It’s Friday, again, and I’ve finally shared with you all the photographs from my trip to Portugal. A month has gone by that I’ve returned! I still can’t believe that I’ve been back that long, more so, that time has flown by that utterly fast. It’s quite scary honestly. What’s even more alarming, is that I’ve seen Halloween costumes being sold in several stores. Really?!? I mean seriously, calm down retail world there is still much of this amazing weather and season to be enjoyed. I’m still trying to imagine that I’m still in Portugal, and with some cousins who are here visiting for my cousin’s wedding today {yay!} it really does feel like I have a piece of this country, that is like home, with me here in the states. So it’s only fitting that on this Friday, celebrating the big day of a loved one, gathered with just a few family that made the trip, wishing the rest of our big clan came along too, I share with you some of the last photos taken on my trip. Photos taken during car trips, on runs through the beautiful forests that surround my hometown, or of fresh ingredients my grandfather would bring back from the farm.
Happy Friday all, I know I’ll be dancing enough for all of you!
The iconic aqueduct in Lisbon always reminds me that I’m here, and on my way to my home in the mountains. I miss running through hills and forests, but mostly I miss the amazing views everywhere I looked, especially when I woke up. When the small village heard I like summer squashes they would bring me them by the bucketfuls, and each one just as large as the next. I definitely got creative with my go-to grilled squash recipe. I love Portugal, yes for my farm, but because amazing fruits grow there that some people may never see here in the US. The downfall is that there are often so much fruit that they ended up rotting, in this case I ate as many Loquats that I could. Garden roses and orange trees make this a fragrant reading nook. There were plenty of figs to be eaten, as jam and cake, but mostly fresh atop yogurt with homemade honey and homegrown almonds and hazelnuts. Now that’s a farm to table kind of breakfast!I would’ve taken endless photos of the pretty china in my house, but these rose-tinted glasses are still my fave. Of all my travels in Portugal, I miss this wooded spot behind my grandparents’ chicken coop the most. It’s secluded, tranquil, and peaceful, and it’s been the one spot I’ve have the best meditations. One of the last days there we took a drive to visit my cousin, who had just started working at this very well-known country estate. I could see right away from its beautiful gardens why this location is quite popular with wedding and events. It would’ve been great to see one of their small castles that has an underground cellar wedding reception or large parties are held.
Oh to be a child again and helping the entire family pick and fill bags with potatoes, to then ride atop them on a tractor. Those were the days!The dog days of summer…