Casalinho

Category: Life in General

  • Aphids, Ladybirds and Lamiaceae

      Many many aphids in the garden this year, it seems more than average. Waiting has been hard, but we’re now started to notice an influx of ladybirds. Nature has her own checks and balances, sometimes you just have to trust and be patient. The ladybird here is pictured on wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia). It’s growing more »

  • Tito

        Gorgeous Tito here joined us in December when his owners could no longer look after him. After an adventurous start, he’s chosen to live next to the outside kitchen where there’s a roof he can shelter under and plenty of attention and he finally seems to be content. After all these months he’s more »

  • Windy morning

    Drifts of broom blossom on the roads Driving home from Pampilhosa this morning I needed the wipers to sweep the rain of yellow petals away. I’ll pickle some flowers in the next days if I get a chance.

  • Reasons to be cheerful: Spring Flowers

    It seems incredible that my last post was about the snow! Beautiful spring flowers have popped up virtually overnight.  

  • Snow Scene

      I knew I should have taken the washing off the line! We’re at around 800m so get snow perhaps once or twice a year. This fall got heavier in the evening, but just lasted 24 hours.  

  • Seasonal decor?

    Seasonal decor, Casalinho style. Home made chorizo and morcela dry curing above the stove. It’s been a busy few weeks, with the killing and processing of our first home grown pig and the completion of the olive harvest keeping us busy. More on what we’ve been up to in due course, but in the meantime more »

  • Reasons to be Cheerful: December Sunset

    Who needs TV when nature offers so much to watch? These December sunsets all captured inside 20 minutes, looking towards Aradas and Unhais o Velho.  

  • Rain forecast

    Rain forecast, although you wouldn’t imagine it with that blue, blue sky. Harvesting the dried sunflower heads today for animal feed. I so love this multi headed variety.      

  • Scout Camp 2016 – Community Help in Malhada do Rei

    On at least one day during our annual Scout camp visit, we like to direct all that energy into helping out our local community. This year the Scouts did a marvellous job of brightening up the bar and bathrooms at one of our local river beaches in Malhada do Rei with a fresh new paint more »

  • Reasons to be Cheerful: After the Rain

    After the rain comes the most marvelous rainbow. Proof that the sun must be up there somewhere! We’re still hunting for the pot of gold 🙂