Hidden in the mountains of Serra Do Açor

Dearest friends...   Seems such a long time ago since i last posted anything. I have been a very busy little artist, and have sent all my recent art to Lisbon in Portugal. A very dear friend of mine, has managed to sell some of my works of art. She also requested i send some down to her, so that she can show them to an art gallery owner in the capital City. This is my ultimate dream come true.          I have had deep emotions enter my life, i have battled with many confusing moments, i have lost my father to cancer and my mother to past issues.   Seems I'm not the only one in this twister of unfortunate events.     The world is under attack from a virus, the internet is becoming more and more fake news by the minute, data on humans is being shared at a cost financially and emotionally. People are turning against each other, and religion wreaks havoc once again, the age old ways to divide and conquer. Many people are sufferin...

February has approached after long last.  January always seems to be the longest month.  Im not sure if it is to do with the hunger gap, and all that tucking into the food stores left, or the weather takes control and makes each day last so long, watching and waiting for the sun to poke its head out. With February has come the sun, and it has become rather hot and sunny the last few days, with temperatures up to 18celcius.  What a welcome sun it is. I have checked on the lettuce seeds i germinated during the cold and wet January, they have thrived, and are hardening off in the garden as i speak, once they get a bit bigger they will be planted out in the garden. Here are last years kidney beans and Turnip tops for dinner tonight. I spent all of yesterday painting and weeding through the garden, checking my herb area. My poor comfrey bush had been dumped with a lot of water and i feared maybe it wouldn't survive, luckily i saw a few sprouts p...

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...

    Good day to one and all...   It has been a while since my last post on accommodation in our area, just a small reminder of the wonderful places to visit and stay when you come to the hidden mountains of Serra do Açor.   I am a mother, musician, teacher, artist, chef, designer, hairdresser, beauty therapist and much more, the list goes on.    My blog primarily is for showing my art and crafts with the hope of sharing my visions with the world.   I have come here to live with my family a life of learning, change and opportunity for my children.  This country and its people have shown us great kindness, hospitality and a sense of family. We moved to the middle of nowhere, tucked away in a beautiful paradise, we live within an old village with elderly people, whom still farm and live in traditional ways.  We have faced lots of hard work on our farm, raising animals, growing food, maintaining land and forest.   We hav...

I have a new page up for accommodation. The first property on my new page is a lovely place in Sobral, a lovely central location from where to visit places, whilst viewing property for sale or just holidaying in the area of the central mountains.   Discover Portugal, see the magic created here, meet the people still living in traditional ways. double bedroom Kitchen Living room     Pricelist is in the accommodation page in the top bar.

   The seasons change so fast, before i can blink the leaves have al blown away and I'm finding myself sifting through the leaves once again searching for the left overs of chestnuts that the wild boars might have missed, as they ravaged our village for a sack full...   The chestnut festival went well, we only stayed a short time as it just rained and ruined the fire and roasting. Today i cleaned up the soggy charred chestnuts and shells to give to our goats, who will of course devour them all...    I'v emoted lots up in my shop, check it out and pass on the message of my blog to others, help me raise funds.   Big up blessings and happy autumn...