Frugal living in the Portuguese countryside,Eco-tourism, Agri tourism, recipes,family life, self sufficency, eco living, vegetable growing, tips and self help ideas for country living.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Blow the budget...
Sometimes you just have to blow the budget... its the little things that count... I didnt go buy a house or a car or even expensive wines or chocolates.. but I was dragged in a shop by the gorgeous smell of the fresh pineapples on his shelves... I got a huge one, really ripe and fragrant... for 2.45... if we dont make pigs of ourselves tonight, it'll do maybe two more evenings of sunshine... probably though... just tonight ... I just love sweet fresh pineapple... and the ones we get here seem to be sweeter than Ive ever tasted!!
Sun, Sun, Sun....
Well the sun has arrived... finally, the forcast is just..... sun... today its 80 degrees and set to stay this way for the next at least a week or so... it drops a bit here and there but never below 72... bliss !! Oh I love the sunshine.... hehe remind me I said that in August when its soooooooo hot I cant sleep....
It just seems to make everything better when its sunny, I dont have to think about lighting the kitchen range... tonight we'll eat outside, Ive some fresh sardines, we'll grill them, and I just make a salad and some lemon and herby cusscus(sp?) a glass of red and relax... what more could you ask... it even fits in with the frugal living style too... I bought the sardines for 1.48 per kl, but we'll only eat half of them tonight and I'll freeze the rest. the lettuce and toms will do us two nights, so costs are ...
Fish - 75 cents
Salad 1.23 cents
Cuscuss aprox 45cents
Add to that a dash of olive oil and lemon (free-my own) for dressing, a splodge of Balsamico.. some herbs from the garden... and its works out well...
Total aprox 2.50 and that feeds two of us very well....a nice slice of home made seseme soda bread and a glass of red wine given to us by a friend in the village who makes his own.... absolute heaven...
The garden is steaming along at a fast pace now, Rik is having to irrigate morning and evening, we've had a few problems, the peas have germinated very badly, its not just me, a couple of other people Ive asked who live scattered about have fared worse than us... Ive gone along the last few days poking peas in the gaps in the hopes that they will catch up...
The caulis look a tad weak ... some are fine but again some look pretty poor... I dont know why... just have to keep checking and hope...
We also planted 20 tom plants last just over a week ago and within 5 days had lost 8... It stupidly looks like frost scorch... we do get odd little frost pockets and it was before the temps shot up but still I didnt think it that cold... Never mind, we'll have to replant... but the cost is a bit of a blow when things are so tight...
Tonight when its cool Im planting more beans, a row of peas along by the toms plus some chickpeas Ive managed to get to shoot... never tried growing them before but we eat tons of them dried in the winter so its worth a go... If it goes well we'll plant tons next year...
The spuds plants are HUGE... Only hope the spuds under neather are growing as well as the tops....
It just seems to make everything better when its sunny, I dont have to think about lighting the kitchen range... tonight we'll eat outside, Ive some fresh sardines, we'll grill them, and I just make a salad and some lemon and herby cusscus(sp?) a glass of red and relax... what more could you ask... it even fits in with the frugal living style too... I bought the sardines for 1.48 per kl, but we'll only eat half of them tonight and I'll freeze the rest. the lettuce and toms will do us two nights, so costs are ...
Fish - 75 cents
Salad 1.23 cents
Cuscuss aprox 45cents
Add to that a dash of olive oil and lemon (free-my own) for dressing, a splodge of Balsamico.. some herbs from the garden... and its works out well...
Total aprox 2.50 and that feeds two of us very well....a nice slice of home made seseme soda bread and a glass of red wine given to us by a friend in the village who makes his own.... absolute heaven...
The garden is steaming along at a fast pace now, Rik is having to irrigate morning and evening, we've had a few problems, the peas have germinated very badly, its not just me, a couple of other people Ive asked who live scattered about have fared worse than us... Ive gone along the last few days poking peas in the gaps in the hopes that they will catch up...
The caulis look a tad weak ... some are fine but again some look pretty poor... I dont know why... just have to keep checking and hope...
We also planted 20 tom plants last just over a week ago and within 5 days had lost 8... It stupidly looks like frost scorch... we do get odd little frost pockets and it was before the temps shot up but still I didnt think it that cold... Never mind, we'll have to replant... but the cost is a bit of a blow when things are so tight...
Tonight when its cool Im planting more beans, a row of peas along by the toms plus some chickpeas Ive managed to get to shoot... never tried growing them before but we eat tons of them dried in the winter so its worth a go... If it goes well we'll plant tons next year...
The spuds plants are HUGE... Only hope the spuds under neather are growing as well as the tops....
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Lovely People..
One of the joys of living here for us, has been the generosity and kindness we've experienced from our neighbours and the local people. Although we dont actually live in the village,( we are a kilometre over the hill into the forest) they have, right from the start made us feel so very welcome and helped us in everyway possible. We've been made to feel part of the village and they've helped us to integrate, Ive had advice and help with the veggie plot, been given seeds, plants and all kinds of food... Every time we go to the village someone either leaves us parcels in our van, while we are in a different house or just plonks stuff in my arms...
The other day we visited to take a cake I'd made, the lady concerned works very hard on her land all day, and doesnt have an oven, so any cake she has in shop bought, which is a rare treat for her, so I tend to bake , as my way of 'giving back' .
I left the her house with a dozen eggs and a bag of garlic... in the van (we never lock it) on the front seat, was a bag of chillis and some onions and dried beans, another lady dashed out waving a fresh plucked chicken....
Such generous people , who actually have very little money ...
Well all the toms, peppers and aubergines are now in... time for a little breather....
The weather is still warm, if a little damp at times... real good growing weather, the whole forest seems to be coming alive... the gorse is flowering, as is the heather, we can hear woodpeckers, cuckoos and the dawn chorus is getting earlier and louder...
The other day we visited to take a cake I'd made, the lady concerned works very hard on her land all day, and doesnt have an oven, so any cake she has in shop bought, which is a rare treat for her, so I tend to bake , as my way of 'giving back' .
I left the her house with a dozen eggs and a bag of garlic... in the van (we never lock it) on the front seat, was a bag of chillis and some onions and dried beans, another lady dashed out waving a fresh plucked chicken....
Such generous people , who actually have very little money ...
Well all the toms, peppers and aubergines are now in... time for a little breather....
The weather is still warm, if a little damp at times... real good growing weather, the whole forest seems to be coming alive... the gorse is flowering, as is the heather, we can hear woodpeckers, cuckoos and the dawn chorus is getting earlier and louder...
Thursday, 15 April 2010
This, that... and more rain..
Well its very hit n miss with the weather at the moment, one moment its glorious sunshine, really warm, then within seconds the sky darkens and then it hammers it down, lovely perfect growing weather, just tricky for doing stuff outside.. it always catches me out, it seems to wait untill Im as far from the house and shelter as possible... yet its far too warm to bother with a coat.
All our main level of veggie plot is planted up now, thats , cabbages, broccoli, caulis, lettuce, tons of carrots, green beans, french beans, runner beans, parsnips, leeks, tons of beetroot, onions and peas, and packets and packets of coriander, parsley Basil, thyme, and Sage. The next level is 3/4 full of the spuds, leaving just enough room to plant out the squashes (they are still all in seed trays) thats butternut, spaggetti pumpkin, pumpkin, black courgettes, green courgettes, yellow ones too... pattypans both green and yellow, and some kind of round type ones..
The raspberrys and redcurrants are on that level too and seem to be flourishing this year..
We are hoping to rototill a new patch between the cottage and the house over the next couple of days as we are short of space to fit in the Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillis and melons...
Thats without planting any corn yet... phew....
Sadly the medicinal herb garden still just isnt happening, Ive been so busy I just havent had time, Ive been hoping our helpers that were due tomorrow would be able to sort it out for me, but now we dont think their flight will happen due to this volcanic dust thing over the whole of the UK...
We've also been trying to help out what is the local unofficial dog shelter, the poor woman has almost 100 dogs IN HER HOUSE !! The local Camera(council) give her asmall allowance for food, but never enough, the place is over run, and she is in a terrible state, but stillnever turns away a dog... the trouble is that here, dogs are treated very badly by most people, well by UK standards, and if we complain too much they'll all just be put down, so we have to do what we can, quietly, we are organising a pet food collection amongst friends, and Rik and some others are hoping to talk to the local wood mill into giving us free or cheap a load of wood to make some kennel/runs to move dogs into outside... then once its looking a little more acceptable and clean to visit, we can try to get sponsers etc and get people to sponser dogs, vets bills, or more kennels to be built... it will be a long job... But lots of people are getting involved, the Dutch community out here are really helping too... can you imagine how much poo you get every day with that many dogs... My God the smell is beyond imagining....
We havent really done much to the kitchen since the update, Rik dug a hole outside the window, located the sewage pipes, and then left it... so much to do... we've had to spend the morning cutting logs , splitting and stacking them in the barn, as the weather has turned so wet, although its warmer it still gets damp in the house and I need the kitchen range lit for cooking... So we need wood... again... Hpefully if the helpers do arrive we can spend a day or so in the forest collecting more...
All our main level of veggie plot is planted up now, thats , cabbages, broccoli, caulis, lettuce, tons of carrots, green beans, french beans, runner beans, parsnips, leeks, tons of beetroot, onions and peas, and packets and packets of coriander, parsley Basil, thyme, and Sage. The next level is 3/4 full of the spuds, leaving just enough room to plant out the squashes (they are still all in seed trays) thats butternut, spaggetti pumpkin, pumpkin, black courgettes, green courgettes, yellow ones too... pattypans both green and yellow, and some kind of round type ones..
The raspberrys and redcurrants are on that level too and seem to be flourishing this year..
We are hoping to rototill a new patch between the cottage and the house over the next couple of days as we are short of space to fit in the Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillis and melons...
Thats without planting any corn yet... phew....
Sadly the medicinal herb garden still just isnt happening, Ive been so busy I just havent had time, Ive been hoping our helpers that were due tomorrow would be able to sort it out for me, but now we dont think their flight will happen due to this volcanic dust thing over the whole of the UK...
We've also been trying to help out what is the local unofficial dog shelter, the poor woman has almost 100 dogs IN HER HOUSE !! The local Camera(council) give her asmall allowance for food, but never enough, the place is over run, and she is in a terrible state, but stillnever turns away a dog... the trouble is that here, dogs are treated very badly by most people, well by UK standards, and if we complain too much they'll all just be put down, so we have to do what we can, quietly, we are organising a pet food collection amongst friends, and Rik and some others are hoping to talk to the local wood mill into giving us free or cheap a load of wood to make some kennel/runs to move dogs into outside... then once its looking a little more acceptable and clean to visit, we can try to get sponsers etc and get people to sponser dogs, vets bills, or more kennels to be built... it will be a long job... But lots of people are getting involved, the Dutch community out here are really helping too... can you imagine how much poo you get every day with that many dogs... My God the smell is beyond imagining....
We havent really done much to the kitchen since the update, Rik dug a hole outside the window, located the sewage pipes, and then left it... so much to do... we've had to spend the morning cutting logs , splitting and stacking them in the barn, as the weather has turned so wet, although its warmer it still gets damp in the house and I need the kitchen range lit for cooking... So we need wood... again... Hpefully if the helpers do arrive we can spend a day or so in the forest collecting more...
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Planting, planting , planting...
Well we are having a little treat today, Rik's taking me out for a Frango lunch with some friends.. its one of my fave treat, (Frango is BBQ'd Chicken) We can go to our local cafe, sit in and have bread and olives, a whole BBQ'd chicken, rice, chips and salad, a litre of red wine and then coffee. all for around 15euros for the lot... you just cant beat it for value or taste...
Then this afternoon we continue the planting... Ive around 55 caulis ready to go in , plus about 15 broccoli, and another 25 or so lettuce.... then maybe on monday we'll finish the beetroots , french beans and green beans, plus I want to start off a few runner beans too...
We are in for a drop of the wet stuff... just a few showers in around 5 days so must get all done and planted before then to give it all a good grounding...
The weather this week has been fantastic, warm and sunny... in the low 70s... just right for working...
Then this afternoon we continue the planting... Ive around 55 caulis ready to go in , plus about 15 broccoli, and another 25 or so lettuce.... then maybe on monday we'll finish the beetroots , french beans and green beans, plus I want to start off a few runner beans too...
We are in for a drop of the wet stuff... just a few showers in around 5 days so must get all done and planted before then to give it all a good grounding...
The weather this week has been fantastic, warm and sunny... in the low 70s... just right for working...
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Update
Well the weather is gorgeous at the moment, warm and sunny. the land is warming up nicely and the seeds are all growing, my spuds are all up, we've got nice defined rows of peas coming now too, stll tons to plant but with Rik helping out some friends with a building project , we are at a standstill...
We also need to strim the land around the house, its always a bit on the scruffy side, we tend to spend time keeping the cottage area nice but neglect our place, BUT... the other day I saw a snake... not the usual little ones either a bloody damn great big one...just laying on the wall by the house, sunning itself... now I know that generally if you leave them alone they will do the same... but we have so many piles of rocks to move, so much rubble for them to live in... plus long grass and weeds... its put me off working around the garden area for the mo... till rik can strim and tidy it a little...
Hopefully in a couple of weeks he'll be back working on the house, the bathroom needs moving round so we can move the sewage pipe and finish the last wall and small area of the kitchen, then its just a few odds and ends and its done... apart from the floor and ceiling which wont be done till other stuff is done ... phew....
We have two lovely girls arriving to work in a week or so so hoping to get a lot done outside then too... we've been lucky, we have two more coming in a few weeks and then another in June, plus two friends who always come to help out in June ..... so we are really hoping for great things this year... lots of improvements before the winter...
We also need to strim the land around the house, its always a bit on the scruffy side, we tend to spend time keeping the cottage area nice but neglect our place, BUT... the other day I saw a snake... not the usual little ones either a bloody damn great big one...just laying on the wall by the house, sunning itself... now I know that generally if you leave them alone they will do the same... but we have so many piles of rocks to move, so much rubble for them to live in... plus long grass and weeds... its put me off working around the garden area for the mo... till rik can strim and tidy it a little...
Hopefully in a couple of weeks he'll be back working on the house, the bathroom needs moving round so we can move the sewage pipe and finish the last wall and small area of the kitchen, then its just a few odds and ends and its done... apart from the floor and ceiling which wont be done till other stuff is done ... phew....
We have two lovely girls arriving to work in a week or so so hoping to get a lot done outside then too... we've been lucky, we have two more coming in a few weeks and then another in June, plus two friends who always come to help out in June ..... so we are really hoping for great things this year... lots of improvements before the winter...
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