Like Christmas in July

The last two weeks have been relatively quiet around here and I am not complaining.  They have been peaceful yet busy days. I would love to have one of these days in about a month, enough to keep me busy without the stress of missing out on valuable beach time or socializing. There has been a lot going on, it just hasn't been of  the usual frantic social nature.  It has been more in the line of washing winter from windows, planting flowers, mending screens, cleaning drawers that haven't been cleaned in 10 years and cleaning up "post construction" sawdust and chaos....you know...the stuff you save for a rainy day.

Like this one...June showers bring July flowers right!?

June days are like that time before Christmas.  There is much to do in anticipation.  June is Advent at the shore.  I'm preparing the way for the family and friends who come in July and August.  Every song on my music library has been played in June because I work best with a soundtrack.  The early summer time up here is one of my favorite times.  Of course, I like all of the times up here but I've always been a big fan of anticipation.  The weather is more springlike in June so there is tender vegetation and flowers ready to burst open when it gets warmer.  The grass is bright green and new instead of dried up and brown.  Every day it seems there are new wildflowers blooming and the fields change colors daily.  The landscape is constantly changing!

These beauties opened a day ago!
 There are hundreds more of them about to bust open.

This year, in particular, I am embracing this quiet time.  Spring was spent at home being busy in our "real" lives and our first few weeks here were filled with fun travels.  These two weeks before most of the summer friends and relatives arrive have been perfect!  Enough socializing so TJ and I don't get tired of one another but not so much that we feel like we are always missing out on something.  Mostly, I have enjoyed the slow nesting process of the last couple of weeks.  Getting my house and cottage in order has given me the same pleasure I have when decorating my house for Christmas. I love reminiscing about or admiring each ornament as I put them out the same way I enjoy reacquainting myself with the cottage and farmhouse after our long winter away.  I found little treasures, like a journal I have kept since 1983 when we first bought our cottage.  That little gem cost me at least an hour of down time while I sat and read through 34 years!  It was full of treasures!  Definitely worth a blog post dedicated solely to that journal....it is priceless!  Beware kids....it's all about your growing up years...mine too for that matter!

This stained glass is one of the surprises I forgot all about!

Christmas involves much preparation (by some), followed by special family time.  This weekend begins a very special family event!  I don't remember the last time my husband's family spent Christmas together with all 7! siblings and spouses.  It will be Christmas in July this year.  They will all be here, together... with their spouses (minus one, who will be dearly missed!) to celebrate a significant birthday.  Really....like Christmas in July!  This will be a perfect kick-off to the busy season at the shore!

The quiet two weeks of advent were lovely and just what I needed to make me appreciate this place for its subtle, quiet way of making me love it more every year.  I also love it for its inviting way of bringing people together.  The weather can be perfect or it can be crap, regardless, people come and love the pureness of this place.  Let the season begin!

A Tale of Two Boats

Sometimes you have to go outside your comfort zone to get the good stuff!  Boats are not my comfort zone.  I prefer to see my azure blue waters from the sandy shore sitting in a beach chair or enjoy a river from a nice riverside cafe with a glass of wine.  It must be my new maturity, now that I have entered another decade of life but I voluntarily went on two boats in the last month.  Two very different and yet very similar boat tours.  While I am still not going to line up to ride in anyone's speed boat I have a new respect for leisure boating.

Before we went to Portugal I had read about the famous caves in the cliffs along the coast.  Everything I read said the coast was best viewed from the water, which meant a boat would be involved.  As much of a "non-boat person" I am, I am even more a "spectacular view" person... so I found some courage and scheduled a boat tour of the caves.  It was the best time I have ever spent on a boat!  

Our water craft

 I was "all in" and could not wait to see the sights.  When we entered the first cave I was hooked.  The colors on the rocks went from purple, to green to gray.  Against the blue water it was so stunning I totally forgot I was on a boat.  Bring on the next cave and the next one and .....

Going in...eerie and stunning.

Going out....breathtakingly beautiful!

 I was always in awe of the color of the water when we headed out of the caves.  I think we were lucky to tour on a clear, relatively calm day.  It was purely by luck and not design.

I think the heart formed by this ceiling says it all!

 The sole motivator for this tour was to see this one cave.  Benagil Cave is famous.  I guess if you were/are a good swimmer, like TJ and our friend Yvon are, you could swim to the cave.  But then where would I keep my camera?  As we rounded the corner into this cave it absolutely lived up to its billing.  Jaw dropping and like nothing I've ever seen before.  We saw 20 caves and each one was a bit different.  The views from the water were definitely worth an hour or so in a boat, driven by a very handsome young man.  I could have been on a magic carpet for all I knew.

At this point in the tour I wanted to jump out of the boat
and join in the circle of love in the sun!

 Fast forward a week to Chicago.  It was time to celebrate my birthday with my three daughters.  I may just celebrate this birthday for the rest of the year!  Why not?!
One of the weekend activities was a lake and river cruise... a two hour tour.  (now once again to the Gilligan's Island tune)  It was a hot day in the windy (literally) city.  The tour began cruising up and down the river while being awed by and educated  about the architecture.  They really have done a wonderful job upgrading the river walk and cleaning up the river.  The ride was peaceful and scenic.

Calm, clear blue waters and some pretty sweet views!

Then we left the river and headed out into Lake Michigan.  On this hot, windy day the lake was a bit choppy.  This is the point in the tour when I remembered why I am not a boat person.  There were a few times I wondered how far out we were going to go into the lake and exactly how long we were going to be there.  This is usually how every boat ride goes with me, how long are we going to be on this thing?  I will say that the view made it worth the ride in this case.

Goodbye Chicago.....

The lighthouse and tall ship were beautiful distractions.

Ahhh, back in the safety of the river....are we there yet?

Safely back in the river I breathed a deep sigh of relief!  I never knew how welcome the river would feel.  The city certainly showed its best side from our view in the water.  

Two very different boat trips.  One in a small craft being blown away by nature's architecture and the other in a very large boat being awed by man's architecture.   Our world is a feast for they eyes!  Maybe I am a boat person after all.....only if the view is worth it!  

Goodbye 50's....Hello 60's

When I turned 50 I went skydiving with 3 out of 4 of my children and 10 friends.  Was it a metaphor for my 50's?  Maybe.  Take a chance, do things you have always wanted to do, live for today, start writing a blog, surround yourself with friends and family.  My 50's were some of the best years of my life... so far!  If you are 50-something, my advice to you is "enjoy it"!  Enjoy the empty nest.  Enjoy what is left of your smooth skin and firm muscles.  Enjoy your confidence.  Enjoy your independence.  Enjoy your health!  One day you will wake up, 60 years old and wonder how the time flew by so fast and ask yourself "why does my skin sag?".

This is my last blog post as a woman in my 50's.  Tomorrow I turn the big 6-0.  I will not be jumping out of an airplane.....been there, done that.  I will jump out of bed and greet the day!  TJ and I already took a fantastic trip to Portugal in order to celebrate changing the first digit in my age!  It only took a month or two for me to choose my destination.  I made a very good choice!  So, if Portugal is a metaphor for my 60's I think I'm going to love being 60!  Bring on the blue skies, red roofs, white houses, Piri Piri Chicken, perfect weather, good wine and friendly people!  I can do this!

Diving head first into my 60's!

This is the part of the blog where I shift, ever so cleverly, from turning 60 to telling you how great Portugal is/was!  I was given the choice to go "anywhere".  Portugal seems really random doesn't it?  I had heard good things about it and after doing my due diligence I decided we should go see for ourselves.  This time we would actually visit a place close to tourist season.  After visiting Croatia and South Africa in the "off season"  I was ready to go someplace where the restaurants were open and I did not freeze.  We found it!

Espresso next to a construction site....welcome to Portugal!

This picture reflects my arrival experience.  I made it to Lisbon but my luggage didn't.  It was expected, as we RAN to catch our connection...there was no way my bag was going to make it.  Thank goodness I packed a "back up outfit" and toiletries in my backpack.  Being "almost 60" has its advantages...namely, experience.  After we were able to drop our....well his....bag in our apartment, we took off for a bit of sightseeing.  Lisbon is a hill town.  There are narrow stairways that lead up or down to other streets.  We were climbing up some stairs in a narrow passage, TJ was ahead of me.  I opened my purse, got my phone out to check our directions when I felt and saw a hand from behind me going into my purse.  I instantly slapped the hand and loudly said, "Get out of my purse!".  I turned around and two men were behind me.  They started waving a map saying I had taken their map....yeah...right.  I said, "No...you were trying to get in my purse!"  Meanwhile, I started checking my purse for my wallet and passport.  They can have all the lipstick they want!  TJ was about 10 steps ahead of me and telling me to get away.  I did not understand that he just wanted me to get some distance between me and them.  I was MAD!  I could not believe someone had tried to pickpocket me!  They continued with their map story and I confirmed all my possessions were still in my possession and I told them they had no business in my purse and we left.  Welcome to Lisbon!  I must say I totally surprised myself!  You never know how you are going to react in a situation until you are in that situation.  I did not even think about it, I just slapped him!  Go figure!  No harm was done but I did not have to worry about any jet lag after that....I was very awake!

Since we were so wide awake, we climbed to the top of a castle!

 TJ was in big trouble in Portugal.  There are many miradouros (viewpoints) in Lisbon and they are all high up somewhere.  As you may all know, I love going to the top....skydiving on my 50th!  Gotta get the best view!  We had to climb to the top of every castle, hill or cliff so I could see the view.  He did not embrace it all but I will say that by the end of the trip he had come a long way.

We actually rode e-bikes to this hill top.  TJ was "all in" on the bike ride!

 On our second day, our friends from Montreal joined us for the rest of the trip.  They and their luggage made it!  We kept them moving through their first day and ended our night in a port bar.  When in Portugal you must try the port!  I never knew I liked port!

Just passed by this place on our walk home and had to stop!

Watch out behind you!!!

 One of the most unexpected finds in Lisbon was found through wandering.  My friend and I saw a very nice clothing shop and slipped in to do a little shopping.  Meanwhile, TJ explored the area.  I joined him in a playground, high up, with a great view.  I would take my kids there every day just to enjoy the view!  In addition to a wall of morning glory vines in full bloom, down below was what looked like ruins.  Such a contrast!  We found our way down to he ruins and realized they were a sort of shrine decorated by someone with "found garbage".  It was one of the most unique things I've ever seen.

The view from above

And down below

                      

                        Caught in the act of a selfie!

I just love finding undiscovered corners of cities.  We had lunch at a very nice cafe, outside, off the beaten path and it was just right for us!  We did plenty of the classic Lisbon tourist activities but every once in while it's nice to feel like you are paving your own way.  

One thing we followed the crowd on was tasting these delicious pasteis de nata!

 We each ate more than one pasteis de nata during our time in Portugal.  Our friend, Yvon, had the perfect description for them.  Creme brulee in pastry.  Ponder that!  Flaky pastry with delicious egg custard browned to sweet perfection.  They were decadent!

What would it be without a parade?

We went to mass on Sunday.  Noticed there were people making arches and banners with real flowers.  They told us they were having a parade later in the day.  We explored the Belem area and on our way back we just happened to see the parade.  I loved he flowered arches and the families parading, showing their faith openly for all to witness.  We followed them for a bit and admired the decorations.  It was definitely a good few days.

We headed south the next morning.  Lisbon is a beautiful city.  There are many areas to explore and we barely made a dent!

So on the eve of my last night in my 50's I say thank you to all of you for reading for the last almost 10 years.  I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts, dreams and experiences here on the blog.  I may be a bit less diligent in posting but I am not quite ready to say goodbye to this part of my life.  To new horizons!  Cheers 50's, hope my 60's are just as good or better!  Stay tuned for the rest of Portugal, the best is yet to come.  Hmmm, maybe it is a metaphor for life.