Azoresgal~Life on an Island

  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many. - Unknown.

All of my wonderful family has flown in from Canada to celebrate my 40th birthday with me ! I cannot find words  to describe how wonderful this SURPRISE was. Yes you read that correctly, a very well planned surprise ! I was already excited about the BIG-4-0, but now I am over the moon and ready to party it up !!

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sow; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. I seriously cannot believe, it is September once again. If I am honest, there have been many signs, it was just around the corner. The nights are much shorter now, and cooler. In the mornings, there is a crispness in the air, a hint of fall with every breath. I have only to look in the vegetabl...

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.  ~John Lubbock What a perfect quote to describe summer, around our house we have been doing our best to enjoy it ! It goes by so quickly, so best to enjoy it with the most simple things, simple pleasures really ! I  look forward to this time of the year, to enjoy our backyard and the outdoors.When the days are long and hot,  and there is nothing like doing absolutely nothing at all. Lets face it, I enjoy sleeping in, and not having to have everyone on a schedule. I enjoy sleeping at night with the windows open, listening to the ocean, the frogs and the crickets. I enjoy the wonderful sea breeze that invades our house during the day. I enjoy sitting out at night, and lighting a bonfire, so the kids can roast marshmallows. I enjoy nice cold drinks. Swimming daytime or nightime. Our bountiful veg...

You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Why is it the best salad ?? Because it all came from our garden ! Directly from the soil, to our table, I cannot not tell you how excited I get about this ! It is so wonderful to go out there, and see everything growing, this year we even have Arugula ! Mr.G takes such great care of our garden, and it shows ! It truly is a labor of love, and then to be able to make a fresh, organic green salad from it all, is just amazing. everything is growing ! Arugula/rocket lettuce,arugula,green onions,carrots~ a simple green salad,so delicous

It feels like it has been raining for the last 40 days ! I miss the sun...

I still pinch myself......I wake up to this view every morning !

Breakfast of champions.....on our little island Carnaval is in full swing...that means lots of eating and drinking, before ash Wednesday, and  Lent ! So in true fashion...a very sinful slice of rich chocolate cake for breakfast, and a tall glass of cold milk. Please don´t judge me, I swear I am a good girl, with..... bad habits ! xo, Diana

Mr.G and I were lucky enough to get away for a couple of days, he went for work, I got to tag along for play ! We traded in our peaceful little island, for a couple of days in the lovely city of Lisbon. We had a fantastic time, no cooking for 5 whole days, it isn't easy, but I managed. A girl's got to do, what a girl's got to do !  xo, Diana

“ There  is a  lovely warmness  about  feelings  of  nostalgia  as  though  in  one's head one  is  putting  on a  pair  of  comfy old slippers  and  curling up  in  front  of a  fire .”~William E. Geist