THE COLORS AND PATTERNS OF PORTUGAL

One of the first things you are sure to notice upon your arrival in Portugal is the Calçada Portuguesa -- the black and white limestone mosaics covering the sidewalks and plazas. Each one unique, yet unifying.

Beautiful, but dangerous. For one thing, they can be very slippery when wet, and we had more than a few drizzly days. Also, there are so very many of these in Portugal that they just can't keep up with the repairs, and you are liable to twist an ankle stepping into a hole, if you don't pay attention. How women manage to traverse these in stilettos, I will never know.

Then there is all the beautiful tile work gracing many of their buildings, much of it dating back to the times when Portugal was occupied by the Moors.

Pieces Found For Sale At The Thieves Market

My very favorite colors and patterns, however, were found in the bits and pieces of Art Nouveau architecture that were sprinkled about.

All in all, a most beautiful country!

MARKET PEOPLE

If you love people-watching even half as much as I do, there is no better place to be than a farmers' market.

Finally finishing up the projects from week two of my Farmers' Market "food & art" class...

and feeling kinda sad that week three will be the last.
 

A PERFECT SUNDAY

Sunday we woke up to much cooler temps than you would normally find in Texas during August. It seemed like the perfect day for an adventure.

The morning simply insisted upon outdoor dining, so hubby took me to a little place called Russell's Bakery and Coffee Bar, which he had discovered in Austin. The banana-pecan pancakes were pret-ty yummy!

From there we headed over to the old Mueller Airport area, which has been transformed into an idyllic version of an old fashioned, walkable neighborhood -- complete with green housing options, a lovely lake...

a fabulous children's museum called the Thinkery...

and an old airplane hangar/community pavilion, where a nice little farmers' market is held each weekend.

 
Can you imagine being the mother of small children, and having all that within walking distance to your home? You wouldn't believe all that was available at that little farmers market.

Alas, the only thing I didn't find much of was, well, vegetables! Unless you were looking for okra. That, they had!

Which is why I ended up having to stop by HEB on the way home to get what I needed for our dinner -- a meal I had seen demonstrated in Junelle Jacobsen's Farmers' Market art class, and which I was dying to reproduce, even though their seasons in Idaho or Minnesota don't exactly gibe with ours down here in Texas.

Roasted fresh asparagus and grilled romaine, both drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette,  fresh corn that was microwaved in its husk (which then easily slipped away, taking all those pesky silks with it) then finished off on the grill, and grilled trout topped with fresh cherry salsa.

Mmm, mmm, mmm, talk about delicious!

CAPTURING MEMORIES

Rome

As we age, it seems, memories get more and more difficult to hang on to. Our hard drives are getting full, and there's not much room for anything else. We have to spend more and more time digging around for the words and data we need. Some things flit in and right out again almost immediately, not staying long enough to even become a memory. Which is why I am so very grateful for a few of the lessons I have learned through blogging and art journaling.

Marseilles

For one thing, as I was scrolling through all the photos I have saved on my computer -- looking for inspiration for this farmers' market art class I am taking -- well, I was just overwhelmed by the sounds and feelings and aromas they evoked in me, and the deep sense of gratitude I was left with, for all those simple joys and little adventures.

Java

In Hong Kong with my sister Carolyn

Sumatra

In fact, it was almost as if the act of taking these photos had cemented the memory in place, and all I need do is glance at them again, to be transported back to that time and place. I might not remember everything about that event, but I will remember something about the way it smelled or sounded, or how it made me feel.

Provence

And, if I happen to sit down and do a quick drawing in my sketchbook, or jot a few notes in my journal, the memory is even more complete, for I have paid it more attention, and given it more time to soak in.

Try it, won't you? You don't need a fancy camera with extra lenses. I have never used anything more than a little point and shoot! It's an amazing way to pin those memories down and, if nothing else, it makes for a fabulous gratitude journal, and gives you all kinds of fodder for future art projects and stories!

ONE HASN'T REALLY LIVED...

until one has breathed in the aromas of an exotic spice market!

Still having tons of fun in Junelle Jacobsen's "Farmers' Market" food and art class. Up next? Making our own ricotta cheese and using it in several different recipes!

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

 

MARKET SCENES: BARKITECTURE

I'm up to my eyeballs now in Junelle Jacobsen's Farmers's Market art class. Her first assignment was to go to a local market and gather inspiration in the form of photos, sketches, notes, vendor-chatting, sample-tasting or whatever. Well, that's been one of my very favorite activities ever since moving to the Hill Country, and my i-photo files have about a bazillion pics to prove it! So my first task was to scroll back through five or six years worth of photos and move the best market shots over into a special folder, for easier access. It took a while! Whilst doing so, I noticed this shot.

A few years back we attended one of the first Gypsy Picnic Food Trailer Festivals, and on our way back to our car we stumbled upon this, the Barkitecture Doghouse Auction, which was raising money for an animal shelter or something. I just loved it that this particular doghouse actually looked like a food truck!

So no, not technically a scene from a "farmer's" market, but I don't think Junelle will mind that I used it as inspiration for her puppy dog assignment.

MANLY EATING

Yes, that Bloody Mary actually has bacon in it!

I hesitate to post about where we ate this weekend, lest you think I'm trying to hasten my hubby's demise. I can only say, it was not my doing.

Hubby discovered this place called Franks, just off 6th St. in downtown Austin, when he was out exploring one day. He knew in an instant that he had to bring his buddy Toad there some day, and Saturday was the day.

We actually got there a little before 11:00, and I was shocked to see that it was already open -- and packed! Apparently they serve more than just hot dogs and cold beer. Above you see their Big Ass Pancake. Seriously. That's what it says on their menu.

By the time we were all there, and ready to order, they had switched from breakfast to lunch menus. Mr. Toad ordered some kind of artisan sausage, while hubby got this hot dog topped with, yes, that's right, mac and cheese! He said I should be proud of him for going the healthy route, since several of their other dogs get wrapped in bacon then deep fried. (head slap) They shared this order of waffle fries with cheese curds and brown gravy. Made me queasy just to look at them. The boys deemed them "Not bad!", but weren't able to eat more than a few before giving up.

Paula and I split a Southern Guy hot dog with Dr. Doppelganger (Dublin Dr. Pepper) barbecue sauce and some caramelized onions on it, and an order of their Mexican corn, which was yummalicious!

Their dessert options included chocolate covered bacon. We went back and forth over whether to try it or not, and finally decided to order one strip, split four ways. Unanimous opinion seemed to be "interesting, but probably wouldn't order it again." I'd have to say the best part of the whole experience would have to be...

the company!

And then we went to Salt Lick for dinner.