Different kind of farming

My Dad loved being a farmer -- in fact he moved family and started a new life at 39 so that he could be a farmer.  That didn't happen for another 8 years, but he finally got his farm and stayed there for the rest of his life.

Yesterday we took a bus to the north-east corner of the island -- Nordeste.  It was the local bus, so it carried school children, ladies going from their country homes into the towns for their shopping and tourist like us, just along for the ride.  We went up and down mountains and in and out of gorges that make up the coastline where rivers meet the ocean.  There were numerous little towns with streets so narrow that the full sized bus had less than a metre on each side from the houses.  We were navigated over one lane bridges where cars had to stop and back up so that we could pass.  I truly admire the drivers!  The 80 km trip took 2.5 hours.

And we travelled through farm country -- very different from home.  Besides being very green at this time of year, the fields are usually quite small and since there are hills and slopes everywhere, angles quite ridiculously sometimes.  I can't image tractors on most of those inclines, nor on the dropoffs to the ocean.  The fences are of stones or bamboo hedges, but often just a terrace and a drop off to a lower lever.  Most of the fields were planted in grass -- don't know if it was going to be wheat or a grain crop, but now it just looked like grass.

Lots of cows -- milking cows were usually free moving in a fenced field while younger animals were tethered by a leg or chain around the neck and allowed to eat in a circle -- then moved up the slope when they had cropped the area.

Some market vegetables -- usually cabbage.  Orange trees were fully of lovely ripe fruit.  There were a few small potato fields.  And there were lots of banana fields tucked away in protected areas (like the gorges).

Always interesting to see how farming is done in different places!

What does your garden grow?

My Millgrove garden, the most serious I have ever had, was a collection of my favourite flowering plants plus unusual evergreens.  In the 27 years of gardening there, I tried many exotics which failed, and some which I coaxed along and eventually brought to good health.  It seemed I was always pushing the edge on which kind of lilac or poppy or rhodie I could get to grow.  Vineland Nurseries had an abundance of unusual plants, gown in the microclimate of the Niagara-on-the-lake area which was a full climate zone warmer than up the mountain in Flamborough.    When it came to planting the garden at Gatewood Court, I chose the ones I had to have, and have still managed to kill a number and had to rethink locations for others.  Every space has its limitations.

It is winter here too.

But here on Sao Miguel, the Portugese encountered a climate of eternal spring and, being the exploring types that they were, they brought back plants from all over the world.  Their municipal gardens are showpieces of spectacular trees and flowering plants from Africa, New Zealand, Australia, China and the Caribbean.  Norfolk Island Pines stand as tall as the magnificent avenue in Napier, NZ; Australian banyan trees snake their roots through the forest; bougainvillea hang over garden walls, birds of paradise ring the fountain in the roundabouts; palms tower over tiny walled gardens and there are Camellia and hibiscus hedges everywhere.  In the summer season, the island is a blaze with hydrangea -- they are grown as fences between fields and keep the cows from escaping.

So I have been thinking, what would I put in my garden if I lived here.  Certainly azaleas and rhodies which are my very favourite and there lots of them around and blooming now, but also some of these strange little bushes which I have no idea what they are.  After that, the sky -- or at least my garden wall-- would be the limit.

And what have the locals just planted in their flower pots outside the cathedral and the town hall? Pansies!

Adventure versus routine

I know this blog is called Adventures-eva, but I am not really a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of person.  I hate when situations get out of control.

I hate arguments between people.  I firmly believe that if you can't say anything nice, you should not say anything at all.  (My dear Mom told me that arguments between her parents were burned into her memories and she and my Dad did not want that for us kids, so there were never hot words between them in our presence).  Once something is said, you can't take it back.

I don't like riding my bike down a hill that is so steep that I can't stop or control it.  I once (actually twice) went down a snowy hill so fast that I could not control things and have a sore spot in my leg to remind me that I was extremely lucky that my thigh had hit the tree instead of my head.  (Now you know why I don't ski downhill.)

So probably I am a control freak.  My school classroom was always done by my strict organization.  My kids always knew the limits and consequences.  I am not a frivolous purchaser and have lived with a budget forever.  I hate when things get out of place in the kitchen -- makes me less efficient when I have to search for everything.  I lived for many years spouting the philosophy that an organized person can do anything -- and everything.  I had a 5 year plan.

Yes, ripe for a major upheaval in life.  Mine was Allan's stroke in Mexico -- a situation so totally out of my control that it and the resulting life alterations forced a total rethink.

So here's where the adventure comes in.  I love to go to new places (I try to keep it safe so there are destinations I will not see).  I want to see how other people live -- love checking out their grocery stores and trying the local cuisine.  I try to say something in their language, even if it is only obrigado.  I love to see the history of a place -- castles, cathedrals, mountains, caves, oceans, museums, parks.  I have learned what creature comforts I need to be happy and enjoy finding different local places that I can enjoy.  I love adapting my routines to a new situation.

I think I am less demanding than I used to be.  I think I accept others more now without feeling the need to change them.  I find comfort in feeling the belonging of a group -- in church, at stained glass class, volunteering at Wesley.  I give myself permission to not have to be in charge or perfect.

So this adventure is about seeing if I can exist here for 2.5 weeks without driving myself (or Ian) crazy.  My pace is very much slowed thanks to the boot, but the plan had been for this to be very low keyed in any case.  I have a number of books (actually gave myself permission to finish the book last night reading till 4am), puzzles, the 'beloved' cross-stitch (the back of the package says "You create a work of art... an heirloom to enjoy for generations to come."  We shall see how excited the grandkids will be to be saddled with this item if it ever gets finished), the computer with netflix and a harbour (that disgorged hordes of people this morning as there is a British cruise ship docked today) to enjoy.

Expanding one's experience -- the true adventure.

Local tradition

Our days continue, hobbling along, picking up groceries, reading, TV, and cross-stitching.  Life is good.

On our walk this morning, we came to two persons changing the cultural signs -- as it is February.  On the new poster, it indicated that there would be 'Singing to the Stars' this evening in the Municipal square, at 6 pm.  Eager to be there, we set out at 5:30, I am slow.  But not that slow, as we arrived about 5:45.  No one.  6 pm no one.  There was a bit of activity at the town office about 6:15 so we made our way over there.  Indeed, about 6:25, there came a parade of kids, 4 to 10 yr. it seemed, along with a leader, a flautist, an accordion player and a violinist and followed by dozens of parents.

They chanted for the President, who did finally come out of the building and listened to them sing three songs.  The kids were enthusiastic and quite musical.  It was delightful to be there.