America rural

https://observador.pt/opiniao/o-que-faz-a-america-great-e-a-america-rural/

Isolation Opportunity for Creating a Richer Family Culture Idea #12: Go out in the rain

My Norwegian friend says the Portuguese are afraid of the rain. One drop and the hide in panic in their houses. (I would agree with this generalization)

Luckily, my children and I have dual citizenship and so we are Henry David Thoreau's compatriots:

"Take long walks in stormy weather or through deep snows in the fields and woods, if you would keep your spirits up. Deal with brute nature. Be cold and hungry and weary.”

We got a good hour of no rain or light sprinkles until it started pouring and then we went home. I never realized how my three-year-old Davy isn't used to the rain: where is this water coming from? Can we drink it? He asked. 

I also forgot that snails come out in the rain. We saw lots of snails crawling around and that was fun. 

Master list here: https://martajuliemaria.blogspot.com/p/isolation-reflections-and-ideas.html?m=1

Cowboy ethics

This book is wonderful. It was kind of expensive. And some of it is a little left-leaning and borderline ideological. But doesn't cross the line. 

We were learning the states during the month of January with our A Year of Playing Skillfully preschool curriculum idea and our "The United States" Wee Sing sing, so we needed a book to go along with it. I have learned so much!

One thing I liked were the "cowboy ethics" included in Wyoming State law. 

"The state code admonishes residents and lawmakers to live courageously, take pride in their work, finish what they start, do what’s necessary and be tough but fair.The ethics code carries no criminal penalties and is not meant to replace any civil codes.

It also calls on them to keep promises, ride for the brand, talk less and say more, remember that some things aren’t for sale, and know where to draw the line."

http://cowboyethics.org/cowboy-ethics-become-law/

Channeling my inner cowgirl. 

This place

São Jorge island up ahead

Dolphins spotted from the boat

I used to think I had no connection to this place. That I had a connection to the place I was born and raised. Kind of a connection to the island where my parents were born and raised. But not to this island (where my mom lives now). This was never my "space". I even have some bad memories of things that I've been and done here that I don't like to think I've been and done. 

But I keep coming back. I've come here so many times. And when I think of how changed I am every time I come it's a miracle. Like the cures that Jesus did of the blind man in two phases: first Jesus touched his eyes and he saw things unclearly, like shadows. Then Jesus touched his eyes again and his vision was fully restored. 

Each time I come back to this place I see things a little more clearly. I see more things in myself, more things in my family of origin, now in my spouse and children. It won't take just two times, like the blind man, but many times of Jesus touching my eyes. Probably until the end of my life. 

There is something about this place now. Everything speaks to me. About my recent history. About my family's past. About how much Jesus makes everything new. 

I'm on vacation. I wish I could post fun pictures of beach and restaurants (which we've had a lot of!). But mostly it has been a lot of instrospection and a painful realigning of my vision to Him. 

The value of meals

One of the (many) takeaways from our US trip for me was how important meals are. It might seem like a lot of work to cook everyday, to plan meals, to grocery shop, etc. It might seem easier to buy pre-made food, pick something up, eat out, etc. But, at least for me, it's a short-cut that gives terrible long-term results.

There are good things and bad things in every country I always say, both in the US and in Portugal. On our trip, I realized one good thing Portugal has is that it *still* (even though it's dwindling) places more value on meals. In the US it's more common to "grab a bite" as you keep working, to eat on the go or as you drive, to eat alone or in the romantic company of a computer or iPhone. Perhaps here in Portugal there is still more of a remnant of that Latin get-togetherness or open a bottle and make it a celebrational meal.

I liked taking two weeks off cooking and eating yummy things in the US. But it felt like HOME to come back, sit down to a salad and a homemade meal. I remember a Jaime Oliver TV show where he went to America to teach people to cook and I really liked what he said, which was something along the lines of, "The US and England are amazing countries, have done amazing things and have amazing cultures, but in some aspects have gone too fast and forgotten the basics: the basics of getting a few ingredients together and sitting down with friends for a meal."

So my "helpers" in the pictures aren't actually helpful, but the first thing I do every morning is cook, which will be our lunch and dinner. And I think that investment in time is important, even though it gets dishes dirty and cleaning up the kitchen is such a hassle, especially with impatient kids. But when us three sit down for lunch and then four at dinner with dad, and it's peaceful, and they are learning to eat by themselves, have manners and generally just enjoy mealtime as a family, it's priceless. There is a reason humans don't graze or get food dumped into a bowl at regular times like animals. It's a ritual. It's social. There's a reason Jesus was ALL ABOUT meals. He even TURNS INTO a meal. It's sacred.

A vegetarian makes a turkey, part 2

I had just about decided we wouldn't celebrate thanksgiving this year... I was feeling it was a-great-idea-I-just-couldn't-quite-get-the-energy/time-do-to. But what is it about cooking this particular bird that gets me every time? I'm not sure. I don't even eat turkey!

So very last minute we decided to give it a go and we had people that live near us, including our parish priest, come over. It was soooooo worth it. It was wonderful. I made turkey, a pumpkin pie and chestnut puree and everyone else brought side dishes for the turkey. Turkey is surprisingly easy to make. It's just time consuming. I used this brine, then stuffed it with lemon, fresh thyme and onion, smeared it with butter all over and cooked it until it looked done. Next year I will get more professional and use an oven thermometer. ;)

I made everyone write down something they were thankful for and place it on a tree branch before we ate (see pic above). My favorites were the youngest kids' answers. What makes you really, really happy, I asked them. My two-year-old said "food" (!), a three-year-old said "laughter" and a five-year-old said "pictures".

After dinner I paraphrased and translated the book If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, also for the second year in a row. I feel like I should get some kind of award for sharing American culture. ;) My favorite thanksgiving books are that one and also One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims for small children.

I used all plastic plates and silverware, but there was still a lot of clean up / headache the next day. Oh well. Still so, so worth it.

Mini-vacation

We took a little vacation to the Azores to visit my mom. It was two years since I had been there! Crazy. I was so happy my dog was still alive at least. I didn't take any pictures of her... I just realized that now. Poor thing, I guess she completely lost the spotlight to baby, hands down. 

Here we are in our baby airplane bed... exciting! 

Cowboy hats are difficult to transport, but are a must. 

My favorite part was having a really nice park five minutes away where she liked to kick her legs. 

No, my favorite part was meeting an AMERICAN couple with a baby the same age! That was really fun. 

I had a few favorite parts, I guess. But there was definitely a lot of breastfeeding involved, wherever we went. She doesn't just get that chubby overnight!

Dates in the rush hour

I haven't blogged in a while... 

Life has been intense in mainly good ways, but definitely overly busy ways. I stiiill don't have the baby room ready or practically anything baby ready. My pregnancy was going great until this week, when I feel like I've been beaten up by a small gang every day. Our house is barely clean and we barely have food to eat, but we manage to make it. 

One really great thing we've instituted and been able to stick to every week is a date night alternately organized by me or my husband. It's fun because we really look forward to it and try to keep it a surprise. We've continued to stalk Lisbon's bishop (see Dom Manuel Clemente below) and go to his conferences. On Valentine's Day (our 6-year dating anniversary) we were able to go back to the coffee shop where we had our first date six years ago... we hadn't gone back since! We have also gone to Pasteis de Belem, eaten at our favorite Italian place and gone to see the Gulbenkian orchestra play Ravel...

Pregnancy blessing

We went to a Christmas blessing for pregnant women, with Portugal's patriarch bishop! It was super exciting. Christmas is an exciting time to be pregnant. 

There he is! Giving us the blessing... Dom Manuel Clemente.  

Piccolo Napoli

We went on a date this weekend to our favourite restaurant as a couple... Piccolo Napoli in Lisbon. It's quiet and the waiters are super attentive. They greet you at the door and take you to the door when you leave. They light a candle at your table when you sit down and grate parmesan cheese on your plate if you'd like it. This might sound normal for the US, but here it's special! 

Then we saw The Butler, with Oprah Winfrey. I liked it, just not the very political and rose-colored ending. 

...And a 24-week baby bump!

Coimbra daytrip

I accompanied my hubbie to a meeting he had in Coimbra, Portugal on Saturday morning. While he was in his meeting, I walked around the city all morning. It was my first  time and I was charmed. Everything is walking distance, although it's Portugal's third largest city, and it's packed with history. Around every corner is something that looks OLD. Like as in 12th century old... see churches below!

And here you can see not only the traditional "tuna" (student choir) singing with their black capes in the backround... but you can also see the traditional selling of chestnuts out on the street... yummy!

St. Martin's Day

Happy St. Martin's Day!

Here in Portugal people usually eat roasted chestnuts on this day. We were lucky enough to be invited to a "fall snack" this weekend, which included chestnuts, marmelade and fall fruits at our marriage godparents' house...

Honeymoon eats

We ate lots of yummy things, but here were some of our favorites: 

Of course the "breakfast in bed" sent to us by a friend (a surprise organized through the hotel!)...

The traditional fish with banana and passion fruit sauce... delish! Who would've thought fish and fruit would marry so well?

 The traditional meat on a skewer...

We were treated with Madeira wine many places we went...

A restaurant called "Panorama" in Porto Santo, because of the fabulous view...


Daniel fell in love with his mango sauce for his salmon. I was embarrassed to see him practically lick the sauce bowl clean...

Brownie in Porto Santo? Who would've guessed. And delicious at that. 

 A winery out in the middle of nowhere. They opened their restaurant just for us and served us like we were kings that had just traveled from afar.

The best ice cream in Porto Santo, according to locals. It was hard to find, considering there was no sign (see behind). The man has been making ice cream for 50 years. That's something! 

We took home ideas. Our first meal when we got back: salmon with mango sauce. The sauce wasn't like the restaurant version. It needs a little something... maybe lemon or orange? We are thinking about emailing the restaurant!