Alone in the summer

I'm spending this silly season all alone. Strange, isn't it?

My dear K.

My favourite presents...

always come from my dear friend, K. 

Inside this beautiful picnic basket, 

I could find all these fair trade products from all over the world. 

I still couldn't eat anything... I wiil, I promise. I just don't want to ruin anything :)

Feels so good to be home...

Chaves, Portugal

Exquisit-ices is on Facebook!

You can find me here.

Happy Birthday, my dear :)

New shoes and latest mosquito bite :)

Parabéns, Mãe!

Para Sempre
  

Por que Deus permite que as mães vão se embora?

Mãe não tem limite, é tempo sem hora,

luz que não se apaga quando sopra o vento

e chuva desaba, veludo escondido

na pele enrugada, água pura, ar puro, puro pensamento.

Morrer acontece com o que é breve e passa sem deixar vestígio.

Mãe, na sua graça, é eternidade.

Por que Deus se lembra

- mistério profundo -

de tirá-la um dia?

Fosse eu Rei do Mundo,

baixava uma lei:

Mãe não morre nunca, mãe ficará sempre

junto de seu filho e ele, velho embora, será pequenino

feito grão de milho. 

Carlos Drummond de Andrade

Recent acquisition

After Kate Middleton's suggestion

I'm back!

I was ill for almost a week. Now, I'm back with full strength. It's good to be back.

Let's add some colour to the summer

Please, please, please

Fire season has started

The fire season has started in Portugal. It concerns me because we'll have so many fires in the next months, but also because my husband will be fighting those fires as well.

Together with another pilot, my love will be extinguishing fires in a helicopter. 
On the ground, a crew of specially trained brave firefighers (GIPS) will do the same.

And it's the same dance every year. I'm always worried, checking the news, asking him to call me everytime he has a call and when he lands. Can't tell you how many times I have panicked, cried... It'll be like this for the next 4 months!!


In my heart, he's a hero and what he does is worth all our sacrifices.

Yesterday, I had dinner here...

Cais da Villa is a very cool restaurant /wine house / lounge in Vila Real. 

I absolutely recommend it. Great presentation, nice music playing, attentive service 

and delicious food.

Here's what we had.

Appetizers:

Me: Thin toasted bread with ham and brie cheese, mustard and honey sauce

Him: Crab salad with micro greens and skewered confit cherry

Main course:

Me: Wild mushrooms risotto

Him:  Black pork tenderloin with beans, regional sausages and baked rice

Desserts:

Me: Dark chocolate soufflé with ginger ice cream (it came with some edible flowers, too)

Drinks:

Red Douro Wine reserve

Mineral Water

Happy anniversary to us :)

Happy anniversary to us!! 

I still can't believe we have come this far...

As most of you probably know, each year of a marriage has a different meaning, exemplified through the gifts received. 

I found out it's Cotton anniversary and we should gift eachother cotton. How curious is that? Can't wait to get to diamond anniversary!

1. Significance

   • The traditional gift for a second wedding anniversary is something related to the material cotton. It symbolizes the need for a marriage to remain strong and be able to adapt to changes.

   Function

   • Cotton is sought after because of its practicality; the many uses include clothing and household materials. Its longlasting aspect is hoped to be reciprocal in a marriage.

   Types

   • Common gift ideas for your mate may be a robe, comfortable lingerie or any other piece of cotton clothing. Gifts of draperies, towels or bedding for the house represent the desire to build and maintain a home together. A cotton hammock would be a great option for the two of you to share.

   
   

And 3 months after we bought it, I was finally persuaded to go for a ride. That was crazy!!

Holidays

Today we were on top of the cliffs. 

Later, some Tai Chi Chuan...

.... and an afternoon sunbathing here ;)

Could I ask for a better friend?

Thank you, Ji. It really touched my heart!

I'm a very lucky girl :)