Hidden in the mountains of Serra Do Açor

The joys of living high up in the mountains has its tremendous advantages most of the year. Although, small parts of the year, like January, hold tough times. This year our village were the purse stings to an annual event called Bodo. Each year the neighbouring villages take turns in paying for food and drinks to celebrate this old celebration. Bodo  is the distribution of food to the poor on a feast day and when gifts of clothing or cash are also given. According to tradition, the custom of celebrating the bodo was introduced in Portugal in the century.   XIII by  Queen Santa Isabel My family and i drove our old neighbour Acacio, to the event in Colmeal, we all attended a service in the church there.  It was my first time to see inside this old church, which had been rebuilt a few years ago. This history goes back a long time. A very old mountain village from way before Portugal's foundation, probably from the days of the romans or of the moors. ...

Good day to all,    I noticed just today it has been over a month since i last posted up something. Christmas is over, new year followed in a very quiet grown up fashion, of falling asleep and waking up 15 min before the clocks turned.   We took down the Christmas tree just before my birthday on the 13th January, again another relaxed, grown up event, well if you can call building tree dens in the woods with the kids counts? I have been busy in the between all the festive, present opening, hours painting. I have painted a portrait of a friend, i have been baking cakes to sell, i have been out in the near village making stone baked pizzas to sell, to mention but a few things.   Saturday nights here in the mountains is usually spent in the village of Soito, where i prepare meat and veggie pizza in an stone oven. I have been doing this now for 3 weeks, and thoughly enjoying it, even if there are not many people visiting for pizza. After all it is w...