A Creative Spirit
This weeks WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Path... One afternoon in early March I was feeling decidedly listless. I wandered aimlessly round the house and garden looking for inspiration, but I was uninspired. Fortunately, I don't experience many days like this as I am a "creative" person by nature and usually there are not enough... Continue Reading →
If you have followed the ongoing saga regarding my failed attempts to grow zucchini, the photograph below will be familiar. Fellow bloggers kindly offered suggestions as to the possible cause along with some remedies. Vegetable Diary June: Veggie Disasters – S.O.S To cut a long story short, I finally decided despite my valiant efforts, it... Continue Reading →
Hi Folks, Piglet is having a strop! Yesterday, I noticed my "subscribe by email" button had disappeared and the words "Sign me up by email" replaced by a rather insignificant blue circle with a white cross. Being a bit of a techie-muppet I immediately thought I had inadvertently twiddled with something and broken it! Unable... Continue Reading →
The theme of this week's WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Flowers I have many beautiful flowers in my garden but their beauty soon fades and their flowers wither and die. Now consider the flowers produced by the humble strawberry plant. I grow all my strawberry plants in various containers even plastic crates. These humble plants... Continue Reading →
This recipe complete with pictures is courtesy of Sami a Portuguese lady living in Australia! She had to drive 30kms to buy the bacalhau to make this recipe. Sami has a great blog called sami's colourfulworld please "click" across and say hi! Bacalhau com Natas Ingredients 500gr potatoes 500gr cooked and flaked bacalhau (Please see *note below) 3 onions sliced a... Continue Reading →
Folks I really need your help to identify this bug which I almost stood on today! I say almost, because when I spotted it just below my foot as I was about to go up some steps I nearly jumped 20' in the air in terror. Now as you can imagine from my name, I'm... Continue Reading →
This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is "Entrance" A short walk from the chic designer shops are the historic "back" streets of Lisbon. I personally find wandering round observing the architecture and appreciating everyday life far more interesting than looking at material things I can neither afford, or if I could would even want. Is... Continue Reading →
Are you considering hiking, walking, biking, birdwatching etc off-road in the Portuguese countryside? If so please note the Hunting season runs from the 15th August through to the end of February and there are certain signs you need to be aware of. You may be relieved to know hunting is only permitted on Thursdays, Sundays... Continue Reading →
This traditional Portuguese custard is usually served on its own, or with cake or fruit. My original intention was to serve the Leite Creme (custard) with my Rhubarb Crumble. Unfortunately, my oven conspired against me and refused to work so my uncooked crumble was subsequently banished to the freezer until my oven is mended. Ingredients... Continue Reading →
This week’s, now last week's WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is/was "Broken" (I should have removed the greasy fingerprints from the oven door BEFORE taking the photo!) I trawled through my photographs for over an hour looking for inspiration as to a suitable photo for this weeks now last week's photo challenge “Broken” Nada! The photo... Continue Reading →
From plot to plate - I grew the red cabbage used in this recipe in my vegetable plot! Ingredients Small Red Cabbage (sliced finely) 1 Onion (chopped) 1 Packet of smoked lardons (bacon pieces) Knob of lard or splash of olive oil 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds or cumin powder 1 bay leaf Salt to... Continue Reading →
This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge theme is “Colorful” We were on our way to a restaurant with some friends when I spotted this colorfully painted truck in the car park. “Perfect”, I thought “Result! - just the picture I’d been looking for this week’s "Colorful" photo challenge theme”. Camera always to the ready I could... Continue Reading →
When you want to relax and escape the rat-race of the Algarve I recommend you visit the unspoilt sandy beaches in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina on the West Coast of Portugal. However, if you are looking for beach activities, entertainment, tourist shops etc as in Portimão and Albufeira these more "rustic"... Continue Reading →
For many years I believed the clay dishes sold by the Artesanos in Portugal (Pottery shops) were toast racks. Yes, toast racks! I pondered over the design of these strange dishes, as you would, and decided Portuguese “toast racks” were extremely impractical as they would not hold many slices of toast. Well what else could... Continue Reading →
I’ve just been tagged by Margaret of Cachando Chile and now I’m "IT!..."Thanks Margaret! Thank goodness for virtual travel – Chile is a long way from Portugal. Who made this game up? I have no idea!, but the way it works is a blogger tags you, you match your own posts in specific “Most this”... Continue Reading →
My "Monthly Diary" and the saga of my attempts to grow my own fruit and veg continues... My success rate to date leads me to believe that even if I had a large enough plot I certainly would not be self-sufficient by any stretch of the imagination! Zucchini (Courgettes) My zucchini are still desperately clinging to... Continue Reading →
Margaret at Cachando Chile challenged her followers to write a post about "Stuff that just bugs me…" This challenge was not too difficult as I've definitely become more "grumpy" as I've grown older! Not that all older people are "grumpy", I hasten to add!...Hmmm I think I am digging a deeper hole here so I... Continue Reading →
We went to a BBQ last week and the hostess served this delicious Portuguese Octopus Salad. She was fascinated by the fact I was keen to photograph her cooking and share with the world. Enjoy! 1kg of Octopus 1 Onion (finely chopped) 1 Bunch of flat leaved parsley (finely chopped) 3 tbsp extra virgin olive... Continue Reading →
A note for your diaries! The annual Silves Medieval Fair (Algarve) is held in the narrow cobbled streets which lead up to the ancient castle. The streets and squares are transformed into a medieval market place as stall holders and even several of the visitors dress in medieval and arabic costumes. There is a tent... Continue Reading →
There are many blackbirds in our garden and over time I believe they have learned (on our patch of earth at least) we do not pose a threat to them. We coexist and live in peace. I love to quietly observe the blackbirds building their nests, flying back and forth with suitable building materials until... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 