“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
– Saadi
Summer means that I stumble like a sleepwalker through the long daylight hours. I get up before sunrise to take care of gardening or other chores before the heat of the day pins me down in a state of lethargy. Born in a country where the midday sun moves overhead, and steals shadows before it sets in a blaze of colour, I am used to much shorter summer days that not only look, but feel different from their European counterparts.
I can still clearly remember a question I was asked shortly after I arrived in Germany as a 21-year-old to live for a year: “Is it true that when the sun sets in South Africa it is like a light being switched off?” It was the strangest question I’ve encountered up to that point in my life, and my response was a swift ‘of course not’. That was until I understood that the slant of the sun in Europe never washes away shadows, and that the light lingers long after the sun has dipped behind the horizon, and most often than not, failing to saturate the sky with a dazzling display of colour.
Since moving to Portugal, I’ve learned to appreciate the soft pastel colours of dusk, and the occasional flare of deep orange or pink. In my mind it is a reflection of the temperament of the people who inhabit this land, which stands in sharp contrast with the intense passion and violence of both the sunsets and the people of South Africa.
Now, at the end of summer, I am grateful for the shorter days, and cooler nights.
On my Plate & In the Garden
The garden was and still is lush this year, yielding fresh vegetables and herbs that bring joy to my tastebuds and heart. It is comforting to feel that I have some sort of control in at least some part of my life, even when I know that Mother Nature has a big role to play in how it all comes together. There is/was garlic, zucchinis, Peppers de Padron, tomatoes, eggplants, chillies, capsicums, cucumbers, oregano, chives, basil, sage, and mint. And lots of edible flowers I used either fresh or dried – oregano, calendula, marigolds, and zinnias. The three passionfruit plants even yielded a handful of fruit, some of which I´ve just scooped out straight into my mouth, and some I´ve turned into a small portion of ice cream. The flesh of the last of the small crop I’ve frozen for Michael to also have a taste.
My favourite herb to use is oregano, and I’ve been drying huge bunches of both the leaves and flowers that would last the year, while I should have plenty more to give away to friends. I’ve dried some coriander, beetroot, sweet basil, and parsley seeds, and have a good amount of red lettuce, and broccoli seeds stashed away. My vision for my vegetable garden has always been to close the loop. In other words, to save and plant my own seeds, instead of buying either seeds or seedlings every year. It is also part of what brings me an enormous amount of joy.
When I received some figs and plums from friends and a neighbour, I turned it into chutneys, which I’m rather pleased with. I am not a fan of plums, and as a result haven’t planted any in the orchard, but when Michael mentioned that he quite likes them, I reconsidered and toyed with the idea to buy two trees. After processing the plums, I’ve decided not to, as I really don’t like them. I suspect it is the texture more than the taste that is off-putting to me. I also simply cannot think how I would preserve them. I’d much rather plant extra apricots, peaches, or cherries. The fruit and nut trees are growing well, and for the first time, I can start envisioning a mature orchard even though it is still just a glimmer on the horizon.
I am cautiously optimistic about this year’s olive harvest, despite the fact that we moved seven trees, five of which have been good producers in the past. So much can still happen between now and the harvest in early November, but there is a good amount on the trees in general.
My obsession because of the good cucumber crop was a cucumber and mint smoothie, while I am forever replenishing a cordial like drink, called shrub, from the many frozen cherries I’ve processed during spring. It is the perfect drink to slake one’s thirst on hot summer days, or while processing tomatoes into salsas, chutneys, and sauces to hopefully last well into winter or even spring. Another delightful discovery was a zucchini relish, and I’ve even made a second batch as I love it that much.
We´ve also had our very first taste of the honey produced on our land. When our beekeeper friend came around recently to harvest the honey, we got a big slice of honeycomb. Dipping my finger into the dripping sweetness was like getting a taste of the land.
Weathering the Weather
In South Africa the hottest part of the day is around midday, while here in Portugal it is usually somewhere between 16h00 and 19h00 in summer, which means it often takes a long time for the heat of the day to dissipate. So long in fact that the coolest part of the day is mostly only at 7 or even 8 in the morning. Despite the prediction for a brutal summer, worse than last year, it has been quite pleasant really, as we´ve been spared the brutal temperatures that have been recorded elsewhere in Europe. August has been the hottest month, and in general the temperatures were more in line with what I would consider ´normal´ for this part of Portugal, which means temperatures often above 35°C and with a couple of hot 40°C days, but with temperatures fluctuating and not getting stuck in heatwaves.
The Perseid meteor shower that culminated on the night of 12 July was jotted in my diary, and although I spotted many shooting stars in the nights leading up to what was supposed to be the highlight of up to 100 sightings per hour, I was quite keen on spending a bit of time gazing up towards the night sky. By the time the sun dipped behind the horizon, I was not just tired and no longer excited enough to wait for the skies to darken, and when an unpleasant wind started to blow, I decided to call it a day, and went to sleep. To my delight I woke up at 4am, grabbed a blanket, and was rewarded by about 30 shooting stars in the 30 minutes I gazed towards the heavens. I directed all my wishes to the exasperating Portuguese bureaucracy.
Just as I was getting ready to press the “publish” button on this post, what one always hopes will never happen in one´s neighbourhood, did. When I walked outside just after lunch on Friday afternoon the 25th of August, I got a whiff of smoke on the wind, and immediately had a look on the fogos website. A fire started earlier in the direction of Vale de Prazeres, and although the wind brought with it the smell of smoke, it was far away from me, and I immediately relaxed. When an hour or two later, I once again went outside, something urged me to walk to where I could see the land at the back of the house. Thick plumes of smoke were billowing in the direction of my closest foreign neighbours´ quinta, and I quickly ran back to the house to call them with shaky hands. There was no answer. I shot a short video, and sent a message to Michael, before running back to the house calling the cats with a feeling of rising panic. Midnight was quick to appear, as her life is ruled by her stomach, and she has responded well to my training of a food reward if she responds to my voice. Lily, like a true princess scoffed at my training, but she always sleeps close to the house, and was in one of her favourite spots. She stretched and yawned, but did saunter over to the house, where I could quickly feed them and close the doors, before heading outside again.
By this time my neighbours called back, telling me that the fire is right behind them, and that they are evacuating. I was on the phone with Michael when they drove up with their two cats and two dogs. He rushed back to cut the fence so that their two horses that bolted when the first planes flew overhead, could escape the fire. In the meantime, in between snippets of conversation and checking the wind direction, I gathered the cat carriers from the barn, all the important paperwork, and packed a small suitcase. We clambered onto the roof for a better view, and desperately tried to figure out exactly where their house and quinta was, in relation to ours.
Not being able to bear the sight of flames so close to their house, not knowing if it was burning or not, they decided to go to a friend´s house in Aldeia do Bispo, from where, ironically, they would leave one last time later in the evening when the glow of the fire started to travel in that direction. The wind stayed in my favour, but I also knew that I had to be ready to leave quickly if it turned. To keep myself busy, I packed a bigger suitcase to put in the car, which was an interesting exercise, as I could now choose what to take after I grabbed all the essentials. It turned out that it is much harder than I would have thought, and I am sure if the story ended up in a disaster, I would have wondered why I filled it with the things I did, instead of other things.
The drone of planes, often coming low straight overhead, filled the sky. First five, and at some point seven, collected water from nearby lakes or dams to help douse the flames, but once the sun slipped behind the horizon, the silence they left when they had to stop flying, felt eerie. A friend offered to come to keep me company, when I declined an offer for a bed for the night. Her kindness touched my heart, but I felt safe, as, although it started a mere 1.8 km (just over a mile) from our house, it was heading away from me. I watched until the glow on the horizon softened, and only one spot remained. There was no wind when I eventually fell into a fitful sleep on the couch well after midnight.
The distance the fire travelled is astounding, but they managed to extinguish it shortly after 3 am on Saturday morning, almost exactly 12 hours after it started. Since then, an official statement said that two people have been arrested for starting the two fires by operating machinery that is prohibited this time of the year, when a small spark can create an enormous amount of damage by threatening not only properties, but life too.
Midnight & Lily
For the cats summer means an assortment of cooler spots to curl up during the hot hours of the day. Lily generally stays close to the house, while Midnight wanders off a bit further, but we all usually hang out together on the porch or in another seating area under an olive tree when day turns to night. It was on one of those occasions that Midnight jumped up from her spot and ran towards the gate by the house. Her whole body suggested that she heard something my ears failed to pick up. When she came running back and sharply turned towards the retaining wall on the edge of the property, my eyes followed her closely. She jumped up the wall just as a fox was doing the same from the other side. It was the fox getting the fright of its life and made a U-turn mid-air, with Midnight freezing in the iconic cat pose on top of the wall with her back rounded in a silent threat. The fox scampered off towards the sharka and disappeared onto the neighbour`s land.
Moments I enjoy less are those involving snakes, which are more prolific than previous years. Midnight has a very specific way of calling when there is a snake. Something she has done three times during summer. And then there was the snake I discovered on the kitchen countertop, slithering to have a drink from a cup full of water in the sink. Luckily my niece was visiting and saved the day by grabbing it behind its neck with a pair of kitchen tongs. When I told her how impressed I was with her swift reaction coming up with a plan, she shrugged and said that is because of all the documentaries she has watched that she knew exactly what to do. Thank goodness it was a juvenile, and my niece was around, because I´m not sure how I would have dealt with it otherwise. The culprit must have been Lily, as there is no way the snake could have ended up where it was otherwise. Not only is she a known snake catcher, but she has a habit of jumping onto the countertops even when she knows she is not allowed to.
I caught Lily this morning on the countertop where she was dipping her paw in a small amount of olive oil that was left over after I filled the big bottle yesterday. She is clearly a fan, as she was not impressed with me when I took it away from her. She often does it with the water bowl too – dipping her paw, and then sucking the moisture from it.
Visitors
The most unexpected visitor was a little kingfisher, which flew into a window of the house. When I heard the thud, and saw Midnight also heard it, I quickly went outside to save it. It wasn´t injured, but sat quietly on my hand to regain it´s composure before it flew off. Long after the fact I still marvelled at that special interaction of having this gorgeous little bird just sitting on the palm of my hand.
When Michael came for a week during Eid-al-Adha, we decided to reinvent our temporary swimming pool of a couple of years ago, as it coincided with a week of high temperatures, and as a result we had a lovely, relaxing week scoffing at chores, and just enjoying one another´s company, while engaging in an amazing amount of socialising for two self-confessed introverts.
Progress on the Land
We have come to learn that even the smallest of steps in the right direction is cause for celebration, and we latch onto those like thirsty desert travellers stumbling upon fresh, cold water.
A small blessing because of the rain we received in the first two weeks of June, restrictions were lifted, and Tim could cut the swathes of long grass in the flat areas, when his tractor got fixed just in time.
On the other hand, the rain increased the amount of strimming I had to do before the sun and heat dried out the remaining vegetation and they finally stopped growing. Even though the brown landscape isn’t nearly as beautiful as the lush green of spring, I am very grateful for the reprieve in strimming summer brings.
The stone mason and his guys have increased the height of the retaining wall around the olive tree next to the house, and for the first time the aesthetic balance is what it should be, bringing joy to my heart, as beauty is a very important personal value of mine.
The foundation for the workshop has also been thrown mid-June, and in true Portuguese style I wasn´t informed about when it will happen. It was only when I heard, and eventually saw the concrete trucks that I got a whiff of what was to come. Since then they have filled in the floor up to the level Michael indicated by getting soil from the sharka, but instead of digging it bigger they dug deeper, as they later told me one needs a licence to make it bigger. Of course, I was told this after the fact, and dug when I wasn’t at home. That meant that the once dry sharka suddenly had water in it, but the well from which I water the vegetable garden and orchard had much less water.
The next flurry of activity happened when one Saturday morning they came to start erecting the building. After what felt like a short time they came to tell me that they will be back the following Saturday with a bigger machine. That was three weeks ago, and when I sent a message earlier today, I was told that they are on vacation for a week, but will come to finish after that. Well, let’s see, is my attidute these days as I simply don’t trust anything I am told anymore.
A lovely neighbour of ours (the one behind whose quinta the fire started) has started to come once a week to help me with the many chores I simply don´t have the physical strength or desire for doing. He is also helping out with building projects, and is currently cladding the wall of the well, which Michael built a long time ago. And so, week by week, there is a feeling of slow, steady, but tangible progress. I am very selective in who I want to come on our land to do work, and whenever I can, I stick with those people who bring a gentle energy with them.
Officialdom
The paperwork for the workshop is still lagging behind the actual work that has been done already, which sadly is in line with how the Portuguese bureaucracy operates. Despite the fact that I regularly go to see the municipal architect and assurances are given, I cannot help but feel a certain amount of stress and frustration bubbling up in unguarded moments.
The bureaucratic nightmare of my residence visa is also simply refusing to end, and I prefer not to talk about it, as the words bubbling up when I just think about it are not of the kind one should put on paper.
Other Adventures
To soften the disappointment of not being able to attend my dad´s 90th birthday celebrations in South Africa, I found, and signed up for a ceramics course in the quaint Portuguese village of Cerdeira, with exact dates to distract me from what I couldn´t be part of. Not only did I learn different methods of transferring images onto ceramics, but I made friends, and enjoyed the beauty, silence, and much cooler weather of an extremely picturesque schist village.
At the end of May, just before the summer heat descended upon us, I finally managed to meet a good friend and his wife for the first time in person. Tom and I have been friends since we met in a writing programme, when I still lived in Al Ain in the UAE, which means it is roughly 8 or 9 years ago. When he told me that they were planning a trip to France to visit Paris and friends who live in the south, we decided to hatch a plan to meet somewhere I could get to by car. Our choice fell on the gorgeous Spanish city of Toledo, and the lovely two-bedroom apartment we rented for the three nights we spent there, gave us the perfect place to not only explore the old town, but also allowed for many hours of conversation.
Portuguese Words
time is everything
everything in its own time
and we have everything
Written by: Jolandi
Notes:
# I highly recommend checking out my friend Tom’s books. His life took an interesting turn when he discovered that he was a descendent of one of the biggest slave trading families in America. Click here to learn more about his writing and work.
# Every time I get despondent here in Portugal, I think of the alternative of going back to South Africa, and realise that despite the challenges we face here, we are lucky that we had a way out of a country which is broken and deteriorating by the day. Read BBC correspondent Andrew Harding’s account of the state of South Africa on the eve of him and his family leaving the country.
If you feel like listening to some Portuguese music, here is a song called Verão (Summer) by The Gift
| Um verão, um simples verão Poemas, curtas prosas que guardei Cá dentro a paz, o amor Lá fora um grito, a dor Memórias que nem sempre me lembrei Amanhã será bem melhor Pulsa o peito num só tremor Uso e cruzo algum desnorte Provo a sorte, tento, invento O amor que é só meu Só teu, só nós, tão sós Um verão, um simples verão Poemas, curtas prosas que guardei Não fiz por não querer Falei sem entender Balanço e assim descanso Um pouco a dor Que de antiga já se abriga Em meu redor Amanhã será bem melhor Pulsa o peito num só tremor Uso e cruzo algum desnorte Provo a sorte, tento, invento O amor… Amanhã será bem melhor Pulsa o peito num só tremor Uso e cruzo algum desnorte Provo a sorte, tento, invento O amor que é só meu Só teu, só nós, tão sós Amanhã será bem melhor Pulsa o peito num só tremor Uso e cruzo algum desnorte Provo a sorte, tento, invento O amor que é só meu Uso e cruzo algum desnorte Provo a sorte, tento, invento O amor que é só meu | One summer, just one summer Poems, short prose that I kept Here, peace, love Outside a scream, the pain Memories I didn´t always remember Tomorrow will be much better Pulses the chest in a single tremor I use and cross some misfortune I try my luck, I try, I invent The love that is mine alone Only you, only us, so alone One summer, just one summer Poems, short prose that I kept I didn´t do it because I didn´t want to I spoke without understanding Swing and so rest A little pain Which of old already shelters Around me Tomorrow will be much better Pulses the chest in a single tremor I use and cross some misfortune I try my luck, I try, I invent Love . . . Tomorrow will be much better Pulses the chest in a single tremor I use and cross some misfortune I try my luck, I try, I invent The love that is mine alone Only you, only us, so alone Tomorrow will be much better Pulses the chest in a single tremor I use and cross some misfortune I try my luck, I try, I invent The love that is mine alone I use and cross some misfortune I try my luck, I try, I invent The love that is mine alone |
It sounds like you had a lovely summer, in spite of the immigration issues and snakes and unexpected construction. The weather in Portugal sounds a lot like the weather in California, though we can get brutally hot days in the summer with virtually no shadows in the merciless sunshine. Hopefully the Portuguese summer yields delicious grapes and wine in the fall! I’m thinking of doing some wine tasting this coming fall after years of staying home with a single bottle from the grocery store. I hope you get the opportunity to do something similar after all the work you’ve put into your farm.
That photo of the grass snake looks like a garden hose lying in the grass! I probably would have picked it up while rushing around to finish the garden chores and gotten a nasty surprise! (Though I imagine the snake would be equally surprised.) The cats have a lot more courage than I do!
Sadly we don´t have enough grapes to make wine, but I did at least managed to get some grape juice from the bit we have. Our neighbour did his grape harvest today, and I am planning to spend my birthday at a wine hotel. Luckily one is surrounded by good wine here in Portugal, like I guess you are in California, Hangaku. I hope you get to enjoy many wonderful wine tastings this coming fall.
The cats definitely have more courage than I have too. Midnight is still hesitant, but not Lily.
May you have a gorgeous fall after the summer´s heat. – Jolandi
Oh, Jolandi! How frightening seeing those black clouds of smoke must have been and so close to your home too! I am really pleased they managed to put the fire out so quickly and that you and your property are safe and well.
I am also pleased you have devised a way to keep calm while being faced with your beaurocracy trials! I am sure it will all come to an end eventually but my goodness, what a long drawn-out business it has been so far!
What a pleasure it is to see that work is progressing on the quinta and to have help from your neighbour must be such a comfort. I am amused by your cat tales and would also be very disconcerted if I was brought a snake as a gift by my cat! Your niece must be so cool and collected to be able to catch a snake so easily. I have seen them caught like that but I still don’t think I would be able to manage it very well!
How lovely your garden looks and how productive it has been this year and you too, with all your chutneys and relishes and dried herbs! Enjoy your autumn, Jolandi and keep safe and well.
Clare x
Just today I´ve chatted with friends who also said that the bureaucracy here is like nothing they´ve experienced anywhere else, Clare. Sometimes when I listen to stories of people´s experiences, it seems like a miracle when something actually goes the way it is supposed to.
At least the cats always find ways of entertaining (or scaring) me. They definitely keep me grounded and provide me with extra unexpected adventures.
I´ve heard it has been a very wet summer in the UK, so I hope you will have some dry and gorgeous autumn days. – Jolandi
Excellent writing again, Jolandi. It was comforting to read about your bountiful harvest this year and see a photo of your garden and surrounding area. You have a lot to feel proud about. Also, the tone of this post is easy and free-flowing, as if the Saadi quote you have at the beginning of this post is now ringing true: “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” My sister is also a beekeeper, and she feels the same as you when saying that tasting honey is like tasting everything around you… You are on an adventure, and while experiencing so many highs – the fire nearby must have been a terrifying moment for you. I’m glad all is well, and as autumn approaches, there are an increasing number of steps forward for you & Michael to celebrate… It’s lovely to read. Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead!
I love that your sister is a beekeeper and is saying the same thing, Randall. One of the joys of gardening chores is having bees buzzing around me.
Thank you for your kind words, and encouragement. Even when it doesn´t always feel like it, like you say, there are an increasing number of steps forward, which is definitely cause for celebration. As I write this rain is soaking the parched earth, and a welcome chill clings to the breeze. What a joy after the summer heat. May you also have a relaxing weekend. – Jolandi
Hi, Jolandi! So good to see your quinta again and read about your life on it. That fire must have been so scary! And packing those suitcases! Happy that it turned away. I love seeing the view from your porch and your swimming pool, but the best photo is of Lily and the computer mouse. 😀 As a European who only got to spend two December weeks outside of Europe in her 50+ years (California), I try to imagine the summer sun path that you were used to growing up in South Africa. What a different way to live! How interesting that you connect this to the temperament of the people. I’m sure it’s connected. I wish you a fine autumn with lots of marvellous produce. So happy for you.
Hi Manja! So happy to hear from you. I always find it interesting how we are products of the places we grow up in. Something we don´t always understand or are even aware of unless we travel, or better still, live for a while in places that are different from what we know intimately. I hope you too will have a lovely autumn. – Jolandi
Wow. What a summer. That fire. My god, don’t get me started with Hawaii or any of these “natural” disasters ~ I’m so glad that everything’s alright. Is there anything you can do to protect your property?
I’ve already clicked on the link about S. Af. I’ve heard many gut wrenching stories and it doesn’t sound like things are turning around anytime soon. Unfortunately, every country is dealing, it seems, with corruption. The battle between good and evil is not always with weapons on an open field.
But on to beautiful and good things, like your abundant garden and helping hands 🙂 Progress on the land. Happy and healthy animals and you, xo
I hear you, Lani. We believe, rightly or wrongly, that even if we are in the path of a fire, we should be okay, as we keep the grass on our land short, don’t have eucalyptus or pines on our land, and neither do any of our direct neighbours. I know that anything can burn when it is so dry, but the fire also go where the easy fuel is, and although there are plantations in the area, they are at least a kilometre away. We have also been talking about having a sprinkler system on the edges of the roof of the house that we can opened when threatened, but I’m not sure there is anything more one can do.
Yes, despite life’s challenges (which we all have) there are also many blessings I am very grateful for. And I count them regularly, as well as rejoice in the beauty and gifts of the land in every season. – Jolandi
Hello dear Jolandi,
My heart was “in my throat” when I read about the wildfires. Firstly I am so happy that you, Michael, your furry family and close neighbors are safe from the ordeal. I am also glad your area was spared the worst of the heat wave.
Reading about your progress has been very uplifting and motivating, especially as we have dealt with some hardships on top of the worst heat wave that has been affecting the planet.
It is wonderful you were able to meet your friend in-person for the first time after so many years! I know I’ve often mentioned how I feel that we could also spend many hours in natural conversation over tea 🙂
Thanks so much for the update (your writing makes me feel as if I am right there with you) and please do continue to take good care my friend.
Maybe one day the stars will align and we too will meet, Takami. One thing I know for sure is that we never know what gifts and twists and turns the future holds. And that is definitely a good thing, especially when it comes to facing challenges. I hope the hardships you are dealing with will run their course quickly. May you always find the strength you need, and may life this autumn soften and be kind to you. Big hug. – Jolandi
Hi Jolandi I love reading your posts and appreciate how much time you put into them including the photos which make your writing come even more alive. Yes we are a product of where we grew up; I still like the bright greens and softer sun of Europe/UK where I come from and am not able to appreciate the Australian landscape anywhere near as much. It is olive to me and can be dry and foreboding! Of course there are many other things I greatly appreciate in my adopted country as it seems you do too. Well done on the ceramics; I am sure you will put that all to good use too! X
So lovely to hear from you, Christina. I hope you are well. Thank you for reading through these long posts. I have fallen into a seasonal news habit, which I prefer, but might well be a bit of a challenge for readers.
It is so true that we are products of the places we grow up in, and I love your explanation of your own experience. Beauty can be found anywhere, but beauty defined by where we grew up will always hold a special place in one´s heart. I am quite fascinated by this, and love to hear how others relate to and experience it. I also love how we become composites of all those places we´ve lived in, which is why for me (as I would guess for you) the desert will always be part of who I am too.
Big hug. – Jolandi
Hi Jolandi,
Until now, I have never had to face or escape a bushfire, although it is a constant threat in Australia, and we are about to enter our peak season. We often see smoke as we live near a bush escarpment which is eucalyptus (naturally) and you know how that blows up! And we have relatives who have suffered house damage over the years. It’s not that we take it for granted, but it does become a part of life.
The other similarity is the latitudes of South Africa and Australia. I often joke to northerners that we invented the expression, “night fell”. I miss the long twilights of a northern summer. When I read children’s books based in England, I could never understand how “Sweet William” and his ilk could stay out playing so long, until I experienced it for myself.
Great that Michael could come for a relaxing visit and always wonderful to see your kitty-kats. Even if one has taken to befriending snakes 🙂
I hear you on how bush fires become just a part of life, Gwen. It is definitely a reality one cannot escape when living in an area where it is part and parcel of seasonal life, and one definitely has to think about it in practical terms, and not emotional ones in order to live with it.
I have never thought of the expression ´night fell´ in these terms, but it is so true. I guess because I´ve not just grown up with it, but also almost all my life lived in countries (including the UAE), where there is a quick transition between day and night that I will always think of it in nostalgic terms. I guess I will eventually just get used to it in Portugal, but unlike you, I´m not overly fond of those long twilights.
Good luck with bush fire season. I hope it isn´t a bad one. – Jolandi
There’s so much to appreciate in this post, but this line made my own heart catch: “the aesthetic balance is what it should be, bringing joy to my heart, as beauty is a very important personal value of mine.” In all my years of trying to convey this very idea to my husband, I have never been able to come up with words that are better than these. Every word echoes my feelings, and no efforts to express these ideas myself make much sense to my husband! Perhaps I will quote you next time I am moved by a pleasing scene made by my own or another’s effort.
Here, our heat peaks when your does there, with late afternoons nearly unbearable this summer as Texas been been trapped under a blanket of extreme heat. We must walk the dog no later than 7 am and then wait until the sun is down to take him out again. (Of course, he can run out briefly in between, but walks are out of the question during the day for many months. 🙁 )
The fire would terrify me; I’d rather find a snake on my counter! I’m sorry about some of your ongoing frustrations but happy to read of your many examples of progress, not least of which is your growing stable of friends, good neighbors, and reliable helpers. Thanks for a wonderful summer update!
It warms my heart to know that you too value beauty like I do, Lexie. I hope you get plenty of opportunity to quote me on this one. So much of my mental health and happiness are hinged on this value, which is why I make sure that even the temporary bits around the quinta contain beauty. I often laugh when I tell people that the vegetable garden close to the house is temporary, as their expression of horror never fails to amuse me. I am often told ´but it is so pretty´! Although Michael doesn´t always understand what I am on about, he is getting the idea, and luckily for me a personal value of his is ´making things that look professional and not homemade´ (if that makes sense). That ensures that we are compatible with what we want to achieve on the quinta and serves to motivate us even when things are moving so slowly towards what we picture the end result to be.
I shudder when I read your description of the heat you´ve had and is still having. It is so difficult to function, especially when one loves the outdoors as much as I know you do. We´ve been lucky to receive 60mm of rain this past weekend, which formally introduced autumn with gloriously cooler weather. These days I count things like this as huge blessings, as so much of my life is linked to the weather.
You know, I too think I prefer snakes on countertops than fire in my neighbourhood. There is something deeply unsettling about smoke on the horizon, even when it is not close by, as so much depend on the force and direction of the wind.
I hope that soon you will also have beautiful and much cooler autumn days. Big hug. – Jolandi
Your cucumber and mint smoothie sounds marvelous and I’m now wanting to try my own version. As a worker of the land you will be intimately connected much more to the hardships than the rest of us who don’t do this sort of labor. It seems so strange to think of you as building structures and farming, and yet I also feel you are developing a deep love for the place you are in — a very different love from the one you had for your UAE home. Hope the coming autumn season finds you well.
You are so right about my different love of place, Atreyee. It is also interesting to me how places shape and change us. Hope autumn is beautiful and peaceful for you. – Jolandi
Gosh, as I was reading this I hoped nothing bad happened to you. Luckily the fires moved away from your direction.
If you remember, a while ago I told you that I was thinking of going to South Africa this year. I ended up going to Taiwan, though. But I still want to see the country where you grew up, especially places in the Western Cape. Sounds like the garden has given you a lot this year. And fingers crossed for the olive harvest!
“I simply don’t trust anything I am told anymore.” You know, right now I’m waiting for a technician to clean my air-conditioners. But he’s exactly the kind of person you’re talking about. In the past, he often frustrated me with his not-so-reliable sense of time. He said he would come tomorrow, but sometimes he didn’t. Or he would come in the morning, but ended up showing up after lunch. We’ll see how it goes this time.
I am wondering if the technician arrived when he promised to show up . . . I certainly hope so, as it can be so frustrating otherwise. I definitely feel for you.
The olives are ripening nicely, but the rains have started, which isn’t great to harvest olives in, so I am starting to feel slightly nervous about the upcoming harvest.
I suspect you would love South Africa when you get there one day, Bama. It would be so lovely to see the country of my birth through your eyes, but I am also looking forward to your Taiwan posts. Your writing always make me feel that I am right there with you. – Jolandi
Sometime last week I watched a video explaining about South Africa’s problems and how the country got to this point. It seems like what it needs is fundamental reform which might hurt at the beginning, but will be good for the long run. But my biggest concern about visiting South Africa is personal safety. I’ve read too many blogs and articles which make me wonder if it’s really that unsafe to even walk around a city at daytime. However, I also read about how to stay safe. But still, it all sounds really daunting, although that doesn’t stop me from dreaming of seeing places like Cape Town.
I think you should keep dreaming, Bama. Although personal safety is a real concern, I think that through good research to educate yourself as to where to go or not to go, as well as when, you can have a wonderful and safe experience. The country has gorgeous landscapes and wonderful people, and it is possible to experience all of that without ever feeling unsafe. Sadly, I don´t see the possibility of any fundamental reform happening anytime soon, as the politicians are more interested in enriching themselves and their cronies to care about anyone else. Also, so much infrastructure has been broken beyond repair that it will literally take a miracle, so I´m not holding my breath. Which is why I keep pushing forward despite the immense struggles in Portugal, as going back to SA is just not an option for us anymore. – Jolandi
The opening quote is so good. I loved your story of being able to see the Perseids at their best, and at hearing where you directed all your wishes. :o) I enjoyed the makeshift pool with you guys – a fun and spontaneous way to spend some pleasant time in the heat! The photos of actual flames are scary. I’ve been close enough to wildfire to see the flames and it creates a kind of animal panic inside that is involuntary for me. Wonderful to see your garden, the cats, and your crafting. I plan to read up on South Africa, which I have been blissfully unaware of how bad it’s struggles have become. So thank you for the link. Great that you found a way to meet up in Spain! I always like stories of getting to meet IRL the people we know only from online. It is each time a delight to me when they turn out to be just like what I expected, ha ha. I hope you are well. <3
Thanks for your lovely response, Crystal. I am well, but exhausted after finishing the biggest project we’ve tackled so far on the quinta, but more about that in my autumn update. Life here is still full of challenges and delights. – Jolandi