Warmer walks

I haven't posted here in a while. The truth is I haven't used my (beloved) camera since I started  to post iphone photos here (a new addiction I must say), but lets be honest: its not the same thing... 

Today, I picked up my camera from the drawer where it's been cocooning for the winter and found all these photos, taken in late October (2014) in Sintra, during one of the many walks...

... (and naps on the grass) enjoyed there. 

I was particularly happy to see these next 2 pics, taken in the gardens of Palacio da Pena, where we found an old abandoned chapel. Really a magical place.

Long live warm(er) days!

* some of the photos were taken by J

Discovering Schist Villages

Magical places.
Here.
We will be back :-)

Summer holidays coming to an end

A few days till holidays are officially over and already missing these long, relaxed days where:

1 - a few naps were in order

2 - some chocolate ice cream treats were due, once in a while

3 - important celebrations took place - conveniently lit up with colourful candles

4 - Late breakfasts were eaten outside, in the company of new friends

5 - Gardening activities and new things - like how to keep plants thriving when planted in vases - were learned,

6 - 'Old' games were played with newbies

7 - Crafts were made and taught to new found enthusiasts,

(with a lot of talent, by the way!)

8 - Fruit ('medronhos') was picked up, to eat while enjoying the warm evening country walks,

(as well as white chestnuts, to decorate the house)

---- will try to make the most of these last few days!

Holidays! Yay!

Officially on holidays, enjoying walks amongst pine trees on the way to the beach,

or ocasional naps after lunch on a shady place,

marveling at pink, warm, scented sunsets,

and indulging on whatever I feel like doing. No time. Just one moment after another. Bliss.

* the beautiful drawing/watercolour on one of the last photos was made by J :-)

Recently enjoyed things

1 - Getting back to our city walks after months of rain. They were missed. So many new things to explore...

2 - Celebrating a special day with a very special chocolate cake :-) in the best possible company.

3 - Recently developing a 'tiles-addiction' lead me to create a new board (here) dedicated solely to this portuguese art.

4 - Enjoying sunny breaks reading/sketching on the grass with J and friends (I sort of got this 'holiday feeling' for a tiny moment...)

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)