A Creative Spirit
Or should this be "10 useful facts I did not know about the Carob tree"? Lacking inspiration for this week's Wordpress Weekly Photo Challenge - theme: "Growth" , I stumbled across this picture of an old Carob tree (Árvore de alfarrobeiras). I'd taken the picture on our first geo-cache expedition and according to the accompanying blurb about... Continue Reading →
During one of our visits to France I discovered an addictive sweet biscuit called nougatine. It's a wafer thin almond concoction eaten with coffee/tea or used as a decorative wafer when serving ice cream. Or if you are like me, and a real pig, you could munch your way through this addictive creation in one... Continue Reading →
This post is inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. The theme is Hope I considered naming the tin which contains all my packets of seeds, "My Tin of DOOM". Why? Because many most of the seeds fail to germinate. I'm not sure if this is due to the quality of seed or if I'm... Continue Reading →
This post is inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. The theme is Peaceful. My little grandson sleeps peacefully with not a care in the world. His only needs are love, food, warmth, clean nappies, "winding" and sleep - how simple life is when you are a baby! As I watch over him, his basic... Continue Reading →
This year we spent a magical Christmas in France with our daughter, hubby (SIL) and adorable baby granddaughter. The night before we arrived a heavy fall of snow transformed the surrounding countryside into a magical white world which set the scene for the perfect “White” Christmas. Their home was also transformed with an array of... Continue Reading →
Inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge this week's theme is "Self Portrait" Well folks the day has finally arrived when I reveal my true identity! I was only three weeks old in the photograph below, and if I do say so myself I looked really cute. However, I am sorry to spoil the illusion... Continue Reading →
Over the next year I will be keeping a monthly diary of all the fruit and vegetables I grow in my garden. This idea was prompted by fellow blogger Hurtled to 60 and now beyond I've made various garden posts over the last year, but as there is very little information regarding what to grow... Continue Reading →
One of my subscribers sent me this recipe...Cherry Mistmas! Christmas Cake Ingredients 1 cup butter 4 large eggs 1 cup dried fruit lemon juice 1 bottle brandy 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt Nuts Method Sample the brandy to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the brandy again... Continue Reading →
This post is inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. This week's theme is Waiting Fishermen spend hours fishing from the rocks or shoreline "waiting" to catch a fish. They cast their line into the sea and then wait patiently for the tell-tale signs which signify a fish has taken the bait. As I watch... Continue Reading →
Holidays and House Guests I was recently asked by a friend living in the UK: "Do expats still take holidays and if so where?" What a strange question and one I’d never considered! So what's the deal with expats and holidays? Do you return to your homeland to visit family and friends, explore your new... Continue Reading →
Driving down the country lane to our local town I noticed several of the road signs bore strange indentations; almost as though they’d been shot at. Surely hunters were not using road signs as target practice? I immediately dismissed the idea because one of the damaged signs was in very close proximity to a house.... Continue Reading →
...by roots! We returned to Portugal in Mid October and the weather was hot and dry; a balmy Indian Summer. My raised vegetable bed which had been left to run wild in my absence was full of weeds and in dire need of some tender loving care. I'd never grown winter vegetables before so I... Continue Reading →
Can you believe I was an authentic curry virgin? My friends, the curry addicts, could not understand how I’d managed to reach the ripe old age of xx and had never eaten at an authentic Indian restaurant. In fact, they thought I was joking when I informed them the number of curries I’d eaten in... Continue Reading →
Post inspired by the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge This week's theme is "Wonder" Our very basic knowledge of Portuguese often means simple tasks turn into a challenge; today’s experience is a typical example. Although I continue to study Portuguese I am struggling – the more I try, the more stressed I become! After my recent... Continue Reading →
On Tuesday, after a THREE month wait for a new part for my "broken" oven it turned out they had ordered wrong part! (see my Pigging Oven! post) In desperation and with the hope of identifying the correct part the oven technician decided to take my oven to their workshop with the promise of a... Continue Reading →
Well folks, my oven saga continues and it's time for a real good pigging rant! "What?" I hear you say. "Ah, but I was only warming up in my earlier oven post" I Only Want My Oven Mended…please I'm "chilled" most of the time...honestly. I was sceptical that the oven technician would even come today,... Continue Reading →
Do you remember this picture? It was my interpretation of the theme "Broken" for the “Wordpress Weekly Photo Challenge on the 6th August. It was my “Broken” oven and guess what folks? My oven is still broken! Initially, I was very impressed when the appliance engineer actually arrived on the agreed day and more or less at... Continue Reading →
Although I love to set myself goals I must confess I’m the worlds worst at keeping my New Year’s Resolutions. However, when I spotted the 101/1001 challenge on Sarsm’s Blog I thought it sounded great fun especially as you have the support of other 101/1001 bloggers. So what is 101/1001? You set yourself 101 tasks... Continue Reading →
This weeks (now last week's) WordPress Photo challenge is "Fall" or Autumn. When I saw this week's theme I thought great! We are in England and the leaves are turning wonderful shades of gold and amber. The leaves are falling from the trees so I wanted to photograph them floating in the wind. Well, that was... Continue Reading →
We’d given up on Grandchildren, and then they arrive like buses! Our first Grandchild, a beautiful little girl, was born in France on the 28th April and our, second grandchild, an adorable little boy called Oliver, was born in the UK just two days ago weighing in at 8lb 14oz! Initially, in the Special Care... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 