Favorite places

(you can never be bored living with a cat - be prepared to find her in the least expected places!)

Knitted memories

My grandmother loved to knit. Unfortunatly I never got the chance to learn from her, except for some basic crochet. Recently I found 4 shawls she made and decided to keep them. I remember she'd wear them in winter, while she was at home.

(caught Mia trying to nap ON the pile of shawls and, after being evicted, this was where she chose to lounge...)

Things I love

1 - Delicious vegetable curry + basmati rice.

3 - Flea markets and their random display of vintage items for sale (and bargain).

3 - Cats and their infinite capacity to find extremely confortable positions and places to nap on.

Learning new skills

To learn a new skill empowers you, this I know. Lately I have been trying to learn (here) how to make tops/blouses to wear and to offer.

In just a few hours, many possibilities unfold. I learn about patterns, measurements, materials and wished I had a lot of time in my hands to explore possibilities. Just for the sake of doing something with my hands.

Always under the watchful eyes of Mia (who likes to lay on top of the fabrics).

Busy days + appreciation of free moments

1 - Last weeks have been really busy, not so much quality time at home. Mia resents this and makes sure I get the message: each day I find her in a new (and odd) place to lounge...

2 - Not a lot of time to cook proper things lately... surviving on what I grab first (I decided this ends today)!

3 - On a weekend evening we went out for dinner and I tasted the best combination ever: "leite de creme" (a sort of custard cream) with fresh strawberries. So good. On my way out spotted a tiny tiny heart on the side walk <3 <3 <3

4 - Every chance I get, I take shortcuts through the city's gardens and parks. These days with low temperatures and bright blue sky make more sense with nature around...  

5 - This week I noticed for the first time a strange-spooky shop on the street where I live. It could be a shop in Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, full of strange old things (it was closed, but I peeked at the window anyway)

This and that

1 - Today I got one new scarf and gave two to a friend.

2 - Today I had a hard time finding Mia... guess why?

3 - Today I felll for these two pretty chairs on a garage sale. I didn't buy them but I can't forget them.

Recently enjoyed things

1 - Inspired by some improvements in the building I live in, I've been doing some repainting myself. Its kind of relaxing to paint your sorroundings. Afterwards its inevitable to keep noticing how much better it looks (each time you pass by).

3 - Typical portuguese homemade sponge cake eaten in a picnic + J's favorite expresso coffee. 

3 - A finished pair of mittens made to offer a friend!

4 - The first dim sum I ate in Portugal. Delicious.

5 - The best feet-hug I ever got from Toffee.

New-old things

An old embroidery manual from my great-grandmother and a new woolen scarf I'm knitting (my first one ever).

A new-old chair for my desk. Love it.

A new playlist for my walks through the city (autumn mood) and some images cut out from an old calendar -  Rodin's work, too beautiful to throw away.

New lives for old clothes (practising my sewing machine abilities)

Old scraps of paper I've been saving in a box will soon be part of a new project.

Old chair, new tricks from Mia (100 meter hurdles...).

Socks, porridge and fireplace

This weekend, a newly bought book on crafts inspired me to finish a pair of pink/brown socks started a while ago. The chilly nights up north seemed perfect for the task and reminded me that Autumn is slowly arriving, despite the hot temperatures during the day. 

The fireplace was an unexpected detail to an unusually cold night, it felt strange to spend the day at the beach and the night by the fire! Anyway, we decided to eat in, so I cooked us some porridge with pears and we ate watching a movie.