It is always busy when Michael is on the quinta, although this time I’ve managed to twist his arm on more than one occasion to take it slower than usual. The most important project for this visit was to build a front porch, and as I bought the steel beforehand, he could immediately start with the project.
We also booked Tim for a couple of days, as there is always something for him to do on the quinta, but Michael wanted him to start with digging the holes for the two supporting poles at the front, as the ground in summer is rock hard. Tim arrived the evening before with his hammock, as our first day of work was predicted to be a scorching 39C, and this way work could start at sunrise.
Trenches with water pipes and electric cables criss-cross various parts of the land, and although Michael and Tim consulted photographs that were taken of a trench close to where digging was to be done, they managed to hit a water pipe. In a show of how to make lemonade when life gives you lemons, Michael decided it was ideal to insert a tap where he had to fix the pipe, as it would be next to the front leg of the porch, which meant it could be used to install some overhead misters for those extremely hot summer days.
After long hours of toiling away in the heat, our porch is done, and although it still needs a finishing edge at the front and a coat of paint to hide the steel, we are loving our new outdoor seating area.
Apart from lending Michael a hand every once in a while, you will find me most mornings in the garden, which is doing quite well. Big bunches of tomatoes hold the promise of a good harvest, and both the Red and Black Cherry tomatoes have actually started ripening, which is rather exciting. The zucchini (courgette) is still fruiting well, although I’m starting to get a bit tired of eating it almost every day. As a matter of fact, I pulled out the second plant, as I just couldn’t keep up with so many zucchinis. The peppers are also close to changing colour, and to my great excitement I discovered teeny tiny watermelons yesterday, and the first small melon this morning.
About six hours into the first day of work, Tim twisted his ankle, which looked nasty, and although the doctor said nothing was broken, he was instructed to stay off it for a couple of days.
Portuguese Words:
médico (m) / médica (f) – doctor
tornozelo – ankle
pedras – stones
a varanda – porch / veranda
Written by: Jolandi
Jolandi,
The porch looks great and what a cozy spot to sit and read at the end of the day. Wow, I am so impressed with the garden, it is beautiful and sounds like everything is growing well. What a harvest you have. So happy to see Michael taking a few days to rest and relax. Must be so nice to have him there even for a short time. Your home is taking shape and looking absolutely fabulous.
Thank you so much, Terri. Yes, it is wonderful to have him around, even when it is never quite long enough for either one of us. I love how every new project makes our house just a bit more comfortable. There are still a couple of projects we need to complete inside, but I’m almost ready for a little tour of our tiny house. I often tell Michael that it is best to live in a space first to understand what one really needs, instead of spending time and energy on projects which doesn’t quite serve one’s needs the way one may have thought or wanted it to. Like you point out, the porch is a great spot for reading or general relaxation. We both love it. – Jolandi
I am sure you will really appreciate your porch in all weathers, not just on the hot and sunny days – and what a good idea to have overhead misters on it! I am sorry Tim managed to sprain his ankle – I hope he is much improved by now. Your kitchen garden is looking good, especially as you have water melons and a melon coming along. I never have more than one courgette plant (if I grow them) as one can definitely have more than enough of them! Have you got a spiralizer? https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cooking-tools/g28183405/best-spiralizers/
They are very good at making zoodles(noodles) from courgettes and other vegetables.
Take care, my friend <3
Although I’m aware of the existence of spiralizers, I’ve never actually tasted zoodles, Clare. Mmmmm. Maybe I should change that. Do you use yours often? I’m sure at the end of this summer I will be much wiser to my needs, so that next year I will plan my veg garden to suit that. I have definitely found that even one zucchini plant is more than what I can comfortably eat, so perhaps I should have a look at making pickles, as a friend has suggested.
I definitely think we will love the porch not just in summer, but also on rainy winter’s days. It is so much better to also have a transition space to take off muddy boots, instead of being stuck in the rain, or stepping directly into the house.
It seems that Tim is much better, as he already told us he will be back tomorrow. Like Michael, he also finds it very hard to sit still.
Big hug – Jolandi
I’m a little jealous of how handy Michael is—but only a little! Not being able to do things like fix the plumbing allows me to shrug off the clogged bath drain and the leaky garden faucet and hand the job over to a professional. I suppose if one lives in the country however, there’s no nearby handyman to come rushing over to repair things. It also must be gratifying to see all that work completed. That patio looks like a lovely spot to sip wine on a summer’s evening.
I was also wondering where you would go if you got injured or had a medical emergency, say, an attack of appendicitis. As much as I love being in the country, I’ve always dreaded the thought of requiring emergency medical care when I’m in a remote area. A friend’s 82-year-old mother who lived on a farm 20 miles from the nearest town slipped in the bathtub and was unable to get up or even crawl to the phone. She laid there for two days until a neighbor wandered by and decided to knock, having noticed he hadn’t seen her in a while. He found her—luckily it was an area where people weren’t in the habit of locking the door—in a state of undress and was gentlemanly enough to drape a towel over her. But my two biggest fears, being stark naked and helpless in front of someone I barely know (not a pun) and being unable to call for help while injured, came true in that poor woman’s tale. (She’s okay now but was forced to move to assisted living after that. My friend lives in another state and wouldn’t risk her mother being alone at the farm after that.)
That patio is indeed a fantastic place to sip wine on a summer’s evening, Hangaku. We’ve tested that. 🙂 I’m sadly not as handy as I would like to be, but Michael really is perfectly suited to a life in the country. Having grown up in Zimbabwe and later on a farm in South Africa, his dad and necessity taught him many wonderful skills. Not to mention the fact that he is extremely curious, especially where it comes to technology, so if he doesn’t quite know how to do something, he simply educates himself and just do it. I don’t think a lot of people are like that, so I definitely count my blessings to be married to him.
Your story of your friend’s elderly mother is certainly a good example of the downside of remote living. She really was lucky that the neighbour decided to check in on her. Although it perhaps gives that impression, we are not at all remote. We are less than 5km away from a Medical Centre, and less than an hour from a big hospital. My closest neighbour, although they don’t live there permanently is about 500 meters away, and I can see them when they work in their vegetable patch from the house. Also, Michael and I speak sometimes more than once a day, so if he can’t get hold of me, he will definitely alert one of various friends in the area, who would come check up on me. So, although I have the peace and quiet of country living, I am not at all secluded or remote, which is exactly the balance I like and am comfortable with. – Jolandi
Zucchini fritters, pickles or relish?
I love zucchini fritters, but I can’t quite face another one this season. 🙂 – Jolandi
The porch and vegetables look great. I hope Tim’s ankle will heal quickly. Enjoy your time together.
Best,
Tanja
Thanks, Tanja.
I love reading your updates even if I don’t often respond Jolandi. Your patio area will extend your living space for the whole of summer and beyond. Well done both or all three of you. We use a light weight indoor type screen to shield the sun on one side that can easily be moved and leaned against the wall as de oration when not in use. Have you thought of freezing or pickling excess produce? I love my freezer for cheeses (yes esp soft ones) Bread and quickly blanched and cooled veg. Xx
Thank you, Christina. Truth be told I’ve never thought of pickling zucchinis, but I actually do have zucchini bread, and lasagna in the freezer. I don’t have a lot of freezer space, but I’m definitely planning to preserve the biggest portion of my pepper and tomato crop by bottling them, which will be a learning curve for me, as I’ve never done that. I guess now is about the time to start looking for suitable recipes for that purpose. 🙂 Yes, I think you are right in that we are going to get a lot of joy from our porch. Shade in summer and a dry spot in winter when it rains. – Jolandi
Impressive as always! The new porch would be one of my favorite spots, I’m sure. I had to look more than once and then zoom in to see Midnight (I think that’s the name of the black cat) peering into the hole. I was really peeking in myself because, like Michael, I love fixing things and I wanted to get to the nitty-gritty of that broken pipe and how he simultaneously repaired it and created a misting system!
I have been curious about your level of remoteness out there and was happy to read that you are in that perfect sweet spot of country living within striking distance of necessary services and other humans.
Yip, her name is indeed Midnight, Lexie. And as always she had to check up to see if the job was being done right. 🙂
The porch is definitely a favourite spot for now. I dream of all sorts of nooks and crannies in my planned garden (which I’m still dreaming up), as well as elsewhere on the quinta, where one can enjoy being outside, but have a completely different experience. I am also still looking for the perfect spot to hang the two hammocks I bought in Cambodia years ago, but I suspect it will be in a nook close to the swimming pool (still just a dream and project for the future)! Ah, so much to do and so little time. – Jolandi
Hi Jolandi ! 🙂 everything (apart from injured tornozelo) looks fantastic. A day bed is definitely needed for your welcoming all weather patio. I’m guessing the internal space and light now feels different.
Yeah, a gal can only eat so many zucchini. Stuffed and baked was one of my fall backs, also BBQ’d.
Enjoy your ‘Michael time’.
Felicity x:)
Yip, one can only eat so much zucchini, Felicity, but thank goodness it is one of those vegetables that is quite versatile. Ah, a day bed would be wonderful. I’m not sure how much work will get done on the quinta then. 😉 I hope you are well. – Jolandi
Jolandi, I’m once again in awe about how you guys create/build these amazing additions to your quinta, seemingly overnight. It took us years to decide on a new patio and the whole process was agonizingly slow. I’m sure you’ll be spending many happy hours on your new porch, and how great is it to have a cooling mist!
My neighbour gives me tons of zucchinis and I’ve been making this yummy treat: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/double-chocolate-zucchini-bread/
Thank you for the link to that treat, Caroline. I’m planning to try it out tonight.
I must confess that Michael has been planning this porch in his head for quite a while, and as he was the one in charge of building it, I just went with the flow. 🙂 I’m loving it, and although it took five days instead of the three he thought it would, at least we did not work all the time or felt rushed. Now I just need to paint the steel. – Jolandi
Oh my goodness, Caroline. I made the recipe last night, and just had a slice with a cup of tea for breakfast. This is a keeper, and one I will definitely make from now on every time it is zucchini season. And think of you, when I do. – Jolandi
Hello Jolandi,
What lovely progress! Of course I can’t imagine all the work that goes behind and into each step forward, but it really is wonderful to see things start to really come together. I am glad you are reunited with Michael, and admire his DIY skills. I too hope that both of you will be able to have some quality “down time” together and enjoy your part of paradise. I am sorry to hear of Tim’s injury and wish him a full and speedy recovery.
As always, thank you so much for allowing us to join you on this journey.
It is 3 years since my husband and I bought our home in our favorite town, and although it’s not even a fraction of work that you both have to deal with, each day continues to bring something new to learn. Our best wishes to you always, and please continue to take care and stay safe!
I so love it when you mention the house you and your husband bought in your favourite town, Takami. Although the details of our journeys might be different, our dreams and how we live with them, have so many similarities. It is these connection points with you that I so appreciate. As always, I am so grateful for you sharing in our journey by your always encouraging comments. Blessings to you and your husband. – Jolandi
PORCH!!!
Looks fantastic.
And little growing food plants.
So much to love, xo
Yes!! I love our new porch, Lani. It is making the house feel so different, and I am completely in love with that teeny tiny watermelon, watching it grow and bulge, and hopefully eventually become sweet and juicy. 🙂 – Jolandi