A Creative Spirit
It's been hard to smile this week as I've had a raging toothache and ended up in A E for an emergency dentist appointment. Long story ... I'm now on strong antibiotics to try and calm the infection. SMILE= I think the infection is almost gone. I hope to announce a BIG smile next week... Continue Reading →
Writing Forums Friday Flash Fiction: This week's prompt was 'Broken'’ Max Words: 300 If it Ain't Broke Mavis lived by the wise old proverb: ‘if it ain’t broke don’t try and fix it’ ... or should we?Today her nine-year-old grandson came home from school and announced he could use any gender pronoun he chose, rather... Continue Reading →
With the escalating cost of fruit and vegetables one month ago I decided to experiment and grow Courgettes (Zucchini), tomatoes and cucumbers throughout the winter, or at least until Autumn turns to winter in November. Who knows, maybe the weather will be kind and they will continue to grow into January and February - we... Continue Reading →
The toilet inspector is out and about with her camera. This made me smile Toilet Sign at Walibi Rhône-Alpes - toilet sign
This week's prompt of Gouache proved a tough one! I know nothing about Gouache so ... Mavis decided she needed a hobby; or rather her daughter, Julie, decided she did and persuaded her to enrol in either the painting or Yoga classes held at her local village hall. “Mum, it will be relaxing,” her daughter... Continue Reading →
Do you ever wish you could turn back the clock? Two years ago my life changed and not for the better. The total knee replacement I pinned my hopes on that would allow me some modicum of normalcy aka would allow me to rejoin Pilates and Yoga, Zumba, walks on the beach and go body... Continue Reading →
I am sure many of us can relate to this! When Madge was little her Grandma frequently joked, “make the most of your youth, love. ‘Old age don’t come alone'.” The words puzzled Madge and she wondered who arrived with old age, but Grandma said one day she’d understand.She used to study her Grandma in... Continue Reading →
PROMPT: Wasted Works Words: 300 Jamie greeted his mum on return home from university with a hug, a kiss on each cheek, and a huge sack of dirty washing. Mavis smiled benevolently at her only son. She didn’t mind. She’d bragged to everyone Jamie got a ‘First’ at Cambridge. Although what it meant and how a... Continue Reading →
A BIG smile this week because after moaning for the last couple of years that I can't fully access my raised vegetable garden and listening to Mr. Piglet's moans because he has to climb up onto the bed to weed, plant and pick crops in the centre strip he finally agreed to redesign and create... Continue Reading →
It never ceases to amaze me that writing poetry or fiction ties in so well with my other interests such as gardening, painting and mosaics. All are creative in different ways and one stimulates the other. We have started a new garden project which requires a significant amount of manual work. I am usually the... Continue Reading →
With the escalating price of food, especially fresh fruit and vegetables, I decided to get creative, experiment and attempt to grow some courgettes, plum tomatoes and cucumber through the autumn and winter months - a first! Okay, according to the seed packets I am out of time to plant seeds so I won't hold my... Continue Reading →
Naked Bather Statue at Passeio de Riberinho, Portimaõ Wordless Wednesday. Wordless, the statue left me speechless!
For this Week's SoS (Six on Saturday) I 'dug deep' and selected some of my more unusual specimens. I grow most of my plants in pots as they are easier to manage - especially plants that need to be moved to a more sheltered position in the winter. Thankfully, it's been much cooler this week... Continue Reading →
This week we took the opportunity to take an unplanned relaxing lunch along the waterfront at Alvor, enjoy the view and people-watch (great fodder for my next novel). The lunch and idyllic location a welcome bonus sandwiched between a hospital appointment and our stressful weekly shopping foray. In these times of the soaring cost of... Continue Reading →
We are only halfway through July in the Western Algarve and already my vegetables have frizzled in the extreme temperatures and hot Southernly winds. With temperatures topping just under 40C and the serious threat of drought it's time to start gradually winding down and covering exposed soil until the autumn. It's been a while since... Continue Reading →
Trying to motivate myself to garden today in nearly 38C when there is also a strong Southerly desert wind is like ... is like trying to climb Mount Everest in Flip-flops. Not that I'm ever likely to attempt to climb Everest or indeed anywhere else for that matter, but there you go. The air quality... Continue Reading →
The Cistus Ladanifer can be seen across Portugal during May and June. It is a sticky shrub (as I discovered when I wandered off the track to take close-ups). The sticky resin covering the stem and leaves contains healing properties and it is also used in the cosmetic industry to fix the scent in perfumes.... Continue Reading →
Fortunately, we've had more rain this week. Not much but just enough to keep us on edge when we planned a BBQ or to invite friends round for a coffee on the terrace. A New Member of the Family - Solanum Rantonnetti We can always find room for one more plant, yes? Last week I... Continue Reading →
The Carpobrotus Edulis is a creeping succulent listed as one of the invasive species in Portugal. It can be found everywhere along the Portuguese coastline. It has the most amazing flowers which the bees enjoy. REF https://flora-on.pt/?q=Carpobrotus Citation: A.Carapeto, F.Clamote, P.V.Araújo, M.Porto, D.T.Holyoak, C.T.Gomes, J.D.Almeida, E.Portela-Pereira, et al. (2021). Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. - mapa... Continue Reading →
My Six this Saturday this week has proved quite a challenge. I had so much to write about but so little time. This morning we went to a fellow gardeners for a coffee, catch-up and a tour around his garden. It is amazing. So many projects and raised beds, covers, sheds, nooks and crannies. Gnome... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 