Madame Spring made quite a dramatic entrance this year. One in her entourage was Olivier, a classy windbag who made our lives miserable, cold and wet for weeks.
The fireflies didn’t care
Every evening, Mira and I walk our round to the crossroads. A good habit. Mira knows it all too well, and already starts looking hopeful when I push my chair back after dinner. And she also knows the “No, no, not yet” very well, but a dog is a champion of hoping for better, so that doesn’t stop her looking hopeful.
With Olivier, it was sometimes quite difficult to get across dry, because rain in itself isn’t that bad – they invented umbrellas for that – but wind complicates life considerably. (Why do they even give storms names these days? Oliver Thunderstorm? Can someone explain that?)
With a lot of Olivier, the fireflies also preferred to stay home (and they don’t have a dog that looks hopeful, so you can’t avoid your traditional walk) but without wind they apparently just fly between the drops. I think that’s very brave, and I appreciate it very much, because it’s a big upgrade from our walk.
Walking around in a fairy tale world half an hour before going to bed does a lot for your night’s sleep
I also tried, also very hopefully, to get them on photo, but that was very naive.
I think the butterflies stayed in their cocoons longer. Very sensible. The transformation from caterpillar to butterfly already seems to be a tour de force but if you end up in a humid, cold world, life is a lot less fun.I saw one or two of them flying around looking a bit dazed and chilly.
We had to take care of the butterflies ourselves. See:
Jacqueline wanted to surprise her sister with a butterfly kimono.
Custom made.
So, still butterflies in our life!
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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.
A big step, especially with two small children.
We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.
You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.
Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.
Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation
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