A Creative Spirit
What a challenging week! I received an email from the sister of my closest (online friend), Darren White, stating that he had sadly passed away at twenty-six. Darren had always prepared me for the fact that he had not long to live, but as months turned to years and numerous operations later, I filed the... Continue Reading →
Do you enjoy photographing wildflowers, bugs, birds, snakes, and other curiosities in the wild? I decided to revisit the meme I created 'Wild Wednesday", where I share a photograph of wild flora or fauna in my local Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina area. Why not join me, share your photo on your... Continue Reading →
This morning, I wandered around our garden looking for plants to feature in this week's Six on Saturday and with so many surprises, good and bad, I struggled to make a selection. I shamefully neglected my garden last week while we entertained family over on a week's holiday, and now I am playing catchup. It's... Continue Reading →
Because there are many swimming-related accidents/deaths a year in Portugal, I'm sharing these video clips I found on YouTube: 'How to Spot a Riptide Current' and 'What If You Were Caught in a Riptide?' I've lost count of the times I've seen children left unattended to play in the waves or inexperienced swimmers/surfers/bodyboarders take to... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I focus on some of the fruit and vegetables we grow in pots with varying degrees of success. Growing fruit and vegetables or indeed any plants in containers, creates various challenges, which include: Too much water or not enough: I use a moisture meter because often the top couple... Continue Reading →
My Blog, 'Piglet in Portugal,' was born on May 21st, 2010. YaY! 14 years old. How time flies and how the blogging community has changed over the last 14 years! During this time, I have published 662 posts and acquired 3,309 subscribers I still remember my daughter 'Piglet in France' sitting at my computer and... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday (SoS) I've chosen six flowering shrubs. 1. Dodonaea Viscosa - Hop Bush I planted this Dodonaea hedge about twelve years ago to screen the pool area from the driveway. By last summer, it had only reached the heady heights of around 2-3 ft, and with the threat of eviction... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee this weekend, I'd have to decline cake and cookies and watch while you enjoyed one of these delicious offerings. Tempting desserts at Sugar and Salt, Portimao. It's been a hectic week—a very hectic week socialising or, as my American friend calls it - 'gladding'. I've been gladding when I should... Continue Reading →
Mr. Piglet wanted a new garden project, so I set him to work making a birdhouse. It's too late for this Spring, but the house will be ready for Autumn once the male birds start house hunting. I'd seen so many variations on YouTube I finally decided to use the dimensions on the http://www.rspb.co.uk https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/build-a-birdbox... Continue Reading →
Are you sitting comfortably? Do you take your coffee with or without sugar? Or maybe you would like something stronger? When we were in Annecy, France, a couple of weeks ago, I was heartened to see this street art in one of the back streets by a cafe. The artists were protesting about the use... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I decided to focus on some of my motley selection of vegetables. Once again I have the same problem with yellowing leaves. Too much or not enough water or is it nutrients? 1. Tomatoes The Black Tula (beefsteak) tomatoes have finally started to grow. A fellow gardener in France... Continue Reading →
A week ago today, we were in France staying with our daughter and family to celebrate our granddaughter's 13th Birthday and support her in the regional basketball semi-finals for age groupsthirteen and under. Microsoft 365 A few days before our trip, I discovered the laptop I use when travelling decided to have a hissy fit.... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I was going to write about vegetables, but when I strolled out into the garden to photograph my motley selection, I was struck by the array of flowers in bloom, basking in the May sunshine. Coleus Neochilus I love this plant! Apparently, it repels mosquitoes Coleus neochilus Coleus neochilus,... Continue Reading →
It's been a busy week! My coffee comes from a coffee shop in Lagos, in the Western Algarve. It is Friday, just after 9:30 a.m., and I'm killing time before my appointment at the hairdressers. Much to my surprise, the street was deserted, so I checked my watch in case it was 8:30 a.m. Where... Continue Reading →
I am addicted to succulents and committed to creating a drought-tolerant garden, which is just as well because we will have a hosepipe ban this summer. The drought situation is critical, and restrictions are already in place in the Eastern Algarve. Let's just hope all the tourists who arrive in their hoards this summer refrain... Continue Reading →
Finally! After a long winter pounding away at our keyboards, we have finally released the long-awaited third and final book in The Promise Series on pre-order. Publication date 2nd April. This is not your cookie-cutter romance. This is an epic love story between two people from very different lifestyles. Will their love overcome their differences?... Continue Reading →
This week has proved to be one of the busiest in the garden so far this year. I had (and still have) so much to do that I don't know where to start. I feel like I'm spinning on the spot. Everything needs my attention, and it needs it now, which often sees me start... Continue Reading →
Vertical planters are a great way to grow a lot of fruit and veg in a limited space. The perfect solution for small suburban gardens and apartments with a small balcony. After checking out vertical strawberry planters for sale on Amazon and further research on YouTube, we decided to make our own. We'd bought the... Continue Reading →
This is a tough post because I don't want it to come across as a whine. However, I hope this sign resonates with those who are frustrated due to reduced mobility and strikes a chord with them, like me. Anyway, I saw this sign in a local restaurant. It reminded me to stay positive and... Continue Reading →
What a week!! I need something more substantial than coffee to celebrate! Before I take my first sip of Irish coffee, I apologize for not visiting/commenting on many of my favourite blogs this week. I've not been slacking, honestly! My collab partner, D.L. Keur, and I have been working through the final draft of The... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 