I'm with Ashley, below: just catching up on these posts (and haven't had a chance to dig into the Tupelo poems...) but I love this, and your new shaved head! Congrats! You look great!
I’m behind reading and am finally catching up. Your posts always rip the top of my head off, make me feel like I have lost all my skin. Your prose is poetry. I often get wet-eyed reading them, they are so relatable. That gift from your sister. Wow. Also- dog jackets! When Mark and I were first dating- retired art students- we crafted the most beautiful, hand-made jacket for our greyhound, Grace. It was our work of love. I love a dog jacket. If I could find an affordable Quinta near you, I would set up shop, start a neighbor-appreciation hobby, and maybe start working as a poetry tour guide, leading locals around to see sheep bells and seascapes and holiday lights and orange trees and crumbling walls with ferns growing on them. I wish there was a lucrative business in something as whimsical as that. But then again, I don’t, because the magic of those things is in their unnoticed smallness and the joy at stumbling across them- like the notes in your jar. I’ll keep scouring idealista and maybe one day... until then, I am so grateful for your kindred spirit.
I feel blessed for having been introduced to your blog, to your writing, to the beauty of how you weave words. And much more.
Being portuguese, we love having the perspective of how others (foreigners) see us (yes, I'm stereotyping, but it is human, I guess). I love seeing our/my traditions and culture through your eyes, and the way you describe them. You draw my/our attention to many, many things we take for granted, and sometimes I feel very happy that we, portuguese - I'm stereotyping... again - try to manage the balance (sometimes a bit clumsily) between tradition and modernity.
The oranges are just the beginning of many more gifts of simple things people grow or have, and offer.
Boas Festas!
Bem haja!
[ PS - Feel free to contact me, for I would be very happy to explain (talk about) our cultural and traditional «things» to you, and to all that are curious about «portuguese stuff», oh, and about the portuguese language, too. ]
Ah, sheep bells. That is just lovely to hear, especially right before trying to sleep in dark, cold, grey Copenhagen. Also, dogs in jackets is right up there with horses in blankets for me. Thank you.
I admit I aspire to creating that longed for yuletide magic for our son. Each year, I cut out snowflakes and hang them up after he goes to bed. Usually there's reindeer tracks and Santa footprints (courtesy of some AP flour), but this year it was far too wet. I hope I'm giving him those amazing memories, and he takes it as inspiration down the road.
i am so glad to have the gift of your writing this christmas. it brought up so many memories of childhood in this season. thank you for the filly, the lights, the chapel, sharing your sister's gift...everything. kicking myself for not reaching out when we were in setubal. we drove the back roads of azeitao and palmela, exploring. loved the green of it! i don't think you will run out of beaches any time soon. have a wonderful holiday season and bountiful new year.
We moved this year too, and exchanging Christmas cards with our new neighbours has been our introduction to several of them. The bells have charmed me in Portugal too-thanks for sharing !
I love your blog and this morning, after a very wet and lovely Christmas in the PNW, reading your musings is like taking a gentle stroll down a Portuguese country lane and taking in all the new sites, sounds and smells along the way. The sheep bells at the end just got bookmarked! Feliz Natal….
Love the oranges, the filly, the lights. Mostly, love the life you've created in your new country, your new home.
On 1/31/2023 I board a one-way flight to Australia. As I prepare my visa application, I've thought about you often. Thank you for the stories and the inspiration. A joyous new year to you all.
I'm with Ashley, below: just catching up on these posts (and haven't had a chance to dig into the Tupelo poems...) but I love this, and your new shaved head! Congrats! You look great!
Thanks, my friend.
I’m behind reading and am finally catching up. Your posts always rip the top of my head off, make me feel like I have lost all my skin. Your prose is poetry. I often get wet-eyed reading them, they are so relatable. That gift from your sister. Wow. Also- dog jackets! When Mark and I were first dating- retired art students- we crafted the most beautiful, hand-made jacket for our greyhound, Grace. It was our work of love. I love a dog jacket. If I could find an affordable Quinta near you, I would set up shop, start a neighbor-appreciation hobby, and maybe start working as a poetry tour guide, leading locals around to see sheep bells and seascapes and holiday lights and orange trees and crumbling walls with ferns growing on them. I wish there was a lucrative business in something as whimsical as that. But then again, I don’t, because the magic of those things is in their unnoticed smallness and the joy at stumbling across them- like the notes in your jar. I’ll keep scouring idealista and maybe one day... until then, I am so grateful for your kindred spirit.
I’m just so glad I did not pass this by. Beautiful, LaDonna. You have a gift, and we’re lucky that you share it.
I feel blessed for having been introduced to your blog, to your writing, to the beauty of how you weave words. And much more.
Being portuguese, we love having the perspective of how others (foreigners) see us (yes, I'm stereotyping, but it is human, I guess). I love seeing our/my traditions and culture through your eyes, and the way you describe them. You draw my/our attention to many, many things we take for granted, and sometimes I feel very happy that we, portuguese - I'm stereotyping... again - try to manage the balance (sometimes a bit clumsily) between tradition and modernity.
The oranges are just the beginning of many more gifts of simple things people grow or have, and offer.
Boas Festas!
Bem haja!
[ PS - Feel free to contact me, for I would be very happy to explain (talk about) our cultural and traditional «things» to you, and to all that are curious about «portuguese stuff», oh, and about the portuguese language, too. ]
Muito obrigada, Marta, e Boas Festas!
Ah, sheep bells. That is just lovely to hear, especially right before trying to sleep in dark, cold, grey Copenhagen. Also, dogs in jackets is right up there with horses in blankets for me. Thank you.
I admit I aspire to creating that longed for yuletide magic for our son. Each year, I cut out snowflakes and hang them up after he goes to bed. Usually there's reindeer tracks and Santa footprints (courtesy of some AP flour), but this year it was far too wet. I hope I'm giving him those amazing memories, and he takes it as inspiration down the road.
What absolutely wonderful neighbors you have.
i am so glad to have the gift of your writing this christmas. it brought up so many memories of childhood in this season. thank you for the filly, the lights, the chapel, sharing your sister's gift...everything. kicking myself for not reaching out when we were in setubal. we drove the back roads of azeitao and palmela, exploring. loved the green of it! i don't think you will run out of beaches any time soon. have a wonderful holiday season and bountiful new year.
You make my day (s).
We moved this year too, and exchanging Christmas cards with our new neighbours has been our introduction to several of them. The bells have charmed me in Portugal too-thanks for sharing !
I love your blog and this morning, after a very wet and lovely Christmas in the PNW, reading your musings is like taking a gentle stroll down a Portuguese country lane and taking in all the new sites, sounds and smells along the way. The sheep bells at the end just got bookmarked! Feliz Natal….
Love the oranges, the filly, the lights. Mostly, love the life you've created in your new country, your new home.
On 1/31/2023 I board a one-way flight to Australia. As I prepare my visa application, I've thought about you often. Thank you for the stories and the inspiration. A joyous new year to you all.
Oooooh, I'm SO EXCITED for you!!! Sending lots of love.
Thank you so much... it's been a long time coming, what a journey and process. I'll be so grateful to touch down in the southern hemisphere soon.
That gift from your sister 😥
So thoughtful ❤️
Your photo of Cabo Espichel took my breath away. Thank you for that gift!
Love oranges. Best gift ever!