A Day at Home Sweet Home

This morning I had an amusing experience and it reminded me of another amusing experience that was somewhat similar.

I went to our local butcher, who is about a 3 minute walk from the house, as we had decided to order a local fresh turkey for Christmas rather than the commercial grocery stores. Armed with my few Portuguese words I headed off. Thank goodness there are only two people permitted in the store at a time! I waited my turn and suddenly my mind went blank. I mixed up a bunch of French, English, and perhaps one Portuguese word and the butcher, she just smiled at me with a puzzled look and I could see, a determination to understand me. For anybody who knows me well, I speak with my hands and my body as much as my mouth so……following some wing flapping, the correct word for turkey in Portuguese (peru), and I think just maybe a gobble or two, and my order was placed. Let’s see what I actually get on December 23rd!

Years ago I was in Spain with wonderful friends and we were in the north Basques country. We had heard of a small butcher shop in a village near where we were staying and one day we headed there, me armed with the Spanish word for “leg of lamb”. There was a line-up when we arrived and we took our place to wait. It took a while and finally I was next. I had waited so long, and was so nervous that when the butcher spoke to me my mind went completely blank. I looked back at him and the only thing that came out of my mouth was “baaaaah baaah”. He looked quite startled for a moment but smiled and said No baaaah today!

There you have my silly memories.

Marc was occupied today with administrivia for a few of his projects and to give him some peace and quiet in which to work without distraction, I headed off on a lovely walk in and around the village with the understanding we would meet in the square at 13h00 for lunch.

When I was a small kid in Newfoundland the only place I had ever seen these trees was in a Sunday school book so they were for me, and have continued to be, called…..Jesus Trees!
The children have decorated this orange tree, in the schoolyard, for Christmas.

There is a celebration here on May 1st called Festa Da Pinha which is quite amazing to see. Today I noticed a plaque, that I have seen many times over the years but only today realized it is a memorial to this tradition. You’ll have to wait till my May 1st blog to learn more about it!!!

And finally. I promised myself no food photos this year but……todays prato da dia was Bacalhau assado no forno com batatas e pimento (salt cod with peppers roasted in the oven. I think it’s worthy of a closing photo!

These potatoes are like eating candy…caramelized and golden. The salt of the cod fish tangy but for me, not overwhelming. With a cold beer and a hot bica right after………contented was I.

15 thoughts on “A Day at Home Sweet Home

  1. No baaaa today πŸ˜‚

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    1. It’s still one of the funniest moments in my life!!

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  2. Hilarious post. I would line and order of “baaaaaa……baaaaaaa”.

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    1. I must confess, every time I think back on that story I immediately laugh. Such wonderful memories. Really wish you guys were coming here this year.

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      1. I checked in to a hotel in Quebec while motorcycling several years ago. I wanted a ground level room with a sliding door where I could park my bike outside where I could see it.
        Being cocky at the moment I asked in French at the fir t dedk if I could park my bike outside of the room….or that is what I thought I had asked. Lady at front desk chuckled and asked in English. ….”you want to park your bike in your room”?😁😁 Ha….I think I got the translation wrong. I can relate to your story.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Too funny…and I’m still laughing! It reminded me of when on two separate occasions I was served a Coors Lite at a local bar in Fuseta when trying to order coffee with milk πŸ™ƒπŸ™‚πŸ€£

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    1. That’s hilarious. You’ve never told me that before. It’s almost as bad as the time Marc ordered “mayo” in a small cafe in the mountains and we got two cappuccinos!!

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  4. That’s hilarious. I can picture you with your arms and hands flying a mile a minute and turning red at the same time.

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    1. You’re absolutely correct. I think I blushed more than I ever have. Can’t wait to see what I get on the 23rd

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  5. Oh…I love the stories. I knew that lamb one was going to be told again; I saw it coming.it looks wonderfully summerish there. There’s a stiff cold north wind here today with multi white caps on the water. Burrr! Your block warms the cockles of our hearts.

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    1. I knew you’d smile at that one given you were there to witness it. I thought of you today when ordering the turkey. Yes, lovely, warm, and sunny here. There is a little rain in the forecast in a few days but that too could change. Big hugs

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  6. Thanks for the β€˜bababa’ memory today. When you started with your turkey story, it immediately brought back memories of you trying to order lamb & a great laugh. We had a great laugh that day! LOL! Good memories!

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    1. We sure did laugh at that didn’t we? What marvelous memories.

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  7. Omg you made my night with your shenanigans. I laughed out loud. Xo

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    1. I’m happy I could bring a smile to you! Hope all is good in your world. Hugs and Merry Christmas

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