tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3316684587809265572024-03-07T19:08:58.966+00:00ArtJournalnatural science illustrations, sketching and more by Ana Guimarães FerreiraAnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-54609453086830429932015-11-11T09:26:00.000+00:002015-11-11T09:26:11.592+00:00Happy Haloween / Feliz Haloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEKvICt6m-wYmSSDSVFT9BrNpY87HrycedV-wECLkas1P5eoxcs1K36JYsI_EdBDywkkvNuQkqFGdAPX3hF4eq40EePAwk8U3Ds1mA9umUfP83w2lxIbQi_WkNZ18ZI8QHZxFE7_MU94/s1600/P1090389res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEKvICt6m-wYmSSDSVFT9BrNpY87HrycedV-wECLkas1P5eoxcs1K36JYsI_EdBDywkkvNuQkqFGdAPX3hF4eq40EePAwk8U3Ds1mA9umUfP83w2lxIbQi_WkNZ18ZI8QHZxFE7_MU94/s640/P1090389res.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-5245486254779996102014-09-07T10:46:00.001+01:002014-09-07T10:46:28.019+01:00Lecsó: Conserva de Pimento à moda Húngara / Lecho: Sweet Pepper preserve, the Hungarian way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz0-Tre9hFvDWV_GXDliUlAiNCTJrES1wCfMsVuaAkCe_rduEEM3y8W_7fMcU_2bfxiSttXMCZ-3De12Fu8Q9TVIvuvAAL9ZASdfBaK1egJR9WYVwGECQo-y3bLr5tqzjFMREaAdycLs/s1600/Lecho3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz0-Tre9hFvDWV_GXDliUlAiNCTJrES1wCfMsVuaAkCe_rduEEM3y8W_7fMcU_2bfxiSttXMCZ-3De12Fu8Q9TVIvuvAAL9ZASdfBaK1egJR9WYVwGECQo-y3bLr5tqzjFMREaAdycLs/s1600/Lecho3.JPG" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
Depois da abundância de ervilhas, curgetes e tomates durante a Primavera e início do Verão, a nossa horta deita agora pimentos e beringelas pelas costuras. Tenho usado estes últimos em saladas, em deliciosos gaspachos (eu gosto <a href="http://sabores.sapo.pt/receita/gaspacho-a-alentejana" target="_blank">desta</a> vesão à alentejana), que sabem tão bem nos dias mais quentes. O resto, tenho congelado, para usar mais tarde em tortilhas e ovos mexidos. Mas mesmo assim, a horta dá mais do que consigo usar. Fiquei, por isso, muito curiosa quando ao receber notícias da minha amiga J., da Hungria, fiquei a saber que também ela, tem andado ocupada nestes últimos dias, a colher pimentos da sua horta e a fazer <a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letscho" target="_blank"><i>lecsó</i></a>, um prato que não só é delicioso comido na hora, como pode ser conservado para usar mais tarde. É claro que lhe pedi imediatamente a receita e aqui fica ela:<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Lecsó: Conserva de Pimentos, receita da J.</span><br />
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Esta receita usa 3 ingredientes principais, na proporção seguinte:<br />
1 cebola: 2 tomate: 4 pimento<br />
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Eu tinha acabado de apanhar 1.5 kg de pimentos, portanto usei 750g de tomate e 375 g de cebola.<br />
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<i>Como fazer:</i><br />
Cortar grosseiramente as cebolas.<br />
Remover o pé e as sementes dos pimentos e cortá-los em pedaços de tamanho médio (podem ser tiras, com cerca de 1.5 cm de largura, eu cortei em quadrados, de largura um pouco maior).<br />
Cortar os tomates em pedaços, o tamanho não interessa muito, uma vez que vão acabar por se desfazer.<br />
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Saltear a cebola em azeite até ficar macia. Juntar os pimentos, sal, cominhos (eu usei pouca quantidade, porque acho o sabor demasiado forte) e pimenta preta moida.<br />
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Misturar tudo e deixar cozinhar. Pode-se adicionar alguma água nesta fase, mas não convém ser muita, pois os pimentos irão libertar o seu suco. Quando os pimentos começarem a ficar macios, juntar o tomate e cozinhar até ganhar consistência (como eu não juntei água, ao fim de cerca de 25 minutos ficou pronto).<br />
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Esta é a receita básica, mas segundo a minha amiga, existem muitas variantes e diferntes formas de usar esta base. Pode usar-se para fazer arroz (adicionando-o quando o lecsó está quase pronto). Pode usar-se uma pequena porção para fazer ovos mexidos, adicionando, se se quiser, um pouco de chouriço ou bacon na fase inicial, juntamente com a cebola (isto é algo que faço frequentemente, para um jantar leve) . O lecsó também pode ser usado como "cama" para assar frango no forno, adicionando-lhe um pouco de curgete ou beringela. Outro dos conselhos da J. que tenho ainda que experimentar é acompanhar o lecsó com <a href="http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creme_azedo" target="_blank">natas ácidas</a>.<br />
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Para conservar, basta usar o mesmo processo que descrevi anteriormente para a <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/09/conserva-de-molho-de-tomate-caseira.html" target="_blank">conserva de tomate</a>.<br />
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Assim, se tal como nós, tiverem abundância de pimentos, ou se, simplesmente, quiserem aproveitar um produto da época que agora abunda nos mercados, experimentem esta receita. Daqui a alguns meses, quando num dia frio de Inverno abrirem um frasco, lembrar-se-ão de alguns dos maravilhosos sabores do Verão...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wHigQ4Q_nzrIZ2Aa6Egfit3Jam76oZjskTkzhNJRF8aXlvYdG8RMrQKyHMjR5hRqQB2BMDM9LS1j9c_i9jVh4fmgy1TqSLJNVp0dQ0bz6L08O1U_5Ym28yPbNx5TVAB7-FE6tfIUbPE/s1600/Lecho4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wHigQ4Q_nzrIZ2Aa6Egfit3Jam76oZjskTkzhNJRF8aXlvYdG8RMrQKyHMjR5hRqQB2BMDM9LS1j9c_i9jVh4fmgy1TqSLJNVp0dQ0bz6L08O1U_5Ym28yPbNx5TVAB7-FE6tfIUbPE/s1600/Lecho4.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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After the loads of peas, zucchini (this year we went for the striped variety) and tomatoes during spring and early summer, our vegetable garden has now an abundance of eggplants and sweet peppers. I've been using the latter in salads, in cold <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gazpacho" target="_blank">gaspacho</a> soups (wonderful on these latest super hot days...) and freezing the surplus, but I still had far more than I could deal with. So I was happy when I learned that I am not alone and that my good friend J., from Hungary, has also been busy harvesting her own bell peppers and making a tasty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecs%C3%B3" target="_blank"><i>lecho</i></a> out of them, to be preserved and used when the colder autumn days arrive. I promptly asked her for the recipe and here's the tasty result:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_PXu35NhTZ6YeErWJYWe_f8WHqfrbd_3yDdeO81_5Ffy9zo4_Pw_ATRB6JiRUYYy9gZi6eCjd2LqZPwwSsXy05EDHUVwE9glRgrW6vsapRSEPmLaeEwFU0JwhZHsmiKX89ugzVpNc40/s1600/Lecho5res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_PXu35NhTZ6YeErWJYWe_f8WHqfrbd_3yDdeO81_5Ffy9zo4_Pw_ATRB6JiRUYYy9gZi6eCjd2LqZPwwSsXy05EDHUVwE9glRgrW6vsapRSEPmLaeEwFU0JwhZHsmiKX89ugzVpNc40/s1600/Lecho5res.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Lecho: Sweet Pepper preserve, J.'s recipe</span><br />
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There are three main ingredients and this is the ratio to be used:<br />
1 onion: 2 tomato: 4 pepper<br />
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I had 1.5 kg of peppers, therefore I used 750g tomato and 375 g onion.<br />
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<i>How to do it:</i><br />
Chop the onions into small pieces.<br />
Remove the stem and seeds of the peppers and cut them into medium sized pieces.<br />
Cut the tomatoes into pieces, it does not matter how big, since they will fall apart in the end anyway.<br />
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Put the onions into hot oil (I used olive oil), and sautée them until they go mild. Then add the peppers, salt, ground caraway-seeds (I used just a bit, because I find their flavour a bit too strong) and ground black pepper (in addition you can also use red pepper, I used only back because that was what I had at hand).<br />
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Mix everything and let it cook. You can add some water, but not too much because the peppers will release their own. When the peppers get softer, add the tomatoes, and then cook until it gets very consistent (because I added no water, it took me approximately 25 minutes).<br />
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This is the basic recipe but according to my friend, there are many variations and several ways to use it. You can cook it with rice (just put it into when the lecho is almost ready). A smaller portion of Lecho fried together with eggs is wonderful and you can add a bit of bacon or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorizo" target="_blank">chorizo</a> in the initial stage, together with the onions - this is something I've been doing often, as a light meal. Lecho can also be used for cooking, if we mix it with eggplant or zuchhini, it is perfect to be the "bed" for chicken baked in an oven. Another of J.'s advice that I will certainly attempt is to try it with sour cream.<br />
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To turn the lecho into a preserve, you can use the process I described before for the <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/09/conserva-de-molho-de-tomate-caseira.html" target="_blank">tomato sauce</a>.<br />
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So, if like us, you have too many peppers, or if you just want to take advantage of an in season product and make some preserve, try this one. And when within a few months you open a jar, on a cold winter day, you'll remember some of summer's wonderful flavours.AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-13599923069817493002014-07-23T11:29:00.000+01:002014-07-31T15:17:28.525+01:00Estudos em aguarela / Garden watercoulor sketches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fAJHuBrfkHRx7eqPMUJLI4cbEAh8NdY2xdsfNlaa14otpKrKG5BPhO2duiqgUv2buxH1xQj4CeeNWBcE0NYd8UbJRajjoCNNCwWEHahJLNDXu6XcEWT2JlaP7HaY9WNQi6uib_yr5gw/s1600/CStodas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fAJHuBrfkHRx7eqPMUJLI4cbEAh8NdY2xdsfNlaa14otpKrKG5BPhO2duiqgUv2buxH1xQj4CeeNWBcE0NYd8UbJRajjoCNNCwWEHahJLNDXu6XcEWT2JlaP7HaY9WNQi6uib_yr5gw/s1600/CStodas.JPG" height="328" width="640" /></a></div>
A trabalhar de novo: estes três estudos rápidos mostram um mesmo jardim. Estou a tentar escolher a melhor perspectiva para depois fazer uma pintura a aguarela. Não está a ser fácil, pois o jardim é muito bonito e gosto de todas elas... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Tm09gEW3xhyQxlVtfC7eSjXRQPn0WPtPlHACSkuQTinyHuJuxdLyHzK1Ky7DH1lhte4-Tecgnj8AdJsjrH-ZlDayW_lwiDhw9aNQe1H8WabEqEizR7OlSjM_XufE1I8ccrh4X6JHbE/s1600/CS1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Tm09gEW3xhyQxlVtfC7eSjXRQPn0WPtPlHACSkuQTinyHuJuxdLyHzK1Ky7DH1lhte4-Tecgnj8AdJsjrH-ZlDayW_lwiDhw9aNQe1H8WabEqEizR7OlSjM_XufE1I8ccrh4X6JHbE/s1600/CS1.JPG" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnAWl50dqplf1y_bwIyZugOgjhZuWIt_IUEehCCLv4bU6eRu475oN_x2rsk45zmUz-KjamfofFr1h90ToVXGlA9c0AFrI54IXrM1EPPs-iO_cuVsOQInTwtBnNFJCkWnoL4_NLDIVRd4/s1600/CS2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnAWl50dqplf1y_bwIyZugOgjhZuWIt_IUEehCCLv4bU6eRu475oN_x2rsk45zmUz-KjamfofFr1h90ToVXGlA9c0AFrI54IXrM1EPPs-iO_cuVsOQInTwtBnNFJCkWnoL4_NLDIVRd4/s1600/CS2.JPG" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
Working again: these are three rough sketches of the same garden. I want to make a watercolour painting and am trying to decide which perspective to use.<br />
Having a hard time, as I like them all... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3ypJUPcnTP7Y6lf_WXMj2pJn5KgoPQlFgOXCUGo78aW3xeXTnyna0e0zxMWmr3bkdcsbnvZUu4SwBxrRy43mYc0A8LThqrP4r0qWcOyiLph3w0xU9Dv8q0rqDGmUhTtV5FplDLIiAsI/s1600/CS3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3ypJUPcnTP7Y6lf_WXMj2pJn5KgoPQlFgOXCUGo78aW3xeXTnyna0e0zxMWmr3bkdcsbnvZUu4SwBxrRy43mYc0A8LThqrP4r0qWcOyiLph3w0xU9Dv8q0rqDGmUhTtV5FplDLIiAsI/s1600/CS3.JPG" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-83510243322994073512014-04-26T14:57:00.003+01:002014-04-26T14:57:55.682+01:00Um jardim selvagem / A wild garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_4Z0GwUQtRgiqdYAvt-fvGSFIp7RXJcahxtqJApsQ7DaabUBcvGg2ge_dHoj2TBYgNToO8on0fh3JgJZV2Mg5lLPx1w-tqmTMphk6lsyRc3ack92QRblfjQtk3WNtpiw5eLQbiS10Gg/s1600/P1070944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_4Z0GwUQtRgiqdYAvt-fvGSFIp7RXJcahxtqJApsQ7DaabUBcvGg2ge_dHoj2TBYgNToO8on0fh3JgJZV2Mg5lLPx1w-tqmTMphk6lsyRc3ack92QRblfjQtk3WNtpiw5eLQbiS10Gg/s1600/P1070944.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Descobri, finalmente, o blog que responde aquilo que andava há anos à procura. Chama-se <a href="http://jardimautoctone.blogspot.pt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Jardim Autóctone</span></a> e descreve o dia-a-dia da criação e manutenção de um jardim feito à base de plantas nativas do nosso país. Em Portugal ocorrem milhares de plantas silvestres lindíssimas, que não ficam nada atrás - e muitas vezes ficam até muito à frente - das plantas exóticas que normalmente se usam em jardinagem. Sempre me intrigou porque razão não são mais usadas. Para além de serem bonitas e de fornecerem alimento e abrigo a muitas espécies de animais, têm a vantagem adicional de se terem adaptado, durante milhares de anos, às nossas condições de solo e clima, pelo que são naturalmente resistentes e necessitam de poucos cuidados. O ideal para uma jardineira <strike>preguiçosa</strike> com pouco tempo como eu...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgUhjqlCubMQfUqoyy3WG7jzvm0mpnHF6bapjeqehD_xiEvuWY0ZQo0JQxiwen6lVfbQisds6MDT2ZX6LAC3496Q66GtqQh1Hzd1zfmsBD_drVvSGIukg2oHkq9Nthcwcnddzi0yxR2o/s1600/P1070824res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgUhjqlCubMQfUqoyy3WG7jzvm0mpnHF6bapjeqehD_xiEvuWY0ZQo0JQxiwen6lVfbQisds6MDT2ZX6LAC3496Q66GtqQh1Hzd1zfmsBD_drVvSGIukg2oHkq9Nthcwcnddzi0yxR2o/s1600/P1070824res.JPG" height="400" width="292" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i></span></span></div>
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O meu jardim não é um jardim autóctone, mas gosto de pensar que para lá caminha. Entre outras, tem lilases e sardinheiras, crisântemos, narcisos e crocus. Mas também tem uma <a href="http://www.flora-on.pt/#/1madressilva" target="_blank">madressilva</a>, recolhida no monte há dois anos e transplantada com sucesso. Está à espera de mais companheiras, mas este ano falhei a época e acabei por não recolher mais... Tem estevas e giestas,rosmaninhos (aqui conhecidos como <a href="http://www.flora-on.pt/#/7f5As" target="_blank">arçã</a>), <a href="http://www.flora-on.pt/#/7NjrU" target="_blank">alecrins</a>, <a href="http://www.flora-on.pt/#/1cistus+populifolius" target="_blank">estevões</a> e outras duas espécies de cistaceas ainda por identificar. Tem as lindíssimas, embora venenosas, <a href="http://www.flora-on.pt/#/1euphorbia+oxyphylla" target="_blank">eufórbias</a> (E. oxyphylla). As mais recentes aquisições, todas elas recolhidas nas redondezas, foram as pascoelas (nome pelo qual são conhecidas nesta zona as prímulas), as violetas e dois medronheiros - já há uns anos havia plantado um, mas sem sucesso, vamos ver se desta vez tenho mais sorte.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gJtlfigcuXbhY43V9Vk_iCcOYP7Yzd_Of4epAFdo2zsgbdMA4GHR-Ny25Z7252TiNxzg3-ZZ6GJMc8-Ldx_zyxt-LRynHjbRCYR1zjeqk5fMiHyjLsdh16HewWAHwtFVExzf6IOmUs/s1600/P1070828res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gJtlfigcuXbhY43V9Vk_iCcOYP7Yzd_Of4epAFdo2zsgbdMA4GHR-Ny25Z7252TiNxzg3-ZZ6GJMc8-Ldx_zyxt-LRynHjbRCYR1zjeqk5fMiHyjLsdh16HewWAHwtFVExzf6IOmUs/s1600/P1070828res.JPG" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Primula acaulis</i></span></span></div>
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Uma coisa é certa, a utilização de plantas autóctones - desde que compradas em locais de confiança ou recolhidas sem prejuízo para as populações silvestres, tem inúmeras vantagens. As plantas compradas nos hortos convencionais, pelo contrário, para além de serem frequentemente exóticas, exigirem mais cuidados e ficarem mais caras, podem ter outros problemas. Um estudo encomendado pela GreenPeace mostrou que uma grande percentagem das plantas ornamentais de uma amostra recolhida em centros de jardinagem e supermercados europeus não respeita a legislação que regula o uso de pesticidas nocivos, entre outras espécies, para as abelhas. Podem ler o artigo (em inglês) <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/your-home-garden-at-the-bees-peril/blog/49048/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">aqui</span></a> e fazer o download do estudo <a href="http://sos-bees.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/A-Toxic-Eden.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">aqui</span></a>. Portugal não se conta entre os países onde foram recolhidas amostras, mas Espanha, França e Holanda, sim, entre muitos outros de onde importamos plantas ornamentais. Portanto, amigos jardineiros, na hora de comprar as vossas plantas, sejam cuidadosos. Em Portugal há hortos e empresas que cumprem todas as regras e ainda vão para além delas. Um exemplo - que estou á vontade para publicitar, pois não ganho nada com isso - é o <a href="http://www.cantinhodasaromaticas.pt/loja/plantas-em-vaso-bio/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cantinho das Aromáticas</span></a>, onde são vendidas plantas envasadas produzidas em regime de agricultura biológica, muitas delas pertencentes à nossa flora.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Euchloe crameri on gum rockrose fruit</i></span></span></div>
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I have finally found the blog I've been looking for since a long time ago. It is called <a href="http://jardimautoctone.blogspot.pt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Jardim Autóctone </span></a>and describes the creation and maintenance of a garden made up of Portuguese native plants. There are thousands of beautiful native plants in our country, some of them so much lovelier than the exotic ones usually grown in traditional gardens. I've wondered many times why they are not used more often. In addition to being pretty and serving as food and shelter for many animal species, native plants have evolved for thousands of years in this area, so they are perfectly adapted to our soil and climate conditions, meaning they are naturally resistant and they require little care - the perfect thing for a <strike>lazy</strike> busy gardener like me...<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Euphorbia oxyphylla</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">My</span> <span class="hps">garden is not</span> <span class="hps">an indigenous</span> <span class="hps">garden (yet), but</span> <span class="hps">I like to think</span> it is developing in that direction<span>.</span> <span class="hps">Among others</span><span class="">,</span> my garden hosts <span class="hps">lilacs</span> <span class="hps">and</span> <span class="hps">geraniums</span><span>,</span> <span class="hps">chrysanthemums</span><span>,</span> <span class="hps">daffodils</span> <span class="hps">and</span> <span class="hps">crocus</span><span>.</span> <span class="hps">But it also</span> <span class="hps">has a</span> <span class="hps">honeysuckle,</span> collected <span class="hps">two years ago </span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">in the wild</span> and now waiting for company (this year I failed to go into the field on time and get a few more)</span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps"></span><span>.</span> I also have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistus_ladanifer" target="_blank">gum <span class="hps"></span></a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistus_ladanifer" target="_blank"><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">rockroses</span></span></a><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps"></span> <span class="hps">and gorse</span><span>,</span> <span class="hps">rosemary</span><span>,</span> </span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="st">poplar leaved rockroses</span>, also known as <a href="http://www.findmeplants.co.uk/plant-cistus-populifolius-1907.aspx" target="_blank">major rockroses </a><span class="hps">and two</span> <span class="hps">other cistus species yet to be identified</span><span>.</span> My<span class="hps"> most</span> <span class="hps">recent acquisitions</span><span>, all</span> <span class="hps">of them collected nearby</span><span class="hps">,</span> are <span class="hps">primulas</span><span></span><span>, violets</span> <span class="hps">and two</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbutus_unedo" target="_blank">strawberry trees</a> <span class="hps">-</span> I had already <span class="hps">planted</span> <span class="hps">one a few years ago but it did not survive,</span><span class="hps"></span> <span class="hps">let's see if</span> <span class="hps">this</span> <span class="hps">time I have more</span> <span class="hps">luck.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Uma coisa é certa, a utilização de plantas autóctones - desde que compradas em locais de confiança ou recolhidas sem prejuízo para as populações silvestres, tem inúmeras vantagens.">One
thing I know for sure, the use of native plants - as long as they are purchased from
reliable stores or collected without harming wild populations - has multiple advantages. </span><span title="As plantas compradas em hortos, pelo contrário, para além de serem frequentemente exóticas, exigirem mais cuidados e ficarem mais caras, podem ter outros problemas.">Plants
purchased in traditional orchards, on the contrary, besides being often exotic, expensive and
demanding more attention, may have other problems as well. </span><span title="Um estudo Podem le o artigo (em inglês) aqui e fazer o download do estudo aqui.">A study recently undertaken by GreenPeace showed that the majority of a sample of ornamental plants sold in European garden centres and supermarkets do not comply with the legislation that regulates the use of bee-killing pesticides. You can read the article <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/your-home-garden-at-the-bees-peril/blog/49048/" target="_blank">here</a> and download the study <a href="http://sos-bees.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/A-Toxic-Eden.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span title="Portugal não se conta entre os países onde foram recolhidas amostras, mas Espanha, França e Holanda, sim, entre muitos outros de onde importamos plantas ornamentais.">Portugal
is not among the countries where samples were collected, but Spain,
France and Holland, among many others from which we import
ornamental plants were included. </span><span title="Portanto, amigos jardineiros, na hora de comprar as vossas plantas, sejam cuidadosos.">Therefore, fellow gardeners, when the time comes to buy your plants, be careful. </span><span title="Em Portugal há hortos e empresas que cumprem todas as regras e ainda vão para além delas.">In Portugal there are nurseries and companies that meet all the rules and even go beyond them. </span><span title="Um exemplo - que estou á vontade para publicitar, pois não ganho nada com isso - é o Cantinho das Aromáticas, onde, entre muitas outras coisas, são vendidas plantas envasadas produzidas em regime de agricultura biológica.">An
example - I am feel free to advertise as I am not getting an profit here - is the</span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Um exemplo - que estou á vontade para publicitar, pois não ganho nada com isso - é o Cantinho das Aromáticas, onde, entre muitas outras coisas, são vendidas plantas envasadas produzidas em regime de agricultura biológica."> <a href="http://www.cantinhodasaromaticas.pt/loja/plantas-em-vaso-bio/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cantinho das Aromáticas</span></a>, that sells organically grown potted
plants, many of them belonging to our native flora.</span></span>AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-26155635361429215812014-04-18T00:46:00.000+01:002014-05-31T16:04:18.377+01:00A Horta em Abril / Vegetable Garden in April<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { }</style>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Primavera é sinónimo de início de trabalho a sério na horta. Agora que temos uma estufa, podemos começar um pouco mais cedo (aqui no nordeste, as geadas prolongam-se pelo mês de Abril fora, pelo que, antes de termos estufa, só começávamos a tratar da horta em Maio - um enorme contraste relativamente ao resto do país!).</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Em meados de Ma</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rç</span></span></span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">o começámos a preparar o solo no interior da estufa e fizémos as primeiras sementeiras: 3 variedades de alface, couve-roxa, <a href="http://terraesementes.blogspot.pt/2012/09/tomate-coracao-de-boi.html" target="_blank">tomate-coração-de-boi</a> (o nosso preferido, pelo sabor e polpa abundante) e cebola.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lá fora, transplantámos outras cebolas, que tinham sido semeadas ainda mais cedo e estado a crescer na estufa durante o inverno (reparem bem no meu "plantador" especial... é um pauzinho aguçado encontrado por ali, mas que faz o seu trabalho tão bem como aqueles todos bonitos que se vendem na loja).</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Também semeámos ervilhas e grão e arrancámos as ervas que quase escondiam os canteiros dos alhos, dos morangueiros e das favas.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Já próximo do final de Março, plantámos tomateiros e pimenteiros trazidos do sul do país pelos meus pais (aqui só começam a aparecer mais tarde) e semeámos feijões, tudo dentro da estufa, claro está, caso contrário seria morte certa pelo frio...</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Finalmente, hoje comprei sementes de milho doce e rabanetes (estes últimos vão ser uma estreia), que planeio semear esta semana, juntamente com alguns espinafres, que sobraram do ano passado. </span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Para além da horta, a Primavera mostra-se em todos os </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">cantos</span></span></span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">: nos marmeleiros carregados de flores, na figueira cheia de minúsculos frutos - que contraste com <a href="http://o-outro-bau-do-zejulio.blogspot.pt/2014/04/flores-e-ninhos-por-todo-o-lado.html" target="_blank">estes</a>, no jardim do Zé Júlio, no Algarve! Rezo para que uma geada não os leve a todos (e a mais outras coisas: morangos, cerejas, ginjas, etc....) Nesta altura do ano penso sempre no tempo (que não foi assim há tanto tempo) em que as pessoas dependiam da terra para se alimentarem e numa única noite de gelo perdiam quase tudo. Aquilo que hoje, para nós, não passa de um contratempo, podia significar, nessa época, muitos meses de fome ou subalimentação...</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">beginning</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of spring mean</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
it is time to get serious about the vegetable garden. </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now
that we have a greenhouse, we can start a bit earlier. So o</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">n
12</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
March, we started preparing the soil </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">inside
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
greenhouse </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
we have sown the first seeds: 3 </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">varieties</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of lettuce, </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">red
cabbage and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beefsteak_%28tomato%29" target="_blank">Beefsteak tomatoes</a> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">our
favourite because of the great flavour and abundant flesh</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">).
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Outside,
we have </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">transplanted
onion shoots that have been growing since winter (take a look at my special "planter" in the Portuguese version above - a small pointed stick does the job just as well as the store bought thing) and</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
sown peas </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">chickpeas.
W</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">e
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">also
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">started
weeding the garlic, strawberry and fava bean beds. </span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw5_zjkaWpINrtGB50BauHRzN9LxlsD7__FMWBbTPDAKiKtHN2l_8gLADuX9VrCMgLbw3Z5zZtvTtzrGor843YPx8XqdBFxGx0V5MREwyoupO5jNdS4OkMhFgf_fTrejXR8TnBLvgnr8/s1600/P1070768res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw5_zjkaWpINrtGB50BauHRzN9LxlsD7__FMWBbTPDAKiKtHN2l_8gLADuX9VrCMgLbw3Z5zZtvTtzrGor843YPx8XqdBFxGx0V5MREwyoupO5jNdS4OkMhFgf_fTrejXR8TnBLvgnr8/s1600/P1070768res.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">By
the end of the month, we planted tomato and pepper seedlings brought
by my parents from the south of the country (it is too early yet to
find them on sale here in the northeast) and we have sown beens </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">too</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Today
I bought some sweet corn and radish seeds and plan to sow them this
week, together with some leftover spinach seeds from last year. Then
we'll be transplanting some Cherry tomatoes that grew up inside the
greenhouse (they've been growing on their own like weeds ever since
we have sown them for the first time, several years ago, so every
year we leave a few plants, whenever they sprout on a convenient
spot, or transplant them to a better one, if that is not the case).</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7cT28-6sNlNN-HYz_Gg7LOgZg7IxCj_V1iYSX0_M5tLCGoSkOSF_H3WmduaTUlADA6UundK8t7Xnx75aiEN0S26vV9ng3Cbej2_MO2jjHBebUmMOWuUQgkxmpwMNjSRmWLY5AMpXU4U/s1600/P1070850res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7cT28-6sNlNN-HYz_Gg7LOgZg7IxCj_V1iYSX0_M5tLCGoSkOSF_H3WmduaTUlADA6UundK8t7Xnx75aiEN0S26vV9ng3Cbej2_MO2jjHBebUmMOWuUQgkxmpwMNjSRmWLY5AMpXU4U/s1600/P1070850res.JPG" height="449" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Everywhere spring is showing at its best: the quince trees in full bloom, the fig trees with the first tiny fruits. I am praying the weather will keep mild, as April frosts are not uncommon around here but if they come too harsh, they can destroy the fragile figs, not to speak of other crops. This always makes me think of the - not so long ago - times when people depended on their land to feed their families and bad weather, instead of being just a nuisance, as it is for us, could mean several months of hunger...</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-43628243995606377002014-03-21T10:47:00.003+00:002014-03-21T10:48:49.144+00:00Top 10 Greeting Card Experts Online, 2014: Green Initiatives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?store_id=392&gcu=41346466001&mid=cwu" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?store_id=392&gcu=41346466001&mid=cwu" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8urCUrHXyV-OPAbMkIbG55ZT8u3FGOQuTxqN4c6H0obEAok_CdrMvq6i07M0WUFB5zVrDuIW1D-XQgJWuBhEbeba-VboKlqZipgZiWa6cS30EGjhUORB_jjsTK5R5dnXM4cgfDgLJvGM/s1600/FlowersSpring.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Acredito que quando se decide aceitar, ou não, um novo trabalho, vários pontos devem ser tidos em conta. Para além da questão evidente do dinheiro - afinal, quer gostemos quer não, todos temos contas para pagar - há a considerar o investimento de tempo que nos exige, o desenvolvimento profissional e a satisfação pessoal que nos proporciona e, intimamente ligada a esta última, os princípios éticos que o regem. Por isso, antes de tomar uma decisão acerca de um potencial novo trabalho, faço-me sempre muitas perguntas: vou aprender coisas novas, melhorar o meu currículo, fazer contactos úteis? Vou chegar ao final do dia com a sensação de ter feito algo que valeu a pena? Está este trabalho e a pessoa/empresa para quem o farei, de acordo com os meus valores e princípios éticos? Já recusei trabalhos por não preencherem esta última condição, recusei outros que preenchiam todas, excepto o facto de me obrigarem a passar demasiado tempo longe da família. E aprendi que é melhor viver com menos dinheiro, mas mais satisfação pessoal, tempo para aqueles de quem gostamos e uma consciência tranquila. Foi por isso que hoje, ao ler <a href="http://www.businessvibes.com/blog/top-10-greeting-card-experts-online-2014-green-initiatives" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76a5af;">esta notícia</span></a>, fiquei muito satisfeita por confirmar que uma das empresas para quem trabalho, embora me proporcione rendimentos diminutos, se encontra entre as mais amigas do ambiente, dentro do seu ramo de actividade.<br />
Parabéns, <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?store_id=392&gcu=41346466001&mid=cwu" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GCU</span></a>!<br />
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I believe that when deciding about accepting or not a new job, several things should be weighted. Apart from the obvious income side of the question - we all have our bills to pay, whether we like to or not - there other things to ponder: time investment, professional growth (will I learn new skills, improve my CV, make useful contacts?), personal satisfaction (will I arrive to the end of the day with the feeling of having made something worthwhile?) and, closely linked to this, integrity: is the work I am doing and the people/company I am doing it for in accordance with my values and ethics? I have turned down jobs in the past because they did not fulfill this last condition. And I have turned down others that fulfilled all of them but would take away too much time from my family. And I have learned it is better to live with less income but more personal satisfaction, time for the ones you love and a clear conscience. All this to say that today I was very happy to read <a href="http://www.businessvibes.com/blog/top-10-greeting-card-experts-online-2014-green-initiatives" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">this news</span></a>, confirming that I am working for one of the top eco-friendly businesses in their field, even though the income I earn from it is really minor:<br />
<br />
Congratulations, <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?store_id=392&gcu=41346466001&mid=cwu" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GCU</span></a>!<br />
<br />AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-90992202487669314962014-02-23T22:52:00.002+00:002014-03-02T10:30:56.929+00:00Bálsamo Labial - uma receita para fazer em casa / Home Made Lip Balm Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKi2sjMrIoVQYgzsApDpCkqH66HNxJiF9ES4nqpjErdYiPMPajIoIwWR5oXomK5081etGAVlR3V9HAw0nCral3G3hhBDFDQrZvFf6o5jn-n-RLHQuNZbrf0ZSZnJVPjGXKp__Mm7ozpQ/s1600/LipBalm2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKi2sjMrIoVQYgzsApDpCkqH66HNxJiF9ES4nqpjErdYiPMPajIoIwWR5oXomK5081etGAVlR3V9HAw0nCral3G3hhBDFDQrZvFf6o5jn-n-RLHQuNZbrf0ZSZnJVPjGXKp__Mm7ozpQ/s1600/LipBalm2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Comecei, finalmente, a experimentar algumas das receitas que encontrei no livro da Bea Johnson <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2352042577/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=2352042577&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EZ%C3%A9ro%20d%C3%A9chet%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=2352042577%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Zéro Dechet</a> / <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451697686/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451697686&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EZero%20Waste%20Home:%20The%20Ultimate%20Guide%20to%20Simplifying%20Your%20Life%20by%20Reducing%20Your%20Waste%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451697686%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Zero Waste Home</a>, sobre o qual escrevi no <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2014/02/um-livro-e-um-esfregao-da-louca-book.html" target="_blank">post anterior</a>.<br />
<br />
E a primeira foi um bálsamo caseiro, que ela aconselha para os lábios, unhas, "pés de galinha", maçãs do rosto... Eu achei-o particularmente bom para ser usado como bálsamo labial, e por isso, depois de experimentar a receita-base, resolvi dar-lhe um toque pessoal e acrescentar-lhe um pouco de cor.<br />
<br />
Fiz várias experiências, testando primeiro sumo de beterraba, depois xarope de groselha, e por fim pimentão doce em pó como corantes naturais. O pimentão foi, de longe, o mais bem sucedido, pelo simples facto de se tratar de um pó. Os outros dois, como são soluções aquosas, não são miscíveis com a gordura e torna-se necessário continuar a mexer a mistura durante o processo de solidificação, o que é pouco prático e não permite conseguir um produto totalmente homogéneo. A alternativa seria usar um agente emulsificador, mas isso será para futuras experiências.<br />
<br />
A imagem abaixo mostra os quatro resultados, da esquerda para a direita, e de cima para baixo: o bálsamo de groselha (este ficou com sabor a doce!), o de beterraba, a receita base e a do pimentão doce.<br />
<br />
Como a autora tem as receitas disponíveis no seu <a href="http://zerowastehome.blogspot.pt/2010/03/zero-waste-recipes.html" target="_blank">blog, </a>eu publico aqui a receita modificada que utilizei. E é mesmo muito simples:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredientes: </span><br />
1 colher de sopa de cera de abelha<br />
4 colheres de sopa de óleo de girassol<br />
1/2 colher de café (mal cheia) de pimentão doce em pó<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Procedimento:</span><br />
Juntar todos os ingredientes e aquecê-los em banho-maria, até a cera derreter. Misturar bem, tirar do lume, filtrar com um passador metálico e deixar arrefecer. Está pronto!<br />
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBekestc7ewnGNmPBhlYRdDJ25ElGeOmN1Fh35jG7FxBEhyGTDr7EnHmzM_hTp2NakNOOVYA6Lz7CfmQ8bxRdcQxMJVTz7ymOIPz7ywoXZlZx6LMBFJlSCuVlSJTB58ucwCF2xDbtcVw/s1600/LipBalm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBekestc7ewnGNmPBhlYRdDJ25ElGeOmN1Fh35jG7FxBEhyGTDr7EnHmzM_hTp2NakNOOVYA6Lz7CfmQ8bxRdcQxMJVTz7ymOIPz7ywoXZlZx6LMBFJlSCuVlSJTB58ucwCF2xDbtcVw/s1600/LipBalm.JPG" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
I've finally started trying some of the recipes I found in Bea Johnson's book <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2352042577/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=2352042577&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EZ%C3%A9ro%20d%C3%A9chet%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=2352042577%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Zéro Dechet</a> / <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451697686/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451697686&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EZero%20Waste%20Home:%20The%20Ultimate%20Guide%20to%20Simplifying%20Your%20Life%20by%20Reducing%20Your%20Waste%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451697686%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Zero Waste Home</a> that I wrote about in my <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2014/02/um-livro-e-um-esfregao-da-louca-book.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>.<br />
<br />
The first one I tried out was a home made balm, that Bea says can be used as a lip balm, but also for the nails, around the eyes, on your cheeks... I found it particularly good as a lip balm and after trying her recipe, I decided to tweak it a bit and add some colour to it.<br />
<br />
I tried several natural colourings: beet juice, red gooseberry syrup and red paprika (the mild variety!). Red paprika gave by far the best results because it is powdered, while the others are aqueous solutions and therefore do not mix with the oil - in order to get an even blend, I needed to keep stirring while the mixture was cooling and even so I did not achieve a complete blend. The alternative would be to use an emulsifier, but that is something I'll try in future experiments.<br />
<br />
The picture on the top shows, from left to right, top to bottom: the red
gooseberry syrup coloured balm (this one smells like candy), the beet coloured balm, the
original, not coloured, recipe, and the red paprika coloured balm. <br />
<br />
Because the author has the recipes available at her <a href="http://zerowastehome.blogspot.pt/2010/03/zero-waste-recipes.html" target="_blank">blog</a>, I am publishing here the altered recipe I used. It is really very simple:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">Ingredients:</span><br />
1 table spoon beeswax<br />
4 table spoon sunflower oil<br />
1/2 tea spoon red mild paprika<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">How to:</span><br />
Combine all ingredients and melt the mixture in a water bath. Stir to blend well, remove from heat and filter using a mesh strainer. Let it cool and it is ready to use!AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-69195180244279550382014-02-18T22:45:00.003+00:002014-03-02T10:29:53.857+00:00Um livro e um esfregão da louça / A book and a dish scrub<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2352042577/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=2352042577&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=2352042577&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pequetea-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=2352042577" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
Acabei há uns dias de ler o livro <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2352042577/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=2352042577&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EZ%C3%A9ro%20d%C3%A9chet%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=2352042577%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Zéro Déchet</a>, a tradução francesa do livro de Bea Johnson <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451697686/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451697686&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20">Zero
Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing
Your Waste</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451697686" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer505235932"><span id="freeTextContainer5642279001319153143">Foi no blog da autora - <a href="http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Home</a>
- </span></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer505235932"><span id="freeTextContainer5642279001319153143"><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer505235932"><span id="freeTextContainer5642279001319153143">que fiquei a conhecer o livro </span></span>e que me dei conta de algo que já suspeitava: que afinal, não era assim tão "verde" como isso... Esta históia fez-me repensar seriamente a quantidade de lixo gerado pela minha família e o impacto ambiental por nós causado diariamente. Como resultado destas leituras, já implementei algumas mudanças nos nossos hábitos, mas ainda pretendo fazer mais. Estamos ainda (muito) longe de produzir zero resíduos (ou cerca de um litro por ano, como a família da autora)</span></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">, mas acredito que quiasquer pequenos passos na direcção correcta </span></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329"><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">valem a pena, pois</span></span> ir-se-ão acumulando ao longo do tempo. E o que não falta neste livro são dicas, ideias e receitas para o conseguir.</span></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329"> Algumas não são possíveis para mim, outras não fazem sentido no meu caso particular e outras, ainda, são talvez demasiadamente radicais, mas irei sem dúvida experimentar várias.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">Aqui estão duas actualmente postas em prática:</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Se bem que há muitos anos que levava os meus próprios sacos de plástico quando ia ao supermercado, passei também a levar sacos para a fruta e legumes, e caixas de vidro com tampa para as compras no talho. Também recuso os sacos nas outras lojas (de roupa, farmácia, livraria, etc.) excepto em casos muito especiais (tenho que melhorar isto)</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">-Acabei com os esfregões da louça sintéticos, de que nunca gostei. Agora uso um de metal, para as coisas difíceis, e fiz um de lã, pondo a uso os meus dotes de crochet que uso tão raramente. São mais saudáveis, biodegradáveis e baratos.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">Estas estão na minha lista de ideias a tentar proximamente:</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Rimel caseiro</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Creme caseiro</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Cola caseira</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">Uma das principais lições que retirei deste livro foi que para além dos três "R" (Reduzir, Reutilizar, Reciclar), há um outro, talvez o mais importante, e que deve vir primeiro que os restantes: Recusar. Porque produzir menos lixo resume-se muitas vezes a recusar a sua entrada nas nossas casas. Mas a sobre-utilização, sobretudo do plástico, mas também do papel, está tão banalizada, que algo tão simples como recusar este excesso acaba por se tornar difícil, a menos que façamos um constante esforço para estarmos conscientes daquilo que aceitamos e trazemos para casa.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6jAiCHML2s9fggwk9TYfl0qMfNYgaEfNsnxdi2U1Un2nVTzuiH8aPu7VC3ycQ6y5ZzRC2VKU8cCnFDo5v-t-As9RmPyAvYg_6pdvp0cTNHF5_iz1O5JY9INz5zPCEcgCYwzmJk1-siA/s1600/P1070673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6jAiCHML2s9fggwk9TYfl0qMfNYgaEfNsnxdi2U1Un2nVTzuiH8aPu7VC3ycQ6y5ZzRC2VKU8cCnFDo5v-t-As9RmPyAvYg_6pdvp0cTNHF5_iz1O5JY9INz5zPCEcgCYwzmJk1-siA/s1600/P1070673.JPG" height="166" width="200" /></a></div>
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I've just finish reading <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2352042577/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=2352042577&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EZ%C3%A9ro%20d%C3%A9chet%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=2352042577%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Zéro Déchet</a>, the French translation of Bea Johnson's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451697686/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451697686&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20">Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1451697686" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
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<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer505235932"><span id="freeTextContainer5642279001319153143">I first heard about this book while reading the author's blog </span></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer505235932"><span id="freeTextContainer5642279001319153143"><a href="http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer505235932"><span id="freeTextContainer5642279001319153143"> </span></span></a><a href="http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Home</a>
</span></span> which was my first wake up call to realise I was no as "green" as I used to think... Bea's story made me rethink the amount of waste
that my household produces and the kind of environmental impact I make, every day. I already made a few changes in my life as a result of this read, and I still want to implement more changes. <span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">We are (very) far
from producing zero waste (or a one liter size jar of garbage per year, as her
family does), but I firmly believe that any small steps in the right direction will add up in the long run and are therefore</span></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">
worth a try and Bea's book is full of tips, ideas, and recipes. I will not adopt all of them - some are not possible for me, others do not make sense in my particular case and still others I find too extreme - but I will definitely try several of them. </span></span><br />
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<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">These are two already ongoing ones:</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- I am bringing my own containers when purchasing some kinds of food to avoid bringing more plastic bags into my home. I already used reusable bags for supermarket shopping, but now I'm also bringing my own bags for fruit and legumes and glass containers for meat. And I also refuse bags when shopping for clothes, books, or other items except for very special situations (I still have to improve this, anyway)</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- I decided to ban synthetic dish scrubs (I never actually liked them) and I made my own using my seldom used crochet skills. They are healthier, cheaper, and made of natural biodegradable wool.</span></span><br />
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<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">And these are on my list to try:</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Home made mascara</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Home made balm</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">- Home made glue</span></span><br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329"><br /></span></span>
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer590033583"><span id="freeTextContainer4902955901170012329">One of the main lessons I took from this book is that in addition to the 3 "R" (Reduce, reuse and Recycle), there is another "R", probably the most important of all and which should come first: Refuse. This is because producing less waste often resumes to prevent it from entering our homes. The problem is that the over-use of plastic (mainly) is so common nowadays that one must be constantly alert to avoid it from surreptitiously entering our lives.</span></span>AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-19444390271717590282014-01-02T17:34:00.000+00:002014-04-27T22:33:25.963+01:00Resoluções de Dia Novo / New Day Resolutions<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZUTNKkH-iCIF5-EmWpA1j4tqg-fBbvJKWIIyyf7ZAd3fRKcMfOKNqOoOf_yP4wdQhIKX1OIY5Xrq8QTSCqhbHoKPhMEatWyU7p1FpPz2yPdDXcwktcZAz1i8LJFURo6qGgr_8uxpWVo/s1600/15Jan2006-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZUTNKkH-iCIF5-EmWpA1j4tqg-fBbvJKWIIyyf7ZAd3fRKcMfOKNqOoOf_yP4wdQhIKX1OIY5Xrq8QTSCqhbHoKPhMEatWyU7p1FpPz2yPdDXcwktcZAz1i8LJFURo6qGgr_8uxpWVo/s1600/15Jan2006-14.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">É
isso mesmo, dia novo, e não ano novo. Nunca fui de fazer resoluções
de ano novo, a não ser, muito recentemente, aderir a uns desafios de
leitura lançados pelo GoodReads no início de cada ano (não
conhecem </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">o
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GoodReads</span></a></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">?
Se gostam de ler, vão lá, que não se arrependem). Acho que ainda
não consegui cumprir nenhum... O que reforça a minha ideia de que
isto de resoluções de ano </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">n</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ovo,
não é lá grande ideia, pelo menos para mim.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Traçar
objectivos a longo prazo torna-os distantes e leva-nos a adiamentos
sucessivos. O primeiro adiamento começa logo na altura da resolução:
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">muito
bem, </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">isto
ainda não é para já, é só para o ano novo. O dia 1 de Janeiro,
convenhamos, também não é o mais propício à implementação de
novos desafios. Muitos de nós passaram a noite a festejar,
deitaram-se tarde e acordam para uma casa desarrumada. Outros têm
familiares ou amigos em casa, para outros, ainda, é dia de viagem de
regresso. Para os que têm filhos, os primeiros dias de
Janeiro são os últimos dias das férias escolares, depois vem o
regresso às aulas. E por aí fora. </span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b></span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Isto
para não falar do calendário propriamente dito – porquê celebrar
o início de um novo ano no dia 1 de Janeiro e não noutra data
qualquer, seguindo um outro calendário (chinês, solar...).</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
vida vive-se um dia de cada vez, e por isso mesmo, o que me faz
sentido (e evita frustrações de resoluções e objectivos por
cumprir) é procurar viver cada dia, o mais possível, de acordo com
aquilo que é mais importante (e que será, inevitavelmente,
diferente para cada um). Isto implica fazer escolhas, todos os dias,
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">porque
todos os dias são dias novos</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
Por isso:</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hoje</b></span>,
quando acordar antes do despertador tocar, não vou</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ceder
à tentação de me virar para o outro lado e dormir mais um bocado.
Vou-me levantar e aproveitar o silêncio e a calma das primeiras
horas do dia, para tomar o pequeno almoço da maneira que mais gosto:
devagar e na companhia de um bom livro;</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hoje</b></span>,
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">vou
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">andar
a pé: no campo, em redor de casa, ou na cidade, saindo 10 minutos
mais cedo que o habitual e deixando o carro mais longe do destino,
obrigando-me a caminhar. Se fizer isto repetidamente, acabarei por
criar um hábito e a longo prazo melhorarei a minha saúde e
contribuirei um pouco para um melhor ambiente, ao mesmo tempo que
pouparei algum dinheiro em combustível;</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hoje</b></span>,
quando estiver a trabalhar, vou fazê-lo com empenho e abertura de
espírito para ver tudo quanto ele tem de bom e de interessante, de
que forma o posso fazer melhor e tomar nota de aspectos que gostaria
de desenvolver mais, através de pesquisa ou valorização
profissional. </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Se
fizer isto de forma regular, vou ser mais produtiva e melhorar o meu
currículo, o que só poderá ter boas consequências, nem que seja andar
mais satisfeita comigo própria</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">;</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hoje</b></span>,
quando passar pela pastelaria, vou dizer não ao bolo e ao café, e
enfiar a mão no saco, onde coloquei uma fruta suculenta ou uma
bolacha caseira. A longo prazo, os meus dentes vão agradecer, e a
minha carteira também.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hoje</b></span>,
quando me apetecer ceder à preguiça e sentar-me no sofá a olhar
para a televisão, enquanto as crianças se preparam para fazer o
mesmo no computador, vou convidá-las para jogar um jogo comigo, para
lermos um livro em conjunto </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ou
fazermos um cartão para um familiar que vive longe</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
Aos poucos, vou contribuir para o seu desenvolvimento mais
saudável e fortalecer </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">relações
familiares</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">;</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Hoje</b></span>,
vou fazer uma lista de compras para a semana, olhando primeiro para o
que te</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mos
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">no
frigorífico e na despensa, e depois para os folhetos dos
supermercados, procurando tirar partido de algumas promoções em
vigor. Dá algum trabalho e requer algum tempo, mas vale a pena, pois
garante uma série de refeições mais saudáveis e a preços mais
convenientes, aproveitando alimentos que já </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">existem</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
em casa e poderiam vir a estragar-se por falta de utilização
atempada.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Esta lista poderia ser mais longa, mas o importante é que </span></span></span></b>esta noite</b></b></span>,
quando me for deitar, vou pensar no dia que passou e sentir-me
satisfeita por ter dado mais </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">alguns</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
passo</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mesmo</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
que pequeno</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
na direcção que escolhi: </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">uma
família unida e saudável, um trabalho gratificante, um ambiente um
pouco melhor e um futuro economicamente mais estável.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">* * *</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">That's
not a typo, I did mean</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
new day, not New Year </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">resolutions</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I've
n</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ever
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">had
the habit of making</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
New Year's resolutions, </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">except
for –</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
only </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">very
recently </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">-
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">join</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ing</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
a</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">n
annual</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
reading challenge launched by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GoodReads</span></a> at the beginning of each year
(</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">you</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
do not know GoodReads? If you like to read, go there, </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">you'll
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">not
regret it</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">).
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Well,</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">'ve</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">never
managed to meet any of the</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">se</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">...
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">which</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
reinforces my idea that New Year's resolutions </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">are</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
not </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">such
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
great idea, at least for me.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Setting</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
long-term objectives </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">makes
them</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
distant </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
unreal</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and leads us to repeated postponements. The first postponement starts
right at the time of </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">resolution:
this is not for now, just </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">after
the</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
new year </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">begins,
right?</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">January
1 </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">comes</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
let's</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
face it, </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
is</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
not the most </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">adequate
day for</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
implement</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ing</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
new challenges. Many of us spent the night </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">before
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">partying,
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">went
to sleep</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
late and w</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">oke</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
up to an untidy house. Others have family or friends at home, </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">still</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
others </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">are
travelling</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
back </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
their own</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
home</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
For those who have children, the first days of January are the last
days of school holidays, then </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it's</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
back to school </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">time,
time to re-adjust daily routines..</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.<br />Not
to mention the calendar itself - why celebrate the beginning of a new
year on January 1 </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at
all </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
not </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">any
other date, following </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
different</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
calendar (Chinese, solar ... )?</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
live our lives</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
one day at a time, and therefore, what makes sense to me (and avoids
frustrations of unfulfilled resolutions and goals) is to try to live
every day as much as possible, according to what is most important
(which will inevitably be different for each </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">person</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">).
This involves making choices every day, because every day is new day.
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is why</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">:</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span>,
when </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
wake up before the alarm clock rings, I </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
resist</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the temptation to turn around to the other side and sleep some more.
I'll get up and enjoy the silence and stillness of the early morning
hav</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ing</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
breakfast the way </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
like </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">best:
slowly and in the company of a good book </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(not
sitting by the PC checking work-related e-mails as I often do)</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">;</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span>,
I </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
walk: </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">i</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">n
the field</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
around </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">our
home,</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
or in </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">town</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
leaving 10 minutes earlier than usual and </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">parking</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the car further away from </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
destination</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
If </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
do this repeatedly, </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
will</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
end up creating a habit and </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">long-term
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">'ll
improve my health and contribute a little </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bit
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
a better environment, while </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">saving</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
some money </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at
the same time</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">;</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span>,
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">during</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
work </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">time</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
I'll </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">work</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
with commitment and an open mind to see all that </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
my work has that is</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
good and interesting, how I can do </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
better and </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'll</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
take note of </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">things</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
that </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'd
like to</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
further develop, through research or </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">training</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
If </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
do this regularly, I'll be more productive and improve my resume,
which can only have </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">long-term
positive outcomes</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">;</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span>
, when </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
go through the </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">coffee
shop</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
I will say no to cake and coffee, and </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">grab
the</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">yummy</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">piece
of </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">fruit
or homemade cookie </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
have put earlier into my bag</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
In the long run, my teeth will thank </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">me</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
and my wallet too.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span>
, when I feel like giving in to laziness and sit on the couch staring
at the TV while the kids </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">prepare</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to do the same on the</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ir</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
computer</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
I will invite them to play a game with me, to read a book together or
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">make
a</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
card for a family member who lives far away. In the long term, </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">they
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">grow
up more </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">balanced</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and family relationships </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
grow stronger</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">;</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span>,
I </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">make
a shopping list for the week, looking first at what we have in the
fridge and the pantry, and then </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the supermarket flyers, trying to take advantage of </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">current
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">sales
and discounts</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
means</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
some work and requires time, but </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
believe it is </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">worth
it because it guarantees a series of healthier meals and more
convenient prices </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(plus
less time wandering about supermarket ailes)</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />T</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">his
list could be longer, but the important thing is that <span style="color: #3d85c6;">t</span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">onight</span>, when I go to bed, I </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">look
back into</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
the day </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
feel satisfied for having given a few more steps, however small, in
the direction I have chosen: a united and healthy family, a
fulfilling job, a slightly better environment and a more economically
stable future.</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-68700213725705321712013-12-15T22:11:00.001+00:002013-12-15T22:12:14.843+00:00Boas Festas / Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgmUTPhPJFFijiWoVtaHkDmUa1qxKGV6c-XRR2H0eJMjm5MtJYB3kwu-iyekkYIWihG6gOC_7TBcxsZL69qttA17xNSTWibLvdu-anxy2UdVIOy_xAY1SddWzOT6S9gD6RlSyLld7LlQ/s1600/XmasFox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgmUTPhPJFFijiWoVtaHkDmUa1qxKGV6c-XRR2H0eJMjm5MtJYB3kwu-iyekkYIWihG6gOC_7TBcxsZL69qttA17xNSTWibLvdu-anxy2UdVIOy_xAY1SddWzOT6S9gD6RlSyLld7LlQ/s1600/XmasFox.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Com metade de Dezembro já passado e o Natal ao virar da esquina, aqui fica o meu mais recente cartão, disponível na minha <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/christmas-cards/general-christmas/red-fox-in-snowy-scene-1182256?aid=131610" target="_blank">loja GCU</a>, para vos desejar umas boas festas. A relação entre as raposas e o Natal pode não ser evidente para a maioria, mas quem vive no campo habitua-se a ouvir os seus latidos agudos, ao anoitecer, quando os dias se tornam mais frios, e tem início a época do acasalamento. E é precisamente no mês de Dezembro que eles se tornam mais frequentes, prolongando-se até Janeiro/Fevereiro.<br />
<br />
It is amazing how time flies and here we are again: half of December is already gone and Christmas is around the corner. Wishing you a Merry Christmas with my newest card available at my <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/holiday-cards/christmas-cards/general-christmas/red-fox-in-snowy-scene-1182256?aid=131610" target="_blank">GCU storefront</a>. The link between foxes and Christmas may not seem evident, but those who live in the countryside are used to listen to their calls, when the days turn colder and the mating season begins. It is precisely in December that fox calls start to be more frequent, extending until January/February.AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-89914162587296746052013-11-08T18:49:00.001+00:002013-11-08T18:56:50.879+00:00Volunteers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-F44rWQvfsGfsMeRx2wUCLwH54UpG1o0BDIdEPiROjvvMDvJkoWOu98uGJunDWOK4OzlfMqapKb06b5JeWyKrYH7dcyaxk5THcsE_2kdWlHXzbB1FzJR4vKSvCSri9fd2sFxPRRw8hE/s1600/VolunteersChangeLives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-F44rWQvfsGfsMeRx2wUCLwH54UpG1o0BDIdEPiROjvvMDvJkoWOu98uGJunDWOK4OzlfMqapKb06b5JeWyKrYH7dcyaxk5THcsE_2kdWlHXzbB1FzJR4vKSvCSri9fd2sFxPRRw8hE/s1600/VolunteersChangeLives.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Acabei de vender 110 destes cartões no <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/thank-you-cards/volunteer/general-volunteer/volunteers-change-lives-thank-you-1089886?aid=131610" target="_blank">Greeting Card Universe</a>! <br />
Sabe mesmo bem...<br />
O cartão inclui a imagem de uma planta aquática protegida no nosso país, o <a href="http://www.icnf.pt/portal/naturaclas/rn2000/resource/rn-plan-set/flora/marsil-4" target="_blank">trevo-de-quatro-folhas</a> (<i>Marsilea quadrifolia</i>), que fotografei na piscina biológica de uns amigos nossos.<br />
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* * *</div>
I've just sold 110 of these cards on <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/thank-you-cards/volunteer/general-volunteer/volunteers-change-lives-thank-you-1089886?aid=131610" target="_blank">Greeting Card Universe</a>!<br />
Feels great...<br />
The card includes an original photograph of mine of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsilea_quadrifolia" target="_blank">European waterclover</a> (<i>Marsilea quadrifolea</i>) taken in a biological pool of a friend. AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-97496524108088412013-09-14T19:25:00.000+01:002013-09-14T22:37:39.841+01:00Conserva de Molho de Tomate / Home-made Tomato sauce preserve<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { }</style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadqJ7kp7Z5BX02dZkot43E9EAHeNl33wH7uGBicjnysCDG6S6y1NdmkDX6e5erq09jlXgL7pjyMHdvJA0gIXh9gioIQBsPLfUYcfrhzQykcbLdb92_0-RSfr9HCCc_PVv0G9jpGPEok8/s1600/P1070209res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadqJ7kp7Z5BX02dZkot43E9EAHeNl33wH7uGBicjnysCDG6S6y1NdmkDX6e5erq09jlXgL7pjyMHdvJA0gIXh9gioIQBsPLfUYcfrhzQykcbLdb92_0-RSfr9HCCc_PVv0G9jpGPEok8/s1600/P1070209res.JPG" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Nesta
altura do ano, abundam os tomates na nossa horta. Embora este ano não
esteja a ser particularmente favorável, a horta continua a produzir a um
ritmo maior que aquele a que conseguimos consumir. E ainda bem, porque
gosto de fazer provisão para o resto do ano, de três formas:
congelando os tomates inteiros, depois de bem lavados e secos (uso-os
depois para estufados e molhos), fazendo compota (este ano ainda não
fiz, depois hei-de escrever sobre isso), e fazendo molho de tomate,
pronto a usar, muito útil em dias atarefados, quando o tempo para cozinhar não abunda. Este molho pode ser usado como base para pizzas ou massas, para escalfar ovos (um dos meus pratos favoritos), fazer arroz de tomate, ou simplesmente adicionar um gostinho especial a uma série de outros pratos. Foi pelo molho de tomate que comecei este ano. Aqui fica a receita.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_q9MkOH9Sheiu9ERWtVHviiGeLYPqK7vCjfJOfrn46cKZHYQWvrS0dSffRZVc21qju3VarazKAolbA6RTJYExBqSllqZrNKUTjQY68Q0l3Z71ekZj-SHf7XVijqRnIDkmXXiTkRcves/s1600/P1070199res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_q9MkOH9Sheiu9ERWtVHviiGeLYPqK7vCjfJOfrn46cKZHYQWvrS0dSffRZVc21qju3VarazKAolbA6RTJYExBqSllqZrNKUTjQY68Q0l3Z71ekZj-SHf7XVijqRnIDkmXXiTkRcves/s1600/P1070199res.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Conserva de Molho de Tomate</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
2 kg de <span class="il">tomates</span> bem maduros<br />
3 dentes de alho esmagados<br />
1 folha de louro<br />
4 folhas de mangericão<br />
1 ramo de tomilho<br />
2 colheres (sopa) de salsa picada<br />
6 colheres (sopa) de azeite<br />
1 colher (café) de açúcar<br />
sal e pimenta<br />
<br />
Tirar a pele aos <span class="il">tomates</span> e cortá-los em pedaços.<br />
Retirar as sementes e as partes brancas e escorrer bem.<br />
Aquecer o alho com o azeite em lume brando, não o deixando tostar.<br />
Juntar os <span class="il">tomates</span> e restantes ingredientes, misturar com uma colher de pau e deixar ferver em lume brando durante 30 min.<br />
Retirar o louro e o tomilho e passar tudo o resto com a varinha mágica.<br />
Encher os frascos, previamente lavados, mas não completamente (deixar 3-4 cm sem molho) e fechar bem.<br />
Colocá-los dentro de uma panela com água até ao nível de enchimento do <span class="il">tomate</span> e aquecer até ferver (eu costumo pôr um pano no fundo da panela, pois tenho medo que os frascos estalem com a trepidação provocada pela fervura da água).<br />
Deixar ferver em lume brando durante 1 h (se forem frascos grandes, 45 min se forem pequenos), desligar e deixar arrefecer os frascos dentro da água.<br />
E está pronto! </div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">* <span style="color: #0b5394;">* </span>*</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnM0PBuXxMkjzVz5zumYDFA_-Mx40eeHYyeRzZh3MZTGpYF44nv3XpxUw6ZT61tWp0WQSpKKXxJiZvMx8Fd-WkMLSnxsTUQITnO1YiEhzx6GDGXE4LQDPQtbomsqFercO5cer8Xe5ND4/s1600/P1070203res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnM0PBuXxMkjzVz5zumYDFA_-Mx40eeHYyeRzZh3MZTGpYF44nv3XpxUw6ZT61tWp0WQSpKKXxJiZvMx8Fd-WkMLSnxsTUQITnO1YiEhzx6GDGXE4LQDPQtbomsqFercO5cer8Xe5ND4/s1600/P1070203res.JPG" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this time of the year, our garden produces large amounts of tomato. Although this one has not been a particularly favourable year for gardening, we're still getting tomatoes at a higher rate than we are able to consume. Which is actually a good thing, because<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I like to store my pantry until the next season comes. I do it in three ways: by freezing the tomatoes whole, after washing and drying them (I then use them in a variety of recipes and to make tomato sauce), by making tomato jam (a real treat, I haven't done it this year yet, but I will, and I'll write about it then), and by making ready to use tomato sauce preserve. This can be really useful for those busy days, when cooking time just is not available. I use this sauce for pizzas, for cooking poached eggs (one of my favourite dishes), tomato rice or simply to add a nice </span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">flavour</span></span></span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to a variety of other dishes.</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is the recipe. </span></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaz81FW3k0r7566p9GtjMMUCT_zEWEiyPUfvhsO_Lt_r3zuX7BlHbVGZIOHnDfwLpEwv8wEV-nu8h6O7hUpGrrH4vzktfB2actewEdMt78S9YbzMQmOMOMgJi4H305shs2kE10kDyYRs/s1600/P1070205res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaz81FW3k0r7566p9GtjMMUCT_zEWEiyPUfvhsO_Lt_r3zuX7BlHbVGZIOHnDfwLpEwv8wEV-nu8h6O7hUpGrrH4vzktfB2actewEdMt78S9YbzMQmOMOMgJi4H305shs2kE10kDyYRs/s1600/P1070205res.JPG" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tomato Sauce Preserve</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
2kg of ripe tomatoes<br />
<br />
3 cloves garlic, crushed<br />
1 bay leaf<br />
4 finely chopped leaves of fresh basil<br />
1 sprig fresh thyme<br />
2 spoonfuls finely chopped parsley<br />
6 spoonfuls olive oil<br />
1/2 teaspoon sugar<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Peel, core and chop the to<span class="il">matoes</span>, let them drain for a while.<br />
In a large pot, heat the olive oil and the garlic cloves, don't let them brown.<br />
Add all remaining ingredients, mix, bring to a boil and let it simmer for 30 min.<br />
Remove the bay leaf and thyme and blend (I use a hand blender).<br />
Pour the hot tomato sauce into your previously washed jars (I reuse tomato sauce jars), leaving a small 3-4 cm headspace and apply lids.<br />
Take your jars and sterilise them in a boiling water bath for 1 h (large jars) to 45 min (small jars). Turn off the heat and let the jars cool down completely inside the water.<br />
And you're done! AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-44057586543076714462013-08-26T15:06:00.002+01:002013-08-26T22:27:36.208+01:00Como preparar Tremoços em Casa / How to prepare Lupini beans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GyZoqFIYyalk1Jm0CQk6BoQFE7XRCYcZ1BXHWwrF3MBOvQWBaihDEtMkjB4VWr8yxomNVwYZiTJOFj7Ypz3xNr3Rrzf2WdUivN2gRE2IlhiIkUxIgq8t_ft3XgtJ-vnvPymn3lUt0ww/s1600/tremocos1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GyZoqFIYyalk1Jm0CQk6BoQFE7XRCYcZ1BXHWwrF3MBOvQWBaihDEtMkjB4VWr8yxomNVwYZiTJOFj7Ypz3xNr3Rrzf2WdUivN2gRE2IlhiIkUxIgq8t_ft3XgtJ-vnvPymn3lUt0ww/s1600/tremocos1.JPG" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Há algum tempo atrás, ofereceram-me um saco de tremoços secos e ensinaram-me a prepará-los.<br />
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O grão seco do tremoço é tóxico, porque contem alcalóides neurotóxicos e hepatotóxicos, que lhe conferem um sabor amargo. Por esta razão, os tremoços só são comestíveis depois de devidamente preparados. O processo, que me foi ensinado por uma senhora que os cultiva e prepara há muitos anos, é simples:<br />
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Em primeiro lugar, escolhem-se os tremoços para remover algum que esteja estragado, ou alguma impureza<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">De seguida, colocam-se os tremoços de molho em água fria, de um dia para o outro, tal como se faz com o feijão ou o grão.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">No dia seguinte, escorre</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">m-se e passam-se por água limpa.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Colocam-se ao lume numa panel</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a com água <u>sem</u> sal e deixam-se ferver 5-7 minutos. Quando se separarem facilmente da casca, após uma incisão com a unha (ou os dentes), sabemos que estão prontos. Não convém deixá-los cozer demasiado, pois ficariam moles.</span></span></span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Quando estiverem cozidos, retiram-se do lume, escorrem-se e colocam-se em água fria com uma mão-cheia de sal (mais ou menos 1 colher de sopa por cada litro de água).<b><br /></b></span></div>
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Passadas 2-3 horas, muda-se a água e não é necessário adicionar sal.</div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Passadas outras tantas horas, muda-se novamente a água, colocando novamente sal.</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
Repete-se este processo 2-3 vezes por dia, durante 4 dias, até que os tremoços percam a amargura. Tradicionalmente, este processo era feito ao ar livre: os tremoços eram colocados num saco de rede debaixo de uma nascente, ou num ribeiro, fixando-se com uma pedra, e o sal era adicionado no final, após 3-4 dias deste demolhar natural.<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Os tremoços mantêm-se durante várias semanas no frigorífico, num recipiente fechado, com água e uma fina camada de sal.</span></span></div>
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Os tremoços eram populares entre os romanos, que divulgaram o seu cultivo por todo o império. Hoje em dia, são um petisco comum nos países mediterrânicos e nas suas antigas colónias. Para além de Portugal, encontram-se com facilidade em Espanha, Itália, Brasil, Egipto, Síria, Líbano, Jordânia, Israel, Territórios Palestinianos e Turquia. Nos E.U.A. são populares na "Little Italy", em Chicago e no Harlem espanhol, em Nova Iorque, onde são servidos com cerveja, tal como em Portugal.<br />
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Do ponto de vista nutricional, os tremoços são um alimento bastante rico, pois possuem três vezes mais proteína e duas vezes mais fósforo do que o leite de vaca, possuindo ainda altos teores de fibra e vitaminas B e E, cálcio, potássio, ferro e omega 3.<br />
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Como se estas não fossem qualidades suficientes, o tremoceiro é também uma planta lindíssima, que fica bem em qualquer jardim e ainda por cima - porque se trata de uma leguminosa - fertiliza o solo de forma natural, ao fixar o azoto atmosférico e o transferir para o solo!</div>
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* * *</div>
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One of these days, I was offered a bag
full of dry Lupini beans together with the recipe how to prepare
them, so I set my hands to the task. </div>
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The dry Lupine grain contains alkaloids
that not only give it a bitter taste but are toxic as well, so they are
only edible after a simple but somehow lengthy preparation. This is
what I did, as instructed by an old lady that grows them herself and then prepares them like this
since very long ago:</div>
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<br /></div>
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First I pi<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ck</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ed</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
over </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">beans
to remove any debris. </span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
I let them s</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">oak
overnight.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
following day, I </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">drain</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ed</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and rinse</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">d
them</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then
I put them in a big pot of water, brought it to a boil and let the beans</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
simmer for </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">5-7
minutes</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
knew they were ready when I was able to easily pop a seed out after
making a small incision with my nail in the skin of a bean and
squeezing it between my fingers. You don't want to let them boil too long, otherwise they will get too soft.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">At
this point, I removed the beans from the heat, poured out the hot water and
ri</span></span></span></b>nsed them well with cold water.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then I put the beans in a large bowl,
added a generous amount of salt <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
(about 1 tablespoon per quart of water) </span></span></span>and
filled the bowl with water. </div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">After
2-3 hours, I d</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rain</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ed</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
rinse</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">d</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
well, cover</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ed</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
with </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">new
un</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">salted
water </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
refrigerated the beans</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">After
another 2-3 hours I repeated the process, this time adding salt again.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
r</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">epeat</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ed</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
this process </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2-3
times per</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
day for </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
days, until the soaking brine </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
no longer bitter (traditionally, this process was done outdoors, the beans kept in a mesh bag held with a stone under a natural spring or stream, salt being added after 3-4 days under running water). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXmiFRDD27Qm_-g5bo1636Z691gD86coTsMsKSrtoe4C74_5dDwPovLh27CW7lVlvC_gh3GrKF9eHnnELiuyGCN-LkXA3JuFN4jq24vzXlVovqrNRcjNC68Omr5e92Y3981Abn1VlBAU/s1600/tremocos4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXmiFRDD27Qm_-g5bo1636Z691gD86coTsMsKSrtoe4C74_5dDwPovLh27CW7lVlvC_gh3GrKF9eHnnELiuyGCN-LkXA3JuFN4jq24vzXlVovqrNRcjNC68Omr5e92Y3981Abn1VlBAU/s1600/tremocos4.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beans
will keep for weeks, covered with lightly salted water and
refrigerated. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">To
serve as a snack, we just have to drain the desired quantity of
beans, and eat them! They can also be served with a drizzle of olive
oil and freshly ground black pepper.</span></span> You can eat them by making a small tear in the skin with your teeth and
popping the seed directly into your mouth, or you can just eat them
with the skin on.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Beware:
failure to properly remove alkaloids from lupini beans can lead to
lupini toxicity, so you want to make sure all bitterness has been
removed from your beans before you start eating them!</span></span></span></b></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lupins are a popular appetizer in
Portuguese bars, usually served with beer. They are commonly
found in markets and supermarkets, sold in bulk or in jars. </div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lupini beans were popular with the
Romans, who spread their cultivation throughout the Roman Empire. It
is no surprise that today, Lupini are most commonly found in
Mediterranean countries and their former colonies, especially
Portugal, Italy, Brazil, as well as Egypt (where it is part of Sham
El Nessim holiday meals), Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian
Territories and Turkey. In the US, they are popular in Chicago's
Little Italy and in New York City's Spanish Harlem, where they are
served with beer, just like we do in Portugal.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
From the nutritional point of view,
Lupini beans are very rich, as they have three times more protein and
two times more Phosphor than cow’s milk. Lupins are also high in
fibre, vitamins B and E, Calcium, Potassium, Iron and Omega 3.<br />
<br />
As if this was not enough, the lupine plant has a wonderful flower that makes a great garden addition and because it belongs to the legume family, it is a natural soil fertiliser, as it is capable of nitrogen fixation! </div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-68983782145072680702013-08-10T15:09:00.003+01:002013-08-10T15:10:47.288+01:00Vida nova na Piscina Biológica / New Life in the Biological Pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4oWXubE13DaKmCKg3IOX6FcXrYgRyTS95y1S36bDxBQG_RRoOcqKxw_sOYZEMGdOk_OFaGaXyn86GCPz_IZE2YCPyS2zEJEJgtF5kJl0LWEPWt5Xo-RqaoS8UlQ8ncqPavXBF7xLqXw/s1600/GalinhaDagua5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBCigeTCyfUkVVnIbi8nh1k_7II7I8hoPrN142cPFRUaiux5CejVaBP599rmgLPTwkj2m6gKFAF9Kne5n8c3n39YO93p7jhscvPHAhfNEfacKtfcbp_a81ZoD03IaC7EwMz2mfo-FQVA/s1600/GalinhaDagua1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBCigeTCyfUkVVnIbi8nh1k_7II7I8hoPrN142cPFRUaiux5CejVaBP599rmgLPTwkj2m6gKFAF9Kne5n8c3n39YO93p7jhscvPHAhfNEfacKtfcbp_a81ZoD03IaC7EwMz2mfo-FQVA/s1600/GalinhaDagua1.JPG" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Em finais de abril, numa
manhã solarenga mas ainda fresca, fomos surpreendidos por um novo visitante na nossa <a href="http://www.piscinasbiologicas.pt/" target="_blank">piscina biológica</a>. Ao abrir a janela, por volta das 7h30, o L. viu uma <a href="http://www.avesdeportugal.info/galchl.html" target="_blank">galinha-d'água</a> (<i>Gallinula chloropus</i>), não... duas galinhas-d'água! Entravam e
saiam da água, ora nadando e procurando comida nas margens, ora
bicando a erva na zona em redor da piscina. Corremos a buscar a máquina fotográfica e com mil cuidados, abrimos uma nesga da janela para as fotografar.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
galinha d'água é uma espécie bastante comum em Portugal, podendo
ser observada tanto em lagoas e albufeiras de grande dimensão, como
em lagos, parques e jardins de zonas urbanizadas. Mas foi a primeira
vez que a observámos na nossa piscina!</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TfD_1TqiXZLMU4q6o3bSjcz52ASv1mnwnGj7wgy30wWzDdkbaZQxpNSVQHkN4pqdbWOdC_OqYV0S46J1Dn8BgWX6-YbrZlkX84rKUb39t_BeOv8Khcx9R8yYH_PZpcq3kmwEL0Vqg5A/s1600/GalinhaDagua7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TfD_1TqiXZLMU4q6o3bSjcz52ASv1mnwnGj7wgy30wWzDdkbaZQxpNSVQHkN4pqdbWOdC_OqYV0S46J1Dn8BgWX6-YbrZlkX84rKUb39t_BeOv8Khcx9R8yYH_PZpcq3kmwEL0Vqg5A/s1600/GalinhaDagua7.JPG" height="163" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Trata-se
de uma espécie fácil de identificar através do corpo escuro,
fronte e bico vermelhos com a ponta amarela, e patas claras. As penas
da zona inferior da cauda são de um branco bastante conspícuo, como
se pode ver na fotografia lá de cima. Apesar disso, esta espécie
pode ser bastante discreta, pois é cautelosa e desloca-se
frequentemente ao longo da vegetação das margens. Alimenta-se de
uma grande variedade de material vegetal, bem como de pequenos
animais aquáticos.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.16in;">
<br />
Manhã após manhã, ao abrir a janela, as galinhas lá estavam, até que se tornou uma rotina vê-las a nadar calmamente por entre os nenúfares, mas sempre alerta, escondendo-se ao menor ruído. Até que um dia, deixámos de as ver! Passou um dia, dois, três... e as galinhas sem aparecer. Foram-se embora... pensámos com pena.</div>
<br />
Mas numa bela manhã de Maio, eis que as belas aves estavam de regresso e... acompanhadas! Afinal não se tinham ido embora, estavam, isso sim, a nidificar e agora regressavam com duas pequenas crias!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sZqPi7X4obUZLbfgqQXp7VZY-EOM237oO9DP7Fv12hlXz5YV4Pq6TdHwbgv7SsJXZCuO7EwC1gPwOGp1NCkzPCwKcmUjyzUyRhfAQ-r3a7lLWMck7Yq1rlOjztWGGoCqzGKArcEc7g8/s1600/GalinhaDagua4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sZqPi7X4obUZLbfgqQXp7VZY-EOM237oO9DP7Fv12hlXz5YV4Pq6TdHwbgv7SsJXZCuO7EwC1gPwOGp1NCkzPCwKcmUjyzUyRhfAQ-r3a7lLWMck7Yq1rlOjztWGGoCqzGKArcEc7g8/s1600/GalinhaDagua4.JPG" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As galinhas de água
que visitaram a nossa piscina foram muito silenciosas, como convém a quem uma prole a proteger, mas se
quiserem escutar o seu chamamento, basta clicar <a href="http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Gallinula-chloropus" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">aqui</span></a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">* * *</span></div>
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In the last days of April, on a sunny but still cool morning, we were surprised to see a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Moorhen" target="_blank">Common Moorhen</a> (Gallinula chloropus) in our <a href="http://www.piscinasbiologicas.pt/" target="_blank">biological swimming pool</a>. My husband went to open the window, around 7h30 and there it was, this beautiful bird happily swimming around. But wait... it was not one, there were two of them! They went in and out of the water and we carefully opened a tiny bit of the window to take a few pictures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFjEfXDrR_4c7duOP_ys5cNXhh1CW3yB2NV6P4ukST-3wE0UJ5xwfSWMc_LvBGHxqKBtYV6Od64WgiqedDaVZ_gYK47mcCJ1yOu74W_SZHHPvL4DqBNpzJmcXvDadf_irqnJna0E-ZyU/s1600/GalinhaDagua2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFjEfXDrR_4c7duOP_ys5cNXhh1CW3yB2NV6P4ukST-3wE0UJ5xwfSWMc_LvBGHxqKBtYV6Od64WgiqedDaVZ_gYK47mcCJ1yOu74W_SZHHPvL4DqBNpzJmcXvDadf_irqnJna0E-ZyU/s1600/GalinhaDagua2.JPG" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
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Day after day, when we opened the window, there they were. It became a routine to watch them every morning, swimming around confidently but totally alert and hiding at the faintest sound. Until one day... they just vanished! Each morning we peaked at the window hoping to see them, but they were nowhere to be found. They're gone... we thought a bit sad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4oWXubE13DaKmCKg3IOX6FcXrYgRyTS95y1S36bDxBQG_RRoOcqKxw_sOYZEMGdOk_OFaGaXyn86GCPz_IZE2YCPyS2zEJEJgtF5kJl0LWEPWt5Xo-RqaoS8UlQ8ncqPavXBF7xLqXw/s1600/GalinhaDagua5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4oWXubE13DaKmCKg3IOX6FcXrYgRyTS95y1S36bDxBQG_RRoOcqKxw_sOYZEMGdOk_OFaGaXyn86GCPz_IZE2YCPyS2zEJEJgtF5kJl0LWEPWt5Xo-RqaoS8UlQ8ncqPavXBF7xLqXw/s1600/GalinhaDagua5.JPG" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
But on a beautiful May morning, when we were no longer expecting it, there they were again! Only this time there were not two of them, but four! Two cute chicks were following their mama everywhere, swimming behind her, walking clumsily on top of the water lilies, stopping to beg for food... We don't get tired of watching (and photographing) them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy2BV8QDG8TTctxF-Ty76N_4ieorQbmfGalBbxzOIvkJU3vgrl4xYGzVPBBFSfk0ix1n_CO8X67-BFcszqnXoHFl05pjtgfMtvW1GGumy4jJqT_xBIA9SdF-OL_ninkQFhV2g_nQBFvQ/s1600/GalinhaDagua6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy2BV8QDG8TTctxF-Ty76N_4ieorQbmfGalBbxzOIvkJU3vgrl4xYGzVPBBFSfk0ix1n_CO8X67-BFcszqnXoHFl05pjtgfMtvW1GGumy4jJqT_xBIA9SdF-OL_ninkQFhV2g_nQBFvQ/s1600/GalinhaDagua6.JPG" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
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These moorhens have so far been very silent - no wonder, because they have brood to protect. But if you want to know the sound of their call, you can listed to it <a href="http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Gallinula-chloropus" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">here</span></a>.</div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-25916303924213345122013-07-28T00:31:00.000+01:002013-07-28T00:41:28.835+01:00Leituras de Fim-de-Semana: A Bolsa ou a Vida / Weekend Reads: Your Money or your Life<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143115766" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx7Nfq5UbfjsvRcNMlMyAlhhtTNRhhYuLNIxYm6NE16h0I3o_m6J7_9OdFNUesI8kWqYbHz9QwbYABrM48BAPLVLzQWNpzrjzZ2oXJQa3AdOh4ZlyqNdLAV0_M9j_aDuP-VCTF-GwrHg/s1600/Your+money+or+your+life.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx7Nfq5UbfjsvRcNMlMyAlhhtTNRhhYuLNIxYm6NE16h0I3o_m6J7_9OdFNUesI8kWqYbHz9QwbYABrM48BAPLVLzQWNpzrjzZ2oXJQa3AdOh4ZlyqNdLAV0_M9j_aDuP-VCTF-GwrHg/s1600/Your+money+or+your+life.gif" height="400" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cartoon by Cal Grondahl from the book The Network Marketing Game, 1997 by Jon M. Taylor</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Conhecem aquela sensação de começar a ler um livro e encontrar imensas coisas que vão exactamente de encontro aquilo que pensamos desde há muito tempo, mas que nunca tínhamos conseguido pôr em palavras? Ou até tínhamos, mais ou menos (tal como eu fiz <a href="http://www.papelonline.pt/revista/quanto-custa-o-seu-tempo/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">aqui</span></a>, a propósito do valor monetário que podemos atribuir ao nosso tempo), mas de uma forma muito mais rudimentar e menos elaborada?<br />
<br />
Bom, isto é exactamente o que me está a acontecer com o livro que estou agora a ler - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0143115766/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0143115766&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-21%22%3EYour%20Money%20or%20Your%20Life:%209%20Steps%20to%20Transforming%20Your%20Relationship%20with%20Money%20and%20Achieving%20Financial%20Independence:%20Revised%20and%20Updated%20for%20the%2021st%20Century%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0143115766%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Your Money or Your Life</span></a> (que não consegui encontrar em português, mas julgo que podíamos traduzir como "A Bolsa ou a Vida"), de Vicki Robin e Joe Dominguez.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143115766/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143115766&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0143115766&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pequetea-20" /></a><br />
O que é curioso é que, <b>se eu tivesse pegado neste livro numa livraria, teria certamente voltado a poisá-lo no expositor depois de uma vista de olhos à capa e não voltaria a pensar mais nele</b>. É que a capa está cheia daquelas frases do tipo "como deixar de ter dívidas e começar a poupar", "reordene as suas prioridades materiais e viva melhor por menos dinheiro", etc. Em suma, um típico livro de auto-ajuda sobre finanças pessoais, que não é um tema que me interesse particularmente.<br />
<br />
Mas felizmente, eu já tinha lido acerca deste livro em vários sítios (como por exemplo este <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2013/01/08/revising-my-essential-bookshelf/" target="_blank">aqui</a>) e sabia que é um dos casos em que não se deve julgar o livro pela capa. É que lá dentro discutem-se assuntos bem mais interessantes, tais como os <b>conflitos interiores entre os nossos valores pessoais e o estilo de vida que levamos na prática</b>, ou a <b>avaliação das nossas despesas à luz do nosso "propósito de vida"</b>, sendo que este propósito implica mais do que trabalhar para atingir um objectivo (reformar-se aos 50, por exemplo) ou adquirir um bem há muito desejado (digamos, comprar uma casa). <br />
<br />
A propósito dos diferentes tipos de motivações que podem estar na base das nossas acções, gostei muito da fábula dos três pedreiros, que desbastavam um grande bloco de pedra, e que ilustra os três tipos de motivação para o trabalho mais frequentes - trabalhar para atingir um objectivo, trabalhar por atribuição de um significado e dedicação:<br />
<br />
<i>Um passeante aproxima-se do primeiro pedreiro e pergunta, "Desculpe, o que é que está a fazer?" O pedreiro responde asperamente, "Não está a ver? Estou a desbastar este pedregulho." Aproximando-se do segundo homem, o nosso curioso passeante faz-lhe a mesma pergunta. Este homem olha-o com um misto de orgulho e resignação e diz, "Bem, estou a ganhar a vida para sustentar a minha mulher e os meus filhos." Passando para o terceiro trabalhador, o passeante pergunta mais uma vez, "E você, o que está a fazer?" O terceiro pedreiro volta-se para o visitante, com o rosto a brilhar, e diz com reverência, "Estou a construir uma catedral!"</i><br />
Moral da história: o significado que atribuímos a uma acção tem origem no nosso interior e não na acção propriamente dita.<br />
<br />
Na minha opinião, é um livro de leitura obrigatória, com excelentes conselhos práticos que nos ajudam a <b>olhar para a forma como gastamos o nosso dinheiro como um reflexo da maneira como vivemos as nossas vidas, avaliar se essa é realmente a forma como as queremos viver, e agir em conformidade.</b> O mais provável é virmos a descobrir que andamos a gastar mais do que julgamos valer a pena em coisas que não trazem valor acrescido às nossas vidas, e se calhar poderíamos gastar mais noutras que nos colocariam num caminho mais directo ao nosso propósito de vida. Acho que ao fazer-nos ver o poder e o valor (do ponto de vista financeiro) de nos livrarmos daquilo que é menos importante nas nossas vidas, este livro se pode considerar <b>uma espécie de guia de finanças pessoais em versão para minimalistas</b>.<br />
<br />
Tanto quanto consegui apurar, o livro não está traduzido em português, eu comprei-o na versão inglesa e posso dizer que é de leitura bastante fácil - o inglês é simples, sem floreados e acessível.<br />
<br />
Entretanto, já enviei um e-mail a uma editora portuguesa a sugerir que o traduzam - para além deste período me parecer propício à publicação deste tipo de livros, acho que é daqueles que vale a pena divulgar, pois pode, realmente, ajudar a fazer as pessoas adoptarem uma perspectiva diferente em relação ao modo como vêem as suas vidas e tentar mudar para melhor. Não sei se a editora vai dar alguma importância ao meu e-mail, mas acredito no poder dos <strike>leitores</strike> consumidores. Pouco a pouco, vamos construindo catedrais...<br />
<br />
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* * * </div>
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143115766" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Do you know the feeling when you start reading a book and find in
writing many things you've been thinking to yourself, but some of them
you've never been able to put into words before, and others you sort of
did put them into words (like I did <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/05/quanto-custa-o-seu-tempo-how-much-is.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">here</span></a>
regarding the attribution of a price to our time) but that book just
takes them to a higher level? Well, this is exactly
what is happening to me with Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143115766/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143115766&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3EYour%20Money%20or%20Your%20Life:%209%20Steps%20to%20Transforming%20Your%20Relationship%20with%20Money%20and%20Achieving%20Financial%20Independence:%20Revised%20and%20Updated%20for%20the%2021st%20Century%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143115766%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Your Money or Your Life</span></a>, that I am currently reading.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143115766/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143115766&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0143115766&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pequetea-20" /></a>The funny thing is,<b> if I had picked up this book on a bookstore, I've probably put it down after looking at the cover and not give it a second thought</b>. That's because it boasts about teaching how to get out of debt and develop savings, reorder material priorities and live well for less, etc. In summary, a typical self-help book about personal finances, something that is not in my immediate range of interests.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I had read about this book before (<a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2013/01/08/revising-my-essential-bookshelf/" target="_blank">here</a>, for instance) and knew that it discusses things way more interesting and thought provoking, such as <b>inner conflicts between values and lifestyle</b> and <b>evaluating our expenditures in light of our "life purpose"</b>, being that "life purpose" is more than simply achieving a goal (retire by 50, for instance) or acquiring some longed-for possession (e.g. buy a house). <br />
<br />
I loved the tale about the three stonecutters, each chipping away at a large block, that illustrates the three most common kinds of purpose - goal, meaning and dedication:<br />
<br />
<i>A passerby approaches the first stonecutter and asks, "Excuse me, what are you doing?" The stonecutter replies rather gruffly, "Can't you see? I'm chipping away at this big hunk of stone." Approaching the second craftsman, our curious person asks the same question. This stonecutter looks up with a mixture of pride and resignation and says, "Why, I'm earning a living to take care of my wife and children." Moving to the third worker, our questioner asks, "And what are you doing?" The third stonecutter looks up, his face shining, and says with reverence, "I'm building a cathedral!"</i><br />
Moral of the story: the meaning we give to an action comes from within us, not by the action.<br />
<br />
Back to the book, it really has great practical advice that helps us <b>look at our spending as a reflection of how we're living our lives, judge whether this is the way we really want to be living them and then, act accordingly.</b> Chances are, we'll find we're spending way more than we think is worth on things that don't bring value to our lives and we're might be spending less on others that would put us in a path more aligned with our life purpose. I guess I could say that by showing us the financial value of getting rid of the things that are less important in our lives,<b> this book is a sort of minimalist version of personal finances</b>. By all means, a must read.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I sent an e-mail to a Portuguese publisher suggesting they translate it - the crisis period we are going through couldn't be more appropriate. I don't know if the publisher will pay any attention to my suggestion but I believe in the power of <strike>readers</strike> consumers to change things for the better. Little by little, we can build cathedrals...AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-80244401595658561452013-07-25T00:29:00.000+01:002013-07-25T00:31:21.993+01:00Mais Horta / Vegetable Garden Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTBDHIQeijTlDpwnsMQ6xLKbnDv3MB_CbKyIhw0I6ZLtlenJ4v_kHwOJDi3pGKjlRSi-yOzU-VlpeJQJKMiUbxjSFtSM5ObE04mgWCwyVEtGsH8RmZiL_uVDgMJKEhELIP_kCOpdnzvo/s1600/P1070037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTBDHIQeijTlDpwnsMQ6xLKbnDv3MB_CbKyIhw0I6ZLtlenJ4v_kHwOJDi3pGKjlRSi-yOzU-VlpeJQJKMiUbxjSFtSM5ObE04mgWCwyVEtGsH8RmZiL_uVDgMJKEhELIP_kCOpdnzvo/s1600/P1070037.JPG" height="473" width="640" /></a></div>
Passadas cerca de três semanas desde o <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/07/um-passeio-pela-horta-vegetable-garden.html" target="_blank">primeiro passeio pela horta</a>, foi muito o que mudou.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Three weeks after the first <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/07/um-passeio-pela-horta-vegetable-garden.html" target="_blank">vegetable garden tour</a>, a great deal has changed.</span> <br />
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As alfaces já estão em fim de vida (mas há nova fornada a caminho) e já não precisamos de nos esforçar para distinguir as cenouras por entre as cebolas:<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Lettuce are coming to its end (though new seedlings are on their way) and we no longer need to make an effort to find the carrot leaves among the onions:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wfxSPZD_E0stGUP49R1841HGl4803j0xIdt7bdGgBjdRnqBOsS1xbYWKpShppzqqh0iIS0pCx0cc1GHpeoSj5pDCrvq5bxhjv2LuNfU6_z6Aw3eKHMWmYBEV7TlFQkb9ncv7uQNOODY/s1600/P1070040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wfxSPZD_E0stGUP49R1841HGl4803j0xIdt7bdGgBjdRnqBOsS1xbYWKpShppzqqh0iIS0pCx0cc1GHpeoSj5pDCrvq5bxhjv2LuNfU6_z6Aw3eKHMWmYBEV7TlFQkb9ncv7uQNOODY/s1600/P1070040.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As primeiras plantações de cebolas já estão deitadas e não tarda que comecemos a colher as primeiras:<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">The first onion plantations already have their tops bent down and soon we will start to harvest them: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kgG2oUYGBQZyTPrTX_psxm4ZOChTVP2lmTQhuMmKr-X64VkdWIZf-7HXFQmjeGAuSg8yzhNM9R87pCBTj7HvZGWOvU1-dLHJY9XieOIqymrWNFSjxFYM-sz62vGUhV1ivNH1awrFJp0/s1600/P1070047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kgG2oUYGBQZyTPrTX_psxm4ZOChTVP2lmTQhuMmKr-X64VkdWIZf-7HXFQmjeGAuSg8yzhNM9R87pCBTj7HvZGWOvU1-dLHJY9XieOIqymrWNFSjxFYM-sz62vGUhV1ivNH1awrFJp0/s1600/P1070047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Nota: esta prática de deitar os caules das cebolas (com ajuda de um ancinho) usa-se quando estas já atingiram um tamanho considerável e a folhagem está muito vigorosa, com o fim de favorecer a formação dos bolbos.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Note: when onions start to mature, and the tops are too vigorous, we can bend them down (using a rake) to speed
the final ripening process.</span> <br />
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As beringelas crescem a olhos vistos, embora algumas teimem em não ganhar cor:<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Eggplants grow from day to day, although some insist in not taking any colour:</span><br />
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As couves-roxas já foram colhidas e têm feito partes de saladas, estufados e arroz, quando não oferecidas a amigos e vizinhos.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Red cabbages have been harvested and are being eaten in salads, stews and rice, as well as offered to friedns and neighbours:</span><br />
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E para terminar, uma fotografia-mistério, para ver se alguém consegue adivinhar que planta é dona de tão bonita flor:<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">And to finish with a note of mistery, can anyone tell the name of the plant who owns such a beautiful flower?</span><br />
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<br />AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-28407649953061317402013-07-21T21:59:00.000+01:002013-07-21T22:58:06.851+01:00Ginjas: um fruto, duas receitas / Sour cherries: one fruit, two recipes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As ginjas são provavelmente um dos meus frutos favoritos. São saborosas, doces q.b. e com aquele sabor especial das coisas que se vão tornando raras. Talvez por serem difíceis de conservar depois de colhidas, praticamente não se conseguem encontrar à venda. Felizmente, por baixo da nossa horta crescem várias ginjeiras de forma mais ou menos selvagem. Assim, todos os anos nos deliciamos a comê-las cruas, directamente da árvore, e apanhamos algumas para fazer <a href="http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginjinha" target="_blank">ginjinha</a> e também doce.<br />
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Aqui ficam as receitas.<br />
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<b>Ginjinha:</b> pegar nalgumas mãos cheias de ginjas, lavá-las e tirar-lhes os pés (mas não o caroço). Colocá-las em garrafas até cerca de 1/3 da capacidade e cobri-las com açúcar branco. Deixar assim durante umas duas ou três horas e depois encher as garrafas com uma aguardente de boa qualidade (nós usamos caseira, oferecida por vizinhos simpáticos). Pode juntar-se dois cravinhos-da-índia e/ou um pau de canela, se se
gostar de um sabor mais exótico. Colocam-se as garrafas num local escuro
e vão-se rodando suavemente de vez em quando (sem agitar demasiado),
até o açúcar ficar completamente dissolvido (isto demora normalmente
dois ou três dias). Fica perfeita ao fim de 6 meses, mas pode ser bebida
mais cedo, se a paciência não for o vosso forte.<br />
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<b>Doce de ginja</b>: Colocar numa panela 1kg de açúcar branco e 1 kg de ginjas sem pé nem caroço. Se gostarem, podem juntar o sumo de 1 limão (eu não ponho). Levar ao lume até ferver e depois baixar o lume e deixar espessar até atingir o ponto de estrada (para verificar se já atingiu o ponto, deitar um pouco da calda num prato e passar o dedo pelo meio abrindo uma "estrada" no doce. Se a estrada se mantiver aberta, já está. Se fechar, é sinal que ainda precisa de mais tempo ao lume). Este doce é excelente comido numa torrada, sobre um gelado de baunilha ou nata (que é como eu tenho comido o meu ultimamente) ou como recheio de uma "jalousie" ou pequenos pasteis de massa folhada.<br />
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<b>Sour cherries</b> must be one of my favorite fruits. They're tasty, sweet enough (but not too much) and with that exquisite taste of things that are becoming rare. They hardly can be found in shops nowadays, probably because they are difficult to keep stored. Fortunately, we have several sour cherry trees growing below our garden, so every year we delight eating them raw from the trees and we also pick up a few baskets to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginjinha" target="_blank">ginjinha</a> - a typical Portuguese liqueur - and sour cherry jam. <br />
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Here's how.<br />
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<b>Ginginha:</b> pick a few handfuls of sour cherries, wash them, remove the stems (but leave them unpitted) and insert them into bottles (the bottles should become 1/3 full, more or less). Cover the cherries with white sugar and let them settle for a couple of hours. Then, fill up the bottles with a good quality <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aguardente" target="_blank">aguardente</a> (we use home-made, offered by nice neighbours, but good quality ones can be found in supermarkets too). You can add 2 cloves and/or a cinnamon stick if you like, or just leave it plain and simple. Let it infuse in a dark place, stirring it very gently once in a while (don't shake it) until the sugar completely dissolves (this should take two or three days). It is good and ready after about 6 months but can be tasted earlier, if you become too impacient. Serve in small glasses either as an aperitif or at the end of the meal. <br />
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<b>Sour Cherry Jam:</b> Pour 1 kg of white sugar and 1 kg of pitted and stemless sour cherries on a saucepan. You can add the juice of one lemon if you like. Bring to a rolling boil and then simmer until thickened,
stirring occasionally and skimming
any foam from the top. Divide into clean jars and immediately cover with
lids. Label and store in a cool place (no need to freeze if thick enough and jars were clean and immediately closed after filled up). This jam is delicious on a toast, used as a topping for ice-cream (which is how I've been eating mine lately) or as a filling for quick puff-pastry pies.AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-62252250604192665832013-07-19T14:34:00.002+01:002013-07-21T22:22:11.465+01:00Floresta de Soignes (Bruxelas) / Sonian Forest (Brussels)<div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">No dia seguinte à ida a Neerijse, houve tempo para uma segunda e última excursão - vantagens dos longos dias de Verão, que permitem terminar uma reunião às 18h00 e ainda ter tempo para um passeio! Desta feita, fomos até à <a href="http://www.foret-de-soignes.be/" target="_blank">Floresta de Soignes</a>, uma floresta de cerca de 4.000 ha localizada a sul da cidade de Bruxelas. A floresta tem uma longa e interessante história, sendo uma relíquia da floresta das Ardenas (a mesma onde o Asterix e Obelix caçavam os seus javalis e dizimavam patrulhas romanas, lembram-se?) que ao longo da história foi sendo sucessivamente reduzida e transformada. Uma das razões porque sobreviveu até hoje foi o facto de se ter tornado uma zona de caça real, ao jeito da nossa <a href="http://www.tapadademafra.pt/" target="_blank">Tapada de Mafra</a>. Mas a escala e a paisagem são totalmente diferentes, claro. Demos um belo passeio guiado por Dirk Raes, um dos florestais responsáveis e ficou bem claro que ele não só conhece bem aquela floresta, como adora o seu trabalho.</span><br />
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O meu desenho não faz justiça às impressionantes faias com mais de cem anos de idade, pois devia ter desenhado os meus colegas com metade do tamanho para manter a escala correcta: as árvores têm em média 40-50 m de altura! Completamente diferentes em tamanho e forma das que estou habituada a ver no norte de Espanha. Na verdade, fazem lembrar as sequoias gigantes e acho que não me surpreenderia se de repente aparecesse uma daquelas motas voadoras do Star Wars a acelerar por entre os troncos... Mas por muito impressionantes que sejam, estas faias foram plantadas.<br />
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O que gostei verdadeiramente de ver foi a forma como uma parte da floresta está a ser gerida de forma mais natural, deixando-a evoluir tirando partido da regeneração natural dos carvalhos e bétulas que, esses sim, se pensa serem os descendentes da floresta original. E também gostei de ver a maneira como os habitantes locais usufruem da sua floresta. Era o fim de um dia de semana, e ainda assim, vimos famílias com crianças, ciclistas, pessoas a passear a cavalo e outras a passear os seus cães, se bem que tendessem mais para se manterem nas zonas limítrofes e não se aventurarem muito no coração mais "selvagem" da floresta...<br />
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Se forem a Bruxelas e tiverem duas ou três horas livres, a Floresta de Soignes merece uma visita. Pode-se apanhar o autocarro 95 no centro da cidade e em cerca de 20 minutos chega-se lá. Tenho quase a certeza que não se<br />
arrependerão.<br />
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The day after our visit to the Neerijse, there was still time for another excursion - one of the advantages of the long Summer days is that you can finish a meeting at 18h and still manage a walk in the woods!<br />
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So we went to the <a href="http://www.sonianforest.be/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sonian forest</span></a>, a large forest surrounded by the Brussels
communities with a rich history. In the Middle Ages the forest extended over the southern part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy_of_Brabant" title="Duchy of Brabant">Brabant</a> up to the walls of Brussels and it was part of the Forest of Ardennes (if you were an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix" target="_blank">Asterix</a> fan, this is where he and his pal Obelix went to hunt wildboar and Roman patrols). Along the centuries, the forest has shrunk and transformed and one of the reasons it survived until this day is because at some point, it became a royal hunting place. A sort of Belgian <a href="http://www.tapadademafra.pt/the-tapada-in-english.html" target="_blank">Tapada de Mafra</a>, but on a different scale and with different tree species, of course. We had a wonderful walk guided by Dirk Raes, one of the foresters in charge. It was clear he not only knows his forest, but he loves it as well.<br />
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My sketch doesn't really make justice to the impressive hundred-year-old
beech trees. I should have drawn my colleagues about half the size I
did in order to get the scale right: these trees are 40-50 m high on
average, completely different in size and shape from the Iberian beech trees I'm used to see. They reminded me of giant sequoias and I guess I wouldn't be surprised if I saw a Star Wars flying speeder bike racing through them... But centenary and striking as they are, these beech trees were planted.<br />
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What I really liked to see is the way a part of the forest is being managed in a more natural way, leaving nature to its course and natural regeneration of oaks and hornbeam happening everywhere. I also liked to see how local people enjoy their forest. It was a regular evening on a work day and we saw families with children, cyclists, horse riders and people walking their dogs, though they tended to stay in the outer areas and not venture too much into the "wilder" heart of the forest...<br />
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If you go to Brussels and have a couple of hours to spare, the Sonian Forest is surely worth a visit. You can take
bus 95 from the centre of the city and in just 20 minutes, you'll get there, which is exactly what we did. I dare say you will not regret it.</div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-16249258070357283642013-07-15T01:17:00.001+01:002013-07-15T09:14:02.725+01:00Neerijse – Doode Bemde<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
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Julho tem sido um mês de viagens e apesar de as viagens serem de trabalho, tenho conseguido arranjar uns momentos para desenhar alguma coisa.<br />
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Este desenho foi feito numa reserva natural a sudeste de Bruxelas chamada <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://discoveringbelgium.com/2010/07/13/doode-bemde-neerijse/" target="_blank">Neerijse – Doode Bemde</a>, que visitei com os meus colegas após um dia de reuniões. Estende-se por cerca de 250 ha e foi constituida a partir de pequenas parcelas de terreno que foram sendo compradas (ou trocadas por outras) ao longo dos últimos 20-25 anos por uma ONGA local, que agora gere a reserva em conjunto com os agricultores da zona. Trata-se de um mosaico de pastagens, bosques de amieiros e salgueiros e zonas alagadas atravessadas pelos rios </span></span>Dijle e Ijse. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Se bem que para alguém habituado às áreas naturais do sul da Europa, uma visita a esta zona se assemelhe mais a um passeio pelo campo (leia-se: campo cultivado - que aliás me lembrou um pouco o vale do <a href="http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Mondego" target="_blank">Mondego</a>), também é verdade que no contexto centro-europeu se trata de uma bela reserva, cuja visita se tornou ainda mais agradável graças ao guia que nos acompanhou e conhecia a região como as palmas das mãos. O passeio terminou da melhor maneira, com uma cerveja na bonita vila de
<span class="il">Neerijse<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
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Para o desenho, usei <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000I6M55O/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B000I6M55O&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-21%22%3EUni-ball%20Eye%20UB150%20Rollerball%20Pen%20Micro%200.5mm%20Tip%200.2mm%20Line%20Black%20Ref%20UB150BLK%20[Pack%2012]%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B000I6M55O%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;" target="_blank">a minha caneta do costume</a> e um pequeno kit de aguarelas com um pincel com carga de água incorporada muito prático, pois evita termos de andar carregados com uma garrafa:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001OVG40E/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B001OVG40E&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-21"><img border="0" src="http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001OVG40E&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pequetea-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B001OVG40E" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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July has been a traveling month and although I traveled for work, I was able to fit in some sketching.</div>
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This one was done in a nice area southeast of Brussels called <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://discoveringbelgium.com/2010/07/13/doode-bemde-neerijse/" target="_blank">Neerijse – Doode Bemde</a> I visited with my colleagues after a day filled with meetings. </span></span>It is a <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">nature reserve of around</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 250 ha which has been built </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">along the last
20-25 years </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">by a local NGO by buying and swapping small land plots. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It consists of a mosaic landscape
of grasslands, willow-alder woodland, ponds and meandering rivers </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dijle and Ijse. The site is now managed <span style="font-size: small;">together by the NGO and the local farmers. </span></span></span>Although for someone accustomed to the Mediterranean wilderness <span style="font-size: small;">a visit to this area is </span>more like a walk through the countryside <span style="font-size: small;">(it actually reminded me of <span style="font-size: small;">the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondego_River" target="_blank">Mondego river</a> valley near my home<span style="font-size: small;">town, Coimbra)</span></span></span>, the site is nice enough in the central <span style="font-size: small;">European</span> context and we had a wonderful guide <span style="font-size: small;">who made the visit all the more <span style="font-size: small;">worthwhile.</span></span> In the end we had a nice beer in the adjoining pretty village of
<span class="il">Neerijse<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="il"><span style="font-size: small;">For my sketch I used my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IE8J/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00006IE8J&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20%22%3Euni-ball%20Vision%20Stick%20Fine%20Point%20Roller%20Ball%20Pen%20(60126)%20-%20Pack%20of%2012%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00006IE8J%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important" target="_blank">usual pen</a> and a handy field<span style="font-size: small;"> watercolor set that includes a really nice </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="il"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">refillable brush to transport and store water:</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="il"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OVG40E/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001OVG40E&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001OVG40E&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pequetea-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pequetea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001OVG40E" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span></span></span></span></div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-58259459716555675822013-07-08T00:08:00.003+01:002013-07-08T00:10:14.671+01:00Intercidades / Travelling by train<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyICAw4hznKL6Q-HZUCmHcxRd8WutIzXZlYrLoq8bMP4pWNzHxg05VJPpYpvCcLLE0-tPwe1PAI9IXICqrMODnyORi959DsvMwlBMUtjMZhnFMByz8D3OEkzSQeWzngQPyiiJL_x-9QY/s1600/P1070004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyICAw4hznKL6Q-HZUCmHcxRd8WutIzXZlYrLoq8bMP4pWNzHxg05VJPpYpvCcLLE0-tPwe1PAI9IXICqrMODnyORi959DsvMwlBMUtjMZhnFMByz8D3OEkzSQeWzngQPyiiJL_x-9QY/s1600/P1070004.JPG" height="466" width="640" /></a></div>
A semana passada tive que viajar até ao sul e pude usar o meu meio de transporte favorito - o comboio. No comboio podemos ir sentados, andar quando nos apetece, não se enjoa, por isso pode-se ler, trabalhar no computador ou até mesmo desenhar. Eu fiz um pouco de tudo isto.<br />
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Mas a certa altura, o ar condicionado da nossa carruagem avariou e tivémos que nos mudar para outra (lá fora estavam 42ºC, não sei exactamente até quanto subiu a temperatura no interior, mas uma coisa é certa: estava demasiado calor!). A nova carruagem tinha uma temperatura óptima, mas melhor do que isso, tinha também um excelente motivo para desenhar. Assim, escolhi estrategicamente um lugar de onde pudesse desenhar este casal de meia idade e o seu canário. É caso para dizer que há males que vêm por bem.<br />
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Last week I had to go south. I love traveling by train - I can sit but I can also walk, I don't get sick, therefore I can read, work on a report or even draw. I did a bit of everything, actually.<br />
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At some point, the air conditioner in our carriage went down, so after a while we had to move to another compartment (it was 42ºC outside, I'm not sure how hot it became inside without the air conditioner, but it was definitely too much!). The new compartment had a great temperature but better than that, it also had a great sketching subject. So I strategically chose a seat from where I could sketch this middle-aged couple with their canary in its bird-cage. <span class="b1">A</span><span class="b2">s the sa</span><span class="b1">yi</span>ng goes, every cl<span class="b1">ou</span><span class="b2">d has a</span><span class="b1"> s</span>ilver lining. AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-75332868851376202822013-07-05T01:01:00.000+01:002013-07-09T00:03:45.443+01:00Um Passeio pela Horta / Vegetable garden Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GNsVWzi9ZMaxOkcPi-i3KPfLGc45eXd99aAXSpva0m4kM9M9O0f239gsDNDjxhqiIqEVIMrgn0-otPmqR-coNCZURsU-xwzWnUJrJ9ygM0v31jU1SRaR9_50IxI9GkgOim-BasZFxBg/s640/horta-vista1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></div>
Depois de ler <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2013/06/this-week-in-my-garden-june-27.html" target="_blank">este post da SoleMama</a>, decidi escrever também sobre a nossa horta.<br />
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Sempre que me lembro, levo comigo a máquina fotográfica, para ir registando a forma como ela vai evoluindo. Mas depois as imagens ficam guardadas no computador, sem ordem especial, muitas vezes sem outra data que não o mês em que foram tiradas. E numa horta
as mudanças são tão rápidas, que se notam de dia para dia, pelo que o
arquivamento mensal das fotografias é francamente insuficiente.<br />
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Assim, resolvi que vou passar a escrever regularmente sobre a horta, de forma a organizar um pouco os registos que vou fazendo, e poder usá-los para melhorar, no ano seguinte. E com sorte, pode ser que mais alguém encontre aqui alguma coisa útil.<br />
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Inspired by <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2013/06/this-week-in-my-garden-june-27.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">this post from SouleMama</span></a>, I decided to write about our vegetable garden too.<br />
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Whenever I think of it in advance, I take the camera with me to the garden and take a few pictures to illustrate how it changes over time. But then I save my photographs in a computer file, most of the times without any further indication than the month they were taken and then I pretty much forget about them. But the changes in a garden are so fast that we notice them literally from day to day, so a monthly archive is clearly insufficient.<br />
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Therefore, I decided to start writing regularly about our vegetable garden. This will help organizing the pictures and hopefully it will be useful to improve next year's garden and maybe it will be interesting for someone else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ExtTAXN5GJlstVjahn2sMQl6-HhtMzpitGtk2ciRQTOObpn6Hu9aMY_mPIevqC59fXEE7ZppJv1V82mQYtq2nPLP7lmzff-dNyfhqTdcoe4Et4Bex4U8TGFH5-JhS1rMg5EbQwQpcdw/s600/Horta-alhos2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ExtTAXN5GJlstVjahn2sMQl6-HhtMzpitGtk2ciRQTOObpn6Hu9aMY_mPIevqC59fXEE7ZppJv1V82mQYtq2nPLP7lmzff-dNyfhqTdcoe4Et4Bex4U8TGFH5-JhS1rMg5EbQwQpcdw/s640/Horta-alhos2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Esta é uma pequena parte da nossa colheita de alhos deste ano, que foram semeados no Inverno. Ainda não os apanhámos todos (mas está quase).<br />
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This is a small sample of our garlic harvest, they were sown in winter. We haven't harvested them all yet (but we're almost there).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRqLtwFcfGejj-AuEjVcBzeVI40rqATL7OSkzQsTc_vH3QWty4GzuItVgF8Q1cSFqpKJwmeptZLLJoMYuXXweBd-CyfIH_ngqv2Mtrm-rjpQwCMoZ_qjh1eSsWpKNGTYBy7vp_SfM7M0/s600/Horta-C-a-apanhar-morangos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRqLtwFcfGejj-AuEjVcBzeVI40rqATL7OSkzQsTc_vH3QWty4GzuItVgF8Q1cSFqpKJwmeptZLLJoMYuXXweBd-CyfIH_ngqv2Mtrm-rjpQwCMoZ_qjh1eSsWpKNGTYBy7vp_SfM7M0/s640/Horta-C-a-apanhar-morangos.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dentro da estufa temos várias coisas. Aqui a minha filha mais nova está a apanhar alguns morangos.<br />
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Inside the greenhouse we have several things, here my youngest daughter is picking up some strawberries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1H0ZhtgqzOf9eWIUVufmokBaGPfHr9ZFzuNohtsT2_ixZnxyFnOEgv2blvBMiyTHReixksmmcv5FmtbbGdB4q_F0VZbGPKFFPk2VSlodrk9P2mubDcN1h_FqyH7dWtGjK2ROrwpglB-I/s500/horta-morangos2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1H0ZhtgqzOf9eWIUVufmokBaGPfHr9ZFzuNohtsT2_ixZnxyFnOEgv2blvBMiyTHReixksmmcv5FmtbbGdB4q_F0VZbGPKFFPk2VSlodrk9P2mubDcN1h_FqyH7dWtGjK2ROrwpglB-I/s640/horta-morangos2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Por enquanto ainda não apanhamos muitos de cada vez, mas têm um tamanho razoável e um sabor maravilhoso.<br />
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So far we are only able to pick up a few each day, but they have a reasonable size and they taste wonderfully.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnZDystR0bkqCPyzLtuFfxu4tgIAvg-wFsqZw3NUbFf_5nuf_qnTl708AkF8HnHNLeVMdBFFMX3AzRUsdu0MkITRax1bvbZ7cffwExqmBqC7VSDtSq7Nw0VUuGZqQXw3LiFtwXeR1D70/s600/horta-closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnZDystR0bkqCPyzLtuFfxu4tgIAvg-wFsqZw3NUbFf_5nuf_qnTl708AkF8HnHNLeVMdBFFMX3AzRUsdu0MkITRax1bvbZ7cffwExqmBqC7VSDtSq7Nw0VUuGZqQXw3LiFtwXeR1D70/s640/horta-closeup.JPG" height="490" width="640" /></a></div>
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Aqui temos alfaces, cebolas e cenouras (ainda estão bastante pequenas, mas com algum esforço, conseguem distingui-las entre as duas fiadas de cebolas).<br />
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Here we have lettuce, onions and carrots (they are still tiny, but with some effort, they can be seen between the two lines of onions).<br />
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E aqui uma lindíssima flor de courgette (e se virem com atenção, também conseguirão descobrir duas pequenas courgette em crescimento). <br />
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And here is a beautiful zucchini flower (and if you look closer, you'll be able to see two tiny growing zucchinis).<br />
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Esta é uma flor de beringela, ainda mais bonita que a das courgettes. <br />
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This is an eggplant flower, even more beautiful than those of the zucchinis.<br />
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Também temos algumas aromáticas. O manjericão está muito bonito e cheira ainda melhor.<br />
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We also have some herbs. The basil looks beautiful right now and has a wonderful aroma.<br />
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Esta é uma espécie de menta que apareceu sozinha no vaso do limoeiro, não sei exatamente do que se trata (não me parecem poejos) e ainda não tive tempo de procurar. Se alguém quiser dar uma ajuda, agradeço.<br />
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This one showed up by itself and is probably a mint of some kind, but I don't know exactly which one (doesn't look like pennyroyal) and haven't had time to look it up yet, so if anyone knows what it is and cares to let me know, I'll be grateful.<br />
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Os tomates coração-de-boi estão a crescer....<br />
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The oxheart tomatoes are growing...<br />
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... e os tomates-cereja também.<br />
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... and so are the cherry tomatoes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53K0IZ0jgJ2ZbkCiNxbEEm9cF3oJubDq0lvcy9mDnUAHkTLXucvS64uENx9s5_Kk7521Gp1XQrbIUjKTQVA4HiNaqtB30ZgYOg8Yst6by1iFlUGsMraTt98IAS0dqL614wyQuYxiQzag/s600/horta-miudas-apanhar-ginjas.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53K0IZ0jgJ2ZbkCiNxbEEm9cF3oJubDq0lvcy9mDnUAHkTLXucvS64uENx9s5_Kk7521Gp1XQrbIUjKTQVA4HiNaqtB30ZgYOg8Yst6by1iFlUGsMraTt98IAS0dqL614wyQuYxiQzag/s640/horta-miudas-apanhar-ginjas.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Por baixo da horta há um pequeno lameiro, limitado por uma sebe de ginjeiras que fazem as delícias de todos, pois são suficientemente doces para serem comidas em crú. E é exactamente isso que as minhas filhas estavam a fazer quando tirei esta fotografia.</div>
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Below the garden is a small meadow surrounded by sour cherry trees that have fruit sweet enough to be enjoyed raw. And that's exactly what my girls were doing when I took this picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ITTmTxHZpcYBvV58CYN6ph9-EGcBxwFTv5W_AJPiQ4TO0Ni3Ted9C7C_VD0ZN3nHJIHtzdHiKZKiQamNwdsUj1OlUykBPwtC5zn4R_3xJTIpx79BiwC2YFPj5gQ05zwvC9qfB2ke7Ks/s500/horta-colheita.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ITTmTxHZpcYBvV58CYN6ph9-EGcBxwFTv5W_AJPiQ4TO0Ni3Ted9C7C_VD0ZN3nHJIHtzdHiKZKiQamNwdsUj1OlUykBPwtC5zn4R_3xJTIpx79BiwC2YFPj5gQ05zwvC9qfB2ke7Ks/s500/horta-colheita.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ITTmTxHZpcYBvV58CYN6ph9-EGcBxwFTv5W_AJPiQ4TO0Ni3Ted9C7C_VD0ZN3nHJIHtzdHiKZKiQamNwdsUj1OlUykBPwtC5zn4R_3xJTIpx79BiwC2YFPj5gQ05zwvC9qfB2ke7Ks/s400/horta-colheita.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ITTmTxHZpcYBvV58CYN6ph9-EGcBxwFTv5W_AJPiQ4TO0Ni3Ted9C7C_VD0ZN3nHJIHtzdHiKZKiQamNwdsUj1OlUykBPwtC5zn4R_3xJTIpx79BiwC2YFPj5gQ05zwvC9qfB2ke7Ks/s500/horta-colheita.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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E no caso de ainda não terem adormecido
após tão longo post, deixo-vos com a imagem da colheita de uma das
manhãs da semana passada. </div>
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And
in case you haven't fallen asleep after such a long post, I'll leave
you now with a view of the harvest of one of last week's mornings.</div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-59253684366917846242013-06-29T00:29:00.000+01:002013-06-29T00:32:02.801+01:00Super Lua / Supermoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT78LmwKV-ZEud8JE2NHk1NT9jOmnqWipeL-ulMdCQZoDhdbU8TVdJ4D_KalqR-eH04E50mdgZKszVLa546BBmSlZcx4n8d03ZZaasLikEzukC1J2vvYNO5-bClISNFm0idAhponkzuNw/s600/SuperLua-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT78LmwKV-ZEud8JE2NHk1NT9jOmnqWipeL-ulMdCQZoDhdbU8TVdJ4D_KalqR-eH04E50mdgZKszVLa546BBmSlZcx4n8d03ZZaasLikEzukC1J2vvYNO5-bClISNFm0idAhponkzuNw/s600/SuperLua-1.JPG" /></a></div>
No Domingo passado a Lua esteve visível com maior dimensão e brilho mais intenso do que é habitual. Mais precisamente, pudémos observá-la 14% maior e 30% mais brilhante. A explicação deste fenómeno cíclico é simples e quem gostar de saber os pormenores pode encontrá-los <a href="http://oal.ul.pt/super-lua-23-jun-2013/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">aqui</span></a>. De uma forma resumida, a Lua tem uma órbita elíptica em redor da Terra, pelo que não se encontra sempre à mesma distância do nosso planeta. Adicionalmente, a Terra não se localiza no centro da elipse, mas sim mais perto de um dos lados. Isto faz com que haja alturas em que o satélite se encontre muito mais próximo da Terra (o denominado perigeu, por oposiçaõ ao apogeu, posição em que a Lua se encontra na sua posição mais afastada da Terra).<br />
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Claro que este era um acontecimento a mostrar às crianças e por isso mesmo, depois do jantar, pusémo-nos a caminho para ver a lua nascer. E não ficámos desiludidos...<br />
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Se quiserem saber quando terão lugar as próximas super luas, podem consultar <a href="http://oal.ul.pt/as-super-luas-ate-2050/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">esta</span></a> tabela disponibilizada pelo <a href="http://oal.ul.pt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa</span></a>, um site cheio de informações interessantes que já há muitos anos faz parte da minha lista de favoritos. <br />
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Eu já anotei a próxima na minha agenda: dia 10 de Agosto de 2014 - lá estaremos!<br />
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Last Sunday, the moon could be seen larger and brighter than usual. More precisely, 14% bigger and 30% brighter. The explanation for this phenomenon is simple. Basically, the moon has an elliptical orbit around the Earth, so it isn't always at the same distance from us. In addition, the Earth is not located at the centre of the ellipse, so sometimes the Moon is considerably farther from us and other times considerably closer. The moon’s closest point to Earth is called <i>perigee</i>. A supermoon happens whenever there is a <i>perigee full moon</i>.<br />
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Of course we couldn't let this date pass unnoticed so after dinner, we set out with the kids to watch the supermoon rise. And we were certainly not disappointed...<br />
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If you want to know when the next supermoon will take place, you can look at <a href="http://oal.ul.pt/as-super-luas-ate-2050/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">this table</span></a> (it is in Portuguese but easily understandable, I'm sorry but I couldn't find this in English).<br />
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I already took note of the next one in my agenda: 10th of August 2014 - we'll be there!AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-16407849891051052432013-06-23T18:28:00.001+01:002013-06-29T00:30:09.217+01:00Pescar, desenhar e observar aves no rio Sabor / Fishing, sketching and birdwatching at river Sabor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sempre que passo um dia no <b><a href="http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Sabor" target="_blank">rio Sabor</a></b>, fico maravilhada com a paisagem, a natureza e o sossego. E penso na sorte que tenho em viver a dois passos de um sítio como este, especialmente quando o comparo com a maioria dos rios europeus, por norma tão artificializados. Infelizmente, o Sabor não será excepção por muito tempo, uma vez que uma grande barragem se encontra já em construção. Sendo a obra mais para juzante, este sítio irá permanecer inalterado, fraca consolação, mas ainda assim...<br />
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Houve tempo para fazer um piquenique, desenhar, nadar, pescar e até vimos uma magnífica <b>águia-real</b> (<a href="http://www.avesdeportugal.info/aquchr.html" target="_blank">Aquila chrysaetus</a>) a ser perseguida por um peneireiro. A fotografia não está famosa, mas se clicarem nela, ficará maior e será possível observar as manchas brancas que permitem saber que se trata de um juvenil e não de um adulto.<br />
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O <b>desenho</b> foi feito com caneta preta à prova de água e aguarelas, e mostra as minhas filhas - uma delas a desenhar e escrever no seu recém-estreado diário de férias (uma ideia de que falei <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/06/leituras-de-fim-de-semana-acerca-das.html" target="_blank">aqui</a> e de que ambas gostaram) e a outra tenta apanhar peixes com o camaroeiro. Havia muito mais para desenhar, mas às vezes apetece mais <i>estar</i> do que <i>fazer</i>. Sabem a que me refiro?<br />
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Each time I spend a day at <b>river Sabor</b> I marvel at the scenery, the wildlife and the peace. And I think how lucky I am to live close to a place like this, by comparison with the standard European rivers, most of them heavily modified. Unfortunately, Sabor won't be an exception for long (a big dam is under construction downstream), but at least this spot will remain untouched.<br />
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We had time for a picnic, sketching, swimming, fishing and we even watched a magnificent young <b>Golden Eagle</b> (<a href="http://www.arkive.org/golden-eagle/aquila-chrysaetos/#src=portletV3api" target="_blank"><i>Aquila chrysaetus</i></a>) being beaten by a kite! The picture is not amazing, but if you click it to enlarge, you can see the white spots in the plumage that show the bird is a juvenile.<br />
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The <b>sketch</b> was made with watecolours and water-proof black ink pen (<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000PIY148/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B000PIY148&linkCode=as2&tag=pequetea-21">Uni-ball Eye UB157 Rollerball Pen</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=pequetea-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B000PIY148" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />) and shows my kids - one of them is drawing and writing on her new summer diary (an idea I was thinking about <a href="http://pequeteartjournal.blogspot.pt/2013/06/leituras-de-fim-de-semana-acerca-das.html" target="_blank">here</a> and they both happened to like) and the other one is trying to catch some fish. There was so much more to sketch. But sometimes, you just feel like <i>being</i>, instead of <i>doing</i>. Do you know what I mean?<br />
<br />AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-79224305432776492702013-06-16T15:44:00.001+01:002013-06-25T15:29:12.555+01:00Leituras de fim de semana: acerca das férias e das crianças / Weekend Reading: about children and holidays<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { }</style>
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Com o início das
férias escolares, este fim de semana dei comigo a ler uma série de
textos, noutros blogs ou sites, em que se falava deste tema, directa
ou indirectamente. Trata-se de blogs ou sites que sigo através do
<a href="http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Reader" target="_blank">Google Reader</a>, mas com a
sua desactivação, já daqui a duas semanas, vou ter que arranjar
outra forma de o fazer. Provavelmente irei fazê-lo através da
“reading list” do Blogger (que contem os sítios da lista da
barra aqui do lado direito), mas não vai ser a mesma coisa. Se alguém tiver outras sugestões e quiser deixá-las nos comentários, agradeço.</div>
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Mas vamos às
leituras:</div>
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Gostei muito do
texto <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2013/06/14/frugality-and-children/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thesimpledollar+%28The+Simple+Dollar%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">Frugality and Children</a>, do Trent Hamm, do The Simple Dollar, um
sítio que leio com assiduidade, pois gosto da forma simples e
prática como fala de finanças, poupanças, gestão do dinheiro e
frugalidade, entre outros assuntos. Neste texto, o Trent descreve um
dia de férias dos seus filhos e como uma série de actividades e
hábitos simples podem ser a melhor forma de crescer de forma
saudável e construir memórias que todos terão prazer em recordar
no futuro.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Marquei nos
favoritos esta <a href="http://blog.imaginechildhood.com/imagine-childhood/2013/06/-garden-hobbit-house.html" target="_blank">Garden hobbit house</a>, da Sarah, do Imagine Childhood.
Este blog é dos mais bonitos que conheço e tem uma loja associada
com brinquedos escolhidos a dedo, que teriam feito a minha felicidade
há 35 anos atrás. Alguns deles fazem agora a felicidade das minhas
filhas. Neste texto, ensina-se a fazer uma casa de jardim para um
hobbit, que podemos adaptar para duendes, fadas, ou simplesmente
sapos, que serão os inquilinos mais prováveis...</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Também guardei
nos favoritos o <a href="http://orca-alce.blogspot.pt/2013/06/diario-de-vacaciones.html" target="_blank">Diário de Vacaciones</a>, da Marvan, do Orca: Observar,
recordar, crecer y aprender. Este blog (escrito em espanhol) relata o dia-a-dia de uma
família hispano-belga que educa os seus filhos em regime de ensino
doméstico e contém um manancial de informação e ideias
interessantes tanto para pessoas que pratiquem ensino doméstico como
para as que têm os filhos no ensino convencional.</div>
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</div>
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Gostei muito do
post <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2013/06/this-week-in-my-garden-june-13.html" target="_blank">This Week in my garden: June 13</a>, da Amanda Soule do blog Soule
Mama (escrito em inglês), que sigo há já bastantes anos. Gosto das descrições da vida
simples desta família e encontro sempre aqui muitos motivos de
inspiração e desta vez fiquei a pensar em escrever um post sobre a
nossa horta e participar no desafio que ela aqui lançou.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Para terminar,
<a href="http://saidosdaconcha.blogspot.pt/2013/06/guest-post-soma-dos-dois.html" target="_blank">Guest Post @ A Soma dos Dois</a>, um post convidado, como o título
indica, da Constança Cabral, do Saídos da Concha, um blog bilingue
(português/inglês), que fala de tudo um pouco: decoração,
culinária, costura, jardinagem, livros... Neste post a Constança
fala dos seus livros de infância favoritos e dos do seu filho, de 3
anos.</div>
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</div>
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<div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>and now in English:</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="grR"></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">With
the beginning of the summer holidays, I found myself reading several
texts that inspired me with ideas </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
put in practice with my children during the months ahead. These texts
are either from</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> other blogs
or sites </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">that I follow
through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Reader" target="_blank">Google Reader</a>, but
now that my favourite </span>News Feed Reader is being discontinued<span style="font-weight: normal;">,
I'll have to find another way to keep updated. I'll probably do it
through Bloggers' Reading List, but it will not be the same. If you
have any suggestions, please drop me a line in the comments below.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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But let's talk
about the reading.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I really liked
Trent Hamm's text <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2013/06/14/frugality-and-children/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thesimpledollar+%28The+Simple+Dollar%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">Frugality and Children</a>, at The Simple Dollar, a
site I visit regularly because I like the simple and practical way it
talks about finances, savings, money management, frugality and so
much more. In this text, Trent describes a day in the life of his
children, filled with activities and habits that although simple, can
be the best way to grow healthy and build long lasting memories.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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I added to my
“favourites” list this <a href="http://blog.imaginechildhood.com/imagine-childhood/2013/06/-garden-hobbit-house.html" target="_blank">Garden hobbit house</a> by Sarah from Imagine
Childhood. This blog is one of the most beautiful I know. It has an
associated shop with carefully selected toys that would have made me
happy 35 years ago. Some of them make my children's happyness today.
In this post, we learn how to build a garden hobbit house, that we
may adapt as a fairy or elf house (my kids don't know who the hobbit
is yet) or most probably as a toad's house.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Also added to my
favourites list is this <a href="http://orca-alce.blogspot.pt/2013/06/diario-de-vacaciones.html" target="_blank">Diário de Vacaciones</a> (Holiday Journal), by
Marvan from Orca: Observar, recordar, crecer y aprender. This blog (written in Spanish) is
itself a journal of a Spanish-Belgian homeschooling family that
always has loads of interesting information and ideas both for
homeschoolers and children attending regular school.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I really liked
Amanda Soule's post <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2013/06/this-week-in-my-garden-june-13.html" target="_blank">This Week in my garden: June 13</a>, from Soule Mama,
a blog I follow since several years ago. I like the stories of the
simple life of this family with five children and I always find
inspiration from reading it. This time it left me thinking about
writing a post about our vegetable garden.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Finally, I liked
to read about a mama and his 3 year old favourite books in the <a href="http://saidosdaconcha.blogspot.pt/2013/06/guest-post-soma-dos-dois.html" target="_blank">GuestPost @ A Soma dos Dois</a>, by Constança Cabral from Saídos da Concha,
a bilingual blog like mine (Portuguese/English) about several of the
things I like: gardening, books, decoration, cooking, sewing...
</div>
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</div>
AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331668458780926557.post-12989147049192699202013-06-12T23:14:00.001+01:002013-06-13T23:15:57.305+01:00Concentar-se como uma raposa / Focus like a Fox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHZ8dxWi5gaTm-6Fb7TLlzHzl5DxxnkbGowtxuQYAP2D6BZqqjjpmMBmsQyKyTZND4tgNflu9CveumqWeguq-L8gv4lSiBOfhX4IOLKGYM7rTpQKOKDb15cJCXXxVluxdfCapEYRoamg/s1600/JustFocusFox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHZ8dxWi5gaTm-6Fb7TLlzHzl5DxxnkbGowtxuQYAP2D6BZqqjjpmMBmsQyKyTZND4tgNflu9CveumqWeguq-L8gv4lSiBOfhX4IOLKGYM7rTpQKOKDb15cJCXXxVluxdfCapEYRoamg/s1600/JustFocusFox.jpg" /></a></div>
Quando terminei o curso de Biologia, já lá vão muitos anos, desenvolvi a minha tese de licenciatura sobre a ecologia da raposa. Durante cerca de um ano, fiz radio-telemetria e aprendi muito sobre estes fantásticos carnívoros, numa das mais bem conservadas áreas naturais do nosso país. Mas nada se compara à observação directa destes animais durante uma sessão de caça. Quando detectam uma presa, as raposas ficam completamente imóveis, enquanto, totalmente concentradas e alheias ao que as rodeia, procuram a sua localização exacta por entre as ervas ou sob a terra. Assim que o conseguem, lançam-se num salto que lembra o de um gato, e imobilizam a presa contra o solo. Foi isto que esteve na base da criação de um <a href="http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/encouragement-cards/animals-pets/wildlife/red-fox-encouragement-card-1075786" target="_blank">novo cartão</a> que está, a partir de hoje, disponível na minha <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/AnaFerreira" target="_blank">Loja CGU</a>. A ideia é que, quando nos encontramos assoberbados de trabalho, devemos procurar comportar-nos como uma raposa: escolher apenas uma coisa à qual nos dedicarmos de cada vez, e concentrar nela todo o nosso esforço para, desta forma, conseguirmos maior produtividade. Eu, "multitasker" confessa, tenho-me esforçado por aplicar esta estratégia, e devo dizer que me tem ajudado bastante.<br />
<br />
A long time ago, when I finished my degree in Biology, I developed a thesis project on the ecology of the red fox. Along nearly one year, I radio-tracked these amazing animals in one of the better preserved wilderness areas of my country and learned a great deal about them. However, nothing comes near to a direct observation of these creatures during a hunting session. When a prey is detected, red foxes stand motionless. When they pinpoint
the location of the prey, they launch themselves into the air, pinning
it to the ground. This is what inspired me to create this <a href="http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/encouragement-cards/animals-pets/wildlife/red-fox-encouragement-card-1075786" target="_blank">new card</a>, which is now available at my <a href="http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/AnaFerreira" target="_blank">GCU store</a>. <br />
The idea is that when you are overloaded with work you should try to behave like a fox and focus: pick just one thing to focus on
and you will be able to accomplish more. Being a natural multi-tasker myself, I find this strategy helps me a lot in times of stress.AnaGFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.com0