A Creative Spirit
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 →
The days have flown by so quickly that I've barely had time to catch my breath. This week, I had planned to prepare a meal using the homegrown kale I planted at the end of August. At the mention of Kale, I can already see many of you running for the hills. Trust me, kale... Continue Reading →
Another week has flown by, and thankfully, our garden job list is shrinking. With so many visitors and travels this summer we had neglected our garden. Bad move because the jobs just piled up. For Six on Saurday last week I created a Job List and set to work (Poor Mr. P. The first he... Continue Reading →
Kefir? Is anyone familiar with Kefir? Have you tried it, and do you make it at home? Kefir was recommended to me as a probiotic for gut health. At the moment I'm buying from the local supermarket. I read this article which offers a lot of maybe's: Top 10 health benefits of kefir. Kefir is... Continue Reading →
Our Portuguese lesson never materialised this week as our teacher's internet died. We had dutifully studied our Trabalho em Casa and were keen to practice. We had been tasked to prepare questions to ask the teacher using: How ~ Como? * What ~ O que? * Where ~ Onde? * Which is ~ Qual é?... Continue Reading →
I spotted this unusual plant while walking in the Western Algarve. Eventually I managed to identify it via the Portugal Wildflower FB group. I was surprised, once I discovered its name, that it was not listed in my area on the flora.pt website map. The Paraserianthes Lophantha is registered as an invasive plant in Portugal, which is... Continue Reading →
It's October, and with summer socialising, holidays, and houseguests behind us, it's time to knuckle down and undertake some serious work in the garden. Armed with a pen, clipboard, and critical eye, I made an extensive 'To Do' list. However, my enthusiasm soon ran out of steam. I'm sure you know the feeling when I... Continue Reading →
One of my favourite treats is a Portuguese custard tart, Pastel de nata. But beware—not all Pastéis de Nata are equal, as Mr. Piglet, a pastel de nata connoisseur, will tell you. We avoid ordering from the big supermarket cafes because they offer poor imitations (in our opinion). One of our local bakeries supplies them... Continue Reading →
I've toyed with the idea of picking up the 'I must 'Learn Portuguese' lesson' baton I dropped many years ago for a while. When I try to speak Portuguese in shops and restaurants, my efforts are so hopeless that I am encouraged to communicate in English. For example I recently asked a waitress for 'uma... Continue Reading →
Let's talk about traditional English 'Fish 'n Chips'. When we were back in Blighty, Mr. Piglet had a craving for real English fish and chips bought from a proper Chippy (slang for Fish and Chip shop). When I was growing up, fish and chips used to be bundled up in sheets of old newspaper--fancy wrapping... Continue Reading →
This is another Wild Wednesday offering. This week, I'd like to introduce you to one of the most common wildflowers I see on my roadside walks—they literally grow out of the road! It is a common wildflower across Portugal. Do they grow where you live? Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter - False Yellowhead Sticky Fleabane Remember, all... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I focus on container gardening. Plants still flowering in late September in my urban plot in the Western Algarve, Portugal. I aim to nurture plants and shrubs that offer interest or year-round colour and do not require huge amounts of water. Friday afternoon, I thought we would enjoy rain... Continue Reading →
I have been a busy bee since we last met for coffee two weeks ago. Grandkids: We have just returned to Portugal after a week in the UK to spend time with family and enjoy the grandkids. We stayed with our son, Ian, and daughter-in-law, and it was great to enjoy quality time with them.... Continue Reading →
I am trying to lose weight by adopting a healthier lifestyle and eliminating processed carbs (or at least trying to). Part of my journey is experimenting with low-carb recipes and researching superfoods that have proven positive effects on the body. A while back, a friend waxed lyrical about the benefits of cider vinegar. I bought... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 