, flowers, beautiful surroundings, chocolate and a good mystery!

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  23. HELLO VALERIE

    I have found you again and added you to "my favourite bloggers" list

    It seems to be working again

    Helen xx

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  24. What a lovely day you had. It is so nice you get to spend time with your grand kids. I look forward to those days. There is such beautiful scenery around you and you definitely have a knack for the flowers. Beautiful!

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