What Are You Watering?

Lately I have been lingering too long on moments that are not happy, but frustrating regarding the absurd happenings in the U.S.  Facebook is not a fun place anymore, the news never shows anything positive or good.  Like a parent to myself, I have had to say, "No news before bedtime!"   Even living in Portugal we hear the locals voicing displeasure, anger, and a huge amount of apprehension for the future.   

Of course I know that I am the one in control of my attitude.  And so I decided to post this picture that I look at every day on the wall of my kitchen.  "We are all watering seeds"  I am choosing to water happiness, love, laughter and kindness.  My son told me this.  "It is important to hold on to and relish the tiny moments that make you laugh, smile, appreciate, and give you peace."     

So, like a treasure hunt, I look for a tiny moment.  I am happy when I hear birds signing.  It is a pleasure to hear little children giggling.  I appreciate how Vince and I are so very close and enjoy each others company.  It really isn't very hard to find the moments once you open your heart and eyes to the little things around you.

I go to bed with whatever pops into my mind of things I am grateful for.  And like counting sheep the list lulls me to sleep with a smile on my face.

Cork, It's Not Just For Bottles

This is The Whistler Tree, located in Portugal's Alentejo region and is the world's largest cork oak tree.  This beauty is 234 years old! 

Portugal produces half of the cork harvested worldwide.  There are approximately 500 factories employing over 20,000 people in Portugal.  Cork is extracted only from early May to late August, when the cork can be separated from the tree without causing permanent damage.  When the tree reaches 25 to 30 years of age and is about 24 in  / 60 cm in circumference the cork can be removed for the first time.  Bark from the initial harvest can be used to make flooring, insulation, clothing, shoes, and many industrial products.  Subsequent extractions usually occur every 9 years, though it can take up to 13 years for the cork to reach acceptable size.   Only the highest quality is used to make stoppers for wine and champagne.  

Here are some products made from cork that we can find in our town of Coimbra.

Happy 43rd Anniversary!

We kissed here and swam in the moonlight when we first met.  

Vince was 21 and I was 19!

Yes, it was love at first sight!

We will still be having fun and holding hands no matter our age

and we always say "I Love You"

We have had our ups and downs, financially, emotionally and physically but as bad as it got we always support, respect and make each other laugh.  We discuss things and sometimes get frustrated, but we never get truly angry.

After so many years we still surprise each other and we continue to happily share household chores. Vince is always surprising me with tiny moments of love, like putting the bath towel on the warmer for after my shower and turning on my bedside lamp before I get into bed.   I like to make him his favorite cookies and he loves lasagna!  

Our travels have strengthened us, helped us grow together and we still have deep conversations about the world around us.  We are each others rock and cloud and we are as happy as a dog with two tails!

On the way to our favorite restaurant for lunch we stopped to hang a Lover's Lock on the bridge next to other lover's locks.  It came with 3 keys and we plan to toss them in different places in the sea when we go on our cruise in April.

We celebrated a very delicious lunch at our favorite restaurant, Notes Kitchen.

 Broccoli Soup

Mackerel with Flavored Rice

Duck and Chorizo Rice

Cheese Cake with Nut Topping

Lemon Tart with Champagne Sabayon

Olives and tapenade with bread, two dishes of the day with two glasses of wine, 

two deserts and two cappuccinos and a bottle of water.  

Everything was delicious and the restaurant is very elegant.

I had to add Vince's post to me from Facebook this morning.  My heart grew larger and stronger because of it and I cried tears of love.

Forty three years ago we held each other's hand and walked and danced into our future together. Our hopes and dreams were in front of us.

We had no idea how wonderful and exciting our life together would be, or the wonderful adventures we would have together.

One of my favorite things is walking together, hand in hand, and talking about our hopes and dreams.

We've pursued our dreams together all the while holding hands. We stepped off the edge into the unknown many times where people would say "Are you crazy? What the hell are you thinking?"

I look back over the past forty three years and am amazed at the things we have done, the places we have been, and the things we have accomplished.

I look to the future and see many more adventures together.

So today I ask you to take my hand and walk with me into our future.

Shall we dance?

I love you! Happy Anniversary!

My answer back to him in Facebook:

Anyone that knows me will attest to the fact I have a good heart even when things come across not the way I meant them. Point in fact........As I was writing to answer Vince's beautiful post to me I started typing. "Oh I cried Crocodile Tears!" Vince said, "WHAT?" I explained, "They are giant, serious tears!" He told me, "No, they aren't, the definition is tears of sorrow that are insincere." OOPS. **hangs head** But I like my definition better!

                                                 To my wonderful husband!