Cabril sits nestled in a tiny valley with both houses overlooking the tree farm below. This week rows and rows of orange trees appeared below us as os trabalhadors revealed a neatly striped landscape. The only signs of modern civilization are the telephone poles that hang dangerously low across the field. We are free and [...]
You can take the girl out of Alberta but you can’t take Alberta out of the girl. In the last ten days I’ve spent quality time with Daddy Bravo and taught him how to use his new computer. I’ve caught up with family friends and eaten the best filet mignon you could ever imagine. I’ve [...]
February 13, 2010 – 11:54 AM
Yesterday marked the anniversary of Tango arriving on this earth (also known as Lincoln’s Birthday). With the exception of last year’s big one, the event is generally regarded as a low-key celebration. Penfold, in his intuitively loverly ways, celebrated the day with me exploring things and places I love.
Eating our tostas mistas and sipping wine [...]
February 3, 2010 – 6:26 PM
I have no idea how it happened but AtomicdogmA.com has been nominated for IX10 (The Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs 2010) brought to you by the good folks at bab.la and Lexiophiles. (How do you say w00t in Portuguese?)
We’ve been looking for the top 100 blogs that presents us with the joys, difficulties and adventures [...]
January 23, 2010 – 4:12 PM
I’ve never been without a car since I was 16 years old. Living without my own form of transportation was unthinkable; driving represented freedom and independence. A transportation snob through and through, I experienced public transit when necessary but never by choice. I’ve always been happiest behind the wheel, whether for a short drive or [...]
October 15, 2009 – 1:20 PM
I fell down the Etsy hole this morning. Thankfully Ma and Pa Papersurfer were here to help me back out.
Top left ~ Wooden Skeleton Keys from porkchopshow
Top right ~ Green Diamond Ring from stamp
Bottom left ~ The Dreamer’s Necklace from teaflowers
Bottom right ~ Four Seasons Series from JessicaDoyle
Woohoo! Our loverly carteiro just arrived with my [...]
September 18, 2009 – 1:59 PM
As mães, lock up your daughters because Daddy Bravo is coming to town.
I’m happy, excited and nervous about my father’s upcoming stay at Cabril. He’s never been to Portugal so fingers crossed the weather co-operates and we can play tourist for a few days.
We’ll explore the countryside and local village cafés. He’ll marvel at my [...]
August 13, 2009 – 5:14 PM
One of the best things about having out of town visitors is the opportunity to see your home through the eyes of a stranger. Of course, since our cidade consists of two houses, just about everyone is from out of town.
I was excited and worried when I heard that P had decided to make the [...]
I needed a little hocuspocus today and, in spite of the rain, I found some. Another Shutter Sisters assignment urged me to find magic just outside the kitchen window.
Do not wait for perfect light. Just go.
So I didn’t wait for the rain to stop, I didn’t even wait to finish my glass of wine. Instead I found a tiny, [...]
It’s been almost a week since I returned from my girls’ weekend in Lisboa and my feet have almost recovered. I’m still surprised by how much I enjoy living off the beaten track, but a small taste of city life every now and then is a glorious treat.
My first solo journey in Portugal began with [...]