Portugal- Foodstuff Photos- Part 2 of 3

Flowers and hard-cooked eggs enliven a fresh green salad.

 

Our chef, Fernanda, was truly delightful...

...a real artist, she could make even slices of bread look special!

 

She had a great sense of humor, too...

...for instance, this vegetable tart is guarded by an open-mouthed serpent! :)

 

Anna, the assistant chef, sweetly put up with the lot of us...

...running in and out of the kitchen all day for hot water.

 

Peppers, cheese and bechamel sauce baked in a lovely, natural clay dish.

 

One of Eelco's beautiful table arrangements...

...oak leaves and roses!



Whole stuffed squid with herbed rice.

 

I would be remiss, while sharing photos of the amazing food from my trip...

...not to mention the tireless women who did the bulk of the preparation and cooking each day.

As much as we must have tortured them...

...running in and through their (quite tiny) kitchen all day long...

...their smiles were constant and sincere.

Despite our inability to communicate more than a few words...

...I felt buoyed up by their enthusiastic reactions to my felted works...

...and I'm quite sure that they knew how I felt about their cooking...

...since I couldn't stop hugging them, or applauding!!! :)

Portugal- Foodstuff Photos- Part 1 of 3

Serra da Estrela cheese...

...and homemade chorizo sausage (for the meat eaters) for breakfast.



A beautiful lunchtime meal. 

 

Colorful, veggie-rich pasta salad with home grown olives.



Tart with red and green peppers, ripe pears(!) and bechamel sauce...

...incredibly delicious!!

 

A flavorful soup made with organic lettuce from the garden.

 

These cunning little fish- and shellfish-shaped confections were made with egg yolks and powdered sugar,

encased in thin flour shells.

They were a gift from our Portuguese classmate, Estela.

 

 We celebrated her birthday with these treats and a glass of rich port wine.

 

Despite truly valiant efforts on my part...

...and the reduction of my 'food photos' by more than half...

...I still have three blog posts' worth of 'edibles' photos that I feel compelled to share with you. :)

The food on the farm was not only fresh, organic and beyond delicious...

...but I think you'll agree that each meal was a visual treat, as well!!

Dishes were prepared with an artist's eye and loving hands...

...and I know that they nourished our spirits as well as our bodies!

Next time: more food!!

Portugal- Animal Friends and More Quinta Views

Who could resist a face like this?



A verdant view from our Quinta. 

Don't you just love the hair-do on this hound?

 

Olive trees and blooming flowers.



A horse, peacefully grazing. 

A view of our Quinta 'home'. 

 

A friendly burro lurks at the kitchen door...

...asking, "What's for dinner?"



Spent rose petals strewn in a path to our lodgings...

...a gesture of thanks to our lovely hosts. 

 

Since my day-to-day life is not what you might consider 'animal rich'...

...it was a treat to interact with so many creatures on the farm.

There were sweet dogs of all shapes and sizes...

...two adorable cats, horses and (of course) sheep!!

My favorite animal, hands down, was the burro, Cecilia...

...who had been rescued by our host family from a neglectful owner.

If left to her own (clever) devices...

...she would stand at the outdoor table during meals, hoping for a hand-out. :)

One night, after petting her and kissing her for quite awhile...

...I had the nerve to stop for a moment to try to take a few bites of my meal.

Cecilia nudged me (twice) with her muzzle as if to say...

"Hey, what gives? I want more!!!" Grin.

Next time: mouthwatering food photos.

Felting Class in Portugal- Our "Environs"

Our host, Eelco, showing us some 'neighborly' insects.

 

How would you like to be greeted by this view each morning?!?

 

A wooden outdoor stage is used during the Angel Art Festival.

This foxglove was found growing between the granite steps of the amphitheater.

We successfully used the foliage of this chestnut tree...

 ...in some of our 'eco-dyeing' experiments.

Fragrance and color were virtually everywhere we looked...

...and flavor, too, since yummy, ripe cherries were always within reach!

 

Large granite boulders and broom straw dot the landscape in this view.

 

We started off the week with a tour of the organic farm where our classes were held...

...and many of us were quite surprised at its diversity.

Learning about the owners' philosophy and the hard work required to create this marvelous, artist-friendly space...

...gave me a better appreciation of our unique surroundings.

You'll see some of these leaves and plants again, later...

...when I share some of our 'eco-dyeing' experiments.

Next time: cute animal photos!! :)

Felting Class in Portugal--Our "Digs"

A beautiful, rustic bedroom in our Quinta (granite house).

 

A lovely rough-hewn dining table in the common room.

 

A hand-crafted wooden and leather armchair.

 

A beautiful tapestry graces the granite wall.

 

A pair of wooden heads take pride of place on the fireplace mantel.

 

Our decorative front door...

...and check out the view!!

 

Small, special objets d'art were found throughout the Quinta...



...like this ornate terracotta box.

 

For those of you who didn't already know...

...I recently spent an amazing 9 days in Portugal.

For the majority of my time there, I was in the company of wonderful feltmakers from all over the world...

...under the tutelage of my friend, Nicola Brown.

I have so many projects and finished felt pieces to show you...

...but first, I wanted to share these images of the beautiful decor in our guest house...

...which certainly rivaled (if not quite equaled) the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

It's obvious that much love and care went into the furnishing of this living space...

...and the five of us who were lucky enough to stay there, greatly enjoyed the ambiance.

One funny thing...

...our first morning there, I awoke to the sound of someone's cell phone or travel alarm...

...making a "cuckoo-clock" sound.

Except, of course, it wasn't an alarm clock at all...

...but a real, live Cuckoo waking me at daybreak!! (Wow!)

Next time: more photos of the farm...

...and animals!

Blue 'Seamed' Purse For Portugal- Part 3 of 3

The finished purse.

 

A close-up of the stitching (with thread in variegated shades of red).

 

An asymmetrical two-button closure looked best to me.

 

The back side of the purse.

 

Aren't these buttons fun?

 

The finished bag (front side).

 

Unlike most of my pieces...

...I took some 'time off' from this bag between bouts of stitching...

...in order to think through the placement of each new set of seams.

Because of the irregular shape of the flap and front seaming...

...I decided on an 'off kilter' placement of the buttons for a secure closure.

A pair of monogrammed-looking buttons fit the bill for a bit of shine...

...and the pieced leather strap finished off the purse.

I'm happy to report that my new bag weathered the rigors (!) of European travel quite well...

...even when it fell in the dirt or was dragged along by the strap while I sprinted for a train! :)

This purse now 'lives' in Portugal in the possession of our amazing hostess...

...as a small token of my thanks for a remarkable visit.

Next time: the first of several posts about Nicola's felting workshop in Portugal...

...and the beautiful people who helped to make it such a joyful experience for me.