Wednesday 29 April 2015

Take a sunny day


To clean the "house"...


To watch the nature that gives us new flowers, new shapes, new colors and new smells every day...


To laugh at the jokes of my little boy, who's pesky and grown up each day ...


To watch the garden...

   
and realize that the green remains one of the most beautiful colors!


and give thanks because the earth rewards us with beauty, strength and fruit ...


To put grandma blankets and cushions to the sun and be delighted at such color and love ...


To paint the old tires that are now a new home for flowers that will bloom in time in bright colors flowers.
Everything in life has its time. Knowing to wait with confidence bears fruit, fruit that will grow and bear more fruit. And so the work will prosper.

Monday 27 April 2015

Project chickens


Our henhouse is under construction! Let there be materials and workmanship! But as you can see, as to workmanship concerns, we are done! Well, truth be told, do not be fooled, this was only for the picture... ;)


But we've been enjoying this so much, although it's been laborious too! This structure will be our future henhouse and storage room. As a conclusion, it seems to me that our chickens will stay in a luxury condominium at least in terms of area, which will be bigger than the caravan! ;)


He is great, my farmer baker boy, who also has a builder rib. And so our chickens will leave the status of a dream to come a reality. Oh my God, how all this is so exciting and beautiful. Despite all the work that we have had cutting the eucalyptus, load them, peel them, take measurements, open holes, cut, cover it with cement, nailing, etc., all that is done with our hands and heart, which has undoubtedly much more value. It is this simple life that I covet. Simple, practical and economical. Because of all that we take from this life, the most important is love and a full soul.


Sunday 26 April 2015

Water



I always find it interesting to think about the things of life...
I grew up with ecological awareness. I remember doing the sorting of waste in adolescence and sensitize my mother and those around me to the issues of preservation of the planet. Considerations aside, the truth is that I believe we should all do our best concerning the environment subject. Because it is worth looking around us and see cleanliness and health.


Today my conscience goes to water. How many times have we heard that, in our modern times, we often take for granted the act of turning the lights on and opening the tap. Now here is a question I often treasure, treasure by being grateful for this practical aspect of modern life and by trying not to waste water through so many tips to do so that are given to us. But the truth is that it is different to be aware of this issue and live the situation.


 We are facing now what we anticipated would happen coming dry weather: the lack of water. The brook near us dried up as well as our water source despite the strategies to store it. The truth is that plants need water to survive and we are responsible to continue what we started. As long as we can. For now, we try to find out where there is public water sources that allow us to fill our containers and water our garden. So we've gone to the fountains existing in the hill and in the village, fullfill our buckets and transport them in our car to fullfill the containers in the garden.


In all this process it is interesting to see how much we value the water in a much stronger way now, despite never having been wasteful in our homes. Now, every drop is precious and we are grateful for each drop of rain that falls. Each one is good because it means less dependence on trips to the fountain. The care we have with water reminds us our awareness of saving it and the real value it has for us and our survival. And it forces us to another rhythm, a more steady rhythm without hurry because this come and go from the fountain takes us hours a day, hours which could be used in the cofé, at the computer, at work, out with friends, etc. Of course everything is necessary but this work gives us the conscious that it's not worth to be stressed to get or do things that are often not necessary, and gives us the ability to live every minute and realize that every moment of life is to be lived and enjoyed the best way. And the best way is a restful way, pacified and given by Who cares for us and Knows what we need, because ultimately also the birds and the lilies of the field have everything.

Friday 24 April 2015

Happy weekend



It's always so good to wake up for a day full of sunshine and give thanks for the petunias at the window.


And enjoy the silky tone of their colors and the fragrant aroma that now invades the entire balcony and comes into the living room. Every detail of nature is different from the other. Nature is so beautiful, isn't it?
  

Of course, waking up for this day was even more special towards the anticipation of an afternoon of sun and heat in the caravan, with time to enjoy more details all so charming. Our plants, although still tiny, are beginning to give flowers. Everything here is so simple but so great at the same time.


Oh, the empty swing ... It is beautiful standing there in the sun, the wind swinging rhythm, but it is much more beautiful when used in uproar and joy. But of course we also appreciate the quiet moments, to give us the time to listen to ourselves and still listen carefully to the cuckoo song. And no, the song did not come from any distant clock, it came from some tree from the hill around us. The cuckoo sang a good part of the afternoon for us.


Oh, getting inside "home" and realize that it has always been waiting for us. This old caravan, abandoned for so many years, receives a new life now and new lives to give it the best: color, air, pampering, love, flowers, smells, meals and even a name.


But as the weather is nice and invites to live outdoors, breathing the fresh air and blinking the eyes in the sun, we take our meal outside. Of course, let's forget the part of blowflies, wasps and the remaining range of insects, not to spoil the poetry of the moment ... :)



By mid-afternoon I took some time to enjoy the "view" from the living/dining/bedroom during a lazy break, while my farmer baker boy was working outside. There is no view like this, from our home to our land. A land full of promise and already bearing fruit, even if this fruit it's a figured one. Gee, how much this reminds me that there are people and a whole set of circumstances that are intended to help us to fulfill the dream of our lives. This is beautiful because, if I have a dream and you have the ability to help me to achieve it, I come to find out that we met each other because you too have a dream that you only can achieve if I'm with you. This makes sense in some certain moments in life, very specific ones, when we are able to have the serenity to discern this purpose because otherwise, everything else is pain and tears ...


But forget about the pain and tears, this weekend had its culmination on this Mother's Day. A day when I was blessed with the presence of the child that made me a mother and that continues to make me to choose him first in every circumstance. We ate ice cream, played with the ball and played with a little buddy.
It was a happy weekend, wasn't it?

Thursday 23 April 2015

Tips to occupy the time on a rainy day


Embroider the "Flor" plaque.


Switch to plan B and make rice with sausages instead of the previous planned traditional barbecue.


Give thanks for this first lunch in the caravan, that even on a day when the rain decided to fall several times, it was memorable.


Take advantage of the breaks between the falling rain to spray the weeds and wait that they start to disappear within two weeks and give thanks because it is good to learn to do a bit of everything.


Make a swing for the little ones to free their energy.

Yes, these cannot be tips for anyone to accomplish, but are tips that we put in practice on a day that had everything to be a spoiled day because of the rain but is was so enjoyed in every moment. And we have come to the end with a smile on our faces and our souls full of satisfaction.

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Late April from last year


The flowers receive us with joyful and natural colours as we get inside, as they belonged there. We feel at home. It's always good to return.


Looking at the fruit of our work is always a good thing. This centenary iron bucket was tapped to plant petunias, which gladen us with their bright colors and engaging aroma.


Working the land was work that saw the man since the beginning of time. It comforts me to know that this has not changed and that we continue to be given the ability to work and take advantage of it.


Between sowing and harvesting, between plants and flowers and vegetables, we are all enjoying and savoring every moment, vibrating with every victory and thrilling to the beauty, quality and abundance of the land.


These are our first beans in this land.


Our pear tree is here to the pleasure of my little boy, who loves pears since he was a baby and has been asking for us to plant one.


Our first buds, full of promise. 


I understand why they say that green is the color of hope. Anyone doubts?


We can find beauty even in the thorns, teaching us the nature of things in life. Yeah, the beautiful also brings pain, but the good news is that it always teaches us something and helps us grow. That's the beauty of it...



We only can see this beauty by looking up, from which comes the relief and the ability to enjoy all that comes to us and give thanks in everything that affects us.


For now it is time to be thankful for what we have, for what we are given and all this simplicity that fills and satisfies us.


And I leave you today with drops of the rain that fell down on us on that day. This rain that insisted in not letting us enjoy a proper springtime last year, but a rain that made me think that the water is so necessary to our survival, which helps me to be thankful for every drop that falls. Because it falls with a purpose. Like everything in life.



With this rain, I wish you all a great week full of faith!


Tuesday 21 April 2015

An afternoon of agriculture and discoveries


This was a day to put our faith into practice once again, placing the product on earth and trusting that the water will arise when it's necessary to make it grow, even if at the moment this is a scarce resource.



The appeal of the earth is stronger than the fear, so faith won and I took the hoe and my farmer baker boy took the blade.


We made holes in the ground, all on a trial and primary basis due to the lack of the necessary tools. But they did not lack. The idea was just to open a small hole to see what the earth can give us. We opened nine, where potatoes, tomatoes and beet seed were placed.


Also inside we made the multiplication of beauty. I never resist the wild flowers!


I imagine what this path that leads to the road will be within a few time. Who has seen it and who sees it now... So different and so pretty.


It started as a bush savannah and it was then tamed by my farmer baker boy, who cleaned and lined it with stones.


Then came the first plants to flank it. All without spending money. Plants from here and there, brought from home and given by friends. For now it is a path of plants trying to survive. What will it be within some time when daisies, roses, geraniums etc. start to bloom?! This is such a beautiful process, the one of waiting without rush and with an happy expectation.


As we work we notice the wild ducks that fly over us and land in the pond near our place. We went there to lurke.


We saw them resting. Of course, two adults and a child frighten anyone so the family got into the water, "quack quack, let's get out of here, we don't know who they are".
  

There is always lots of beautiful life simmering in a pond. They are the insects, the frogs who jump when we pass by and croak in the evening and much more. I lose myself admiring everything as it was the first time. And it is, in some way...


We say goodbye to the ducklings who cheered us with their presence, and in the way back I found out beautiful flowers, born by the path's side. I suspect that God runs around sowing presents only for me, just to make me happy!





When we returned we had a snack time, always a conforting time, although this time the tea had no sugar because we forgot to buy more!


That's ok. We stay with the memory of an afternoon well spent, full of emotions and activities. And the most important is always what we keep in our minds.