“I think landscape is an incredible, mystical teacher, and when you begin to tune into its sacred presence, something shifts inside you.”
– John O’Donohue
October flew by in a succession of gorgeous days. It felt good to be outside strimming away all the dead grass of summer, getting ready for the winter rains, and shedding the lethargy of summer through movement. I adore spending time outside, and October was a great month for it.
On my Plate & In the Garden
The garden is flourishing, and I am still picking peppers de Padron, eggplants, zucchinis, chillies, basil, and chives. I’ve even had a couple of melons, and for the first time I’ve managed to grow some spinach. There is also coriander in time for winter curries, and the beetroot and garlic is also growing nicely. I even managed to save a broccoli and a brussel sprout plant from whatever were eating my seedlings. In the orchard I’ve even eaten a couple of jujubes.
There are still a lot of juicy hawthorne berries, although I think I have made enough ketchup to see me through the year.
I didn’t even take one single photo today, but the olives are harvested, and although it has not been a good year for olives on the Iberian Peninsula, I am very happy with the 16 and a half crates that have been harvested. In next month’s post I will be able to report on the weight and yield, but a highlight of the day was when Zé, who has 25 years experience with olives and grew up in the area, told me that we have 5 very rare olive trees on our land. It is a variety called maçoneira, which I´ve never heard of before, and I coincidentally picked to brine this year, as they were the biggest and most blemish free of all the olives. Our previous neighbour The Shepherd (who is now retired), told us many years ago that we have some of the best eating olives on our land, so now we wonder if it was perhaps this variety he referred to.
Weathering the Weather
We’ve had a 131mm of rain since the middle of the month, which was as if a magic wand has touched the landscape. The hottest day was 31.6°C, and while the first half of the month felt like summer, the second half reminded us that it was actually autumn, with the coolest day being 17.9°C.
With all the lovely rain the conditions were perfect for all sorts of funghi to make their grand entrance. I’ve even managed to pick two huge parasol mushrooms just after they opened. Not to eat fresh, but to dry, so that I can use the powder as an extra layer of flavour in winter stews. This means that mushroom club is also starting up again. I still have a lot to learn before I will feel confident in picking more than just parasol mushrooms, and as this year has started with a lot of rain, I am hoping there will be many opportunities for field trips and learning.
Officialdom
The good news this month is that all British passport holders with residency in Portugal are finally being processed. Michael´s appointment to do his biometrics for his residence card is on the 28th of December, which means that we will be together for Christmas and New Year for a change. Unfortunately, that is the only good news, but as we get more familiar with the crippling bureaucracy and pace at which things move here, it feels like a massive step forward.
Midnight & Lily
When I took Midnight and Lily to the vet for their yearly vaccinations, Lily managed to embarass me by scratching the vet right at the end, after she was all cute and placid throughout the visit. I also got a good smack when I put her back in her carrier. Luckily the vet is a lovely and kind woman. It is usually Midnight who is the more feisty of the two, and although her tail and a deep growl indicated her displeasure, she didn´t misbehave. They definitely prefer their carefree life on the quinta, instead of excursions into the city.
Visitors
The quinta was graced by a couple of interesting visitors, including Michael, a sheep, a fox, and a deer. One afternoon while I was busy doing yoga, I looked up to see a sheep staring back at me through the glass doors. I´m not sure who got the biggest fright, but by the time I slipped my feet into my flip-flops and went outside it was already almost out of view running down the road, while this morning a rain drenched fox trotted past the door, and when I walked out it stopped to look at me, before continuing at a leisurely pace past the vegetable garden towards my neighbour´s land.
Portuguese Words
This month´s song is Quem me leva os meus fantasmas by Pedro Abrunhosa.
| Aquele era o tempo em que as mãos se fechavam E nas noites brilhantes as palavras voavam E eu via que o céu me nascia dos dedos E a Ursa Maior eram ferros acesos Marinheiros perdidos em portos distantes Em bares escondidos, em sonhos gigantes E a cidade vazia, da cor do asfalto E alguém me pedia que cantasse mais alto Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me salva desta espada Quem me diz onde é a estrada Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me salva desta espada E me diz onde é A estrada Aquele era o tempo Em que as sombras se abriam Em que homens negavam O que outros erguiam E eu bebia da vida em goles pequenos Tropeçava no riso, abraçava venenos De costas voltadas não se vê o futuro Nem o rumo da bala, nem a falha no muro E alguém me gritava Com voz de profeta Que o caminho se faz Entre o alvo e a seta Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me salva desta espada Quem me diz onde é a estrada Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me salva desta espada E me diz onde é A estrada De que serve ter o mapa Se o fim está traçado De que serve a terra à vista Se o barco está parado De que serve ter a chave Se a porta está aberta De que servem as palavras Se a casa está deserta Quem me leva aos meus fantasmas Quem me salva desta espada Quem me diz onde é a estrada | That was the time when hands clasped And on bright nights the words flew And I saw that the sky was born from my fingers And Ursa Major were burning irons Sailors lost in distant ports In hidden bars, in giant dreams And the empty city, the color of asphalt And someone asked me to sing it louder Who takes me to my ghosts Who saves me from this sword Who tells me where the road is Who takes me to my ghosts Who takes me to my ghosts Who saves me from this sword and tell me where it is The road that was the time Where the shadows opened in which men denied what others erected And I drank from life in small sips Tripped in laughter, embraced poisons With your back turned, you can’t see the future Neither the bullet’s course, nor the flaw in the wall and someone yelled at me with the voice of a prophet that the path is made Between target and arrow Who takes me to my ghosts Who saves me from this sword Who tells me where the road is Who takes me to my ghosts Who takes me to my ghosts Who saves me from this sword and tell me where it is The road What’s the use of having the map? If the end is set What is the use of land in sight If the boat is stopped What’s the use of having the key? If the door is open what are words for If the house is deserted Who takes me to my ghosts Who saves me from this sword Who tells me where the road is |
Written by: Jolandi
Jolandi,
It is so nice to see your blog post in my inbox. Glad to hear some progress is being made on getting you and Michael permanently on your land. The red tape can be frustrating I am sure. Your garden is beautiful, and sounds like it is providing you with treasures. The mushrooms are stunning, they look perfect and the colors are gorgeous.
Happy to hear you are doing well, and look forward to your blog posts anytime you have the chance to write.
Take care,
Terri
Thank you for always cheering me on, Terri. Your unfailing support means so much. I hope life is treating you kindly, and autumn (or rather fall 😀) was a gorgeous season for you too. The bounty of the land, especially after good rains, always warm my heart and brings a spring to my step. – Jolandi
I love the pop of colors in your garden, and what a harvest! From herbs to mushrooms, you can definitely make a lot. There was a time when taking care of my plants felt like a burden. But reading stories like this actually brings back that excitement which was the very reason why I started doing this in the first place. Midnight and Lily are so cute! I really miss having my own cat. Hope November will be good to you, Jolandi.
The bounty of the land really is incredible, Bama. Taking care of plants can definitely feel like a burden at times, which is why I love planting edibles, as, when they do grow well, they give so much back. It is definitely that reward that keeps me going.
I’ve actually shot some cute video footage of Midnight & Lily, but haven’t had time to compile a little video. Hopefully I can add one to November’s post. Having cats around is such a joy, so I completely understand that you miss having your own cat. The downside is that they also tie one to a place, but as with everything there is always a bit of yin and yang, and I guess looking for a cat sitter is a small price to pay for the many hours of company and joy they bring to my life.
I wish for you a lovely November too. – Jolandi
Holy Smoke!! Everything is so green and you can see the success of your labour Jolandi. The garden looks amazing you must really be so chuffed.
Glad to hear you and Mike will be spending some Xmas cheer together, even though things move at a snails pace they eventually get done.
The Quinta looks fabulous and the fruit of your labour is so evident. Love the mushrooms!!
Enjoy
It is amazing what care and attention, AND rain can do. The rain really is the magic ingredient here, as well as the cooler weather. I always marvel how quickly a landscape can change.
Yip, I need to learn to chill into this snail’s pace of officialdom, and not get as stressed as I do at times. – Jolandi
Midnight and Lily seemed to have forgotten they were once apartment cats and have claimed the quinta as their own. Everything is looking wonderful. The days will be drawing shorter but each sunset will bring you closer to a wonderful Christmas with Michael. Good luck with the officialdom!
They certainly have, Gwen. I still marvel at how much they have adjusted to their new life. Without them, life on the quinta would have been very alone. I will definitely think of your words, as the nights get longer, and instead of feeling depressed about those early sunsets, rather see them as a countdown to Michael’s visit. – Jolandi
What a bright and cheerful series of photos! October always seems to be a great month, and I’m glad your month in Portugal was also. Your gardening success is impressive. I got a chuckle about Michael’s inclusion on the list of mammals visiting you during the month! 🙂
His visits sometimes feel as rare as a fox sighting, Lex. 😆 October really was a wonderful month. The intense green, after months of heat and various shades of brown is such a joy, and feast for the eyes. – Jolandi
Thank goodness for rain and the fall! Especially a fall that isn’t crackling dry and brown.
I realize your life isn’t all blossoms and berries off the bush (yes, dealing with bureaucratic issues can wreck an otherwise peaceful day), but I envy your life on the quinta. I wouldn’t mind having a fox and a sheep for visitors as opposed to the unwanted human kind—we recently had a spate of catalytic converter thefts at my community’s parking lot, and my neighbors are demanding increased security cameras, 24-hour guards and staff in the lobby, all the things that remind one we don’t feel safe, even if data shows that we’re wrong. The anecdote about the sheep looking through your window while you were practicing yoga made me laugh aloud, though. And I’m glad Michael will spend the holidays with you.
I suspect you are also better suited to ‘quinta’ life, Hangaku – away from humans. I definitely prefer the visitors I tend to receive here, and I’m glad my anecdote about the sheep had you laugh out loud. I did too afterwards, as it was such an unexpected encounter. I don’t envy you the hysterics of people who overreact, and even if one does one’s best to stay clear of that energy, it is still there. No life is perfect, but I definitely prefer the way mine plays out at the moment, despite bureaucratic pitfalls. – Jolandi
“interesting visitors, including Michael, a sheep, a fox, and a deer.” This made me laugh, that you included Michael in that list. How splendid that you get to spend the holidays together. I’m sure any time spent together is a gift, but I think especially so at holiday time. Your place turned so green so quickly! That’s wonderful to see. Just looking at the photos, I could almost sense your pores opening up to drink in the moisture. Lovely that October continued to provide a garden harvest for you. Pedro is helping me to incorporate more peppers into my diet. I don’t usually think of them myself, but when he cooks a meal there are always peppers. Congratulations on the marvelous harvest and on the discovery of rare, exceptional olive trees. What a treat to discover this after you were already committed to them. Happy birthday my friend. I know I am late in my wishes, but you are here on my calendar beside my desk and I’ve been thinking of you. I hope it was an excellent day.
Michael is a rare visitor sometimes, so I’m glad it made you laugh that I put him on that list. I’m definitely looking forward in having him here for two weeks over the holidays, even though we have just decided to fit in a ‘huge’ project.
Isn’t it just amazing what difference rain and relative warmth make to a landscape. I also marvel at the speed the landscape turned green. I can almost hear the plants growing, and already had to do some strimming in the orchard to keep things under control. Crazy.
Mmmm, I hope you enjoy all the peppers Pedro is introducing to your diet. It really is interesting for me to see how I adjust my own diet according to whatever grows on the land as wild food or is flourishing in my garden. Eggplants, zucchinis, peppers, and chillies are really foods I can build my whole diet around. 😆
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Crystal. I had a lovely day and quick break from the quinta. Will definitely write about it and post photos in the next post. – Jolandi
Apologies for the late comment on your lovely post, Jolandi. I received my new laptop in the post today and everything works so well and so quickly! I had to leave answering e-mails and reading posts from friends as my poor old laptop couldn’t cope.
I am so pleased you had a good October and a fairly good harvest despite the very hot and dry summer. I am pleased that Michael was able to visit and that he will be with you for Christmas and the New Year too. My cats always managed to embarrass me when I took them for their booster injections; either scratching, biting, howling hysterically or weeing all over the examination table! It is a good thing that most vets are kind and understanding and will put up with most of the things our pets do to them. I hope that November is being kind to you and I look forward to your next post. Best wishes, Clare x
It is always so lovely to hear from you, Clare, and a new laptop is always a joy. Sounds as if you, like me, wait until one has no choice but to get a new one. 😆 My previous computer screen literally fell apart one day when I opened it. 🙈
Your description of your cats’ antics at the vet made me laugh, and also made me feel much better. The vet did tell me that Midnight and Lily behave very well compared to other cats, but I didn’t quite believe her. But, I guess it is true.
November, so far has been quite good. Hope to hear it was for you too. Enjoy the speed of your new computer. – Jolandi