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.

Saturday 26 July 2014

Catching up

6.30 am.  When the mist is thick and heavy at this time in the morning.   It can only mean one thing.  A very hot day is on its way.   We have been having very hot days.  Not unusual for the Alentejo. With temp, up to 40ºc.  These last few days, its dropped down back into the 30's.   
Hat ready & sun cream at the ready.  
Pascoa came to say hello.   I can't put my hand over, as I will get a shock.. but she loves to talk to me.  They have so much food now.    Surprise her daughter, is not far away.   Horses , for me are such wonderful animals.  So intelligent . I miss my riding days.  Once upon a time, I would be saddled up and away into the early morning mist.
Pascoa chewing away.. she is so loving.
Getting more things done around the Quinta.   New gravel for my pretty long entrance up to the cottages.  Still in progress, but looking much better.  I have to do this about every 4 years.  The gravel just slowly disappears into the ground, with our heavy winter rains.
A sad summer show of my roses.  With our extreme heat.  They all just withered away .  I have given them feed and water twice a day.  Not all things are rosy around my garden at the moment.  It's going to be a hard battle to get them back to where they were.
Some more progress with my storage room.  The roof is on.  Its  now getting closer to plastering.. then the floor , then the door and window. 
To compensate for my roses.  At least I have some blooms in the garden.













Summertime we are all busy with outdoors, holidays , travel, family and catching up.

A big thank you to all my dear blogging friends, who left comments on my last post.
Time is of the essence, and these wonderful summer days .  I try to fill enjoying outdoor.. friends and this next coming week.  All my family together.    I am one lucky lady.

I am still on my blogging break.    Just a quick post to say hello and to let you all know, I am still here and not forgotten you ..

Wishing you all super happy summer days.

Val

24 comments:

  1. It feels so hot here and we haven't got temperatures no where near as high as yours! Glad to hear you are still getting this done despite the heat. Wishing you a lovely summer days with family, friends and animals. Sarah x

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    1. Hello Sarah,
      Thank you for passing by.
      Today, we will have around 35 º.. not so bad
      I watch news and you are having good weather too.
      x

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  2. Hi Val; I don't know how you survive in that heat. Are the nights cooler at least ? It's about 30° here in Paris though one day it went up to 37 and I can't stand it. I can't wait to go to the beach but I've still got things to do here. Enjoy your blogging break ! xx

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    1. Staying in the cool under the olive tree and my pergola.. fans and fresh juices. When its really bad I put the aircon on.
      But we always get a breeze in the afternoon..its lovely.
      xx

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  3. Other than the roses things look better than last year maybe? The storage building is getting there and will one day be a grand shed. That looks like a nice horse fence, it doesn't take a lot to hold a horse, especially if they are good horses.

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    1. Thank you Sunnybrook.
      Yes, things are looking better.. I have made more improvements . I am just upset about my roses.. they have taken a beating.
      I might have to put some ground cover next to them.
      I have put up good fences here on my 5 hectares.. I also have an inner fence, where the cottages are.
      I have electric wire attached and around for the horses.
      Thanks for passing by.. nice to see you

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  4. your horses are beauties. :) glad the storage room is coming along!

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    1. Thank you Tex.
      We both love our horses.
      The storage room is coming along. Will do more in Autumn.

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  5. Hi Val, I love the horses and your flowers. Hope you have a great weekend.

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  6. Lovely post Val and the horses are gorgeous! Happy bloggy break xx

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  7. I'm glad you are spending time with family and friends this summer. It's a happy time..enjoy it! Love your photos my friend! The horse is so beautiful and looks very intelligent. Sweet hugs, Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane.
      Its a nice time of the year.
      happy days to you. xx

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  8. Glad you are taking it easy Val. Those temperatures are very high. Hard to believe you are sweltering while I am trying to keep warm and the heater is going most of the day, when I am at home.
    Lovely to see what's happening around your way. The geraniums and fuchsia are such a pretty colour.
    Keep cool.
    Betty ox

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  9. Val you keep on enjoying your break and your family and friends. Good for you. I did send you an e-mail and so far it seems like it may have gone through. Fingers crossed. It has been very hot here the last few days and now another fire is raging and it happens to be right around where we have a little camping trip planned in the next couple of weeks. We may not be able to go but worse I hear some homes have been destroyed. There are certainly some drawbacks to summer. I love that beautiful horse...Happy Weekend..Judy

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  10. Thanks for all the nice pics...Enjoy the rest of your summer!

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  11. Sounds like you are having a lovely summer - shame about your roses I hope they will pick up when the weather cools. Enjoy your friends and family visits - and say hello to the horse for me.

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  12. Dear Val, thank you for showing us what you are doing over the summer. I am sorry about your beautiful roses, which can't take the extreme heat, as I also find with mine. I hope they recover soon. Your storage shed is going to look really nice when finished - I think the roof very attractive. xxx

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  13. Nice to see your blog here, Val. What a beautiful horse. I've never had one and don't know much about horses. Interesting they are so affectionate. I hope your roses come back; not many plants can endure the sort of heat you're having. Enjoy your summer days.

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  14. Hello Pascoa. Val, your horse is so beautiful, and she has such a vast area to roam. We took a drive out in the country this weekend, and I got a picture of a pretty horse that looks a bit like Pascoa. You know how much I love seeing all the happenings that are going on around your place. Have a great time with all of your family, Val. I will be with all of my family in two weeks too. We are blessed, indeed. Stop by tomorrow if you want and see the picture of the sweet horse. :~)

    love,
    ~Sheri

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  15. You are surrounded by so much life and beauty--I always enjoy your pictures and hearing what you are up to. I'm sorry about your roses.

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  16. A lovely post showing us something of your summer surroundings and interests, Val. I thought it was hot here in Normandy last week, but our temperatures were nothing like yours. I don't know how you cope. I do hope your roses revive when the cooler weather comes.

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  17. Thank you for visiting my blog Val when I know that you are having a blog break. It is lovely to see your sunny, pretty, garden and the area that surrounds you with your lovely gentle horses just over the fence.

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