Inspiration: the best thing I read today... "The Story of Emerson College"

'Every person who came to Emerson in some way touched it and changed it. Each year had its own biography. It was never an institution to which people came and passed through without leaving any mark on it.' - Michael Spence 

What's around the corner?

In times of change this is always the question on our mind...

Surprise! :-)

Rainy weekend in S. Martinho do Porto

Inspite the weather, the temperature in S. Martinho was mild enough for long walks. The misty weather has its magic:

This time of the year, the "Santos Populares" (Popular Saints) are celebrated in many areas of the country, and here is no exception. Every year a street market is on and I love to see the main street full of color (it was a lot less crowded than in the previous years when the sunny weather was more inviting for such outings).

Cool weather is also nice because it gives us the chance to enjoy a nice warm fireplace and this time we combined this 'unexpected source of heat' (considering we are nearly in summer) with the pleasure of eating the first cherries of the year (such an unusual combination)...

 Mia came along and had loads of fun running up and down the stairs all day long (cats are crazy)!

Walking in Alfama

1 - Decorations for the "Santos Populares" (popular saints) is taken very seriously around here.

2 - Gorgeous tiles combine perfectly with the pinkish door

3 - A bench on the street made with a recycled door

4 - Sardines everywhere - this is the portuguese typical dish of the season. Even Saint Anthony is inside a sardine can... what else is there to invent?

5 - A window with a view to Largo do Chafariz de Dentro, where the oldest fountain of Lisbon is.

6 - Mail delivered right at your door. No mailbox needed!

7 - Nice "Tasca" (a typical pub, tavern) with yellow benches, to sit, chat and have a glass of red wine.

8 - Antique german dolls for sale in a shop/studio of a local ceramist.

9 - Restaurant "Maritima das colunas" has the nicest waiters and lovely food.

10 - Beautiful golden light just before sunset. 

Portuguese Tiles

Treat of the day

Sugar free cookie with organic peanut butter and blueberries on top.

It was a first timmer, but it's sooooo good... it will be repeated many-many-times!

Sketchbook Stories @ home

J regained his habit of drawing a bit everyday, even if he has very little free time during the week. When he arrives home sometimes in the evenings sketching and decaf are his way of relaxing.
Check out all the other beautiful drawings in his blog, just click HERE!

Portable craft

This weekend I spent less than an hour making a new "taleigo" (some websites translate it to 'bread bag' but it is, of course, multipurpose) with bits of leftover fabric (the doted one on the outside) and recycled fabric (the one I used on the inside is recycled from an old shirt)

This was my goal: a small bag to carry an unfinished pair of socks! A perfect fit.

Lisbon Book Fair this year

Every year the begining of the Lisbon Book Fair is a sign that Summer is here, and the weather seems to agree with me because finally its warm enough! The fair takes place in Parque Eduardo VII, right in the center of the city.

I love walking around the fair, browsing books, meeting friends and sometimes bringing home a bargain book I had been wanting for a while - it makes my day! 

As for João, he likes to take his time sketching something or someone - as always! 

I have to go there again because this time it was a short visit - with the concert and all... - and I didn't browse almost any stalls (no new books for the holidays, yet).

The fair has diferent music events going on in the evenings. This time we were invited to join some friends and enjoy really nice Cape-Verdean music - a concert organized by Out of the Blue!

Finally, and although João didn't illustrate any books this year, we searched the stalls to see if we could find any of his previously illustrated books and found this and this (top shelve, left hand side)!