School summer camp in Oeiras

We're off to see the Wizard...

the wonderful Wizard of Oz... (or maybe not...)

We want the Sun! Bring back the Sun!

Hope you have a nice, bright, sunshiny day! 

xxx

How to brighten a grey day :)

Ok. I admit it. I am no baker!!!  Well, no pretty-cake baker at least (sniffle...)

It's an icky day, overcast, muggy, almost chilly and probably foggy over the river, I've heard the boat horns sounding. The kind of day that makes everything dark inside and makes me want to bake.

So I baked.

My favorite recipe, yoghurt cake, that you can make a million variations of (yes, there's a recipe below!)

Hmmm so yummy looking! (still...)

Something went wrong...  :(

Is it the silicone cake pan? Is it the new oven that I haven't learned yet how to dominate? My cake came out lopsided :(

Some sweetened lemon juice over it (sniffle... it doesn't help the looks...) and lemon glaze over it...

Well... looks do matter, but then... so does the taste! And my son has been sneeking in the kitchen a few times, the cake is down to about half and it's still not even cold! I guess it tastes good, even though it doesn't look pretty...

Would you care for a piece?  Or the recipe...?

Here it goes:

1 cup yoghurt (use any kind of yoghurt! plain or flavored... I used plain this time) and save the cup to serve as measure for the rest of the ingredients

3 large eggs

3 measures of self levening flour 

1 1/2 measures of sugar (I always cut down... 1 cup for me is fine)

1 measure of cooking oil

Beat the eggs and the sugar, add the flour and the yoghurt and blend well. Stirr in the oil and blend really well. Then add the flavoring you like--I put a bit of vanilla extract, sometimes add cinammon and ground nuts or almonds, orange or lemon juice and zest. It just depends on what mood you're in or what you have around! And you can bake it as a cake or as muffins or cupcakes...

For this one, after baking I poured sweetened lemon juice over it while it was still hot and then a lemon glaze (lemon juice and icing sugar) over it. I love lemon yoghurt cake! And it seems the sun finally came out :)

See? Really easy and good! Let me know if you try it :)

Have a great weekend!

xxx

My new kitchen :)

A while back I promised I'd post some pictures of my kitchen after all the work we had done there. 

We had an infiltration to the appartment downstairs (nasty stuff :( ) and when we began fixing things up I thought it was time to redo it--it was my least favorite area in this entire house! 

And now you'll see why...

This was my old kitchen. As is traditional over here, tile flooring and walls, but I absolutely hated them--how ugly could they be?! 

But then there was no real reason to change, it was still functional and it was expensive to redo it... but the insurance company chipped in too :) The stove was in desperate need to go as well as the water heater...

A lot of work, replacing all of it...

But it was worth it!

I kept the top cabinets to reduce costs (they were still in reasonable shape) as well as the table and chairs and liked the idea of a slightly separate laundry area, so we created that glass wall that keeps the clutter of folded-clothes-waiting-to-be-put-away-in-the-closets out of sight while letting all the light come through. 

I chose a neutral shade of tiles for the floor and walls (yeahhhh!!! got rid of those ugly ones!) and put a granite counter top--is that what it's called?--that matches both the cabinets and the walls and is VERY sturdy... That way I can create different looks by varying the dish towels and curtains without having to redecorate the entire thing again!

Most people were a bit sceptical with my decisions, especially keeping the top cabinets, but when they saw the final result everyone had to admit it looks good :) (don't you just love the splash of color that beautiful potholder gives it?) Nothing hanging on the walls so far, I dread making holes on the new tile lol...

Now I just have to find time to get the fabric for the curtains to add a bit more color...

What do you think, do you like it? 

xxx

40ºC yesterday...

The hottest day so far this year, yesterday we had 40ºC by noon... so we decided to refresh ourselves a bit at the beach.

Portinho da Arrabida, a tiny, beautiful little bay and beach nested in front of the Serra da Arrabida, one of the prettiest around the Lisbon / Setúbal area and a National Park due to its unique vegetation...

I just love this little island sitting right in front of the beach!

Cristal clear and calm water (we actually saw an octopus wondering by and a lot of fish :)) We had to leave before noon because I still can't sit out in the sun (but I did go for a quick swim!) and it was quickly getting too hot!

These were taken earlier this year, yesterday the beach was a bit crowded... but it's always gorgeous!

Another beautiful picture of it I found on internet

...as well as this one, that gives you a clearer view of the fishing boats.

So... how was your weekend?

xxx

Is it just me...?

I finally got a bit of time to myself and... I can't post any pictures :-(  and there are so many pretty things I'd love to share with you!

Oh well... I guess I'll have plenty of time to go blog-hopping and checking out what you've been up to while I've been busy elsewhere...

Be back soon (I hope!)

xxx

Camping!

It's such a lovely day out that I decided it was too nice to stay indoors. 

So what should I do? I feel like working, and should stay out of the sun... That's it, I'll camp out on the balcony! It's a bit of a garden, there's no sun right now but a lot of light, and I can enjoy my work while not feeling trapped indoors. 

It took me a little while to bring everything out--the chair, the stool pretending to be a side table with my lunch, the laptop, the camera, the crochet bag...Did I forget anything...? Hmmm... easy enough, I'll just step in to grab it.

Now, the next question... what shall I work on? I brought a few things along... my knitting (oh I soooooooo love those colors! Can't wait to finish and wear it!) an old crochet magazine and a few balls of cotton yarn... 

Probably one of these lovelies, for a change of pace! 

Pantera thought this whole situation was a bit odd... she's not used to seeing me here for a long time!

... but then decided to help out with the gardening and started trimming the lemon grass :)

Well, off I go to start something new, hopefully something pretty. Catch you later!

xxx

A surprise in the mailbox :)

When I started this blog about 3 months ago I didn't know how important it would become for me. In fact, I created this almost 3 years ago, started writing a couple of posts and couldn't bring myself to let them out in the open and ended up deleting them. It just wasn't the right moment. But I liked the name and kept the blog (closed to all but to myself).

Then one day, it seemed right. I can't tell how or when I decided to reopen this and start blogging about my little things--my creations, my life, my illness and getting back to being healthy. Yes, because even if it's only been a week since radiation ended I know my health is coming back.

And I'm so glad that I did!

Have you ever heard of Synchronicity? I first read about it in Jean Shinoda Bolen's book "The Tao of Psychology - Syncronicity and Self". It's a fantastic book, like all her other books, definitely worth reading. To make a long story short, I think this is what happened here. 

I started blogging at the right time.  When I needed something to hold on to, that would make me feel good.

Remember this post?

Yes, you're right. Today I got mail again!


I thought I recognized the handwriting on the envelope and the Royal Air Mail stamp rang a bell and when I opened it there it was, MemeRose's beautiful potholder!





My mouth dropped open when I saw it, this totally inexpected gift... of course I recognized it at once!

There it was, perfectly wrapped in lavender tissue paper and with a sweet card with a cat  on it (made me think of my Smartie...) and some lovely words on finishing my battle again. 

And doesn't it look perfect in my new kitchen, next to the "Lenço dos Namorados" dish towel I just got?


Do I need to say anything? My heart is completely full, right now.


With this blog I have met the most wonderful people, people I would be so happy to meet in person one day--people I hope to meet in person, some day! 


From all over the World, from close and from far, I've had so much support and encouragement throughout these past few months. Thank you all, my dear friends! I like to think I've been able to support someone too (my dear friend Marjo). If this isn't synchronicity working, I don't know what it is...


I have learned and seen gorgeous things you all make and share with all of us. And hopefully will be able to make a few of my own, too.


So... thank you, MeMe Rose, this is a most treasured gift and I will think of you every time I see it (nooooooo I don't dare use it!!! lol) and than all of my e-friends who have been here with me for the past 3 months.  You're precious and I'm such a lucky girl! 


And I promise tomorrow I will be sharing some more pictures of my new kitchen :)


xxx