More farm pictures, the white and blue were popular in Colonial Brazil during the 17th and 18th centuries. This is a coffee farm, the owner was a kid when my dad was growing up and it was so nice to see them talking about old times. The farm is well-taken care of. Their oldest employee, who is over 80 years old, moved there as a kid, raised his family there and still likes to help out around the farm, taking care of flowers.
Last time I showed you my Great grandparents cottage. This time, I want to show you this creative touch I found on the same farm, near the hard ground where they dry coffee beans. Not long ago, Geraldo posted a different view of the same basket.
My Great grandparents Virginia and Francisco lived here and they had 16 kids... Some of them were married already when they moved in, probably about 80 years ago. My mom first visited them in 1953, when one of my grandmother's brother got married and my mom was introduced to the family. My parents got married the year after that. Mom and dad say the house remains exactly the same. I have more pictures of this farm and I plan to show them soon.
While the northern hemisphere is getting ready for Fall and saying goodbye to Summer, at the same time the southern hemisphere is heading into Spring and different colors of "Tabepuia" tree show their glory everywhere in our city. First the pink and white trees, and then the yellow trees make their appearance. I did not have a chance to photograph any white ones.
On a sad note, just as the seasons that come and go, my husband just forwarded me an e-mail from a dear friend in Boulder who has been sick for the past six years and his condition is worsening. I cried as I read the e-mail for two reasons. First, because he is losing his battle and second, because his beautiful words touched me in such a way. He talks about the gift of eternal life, how he places his hope in God, in the person of Jesus who heals our brokenness and brings us back into relationship with God and ends his e-mail with this question: Where is your hope? And I pass it on to you. 
Since both my family and my husband's live out of town, and we come from different states, when we visit family we like to surprise each other with little trips to the countryside to share a different part of our corner. This time my husband took me to see a banana plantation on the hills. All you see on first picture are banana trees, even going to the top of the hill and, if you enlarge, you will see the houses so small compared to the plantation. We look forward to these trips, the kids stay home with their grandparents and we are able to enjoy each other's company and stories.
These cars certainly wouldn't make it to a car show. They are all in such bad shape and they have been there on the same spot for years! My guess is that these cars are considered Classic, and were built long before pollution control, fuel economy and safety regulations became issues. I am sure they were very popular and expensive at the time and were once considered the best car of the year...
Wild flowers grow everywhere, and what a beautiful view when they bloom along the highways and in the wild. One of the things I enjoy most is to grab my camera and just shoot many pictures at once, and then be amazed with results later on my computer. And now... they remind me of one simple thing, that is to look around and consider all our blessings and give thanks with a grateful heart to the Holy One... and all the Lord has done for us.
They say fish is good for you... Every now and then we go to this seafood restaurant located in a nearby town that offers mouth watering seafood dishes. And for the meat lover, they also have a few choices on their menu. Simplicity is the word for this place that offers a cozy atmosphere, filled with bamboo fences, poles of eucalyptus, lots of plants, a small pond, and trees. More pictures here, on their website.
These noisy birds are in the family of other fowl-like birds, such as turkeys, peawfowls and pheasants. They are kept as a good source of meat and eggs. Also, they have been used as organic pest control to gardeners and small farmers, as they eat most bugs in the garden without touching the foliage and are also known for ridding farms of bugs such as the deer tick, which can carry the Lyme disease. I found out that the female are more talkative, making a two-syllable call that sounds like they're saying "buck-wheat" or in Portuguese "I'm weak" (to fraco).
Visiting family over the weekend, means taking time to enjoy a few flowers that will survive the mild winter. The orchid corner had a little surprise, the chocolate scented orchid above, which I tried not to pick, as the delicate fragance was so sweet.
Other orchids found in the corner. In the wild, they are found with roots attached to the bark of the trees, but in our homes they can grow in pots with loosely packed materials, such as chips of bark or stones. They demand the correct amount of water, light, and fertilizer. With such beautiful plants, my mother-in-law seems to master the art of growing orchids. 
Through the window, I will see you through the week. Or is it the other way around? Since I have not had the time to post or visit many blogs lately, just wanted to say hi. I have been working late every day. I caugth myself thinking about this tree. A beautiful resource that is everywhere in our homes. Maybe we could begin to consider organic options and adopt a "green design," as a way to be environmentally conscious consumers, choosing sustainable furniture harvested from well-managed forests.
We live near an ecological park to which I had really never paid much attention. They revitalized it after years suffering from neglect and we started going there again. My kids ride their bikes, we take a walk and enjoy the beautiful sights. I took the second picture and only when I was choosing which one I would post I noticed the sidewalk had a similar pattern matching the roof.
Let your light shine... that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.
"I want to leave a legacy.
In my hometown... This is on the way to a small town, where my mom was born, with dirt roads that hide beautiful and calm small farms. When we visit, our favorite pastime is to drive to different villages on Sunday mornings. The green pastures and the quiet waters... they restore our souls!
