A Creative Spirit
and what do we eat on Good Friday? Hot Cross Buns! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN4SPwIXIAs And while searching for a simple recipe I came across the nursery rhyme I used to sing as a child. These kids are SO cute! Do you remember this rhyme from your childhood? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6CzbcKM7cg We or rather Mr. Piglet made some NOT Cross... Continue Reading →
... or I should say several: Find Easter eggs for a friend who is flying over from the UK with her grandkids for Easter. Get lettuce plants and source a costume for the Western Murder Mystery party. Art lesson to work on Buddha, Portuguese.... holy moly and that's before I worked in the garden. São... Continue Reading →
Last week, I shared an overview of the South garden and pool area in my post April Garden Diary – A Tour of My Garden (part 1). This week, I focus on the east, west and north gardens, which include a small terrace and vegetable area. We try to keep it tidy, but it is always... Continue Reading →
I have a pet mosquito he has one hundred livesI like to call him Lucky Jim because he ducks and dives. His agility’s amazing as I chase him with the batUp and down and round and round, it’s surprising I’m so fat! Jim’s such a friendly fellow, a loyal companion by my sideAlthough I’ve tried... Continue Reading →
This week has been challenging, especially as it was time to admit I'd failed on some of the health goals I'd set last month as part of the #wellnessremiagined linkup. But maybe 'fail' is not the right word; I'd just taken a minor detour before getting back on track. https://pigletinportugal.com/2025/03/03/fooded-out-in-february/ My goals for March were:... Continue Reading →
As we move into April, the unseasonal weather continues with heavy rain, squalls, high winds, showers, and periods of sunshine. Even when we wake up to sunshine and blue skies, there is no guarantee it won't be raining by lunchtime. Apart from a few days, it's been like this since the 2nd of January. Last... Continue Reading →
This week, we were recommended a traditional Portuguese restaurant in Lagos, Restaurante o Lamberto. The restaurant is located well away from the tourist trail. I think we were probably the only English people there. I ordered a Bifes à Portuguesa to see how it was presented and compared to the one served at restaurant Cais... Continue Reading →
Last Sunday, we finally enjoyed a respite from the rainy weather, which allowed me to catch up on laundry and gardening. I say respite but it was still cold and windy. Mosquitoes and Fly Repellants Of course, when the sun did appear, so did the wretched mosquitoes. They are out in force, breeding like crazy... Continue Reading →
Looking back, this is the wettest January, February, and March I can remember, so we are way behind with our gardening endeavours. This week, we had a break in the weather. The rain stopped, and the sun shone. On Sunday, impatient because many of the seeds I'd planted at the beginning of March were slow... Continue Reading →
I love fresh seafood, especially dressed crab, so today, we went to lunch at 'A Azenha do Mar' near Odemeira in the Alentejo. No, I didn't go to the tank to choose the live crab, I left that to the waitress. Do you like seafood? I do, but apart from prawns, I don't cook it.... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you everything aches this week. I think the continued damp weather is getting into the marrow of my bones. One of my friends said she felt the same so perhaps it's not just me. Can your bones ache? Entertaining Friends—On Sunday, we invited a couple of friends over... Continue Reading →
Today, as I walked around my vegetable garden during the lull between heavy showers and gale-force winds to inspect the damage inflicted by Storm Martinho, I wondered how many of us--if push came to shove--could grow our own fruit and vegetables. A random question. Maybe not. With the world teetering on the brink of war... Continue Reading →
Yay! I did it. I FINALLY did it. I started a Yoga for Seniors class in February; this week was my sixth class. Since the first lesson, the Yoga teacher has been trying to persuade me to get down on the floor. I baulked at the idea and repeatedly told her, "I've only been down... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you I hit the ground running this week after last week's self-imposed isolation thanks to 'man flu, ' aka a cold. The weather can't make up its mind. Heavy showers, thunder, lightning and bright sunshine. But despite ALL the rain we've enjoyed, the local reservoir is less than... Continue Reading →
Living in a country where English is not the first language certainly takes you out of your comfort zone, especially regarding food shopping. Imagine walking into a supermarket and suddenly seeing none of your favourite foods and familiar brands; throw the added complication of language into the mix, and you may feel you have landed... Continue Reading →
My offering this week for Cathy's 'In a Vase on Monday' is based on symbolism. The colours, vase, backdrop and even the dead, spoiled flowers on the red base hold meaning. Any ideas? * * * I picked these flowers on Sunday afternoon in a brief period between showers. I wanted to offer an additional... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that the rest of the week was cancelled apart from Yoga. On Monday, I thought I was finally due to start in the charity shop but it didn't happen - cancelled. Tuesday, after Yoga, as the day progressed, my throat felt gravelly, and my 'get up and... Continue Reading →
My gardening endeavours to share for this week's Six on Saturday are courtesy of windows we had in the weather. One moment blue skies and sun the next a squall rolled in from the sea and we had torrential rain. Pruning Washingtonia ~Only a couple of weeks ago I was moaning to Mr. Piglet, and... Continue Reading →
Every year, we Brits celebrate Shrove Tuesday with pancakes. We call it 'Pancake Day'. This brilliant YouTube video explains why. https://youtu.be/pw6oRE7NKVM?si=_wpNybpoK8A9NFCO This traditional batter recipe dates back to 1439, as per Historic UK Quote: "The ingredients for pancakes can be seen to symbolise four points of significance at this time of year: Eggs ~ CreationFlour... Continue Reading →
I never thought I'd admit it, but I'm 'fooded' out. Stuffed to <<bursting>>. Move over the laughing Buddha and enter the laughing pig. Except I'm not laughing. I feel fat. February has been a month of celebration, experimenting with new and healthier recipes--which I've shared on my blog--and eating out. Eating out three/four times a... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 