January melds into February

As February begins, it seems only fitting to mention an up and coming Irish saint, St Brigid. In 2023, Ireland officially declared February 1 as the day to celebrate her life and legacy. Here’s a link to an excellent article in the Guardian by Katy Hesel:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/feb/05/saint-patrick-beer-brewing-brigid-ale-ireland

There are several reasons for including Brigid in my blog: my family, like millions, has an ancestral connection to Ireland, we are currently in desperate need of kind, loving, forgiving and caring icons in our daily lives and how can I ignore the patron saint of Irish brewing?

Meanwhile, back at the quinta in Estoi, life moves at its own pace. Walks with Jackson around the area, shopping trips to Faro and to start the week, a lovely two hour hike with most of the current quinta members on Sunday afternoon.

Soap aloe

Common centaury

Jackson the explorer

Butterfly bush?

China rose

Morning glory

Pink trumpet vine

Angel’s trumpet

As the season progresses, the scenery changes – no surprise but always captivating. From the flowers of the Brugmansia arboreal or Angel’s Trumpet and the several varieties of Almond to the Jasmine newly flowering along the wall in the quinta courtyard, the natural beauty around me never fails to amaze.