A Creative Spirit
Olá, fellow gardeners, let's raise a glass to a productive 2025. I'm ashamed to say Ineglected my vegetable area and garden during November and December, and now I am paying the price with an abundance of weeds. I also discovered a few surprises, such as a yellow pepper that we used in the Christmas Day... Continue Reading →
As part of my drive to step outside my foodie comfort zone, I searched Pinterest for some Christmassy 'aperitivo' ideas and found this Christmas Tree cheese and spinach breadsticks. Great. I had fresh spinach in the garden, begging to be eaten before the slugs and snails ate it all. I adapted the original recipe to... Continue Reading →
This year, I decided to join Cathy's meme 'In a Vase on Monday'. Since I don't grow many flowers in my garden, I will probably need to look beyond its boundaries for inspiration. This week, I offer a simple arrangement of the majestic Bird of Paradise, aka Strelitzia Reginae. I tried to make the shadow... Continue Reading →
Stop the World, I Want to Get Off! If we were having coffee in RL, I'd tell you I took a break from blogging during December—not just from blogging but also from watching/reading the news and using social media platforms. I was/am fed up with fake and manufactured news, misinformation, disinformation, wars, lying politicians, sporting... Continue Reading →
We took these photographs of the wild crocus while walking in the Costa Vincintina in November. I struggled to identify this crocus, so I sent Mr. P back to take close-ups of the leaves. I then shared to the Wildflowers, Plants, and Trees in Portugal FB group where I was advised it was the Crocus... Continue Reading →
At times, I want to throw up my hands in despair. Gardening is a constant challenge. If it's not munchers eating my succulents, Kale or cannas, it's sickly plants demanding my attention, roots breaking through a wall to access the raised vegetable area, and then there's lichen. Poorly Orchid - I ignored this outdoor orchid... Continue Reading →
It's been a while since we had coffee, so we should probably also make it lunch. Today, I arranged to meet up with fellow blogger 'Anna I', who lives in Alentejo, but sadly, her hubby was ill, and our meeting was postponed. New Restaurants Over the last few weeks, we set a challenge to step... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food! This morning, I was waiting to be served at the butcher's counter when I spotted half a pig's head awaiting a new home. I admit I am squeamish, and the thought of putting it in the oven to roast or in a large pot to boil, let alone eat it, turned... Continue Reading →
For my Six on Saturday this week, I share my newly acquired passion for air plants and bromeliads. I've wanted to expand our collection of bromeliads and air plants (tillandsias) for some time so last Sunday, we went to the Autumn Mediterranean Garden Fair in Lagoa. I love these plants, and so does Mr P.... Continue Reading →
Yes, you read the title correctly! The cake sounds weird, but I was assured it tastes delicious—a shame I'm on a diet and it's loaded with sugar. I am no stranger to carrot or apple cake, so I wonder if I could jazz up the beetroot cake by using oats instead of flour, finding a... Continue Reading →
Hands up. Who knew the tiny Chia seed packed such a nutritious punch? I didn't. When someone suggested I try them to help with weight loss, I bought a packet, thinking it was a type of tea. I probably made that assumption because chia and chá are similar, and chá is the Portuguese word for... Continue Reading →
This is an overview of our vegetable garden as October moved into November. The local markets are selling plenty of winter vegetable plugs, so now is the time to get planting! The daytime temperature hovers just above 20C and at night (except for a cold snap) between 14C and 18C. It feels like summer—probably an... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food or not. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you my weight loss has stagnated over the last few weeks, and I feel rather ticked off! My goal on the 10th of July was to lose 15kg by my landmark birthday (30th December). No problem, I thought. Wrong! I've only lost... Continue Reading →
Last Halloween, our grandkids were staying over, so we dressed up and went trick-or-treating. We had great fun, and some people went all out to embrace the fun by decorating their gardens and placing a pumpkin outside their gate. This year, despite the absence of our grandkids, we embraced the spirit of Halloween. Mr Piglet... Continue Reading →
Since discovering I can buy cheap pregrown vegetable and herb plugs, I rarely grow them from seed. Why would I? When I grew veg from seed, they either failed, or I had enough seedlings to supply half the population. PLUS, I had to wait weeks for them to germinate and then came the fiddly process... Continue Reading →
I thought Javali were nocturnal. Apparently not. These cute little piggies were out for a Sunday stroll in the sunshine. I think we were more nervous of them than they were of us. https://pigletinportugal.com/2024/10/22/wildlife-in-portugal-the-psammodromus-algirus-lizard/ REF. Wikipedia - Wild Boar
My six gardening pictures for this Saturday feature some of the plants flowering in my garden at the end of October, taken while dodging the showers. YaY! Rain, glorious rain. It seems one or more of my hibiscus plants are always in flower, and today was no exception. Flowering Hibiscus in October Flowering Hibiscus in... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about food. Last week, we celebrated our wedding anniversary at Dos Artistos in Lagos. On learning we were celebrating a special occasion, the restaurant added an extra special touch to the presentation of our creme brulee dessert. How sweet! * On Thursday, another trip to Lagos to see the Algarve Jazz Orchestra at... Continue Reading →
...or as I call him, Lenny. He stops to watch me as I work in the vegetable area and even poses for a photograph. Reference: https://birdwatchinghq.com/lizards-of-portugal/ Related Posts: https://pigletinportugal.com/2024/09/04/garden-orbweaver-araneus-diadematus-or-a-pallidus/ https://pigletinportugal.com/2024/08/21/wildlife-in-portugal-terrapins/
For my Six on Saturday gardening update this week, I've put the job list on hold for a week to give poor Mr. Piglet time to recover. Today, I focus on Piglet's Plot and what's happening (or not) in the vegetable area. I am pleased to report we've had a lot of heavy showers this... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 