Happy May Day!

Today is the first of May, celebrated in Portugal as a national holiday. While it was unfortunate that Raymond and I had to work on this day honoring the workers of the world, it was nice that we were paid double-time. Today is also the anniversary of my starting to work on the island one year ago. What a different place we’re both in now!

Around the yard

L to R: I started fixing up the middle terrace, replacing the vertical terra cotta tiles with branches. One particular borrage plant in that terrace is huge! The dish of blossoms is just one day’s worth, less a branch I saved for the bumblebees that absolutely love them. The tea from the flowers is quite tasty and a little sweet. The baby pineapple tops are still alive in their makeshift ziplock bag ‘greenhouse’ and seem to be responding to the warmer weather. Lastly the succulent garden is really starting to fill out.

L to R: a new banana flower; the first tree fern we planted along the wall doing nicely; (looking the other direction) the small cryptomeria and a giant wild calla lily; I cleared a lot of vines, wild ginger, and rubble to better expose the two palm trees planted last year. The idea is to extend the retaining wall another 6-8 feet.

Nicky and Archie

The kitties are huge and loving life. They have their routines, and we, ours. My favorite, of course, is the cuddly time we have with Nicky and Archie when we get home from work. I have been surprised that at only nine months they are starting to be content to just watch us doing projects without the need to investigate and get into mischief.

Out and About

L to R: view of Monte Brasil in the distance from the Coffee Cabana banana plantation; traditional thatched-roof building and green-roofed barn at the Quinta Martelo; odd line of fog and clouds near the middle of the island on our drive home one day; looking 1000 feet down at the clouds and see from the western side of the Terceira.