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 25 May 2014

cd's & Recipe books.

I don't know about some of you, but I have been collecting cd's for years.   I have drawers full of them. This morning, I decided to choose the ones I really like and upload them to my itunes.
   I became so involved with the music .   At one stage I was dancing the Tango around the room, doing a jig, clicking my fingers and singing opera..  wow.. what a day i have had.
                                   Can you believe, i felt 25 again.  Singing all the golden oldies..  Thought my voice was rather compatible with Anrea Botcelli.  La la la..  I think Sarah! would have been very proud of me.
                            Bee bopping around to  Dolly and Lionel Richie and music of the 60's
                                           Practicing my french with Asnavour..  Swaying to the music of  Norah jones.. dear friends- It was a delightful sunny sunday morning, listening to the delights of  magical music.
The sun beaming and the flowers smiling.  Sheer delight.

 While listening to the different songs and singers.  I decided to get out a couple of cook books.  This one above.. Mr. M, bought me for my 31st birthday.   Its a super cook book.   Recipes from Spain and Portugal.
Over the years , I have cooked many of these recipes ..   The very first I ever cooked - was Portuguese  chicken soup.  (Canja)... I still cook it for myself today.
It can be eaten during all 4 seasons.  A healthy fill in with fresh toast.
               I took  just a couple of photos from the book.   Its over 40 years old.   The women above are the fishermen's wives from the town of  Nazare.   The north Atlantic coast.  Sometimes many fishermen did not return.  The women waiting on the beach until the return of their boats.   Today of course the fishing boats are bigger ..but still a very dangerous coastline.     The Nazare beaches however are beautiful.
                                   Years ago- the woman drying the codfish-   Bacalhao.  some super dishes made with Bacalhao.. dried cod.  more than 400 recipes. Today, there is no more Bacalhao - cod fishing in off the New England coast.   All our cod comes from Norway.
                                                 Desserts and drinks.. from both countries
                      Time for salads now, with the warmer weather.   I love salads during the warmer days. so many varieties one can make.      (What is your favorite Salad!)
                                          Another  read of my lovely Avoca cook book (giveaway prize) from dear Crista.
                                      super dishes -  I have shown some recipes from this book and made a few. Its a great cookbook.
                                         Pappardelle Salad.. it looks really yummi.  Might try this during the week.

                               My beautiful roses.
                                                     Here is Tom , Filipe and a Brazilian Goucho friend.
                                                                            Tom is 15 today.
                                           He is busy sitting his O level's and working hard for the exams.
                      How quickly our grandchildren become adults.  He has 3 years left.. Then off to London.
                                             

The afternoon my D.I.L's mother came to visit me.  She is my neighbor for 4 months of the year.
Caught up with family matters.   Discussed everything.. from this to that.    Ending on how Handsome and what a gentleman our dearest Thomas Alexander has become.

Wishing you all a very happy week.

val

24 comments:

  1. i love that you were dancing and singing to all sorts of music. :) sounds like a very nice day.

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    1. I love music Tex. Thanks for coming by.
      I had a good day.

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  2. Replies
    1. We would have had a ball Sandie..
      I enjoyed myself so much, and laughed to myself too.

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  3. Val, we would have so much fun...music and I are rarely separated! Your grandson has become a young man...handsome too!!! ...:)JP

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    1. Wish you could have been here JP. I love my music
      and love to dance. Of course now , I dance by myself..but still enjoy it. thank you for your kind comments..x

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  4. What a great day you had. You have reminded me to listen to music more often. Love the photo of the women of Nazare. Brought back memories of fifty years ago.
    Have a great week, Val.

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    1. Indeed I had a great Sunday. Sun shining and I was so happy listening to my old music and uploading.
      How wonderful that you have been to Nazare.. its a beautiful town. Thank you for your kind comments Betty

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  5. Que dia bom e alegre então foi o seu! Gostei de ver tantos livros de culinária! Eu tenho alguns muito bons, também! Beijos e que sua semana seja colorida e de paz! Beijos!

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    1. Obrigada M. Luiza. sim, foi um dia muito alegre.
      eu tambem gosta ver vez enquanto meus livros de culinaria.
      semana feliz para ti.

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  6. What a fun post, Val!! We all need to dance like nobody's watching - just like the popular posters say!
    Isn't it nice to have a really good, satisfying talk with your grandchild's other grandmother..........about what a great and wonderful grandchild you both have!?

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    1. Thank you Pondside. It was one of those lovely days.. and I needed to listen to my music.
      indeed very satisfying to have a good chat with about grandchildren.

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  7. Glad you spent such a happy day Val - I have a great vision of you dancing and singing around the house culminating with a good chat about this and that, and especially your lovely grandchildren.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary,
      We all need to have a laugh. I laugh at myself , dancing around the place.
      Life is good.

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  8. Hi Val, That sounds such a good day dancing and signing to old favourites and cooking old recipes too. I love those old pictures you have shared with us. Sarah x

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    1. I indeed had a very lovely day Sarah.
      Sun was shining. and I enjoyed uploading my favorites.
      pleased you liked the old pictures of the women of Nazare.

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  9. Oh Val, I can just see you dancing around the house listening to all the old songs. You know, the Oldies are my favorite, and they changed the station to another type of music, and I can't figure out how to get my Oldies back. Your roses are beautiful, Val, and the tray behind them is just as gorgeous. Your Grandson and friends look like they are having so much fun on the horses.

    It's Memorial Day here today, and just spending a quiet day at home.

    love,
    ~Sheri

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    Replies
    1. Such fun Sheri. We could have danced the afternoon away.
      My roses are looking good this year. I have so many blooming
      The tray behind my roses is over 80 years old.. its one of my antique pieces.. pleased you like it. Hope your memorial day was a good one. god bless all those who lost their lives.

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  10. ps I like your new Header with the yellow flowers. It looks like summer, and that sweet statue in the background adds a special touch.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sheri. The little boy statue.. my mother bought me. He has a special place in my heart.

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  11. You have such a beautiful family and interesting life! I've put lots of cds on my computer too. I like making playlists with them. Fun post! xo Jen

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    1. Thank you Jen, such a kind comment.
      Always something going on in our family.
      At the moment its quiet.
      x

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  12. I love your wide variety of music, Val, and am glad you had such a happy day with it. Happy birthday to Tom and I hope his studies go well.

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  13. I'd like to have been a fly on the wall watching your antics when sorting through the cd's, what a good time you've had! Suzy x

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