Baby Piglet and Language Problems


How time flies! My baby granddaughter has just celebrated her tenth birthday which is a landmark birthday in France. Fortunately, her English is VERY good which means we can talk on the phone. Not so her younger brother. He is now seven and speaks very little English. My ongoing health issues over the last three years and then COVID has meant we have not been able to travel as we once did so we’ve not had the same social and language interaction …

A Creative Spirit's avatarPiglet in Portugal

The last two weeks in France have literally ‘flown’ by! Looking back it seems like only yesterday we were eagerly driving to Lisbon Airport to catch a plane to Lyon. Our daughter, husband and Baby Piglet had just moved to their new home in the French countryside and we’d volunteered our services to help them settle in.

She likes my singing!

Mr. Piglet’s DIY (Do-It-Yourself) skills were well utilized and a long list of jobs had already been drafted on our arrival. I was head cook and bottle washer plus baby entertainer and nappy changer.

Their new home is approximately 250 years old – a rustic farm-house with a wealth of character features which gives the place a real ‘homely’ feel. The garden, approximately 1.4 hectares, is great but will be a full-time job in itself to maintain! There are several nut and apple trees along with vines and fruit bushes which already offered…

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The Importance of Staying Positive and Upbeat


This week I decided to participate in Natalie's Weekend Coffee share. A first. So What’s been going on in my life? It's been a strange week. A couple of weeks ago I injured my right hand. Namely my mouse finger, or as it was once referred to, the index finger. After several days the pain... Continue Reading →

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Garden Diary: The Fruit Tree Challenge


For my Six on Saturday this week I have focused on our fruit trees which usually normally offer more challenges than fruit. Most people here have an abundance of produce from the popular almond trees, plums, apples, oranges, lemons, advocados, figs, olives etc,, but not us. Nope, we struggle and although I am reliabily informed:... Continue Reading →

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Wildflowers: Daucus Carota Subsp. Halophilus – Wild Carrot

Daucus carota subsp. halophilus

A gentle stroll along the clifftop road towards Amoreira beach in the Western Algarve gave me yet more photo opportunities to record several species of wildflowers. This week I have chosen to showcase the wild carrot. Apparently, it is also used as an essential oil for its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Natural medicine geeks check... Continue Reading →

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Garden Diary: April Vegetables (part 2)

Growing potatoes in pots

My choices for Six on Saturday this week, focus once again on vegetables. I believe the hours spent nurturing all these plants help to keep me sane in the light of the daily challenges we face with COVID. Nature is a great healer and brings peace in these times of stress. Growing Leeks and Garlic... Continue Reading →

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Garden Diary: Why Grow Nabo?

Cooking Nabo

Growing Nabo in a Container Providing it doesn't look up at me from the plate, I try to keep an open mind when it comes to trying new food. However, Nabo is the most disgusting vegetable we have EVER tasted. When I ordered these seeds from a Portuguese seed company it was definitely one of... Continue Reading →

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Wildflowers: Centaurea Sphaerocephala (Knapweed)

Centaurea Sphaerocephala (Knapweed) western algarve

Wildflowers in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, Portugal Reference: floresdoareal.blogspot.com and https://flora-on.pt/index.php#/1centaurea+sphaerocephala Do you enjoy taking photographs of wildflowers, bugs, birds, snakes and other curiosities found in the wild? Every Wednesday I will be sharing a photograph of wild flora or fauna in my local area. Who will join me ?

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Garden Diary: Let’s Focus on Vegetables and Herbs


My Six on Saturday garden diary this week focuses on vegetables and herbs. This year I've grown the majority of plants from seed with a mixed degree of success and failure. The ants stole most of the seeds I planted directly in the ground and the ones that did survive in the cold frame, the... Continue Reading →

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Wildflowers: Echium Angustifolium – Hispid Viper’s-Bugloss

Echium angustifolium - Narrow-leaved Bugloss

Echium angustifolium - Narrow-leaved Bugloss Narrow-leaved Bugloss Ref: FirstNature.com Ref: PlantDatabase Do you enjoy taking photographs of wildflowers? Every Wednesday I will be sharing a photograph of wildflowers growing in my local area. Who will join me?

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Weekly Smile: Sunblock and Socializing


I have two smiles to share this week We all have embarrassing moments, but this one was a cracker and made the sales assistant and I laugh. And we ALL need a reason to laugh right now. Uriage sunblock stick A couple of weeks ago I went to the pharmacy to buy a sunblock stick... Continue Reading →

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What is the NEW ‘Normal’?


When the media refer to the term 'NEW' normal what does it actually mean? I assume they are referring to the impact COVID has had on the world as a whole and how we must learn to adapt physically and mentally to our new lifestyle restrictions as individuals. It is probably the general term adopted... Continue Reading →

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Six on Saturday: Potted Colour


I'm not sure if it's just the garden centres in our area or has it become a more universally accepted practice to allow plants to sit in trays of water so the roots turn brown and start to rot? I bought several plants this week, including the Fuschias where once the pot was removed exposed... Continue Reading →

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A NOT so Welcome Easter Bunny

Wild Rabbit

Deep in thought with my latest gardening challenges, thrips and leaf miners, I walked towards the garage to check the various potions I had in stock. As I passed the cars I sensed movement in the front garden bed. I froze; we suspect a rat has recently taken up residence in our garden as a... Continue Reading →

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Six on Saturday: Seedlings and Saharan Dust and Gusts


Wow, what a week! I've been gardening in a mask! It's the first time we've been advised of 'poor quality' air alerts. Not only did we enjoy the effect of the Saharan dust from Africa we were also subjected to our own local manmade dust storms. 'They' whoever 'they' maybe, are clearing all the local... Continue Reading →

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Stone Painting: Frog Lily Pad


Although I have decorated stones/pebbles with mosaics, I have only painted them as a fun activity with the grandkids on a rainy day so I was delighted when my sister gave me a pebble painting book and paint pens for my birthday in December. Who knew there were such things as paint pens? When the... Continue Reading →

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Wildflowers: Bartsia Trixago (Bellardia) or flor-de-ouro


This week my search for wildflowers growing in the Western Algarve resulted in finding this little beauty which I discovered purely by accident when I grabbed a wall for support because an owner failed to control her frisky dog. After they left I looked down and there was this beautiful flower! Bartsia trixago The Bartsia... Continue Reading →

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Six On Saturday: Staying One Step Ahead


It's been another busy and challenging week in the garden. We can't go anywhere, do anything or see anyone so the bugs, birds and plants have the pleasure of our undivided attention. 1. Beetroot Blues Only two seeds of the Hullahup beetroot I planted on Feb 22nd have finally germinated Over a month of twice... Continue Reading →

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Ants Are Stealing My Seeds!


Either that or we have a phantom seed thief. I planted Hallahup beetroot seeds in the raised vegetable plot on the 22nd February and Lisbon spring onion seeds on 1st March. So far only three tiny beetroot leaves have germinated and no spring onions. I am suspicious because the spring onion seeds I planted on... Continue Reading →

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