It arose spontaneously, and was much more successful than I had suspected! Nice to see all those reactions pouring in via all kinds of Facebook groups and by mail.

Never thought that this contest would yield so many answers!

Some people had the wrong contest picture in mind:

I liked it so much that I used it in the Facebook post. Unfortunately, some people thought this was the contest photo, but no…I guess eggplant isn’t the most popular vegetable for most people, but it was still very recognizable as eggplant. Especially with her brothers.

She went into the soup mercilessly, by the way, the poor thing. Titties and all.

The answers kept coming in until yesterday. Nothing more today. Very well timed because I always write the blog on Saturday; the new one comes out on Sunday morning. This is the last day.

This was the contest picture in question:

I thought it looked like a well-preserved little dinosaur skeleton, but apparently I’m the only one. Everyone knew it was a vegetable thing, but what exactly…

Many withered grapes came in, a withered hollyhock, an old vine, a mullein, a butterfly bush, old medlars, old wrinkled berries, and—surprise—a date branch, and pepper. And suddenly someone comes with the right answer!

Honestly, I didn’t expect anyone to guess. But there are even more! Sabine, Filipe, Netty and Diny had it right. I even got a little shock, when I saw the correct answer the first time, how about that?

You may also get a shock when you see that it is a DRIED STUMP OF BRUSSELS SPROUTS!

She lasted a long time, the head sprout with her stick full of little ones, but after we ate it once, we just tolerated it. And then she dried up. I didn’t have the heart to kill her but they just weren’t good. Very bland, not to say tasteless.

They say: Brussels sprouts have to get some frost whilst growing, and well, we don’t have that here.

Anyway, now I’m left with four winners. The best solution is, of course, to let Fate decide.

For lack of a top hat I used a nice red bowl, with the view of the room in the background. As anticipation. Please contact us to make an appointment, dear winner.

Well, all right, tell, tell, WHO is the winner of this contest then?!

Bowl says: DINY de KOONING! Congratulations, and I hope to see you soon!

My heartfelt thanks to all those who entered, it’s great that you participated, we’ll do it again. The other three good entrants: too bad, but who knows, better luck next time…

(The promised blog about solar cooking moves to next week.)

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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, Holland 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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