tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26255604032654421002024-03-05T21:57:26.676+00:00Pages from Portugal...the current chapter of our lives!The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15381911084330976723noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-41208033557719444732013-08-22T09:30:00.000+01:002013-08-22T09:30:00.377+01:00three.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
There is a phrase often heard in our house that goes a little something
like this, <i>“You could buy me flowers sometimes if you want.” </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Another is <i>“Don’t you know my love language is gifts? Even little gifts
mean a lot, just to let you know…”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“Just to let you know…”</i> has left my lips more times than I’d like to
admit. And honestly, the gifts received have been fewer than I’d like to admit
as well. I attribute this not to the neglect or thoughtlessness of my husband, though,
but more to the natural growth of our marriage. For fear of the judgment of any
and all readers, I should explain…<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we approach the three year anniversary of the day we became husband
and wife, I realize that with each passing year, we become more and more aware
of what being a “husband” and “wife” really mean. As thoughtful and generous as
my husband is, I rarely get flowers and gifts. Sounds brutal, but it’s true.
Yet if I’m being honest, I can’t sincerely speak of any of the last 365 days
that have passed without mentioning that fact that I go to bed every night
knowing that the dinner dishes are washed… without having been the one who
washed them. (And if you have known me since childhood, you know that my most
detested chore was washing dishes!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Worth mentioning as well is that I have a very clean toilet, yet I have
rarely, if ever, donned rubber gloves or gotten on my hands and knees to scrub
it. But it’s almost always clean. (I'll spare you the photo of my toilet).</div>
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He likes organizing things, spaces, unfinished projects of mine. (And
I’m the Queen of Starting New Projects!).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those would be unfinished projects of mine, in case it's unclear...</td></tr>
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He’s ok with eating pizza or sandwiches for dinner when I’m just too
emotionally exhausted from work to think about preparing something.</div>
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I have strange reactions to mosquito bites here, horrible, long-lasting
itchy red marks which forced me to keep all windows closed during our first
year here, for fear of being eaten alive in the night. Until my husband put
screens in all the windows, that is. And instead of incurring expense on top of
expense to purchase ready-made screens to fit our windows, my husband bought
the materials to create them himself , which allows us to enjoy cool summer
nights without having to share our living room with flying insects.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Did I mention that he always saves me the last bite of his favorite ice
cream? Or that a simple thing like dinner outside on the balcony makes him
crazy happy?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aside from his infinite amounts of patience that he bestows on me
weekly (daily?), one of my favorite things about him is that he never, ever,
complains. And in a place where it is socially acceptable to verbally share the
troubles of your day/week/life, it is rare to find someone who chooses not to
voice even one complaint.</div>
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So the presents? Yeah… there just aren’t many. And yes, I still do
stand by the fact that my love language is gifts and that I adore both the
giving and the receiving. (Poor husband of mine, marrying into a situation such
as this!) <o:p></o:p></div>
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At this point, after being married only three years, I can’t claim to
be an expert on marriage. Or relationships in general. Or men, for that matter.
Definitely not men. But I can say one thing for certain: I married a man that
serves me, and serves me well. And that, in the long run, will probably be more
valuable than big gifts, small gifts, or possibly all the gifts combined. Do I
long for them still sometimes? Of course. It’s wired within me. What I am
learning, though, is that contentment (both in marriage and as a whole) stems
more from intangible things rather than tangible. It is rare that during a
dinner party at our house, I pull out a present Luis gave me to show off,
because truthfully, the sentimentality isn’t what marks him, or what makes
others love him. What draws people to Luis is his ability to serve everyone, no
matter his relationship to them. And seeing that on a regular basis is (if you
don’t mind a pun tossed in here at the end) a gift that keeps on giving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So three years in, I can still say that we’re in the “honeymoon stage”…
just a honeymoon stage with a teensy bit more arguing and a whole lot more
forgiveness. (As I mentioned <a href="http://www.pagesfromportugal.blogspot.pt/2012/08/two.html">last year</a>, I think forgiveness is one of the
greatest things that one can learn from marriage!) With each day that passes, I
recognize more and more how each of our strengths balances the other’s
weaknesses, and how we complement each other. And Mrs. Rigid Type-A
Planner-To-The-Core has learned from Mr. Go-With-The-Flow how to relax a bit
and (gasp!) how to sleep in on the weekends. And he, in turn, makes more lists
and could possibly be seen planning two days ahead instead of just one. (Possibly).
And though sometimes an ocean seems like a million miles away from our dear
American friends and family, we are well loved, both by many Portuguese friends
and family here, and through the digital (and postal!) wires that connect us
from afar. And we are healthy. And employed. And these things give us
perspective and strengthen us as a couple, both to serve each other and to
serve others. And after 1,095 days of being married, I’d say those are some
pretty great gifts.</div>
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[What's a blog without photos? Obligatory shots below].</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Run Coimbra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxrRXZcHSGMNKY7xpsrwUbkb_9eo0SrAlnEVmefwnnAm0k5i1tqufHWFH7crSI3B5oSq4JxbZe37dagHw6l-cWCAU63qGyRt0o0iOFG0bq_1WPjpS6sKqGVk9hf-bn3mkJdpq5Zfkhadv/s1600/_MG_4501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxrRXZcHSGMNKY7xpsrwUbkb_9eo0SrAlnEVmefwnnAm0k5i1tqufHWFH7crSI3B5oSq4JxbZe37dagHw6l-cWCAU63qGyRt0o0iOFG0bq_1WPjpS6sKqGVk9hf-bn3mkJdpq5Zfkhadv/s400/_MG_4501.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Águeda, Portugal<br />For entire album, view <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100335981138539.1073741826.63802297&type=1&l=c64389919a">here</a>.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkSA7KFESWxGmtbwbOXhKinm6QdAtojXP_N5XnqyycX1hml0CjZDEuscCsWLtxv2KEQ_FuwzPo5LE89pTWnUljlCtjgmpejDvTWSHOjNWyEisJ4-tRBxudalcfzC0-bXqXgV5gylK5TH7/s1600/DSC_0111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkSA7KFESWxGmtbwbOXhKinm6QdAtojXP_N5XnqyycX1hml0CjZDEuscCsWLtxv2KEQ_FuwzPo5LE89pTWnUljlCtjgmpejDvTWSHOjNWyEisJ4-tRBxudalcfzC0-bXqXgV5gylK5TH7/s400/DSC_0111.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coimbra | photo by <a href="http://www.fantabulousphotos.com/">Tabitha Reuman</a><br />For entire album, view <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100307822069539.1073741825.63802297&type=1&l=6e63682467">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvK7bVZYHGMuC4iKEO_-JLHKs1nexiU4AG63Y1vVMG335xL2ULItY12IpFNf6x70VNH3-7n86Tnr3LYU0AcOgCgsul3fyeP19wa5_oycO_xyFawc2EOfpFNKZEsX7ndWUbycivY8Y2aJY/s1600/DSC_0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvK7bVZYHGMuC4iKEO_-JLHKs1nexiU4AG63Y1vVMG335xL2ULItY12IpFNf6x70VNH3-7n86Tnr3LYU0AcOgCgsul3fyeP19wa5_oycO_xyFawc2EOfpFNKZEsX7ndWUbycivY8Y2aJY/s400/DSC_0116.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coimbra | photo by <a href="http://www.fantabulousphotos.com/">Tabitha Reuman</a><br />For entire album, view <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100307822069539.1073741825.63802297&type=1&l=6e63682467">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsE91L-lSvdYty34Fwps0w-eDNSp5YBw7DM0VlLHwlqK7YZn2do8FHDC_CgX6_IfkKpktQwBHjoHW_i4sl_qgVW9xVm-GeMdgHAhYykS-EIyidoLQWd-cKj57yO83yJdSIH6KxU9Juy8Z/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsE91L-lSvdYty34Fwps0w-eDNSp5YBw7DM0VlLHwlqK7YZn2do8FHDC_CgX6_IfkKpktQwBHjoHW_i4sl_qgVW9xVm-GeMdgHAhYykS-EIyidoLQWd-cKj57yO83yJdSIH6KxU9Juy8Z/s400/DSC_0159.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coimbra | photo by <a href="http://www.fantabulousphotos.com/">Tabitha Reuman</a><br />For entire album, view <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100307822069539.1073741825.63802297&type=1&l=6e63682467">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMEosO_LizgijiHTpBGHIGuvgJMTlTAapnUZy3rklcb9KwN7guuMzy021ABQVPCl4Ev4QKTtvQc87iS8dJ5LUNzRd_6lYvSb517cwYnKPDePPYGUkGoZ48X_julA0BlqDyCfust6OuKhv/s1600/DSC_0187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMEosO_LizgijiHTpBGHIGuvgJMTlTAapnUZy3rklcb9KwN7guuMzy021ABQVPCl4Ev4QKTtvQc87iS8dJ5LUNzRd_6lYvSb517cwYnKPDePPYGUkGoZ48X_julA0BlqDyCfust6OuKhv/s400/DSC_0187.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coimbra | photo by <a href="http://www.fantabulousphotos.com/">Tabitha Reuman</a><br />For entire album, view <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100307822069539.1073741825.63802297&type=1&l=6e63682467">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBBMOvUI02CIltk7mmC0_vtmN_UxRzFXRz-BFluO0jPMpw8vnchPo4qETKqCAzOg5FwQuo2MZ2nbXIXzCs52qwR1lUU5axYVjICEVFfV1s1volf2aF6gmR0ggY1gB2juqEf6Nwzgz_WTZ/s1600/IMG_1411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBBMOvUI02CIltk7mmC0_vtmN_UxRzFXRz-BFluO0jPMpw8vnchPo4qETKqCAzOg5FwQuo2MZ2nbXIXzCs52qwR1lUU5axYVjICEVFfV1s1volf2aF6gmR0ggY1gB2juqEf6Nwzgz_WTZ/s400/IMG_1411.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luis's 40th birthday (And doesn't look a day over 30!)<br />Photo by Leonor Parreiral</td></tr>
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The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-6395730842617289952012-10-21T23:51:00.002+01:002012-10-21T23:51:53.791+01:00week 42.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday, October 14<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We're all about recycling old items in the Almeida house... so when I begged Luis to replace the nasty rusted shampoo holder in the shower for a newer, less rusty version, it promptly went to the balcony outside to be recycled with the glass/metal objects. We have a pretty bad habit of letting our recycling sit outside forEVER before taking it across the street to the recycling bins, so this thing sat out there for a good 2 months, even after we had taken the recycling, we forgot it! One day I discovered <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/38210296808269730/">this fabulous organizing system</a> for potatoes/fruit, and after finding them at the hardware store for 7€ a piece (no dice!), we decided we didn't really need our potatoes and outside of bags or off the pantry floor. Until, that is, I got the brilliant idea that perhaps we could de-rust the shower caddy and nail it to the wall. (Amazing how much rust comes right off with a little scrubbing!) And look at that! New uses for old things, Almeida style!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday, October 15<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I was amazed by the stunning sunrise this morning…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tuesday, October 16<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Latest discovery from our local German grocery store, Lidl -- windmilll cookies! I grew up with a [slightly more bland] version of these cookies, and they are so delicious! I got all nostalgic seeing them here... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday, October 17<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Putting some finishing touches on this today – it’s a banner for an Powerchair Football (i.e., wheelchair
soccer) event we are hosting in two weeks. The “theme” of the week is “Train.
Play. Experience.” – can you guess what made the tire tracks??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thursday, October 18<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hello, gorgeous...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><u>Friday, October 19th</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">New favorite photo!</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Saturday, October 20th</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We had a work meeting in Coimbra this morning, so as long as we were out and about, we decided to stop at a little local market to get some fresh veggies. Look who I found crawling around on the kitchen counter after I unloaded all the veggies! (Paperclip is there just to reference his size!)</span></div>
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The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-29044178891912295962012-10-21T13:50:00.003+01:002012-10-21T13:50:46.439+01:00week 41.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sunday, October 7th<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I would like to
personally thank Uwe (from England) and Peter (from New Zealand) for finding
the mysterious sweet corn that supposedly exists in Portugal but that no one
ever sells. It is so delicious! Sadly, they only had 3 ears, but I bought all
3! High fives to the English boot sale for bringing me pleasant surprises once
again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Monday, October 8<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I don’t know how a
person could choose any season as their favorite other than fall. The simple
color change in the leaves is something to marvel at! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tuesday, October 9<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Is it just me, or
are there others out there who think it’s a little ridiculous that I am having
to file taxes when I didn’t earn money in the US in the last 365 days? So glad I didn’t have to pay – which would
mean I was paying TWICE on money that I have earned here! Ridiculous!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wednesday, October 10<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Snail conference… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thursday, October 11<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Have I mentioned
that I am completely in love with the English boot sale?!?!? Look at this cute teapot that I got for 2€!
It’s in great condition, and helps to add some yellow accents to our navy blue
and white, floor-to-ceiling tiled kitchen. Just a happy little pop of color… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Friday, October 12<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Just another Friday
night, giving a concert in a 12<sup>th</sup> century church… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(Listen to my favorite piece by Pedro Macedo Camacho here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MwFBQxg1eZM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MwFBQxg1eZM</a>)</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Saturday, October 13<sup>th</sup></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We had the most
beautiful fall day today, so we took a picnic to the park! Knowing it was our last “free” Saturday until
probably Christmas, we relaxed for a bit and walked around in a pretty
semi-forested area with lots of small trails… so beautiful! Unfortunately, my instagram photo did not load because I didn't have internet (I thought they just saved to the camera roll on the phone???), so here you have a substitute photo. Do you think this piece of freezer paper that I randomly ripped off the roll looks like Minnesota? I do. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-21771118499285846712012-10-07T23:09:00.000+01:002012-10-14T23:10:30.756+01:00week 40.<b><u>Sunday, September 30th</u></b><br />
We took our Powerchair Football team to a disabled sports day run by an organization in Lisbon today, and I got to ride this great adapted hand-bike with my dear friend Adelaide! I would like to send out a personal thank-you to the lady who took this photo, who so kindly cut off the front wheel, which showed how the bike operated with the hand controls instead of pedals. Awesome.<br />
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<u><b>Monday, October 1st</b></u><br />
A beautiful blue (and slightly foggy) morning sky to welcome us into October, but the forecast says 75 and sunny for today. You won't hear me complaining about that forecast!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, October 2nd</u></b><br />
Had to pick something up at the mall tonight and decided that sundaes were also necessary. I can't remember the last time I had one... delish!<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, October 3rd</u></b><br />
Our choir headed down to Lisbon tonight to sing at a prestigious Samsung product launch event. You're looking at the first choir to ever sing with tablets, and the first tablets to ever have an application using digital sheet music!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, October 4th</u></b><br />
Last night, 4 new "sisters" arrived to add to our ever-growing volunteer "family"! Meet Sonia (Spain), Palmira (Italy), Vilma (Lithuania), and Noémi (Hungary), who will be with us until April! Welcome to APCC, ladies!<br />
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<b><u>Friday, October 5th</u></b><br />
Happy Portuguese Republic Day to us! We didn't have to work today, so I spent the day organizing tax forms, responding to emails, unsubscribing to a lot of ridiculous American email lists that I am still on, and turned 977 unread e-mails into 603 after 4 hours. In the afternoon I worked on some to-do items on my Power Soccer Tournament list, as we have a big week-long international event coming soon! Oh, and I made peanut butter cookies, which was the only thing worthy of taking a photo of today!<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, October 6th</u></b><br />
Luis brought back some lovely grapes from his family's vindima (traditional, seasonal grape harvest) -- they are gigantic and so, so delicious!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-34619874609808618952012-09-30T12:50:00.000+01:002012-10-06T12:51:45.444+01:00week 39.<b><u>Sunday, September 23rd</u></b><br />
A question for all the other Chapstick addicts out there: don't you hate it when you get to the end and you can't roll the tube up any higher, but there is still at least a 1/4 inch of Chapstick in the tube? I started saving all these tubes and decided to recycle them all into one tube this weekend using toothpicks. Was it the smoothest process ever? No. Did it result into a like-new chapstick? No. It's definitely all bumpy and not as compact as it should be. But did I get half of a tube of chapstick from those other 4 that I took out? Yes, I did. And I can't get Chapstick in Portugal, so now I'm all proud of myself. Yay.<br />
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<b><u>Monday, September 24th</u></b><br />
All the university students have returned, and on a lunch break walk we spied some initiation rites going on...<br />
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<u><b>Tuesday, September 25th</b></u><br />
So happy to say that my first week of selling Portuguese pottery on Ebay was a success - I sold all 6 pieces! Praise God! Being a lover of great customer service, I decided I needed to create some sort of logo to put on a little card with my contact info inside the boxes that I shipped out. I already had this cute little notepad with scalloped edges, and with a little tricky scotch tape work, I attached it to an 8x11 paper and ran it through the printer with a fun font. Violá! Homemade logo!<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, September 26th</u></b><br />
So much fog in the city this morning... like white cotton candy sitting in hills of Coimbra!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, September 27th</u></b><br />
Caught a glimpse of a beautiful sunset from our balcony tonight...<br />
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<b><u>Friday, September 28th</u></b><br />
One of my college friends, Erin, was working again in Lisbon this year and her fianceé joined her for the trip and met us for dinner in Coimbra. We brought pasteis de nata to celebrate Erin's birthday and surprised her with them at the restaurant. Check out the look of love on Curt's face as she gets ready to blow out the candles!<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, September 29th</u></b><br />
Don't have a pot for the plants on your balcony, but have an old pair of jeans? Perfect! No wonder there are no second-hand stores in Portugal... people are using their old jeans as planters!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-39641975160870312382012-09-23T11:47:00.000+01:002012-10-07T23:51:20.911+01:00week 38.<u><b>Sunday, September 16</b></u><br />
Stayed up waaaaay too late tonight watching my newly-listed, hand-painted Portuguese pottery rack up views on eBay! My kind American friend Elizabeth (who also married a Portuguese man and moved to Portugal 29 years ago) started out with the idea to sell Potuguese pottery to Americans when she lived in Coimbra quite a while ago, and now has passed along the opportunity to me! The potter is dedicated to continuing the tradition of Coimbra's hand-painted pottery, and no two pieces are alike! (Shameless plug... lots of unique Christmas gifts available!). We are so blessed to have such kind friends and to have this amazing financial blessing! Here is a photo of one of my favorite pieces... a sugar bowl with a special spoon created specifically for it! You can see more pieces on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/mrsalmeida/ceramics/">Ceramics </a>Pinterest board.<br />
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<u><b>Monday, September 17th</b></u><br />
This girl had a birthday today, and we love her so, and really wish she wasn't so far away! We became dear friends as seat mates on spring break choir tour circa 2005, when we both discovered that not only did we bring more than one book for a 9 day tour, but that we both also brought electronic travel Yahtzee. (What I wouldn't give to have that photo in digital form for the photo of the day today!) Thankful for you, Em! Parabéns, Snug! Love you!<br />
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<u><b>Tuesday, September 18th</b></u><br />
I must admit that we have pretty great weather in Portugal, but unfortunately almost all the rain comes in winter, which leaves the grass and the forests really dry in summer, leading to lots of fires. I refrained from posting a photo of a fire really close to our house last week, because it just seemed so sad to use that as the photo of the day, with smoke so black and flames so tall we could see it from our balcony. Today there was another in Coimbra, and as we were leaving work we realized it was also really close to where we were. I refrained from the picture-taking, but as we got close to home at and stopped at a red light, I noticed that the grey smoke in the distance was so high that it was starting to merge with a cloud in the sky. A second glanced revealed that it wasn't a cloud at all, but some sort of rare reaction/formation of the smoke that was making the top of it billow up into a white cloud. It fascinated me, hence the use of it for today's photo...<br />
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<u><b>Wednesday, September 19th</b></u><br />
Sumoku -- fun game sent by the familial unit of Cheeseheads. It's like a crossword, but using numbers instead of letters. Lots of thinking involved. Not recommended to start a game after 10.00 pm, as evidenced by our very tired eyes. Fun, though!<br />
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<u><b>Thursday, September 20th</b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">While looking through lots of closets and drawers for something tonight, I happened to find a shoebox of Luis Miguel's, full of all the cards that I have ever sent him in the history of our story together. Needless to say, my search abruptly ended, and I sat down on the floor and read every one of the 87. It was a bit emotional reliving all the longing and heartache that a long-distance relationship brought, but there was redemption as well. In our one-year dating anniversary card I found this: <i>"I never expected that one year could be so meaningful... so memorable... so remarkable. I never expected that a journey with far more days apart than days together could ever bring two people so close."</i> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I don't have enough words to say how thankful I am to be married to someone who invested so much to make sure our love could last, even across an ocean. Luis Miguel, you are my treasure!</span></span><br />
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<u><b>Friday, September 21st</b></u><br />
Got a sweet package from my grandma, with a note inside that said "open carefully". When I opened it, I found this, with a note that read:<br />
<br />
"Don't get excited,<br />
Don't get misled,<br />
It's not what you think,<br />
It's a dishcloth instead!<br />
<br />
So take off the ribbons,<br />
Cut the threads loose,<br />
Get a pan of water,<br />
and they're ready for use!"<br />
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Pretty adorable, eh? :)<br />
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After calling to thank her, I found out that the reason that the note seems like an antique, what with the stained, yellowed cardstock and the seemingly type-written letters, was because it was actually an antique! She stopped by an estate sale and found this in its own little box, and she guesses it's from the 40's or 50's, but no one knew for sure. My mother and grandmother are the queens of finding unique things like this! So amazing!<br />
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<u><b>Saturday, September 22nd</b></u><br />
Did I actually put on a monkey suit and a mesh hat and let swarms of bees buzz around me within centimeters of my face, just to say that I did it? Why yes, as a matter of fact I did. Did I have a small moment where I may have screamed and removed myself from the situation for a minute? Possibly. Would I do it again? Doubtful. But was it fun? Hecks yes. In a scary, nerve-wracking sort of way. Luis teammate, André, got into bee-keeping after his grandfather handed down his honeycombs, and now he keeps bees (if that can be used as a verb??) and took us with him this afternoon. Sometimes, when I think about it, my skin still gets all creepy crawly, but now I can say that I was bee-keeping once, right? :)<br />
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<u><b><br /></b></u>The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-73318361236724094732012-09-16T16:56:00.000+01:002012-09-29T16:57:20.756+01:00week 37.<u><b>Sunday, September 9th</b></u><br />
Because this is only a one-photo-per day challenge, and because sometimes it's impossible to limit one photo per event per day, occasionally events overlap. Like the boot sale mentioned last week. I can't stop thinking about it and can't wait until October 7th when I can go back again! This was one of my favorite finds from the last sale -- an antique alarm clock in great condition with a gorgeous typesetting! Doesn't it look adorable on this bookshelf?<br />
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<u><b>Monday, September 10th</b></u><br />
Had a work meeting in the beachy Figueira da Foz today, and couldn't help but admire the sidewalks, which, in Portugal, almost always have beautiful designs!<br />
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<u><b>Tuesday, September 11th</b></u><br />
On a day that America remembers a tragedy and honors her heroes, I long for the place that I have always called home. While at the FIPFA Powerchair Futebol World Cup last year, I was torn between cheering for America and Portugal, so I decided that I would just glue two flags together and cheer for both. I keep it on my desk as a reminder of both countries that have now a place in my heart, and having the stars and stripes in front of me today was a great reminder of how far the American people have come since 2001!<br />
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<u><b>Wednesday, September 12th</b></u><br />
Thanks to our sweet friends Ang and Pete hosting us in London, we brought back lots of non-Portuguese goodies from their local grocery store, and thanks to the technology of freezing, I am still enjoying the bagels!<br />
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<u><b>Thursday, September 13th</b></u><br />
Had a really fun chat with my long-time friend Danae today, and her adorable son Jack joined us after his nap. He's still looking a bit sleepy here while we chatted on Skype, but they were so adorable all snuggled together that I couldn't resist taking a screen shot for my photo of the day!<br />
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<u><b>Friday, September 14th</b></u><br />
Our friends the Gereckes loaned us their crock pot while they are on a 6
month furlough in the US and I am enjoying using it, much to the
chagrin of my energy-saving husband. Electricity is super expensive in
Portugal, so even having it run on low all day adds up to quite a lot...
or so he thinks! The challenge is on, as I am planning to measure our
electricity bill in the next few months and try to see how much more we
really spend using this fabulous little machine. I'll keep you all
posted! <br />
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<u><b>Saturday, September 15th</b></u><br />
Though we have had an incredibly hot September in Portugal, we were thinking that this just may be our last Saturday to really relax and enjoy the beach. Fortunately we headed out early, because it turned out to be probably the most beautiful beach day we have had since summer began! I never would have called myself a "beach girl", but now I can't seem to get enough of this place... <br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-67598856186126367052012-09-11T23:30:00.004+01:002012-09-11T23:30:42.112+01:00week 36.<b><u>Sunday, September 2nd</u></b><br />
It only took us two years, but we have finally discovered the English "boot sales" ("boot" is "car's trunk" in British English), meaning lots of foreigners and lots of second hand stuff... which to me, = fun x 2! I really loved the few photos I took of some of the little booths (no one sells out of their trunks for real) but I couldn't pass up this one that was shot in the little village that we drove through before we got to the sale. I didn't touch the colors... this is straight out of the camera!<br />
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<b><u>Monday, September 3rd</u></b><br />
You know that it's going to be a delicious dinner when french fried onions and a can of a cream of chicken soup are involved! (French fried onions courtesy of American week at Lidl and the cream of mushroom soup... you guessed it... British Boot Sale!) Mom's Pork Chops are for dinner!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, September 3rd</u></b><br />
This is my happy hour. (Yes, today. Yes, 5.30).<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, September 4th</u></b><br />
My dear friend Rita, who you may have seen a few weeks back on her photo of the day bachelorette party, is having a music themed wedding! Both she and her fiancee sing and play music, one for fun and the other professionally. Knowing how much I love me a themed event, she asked for my help and of course I couldn't say no! With the help of the Photoshop-savvy Suzy (also a dear friend of mine, hallway mate, and art teacher at APCC), and an idea discovered by a third colleague, Carina, this was the result after a few days of work... 36 tables, each with a different instrument as its name!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, September 5th</u></b><br />
Let's just say that someone's (ahem... KYLE) girlfriend fits pretty well into the family when she sends anniversary cards. I must say that it takes a special person to send an anniversary card. Birthday cards... now those are pretty normal to get in the mail, even in this technological age. Christmas cards? Still classic. But anniversary cards? That's a rare bird that sends one of those. A rare and fabulous and beautiful bird, might I add. And I am the lucky one to get sweet mail from sweet Kelly! And I live across the ocean from her. Now, for those of you who know my family, you know that she fits in well when I mention that she sends cards. REAL cards, people. With stamps. If that doesn't make her the perfect piece of the crazy puzzle of our family, I don't know what does. (That's code for "MARRY her already", in case you missed it!) Thanks for the mail, Kelly!<br />
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<b><u>Friday, September 6th</u></b><br />
As long as I'm on a card kick, I must admit that I enjoy making them as well. Think I should add them to "Things I should sell one day so I'm not too poor to travel the world"? I wasn't sure where to go here to get a wedding card, so with the adorable little notepad that my friend Cristi gave me, I made one little sheet into a frame. Good thing I stuck that burlap in my suitcase before moving to Portugal, eh hubby? :) (Easy to find here, but expensive!)<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, September 7th</u></b><br />
I plan to dedicate an entire blog to my first Portuguese wedding experience (we just had a dinner for our wedding in Portugal since we married in the States), but because it may take me months to get around to that, I will mention a few highlights: Rita was beautiful, Tiago surprised those attending by singing Ave Maria during the ceremony, we had lunch AND dinner, which meant arriving at 11.00 am for hors d'ourves at the brides house with about 1/4 of all those invited, attending the ceremony at 12, heading to more hors d'ourves at the reception site at 2.00 pm, having a 3 course lunch at 4.30 pm, lots of dinner and dancing and photos in between, dinner at 10.30 pm, then lots more dancing and photos after, finally falling into bed at 3.15 am. Now THAT'S what I call a party! (And the average amount that a couple gives as a present is $200!) Here we are with the fabulous couple... each looking at our own cameramen, of course! (Don't they look great for already having entertained their guests for 10 hours??)<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-22488067845468592512012-09-02T23:32:00.000+01:002012-09-04T23:33:18.911+01:00week 35.<b><u>Sunday, August 26th</u></b><br />
We headed out to another small suburban town tonight to support a friend who had a photo exhibition, and her boyfriend, who had a summer party, both held at his bar. Now, when I say "bar", you probably think dirty, crowded, smoky, and loud, right? So you probably wouldn't picture it like this, would you? So so so beautiful... and this is just the back corner!<br />
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<b><u>Monday, August 27th</u></b><br />
I don't think this girl on Win It In A Minute really thought through her clothing choices for this special event where she would be on national television. Even if she didn't know and was just chosen from the audience, wouldn't you at least put on something a little nicer in the rare chance that you might get chosen? And the host... A suit and Asics tennies? Really? I have no more words.<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, August 28th</u></b><br />
While Skyping with my parents and discussing the unusual weather this summer, my mom proceeds to get up, go into the other room, and bring back their digital thermometer that they use in the house. Just in case you don't remember how a certain temperature feels, you can refer to the handy little man on the screen, because his clothes change appropriately with the temperature! Apparently in Wisconsin, 73ºF is warm enough to wear a t-shirt and shorts!<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, August 29th</u></b><br />
Read about a great way to freeze fresh herbs from a large bunch so they don't go bad: chop them, put them in an ice cube tray, then freeze them with a little olive oil in each cube! Brilliant, right? Can't wait to see how they turn out!<br />
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UPDATE: You need to use a lot of oil (which I didn't), covering all the herbs, which may not work well with all recipes (guacamole, for example), which is why I only used a little. (First mistake). You also will need to wash the ice cube tray about 17 times with a scrub brush to get all the oil out. And you probably won't be able to get all of it out. And then you won't want to use it for ice. So don't use one of your nice ice cube trays like I did. (Second mistake). Might try it with water next time, but I fear for it getting a little soggy in the defrosting process. Has anyone else tried this?<br />
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<u><b>Thursday, August 30th</b></u><br />
I believe I may have mentioned how blessed we are to be able to eat lunch in our work cafeteria every day. It is convenient, saves us money, and makes our lives easier in general. I can't say I'm in love with the Portuguese cafeteria food every day, though, so it's kind of refreshing in summer to bring our own lunches and plan dinners in such a way that we have leftovers for lunch the next day. There are also very few people at the Center during the month of August, as most take August off as a summer holiday (most workers get 22 - or more - work days of vacation). With so few people there and everyone bringing their own lunch, I thought it would fun to bring a bit of America to APCC, so I suggested that we have a pancake lunch! I found a great from-scratch recipe that I have been making at home, and last time we were in the States I brought back some maple flavoring for syrup, so it just seemed like a great idea, especially since we have a semi-adapted kitchen in the Occupational Therapy area at APCC! Judging by the empty plates at the end and the number of people that asked me for the recipe, I think we can say it was a hit! I also would suggest drinking sparkling Portuguese green wine with your next pancake lunch at work... delish!<br />
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<b><u>Friday, August 31st</u></b><br />
The highlight of checking the mail for Luis is always when the <a href="http://www.dmail.pt/">D-Mail</a> catalog comes. It's Portugal's version of the "As Seen On TV" store, and Luis always seems to find some fun new product that he could put to good use. Care to guess what it is this week?<br />
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That's right, folks.... it's a full-body painting suit, to avoid dirtying even the tiniest cell of your skin while painting. I'm surprised it didn't also come with a gas mask!<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, September 1st</u></b><br />
It's a sad day in the Volunteer Department, as we sent off our 4 European volunteers today! After 6 months of serving the clients of APCC, we really felt like they became a part of our family. It's hard to believe 6 months passed that fast, and the office will surely feel quite empty without them! Christian, Adriana, Kata, e Ata... please come visit Portugal again soon! We love you!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-50939231456919795592012-08-28T23:26:00.000+01:002012-09-04T23:30:42.092+01:00week 34.<b><u>Sunday, August 19th</u></b><br />
We went to see Singin' in the Rain while in London! The seats were high (since we got a good deal on tickets), and photos were forbidden, but I snuck this one in at the end. It REALLY RAINED on the stage in the theater... a downpour! It was truly a fantastic show!<br />
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<b><u>Monday, August 20th</u></b><br />
My friend Ang took us to her favorite part of London, which happens to include Neals Yard, which was this bright ray of sunshine nestled within a few "average" streets. Loved it!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, August 21st</u></b><br />
Now that we're back in Coimbra for a few days before we start work, we decided to take advantage of the local farmer's market in Condeixa, our little suburb. It was super fun to buy fresh and know we are supporting the community, not to mention use the new bag that my grandma sent me (which you may remember from <a href="http://www.pagesfromportugal.blogspot.pt/2012/07/week-28.html">week 28</a>)!
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<b><u>Wednesday, August 22nd</u></b><br />
Relishing our stash from the local Camden grocery store close to Ang's house... Thought I would take advantage of a grocery store with things we can't get here in Portugal, including bagels, Craisins, onion powder, ground coriander, yogurt-covered rainsins, Nature Valley granola bars, and also Dove stick deodorant and vanilla creme cookies, both of which we can get here, but they're much more expensive!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, August 23rd</u></b><br />
Nothing like using one of the last few days of vacation to defrost the freezer! There was one time that we accidentally left the door cracked open a bit, making a piece of plastic-wrapped fish defrost a bit and somehow leak fish juice all over, resulting in every package in that general area smelling like fish juice, making sorting through the freezer to find something a very smelly event. We now have a super clean, organized and labeled freezer, which is delightful! High fives for the handsome hubs who did most of the dirty work!<br />
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<b><u>Friday, August 24th</u></b><br />
Last weekday lunch on the balcony... caprese sandwiches, wine, and delicious green Portuguese melon! We are so blessed!<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, August 25th</u></b><br />
Stopped by the farmer's market again yesterday to pick up some fresh flowers... Aren't they gorgeous?<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-19841795443233744042012-08-27T23:32:00.000+01:002012-08-27T23:32:43.223+01:00week 33.<b><u>Sunday, August 12th</u></b><br />
When you didn't shoot a picture of the day, just put up a photo of your husband and a baby kitten that you happen to have on your phone from last week. It will work just fine, especially if you make it black and white to disguise the poor quality...<br />
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<u><b>Monday, August 13th</b></u><br />
Helping a friend with some wedding planning... this venue was pretty decked out!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, August 14th</u></b><br />
Sometimes you just have to invent dinner. I don't usually invent, at least not when it involves cooking. I really enjoy recipes with exact. measurements. to. follow. But when you're craving mac 'n' cheese and you have none, you need a little something to make your less than fabulous macaroni a bit more interesting. I recommend adding pesto. I was so happy to find it at our <a href="http://www.pagesfromportugal.blogspot.pt/2011/08/lidl.html">Lidl</a> grocery store after returning from Italy. I had seen it here before, but not at 1€24 for a decent size jar! I made <a href="http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/stove-top-one-pot-macaroni-cheese-recipe/">this revolutionary mac 'n' cheese recipe</a> that I discovered on Pinterest (of course) and found it lovely with a spoonful of pesto added to it!<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, August 15th</u></b><br />
We found wild figs growing in a tree close to our neighborhood while we took a walk today. Who knows if it's legal to pick them when they are ripe?<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, August 18th</u></b><br />
Vacation planning! Love that I have a husband who loves maps and loves organizing travel folders! (Please forgive the awful cell phone photo!)<br />
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<b><u>Friday, August 17th</u></b><br />
After 2 years of being country neighbors with my dear friend Ang from high school, we finally found a way to make a visit happen, and we are so glad that we did! A weekend in London was definitely not enough time to explore, but how could you even want to leave the house with these two adorable faces staring back at you??? Ang started her life in England by marrying Pete, a brilliant and hilarious Englishman, and almost 7 years later they have planted a church and built a beautiful family. Who would have thought that two best friends from high school would each marry their own European and start new adventures across the sea? If you would have told us that at drama rehearsal in the gymnasium of MLHS 12 years ago, I'm not sure we would have believed you, but here we are! So grateful for friendships that span the miles, for shared experiences both past and present, and let's be honest... it's gotta be a tried and true friendship when a family of four in a small flat generously rearranges the furniture of a room 3 nights in a row to accomodate overnight guests on the fold out couch! Looks like there needs to be an entire blog of London photos, but for now, these faces will probably make you smile!<br />
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<u><b>Saturday, August 18th</b></u><br />
I couldn't resist! Thankfully, I have a really patient husband... and thankfully the photo turned out well, because I can't say that he was completely thrilled when for the <i>third</i> time I asked him to take a photo inside a phone booth.... :)<br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-89879209268082248572012-08-23T22:11:00.000+01:002012-08-26T22:13:17.501+01:00week 32.<b><u>Sunday, August 5th</u></b><br />
Since I didn't shoot a photo today, I'm highlighting one from yesterday, when we had a really fun dinner with couples from Luis Miguel's soccer team. I love this group, especially how the couples are always holding hands, showing affection, etc, though most have been married for 10+ years. They are really fun people, and one of them had a colleague who transformed a type of "garden house" that they own into a small dining room that they use as a "restaurant" of sorts for private parties. It was so charming and fun, since it was just our group, so the service was just for us, and they had really great homemade food, not to mention it was appetizers, soup, main entree, drinks, and dessert for just 10€! I took this photo of the traditional, old-fashioned Portuguese pottery design that is so very well known here: terra cotta ceramic painted with pretty white designs. And of course, I had to take a photo of the soup, because without soup, it wouldn't be a Portuguese meal!
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<b><u>Monday, August 6th</u></b><br />
So thankful that my personal translator decided that he would work today, even when he only had clients at his part time and not at the Rehab Center with me. Thankfully they are only about a mile apart and he could swing by after work to correct my Portuguese on an important document. :)<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, August 7th</u></b><br />
We went on a long walk just outside of our neighborhood yesterday and discovered lots of blackberry bushes, so we decided to walk the same way today, but with baggies and tupperware containers. :) They were pretty hard to reach and the bush was crazy thorny, but we managed to pick about 3 cups of berries! As blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are super expensive in Portugal, Luis thought it was wise to calculate how much we "made" by picking them off the side of the road. I think he came up with about 10€, but after already sampling them in some yogurt tonight, all I can think about is how delicious they are going to be in a cobbler tomorrow!<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, August 8th</u></b><br />
What's up, giraffe neck?!?! That would be mine, not that of my sweet friend Marisa, who sits next to me in choir and kindly invited me for coffee today. It was great to have some girl-time, something that I crave, but is a bit hard to come by here (as you may imagine, making friends takes quite a bit of time in a foreign culture, let alone really great girlfriends)... but more importantly, it was great to find out about a fabulous second-hand store here in Coimbra, since I have pretty much combed the entire country looking for them and the only one with women's clothes and/or jewelry in Coimbra recently closed, as you may remember from <a href="http://www.pagesfromportugal.blogspot.pt/2012/07/week-26.html">this post</a>. This store has very little clothing, as they just recently opened, but they also buy used clothes, which is great news! To top it all off, the owner is fabulous, loves helping people, and has a space in the front of the store to display local artist's work, and told me we could get together to talk about putting some of my photography or handmade jewelry and art there! So grateful for girlfriends, and for a new second-hand store 2 minutes from my office!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, August 9th</u></b><br />
CAN . NOT . BE<i><b>LIEVE</b></i> that the Queen of Sunscreen actually got a little burned at the beach today! I reapplied 2.5 times, and I guess not covering my entire body on that 3rd application and falling asleep with my hand in the sun resulted in this. Bummer! I'm in shock. It's been so long since I've had a sunburn that I have become quite a wimp and easily annoyed with the sting and itch. Never again! As many of you know, I had a mole that turned into basil cell carcinoma 3 years ago, and I wasn't what one might call a sun-worshipper. It was something that happened to me as it could pretty much happen to anyone, so I have become a bit of a tyrant about the daily application of sunscreen, and a bit of a nazi when on the beach. But really... who burns their HAND? Yeah. This girl.<br />
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<b><u>Friday, August 10th</u></b><br />
Favorite summer meal... mom's chicken pasta salad! <br />
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<b><u>Saturday, August 11th</u></b><br />
Happy birthday, Matias! We love you and wish you a great year! (Fun cakes like this are becoming quite the rage in Portugal right now!)<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-31463005951156751512012-08-22T18:34:00.000+01:002012-08-26T18:34:52.345+01:00two.<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Who would have thought that after 731 days -- two years -- of marriage, that one could possibly have writer's block? Oh, don't get me wrong, I have plenty to say. But how can I organize it? How can I make it concise? How can I put pen to paper (or fingers to keys?) in order to tell a story when that story has just begun? Yeah, I don't know either.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">But what I can say is that I love being married. It's hard to describe sometimes, this communion of everything incredibly important and everything so simply mundane, a daily dance that reveals not only the best of you, but the worst of you as well. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">It's not every day that I would find myself quoting a romance novelist on matters of love, but I think Jodi Picoult really penned truth when one of her characters said, <i>"</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Maybe you expected marriage to be perfect - I guess that's where you and I are different. See, I thought it would be all about making mistakes, but doing it with someone who's there to remind you what you learned along the way.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Seeing yourself reflected in a marriage relationship is often a more accurate mirror than an actual piece of reflective glass itself. And sometimes that's painful. Because sometimes we are ugly. We make mistakes. But other times... other times the companionship and covenant between us is so sweet that I can't help but think I couldn't possibly love him more. And then the next day I do. Nothing will teach you more about forgiveness -- both the asking for and the giving os -- than marriage. It's a sweet juxtaposition of receiving love and receiving grace that teaches one how to give love and grace as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I suppose I could continue, but I think most people come here for the photos, so considering I never posted a wedding blog (would YOU sit in front of your computer uploading photos just days/weeks/months after moving to Europe? Yeah, me neither), here are a few of the actual day in all of it's [sweltering] glory. If you missed it, be glad you stayed inside your air conditioned house... it was crazy hot!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtiJYCx7XQSnJs28JNJsMjlQ5yBqihUdPOMQwqDlRIj6Bqk6mtVMoCQUjIdZSAHHZUS6A7leS4MXNbdndVP8B-hiXALhXycI09CIzfcrTcoOd8qQpX1C2Ez9wBcPM55kRGCxUcW-xwO7u/s1600/0713_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtiJYCx7XQSnJs28JNJsMjlQ5yBqihUdPOMQwqDlRIj6Bqk6mtVMoCQUjIdZSAHHZUS6A7leS4MXNbdndVP8B-hiXALhXycI09CIzfcrTcoOd8qQpX1C2Ez9wBcPM55kRGCxUcW-xwO7u/s400/0713_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our invitation, designed by David Duong, www.pixelslickdesign.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0_DO8NQh_5AvjD_p7BLGiPsJpqOSxwonqo2ojreKqJz7dqnO37jTReNzgLdMCYWv8VTWWbUN0VexWhQN0Z0L5KNJdZPPUpTvZychMplEg5wO6BvTPFi-rMFqRfTJ8bz21DtRy45FIj4f/s1600/0744_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0_DO8NQh_5AvjD_p7BLGiPsJpqOSxwonqo2ojreKqJz7dqnO37jTReNzgLdMCYWv8VTWWbUN0VexWhQN0Z0L5KNJdZPPUpTvZychMplEg5wO6BvTPFi-rMFqRfTJ8bz21DtRy45FIj4f/s400/0744_.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Programs and American and Portuguese flags to wave at the recessional</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L5phHUBffDPmhY6clOvK3-aIUNvvjdGZFCc56Dwxyl8a1jG9ifuTTqZ_jkkLor40xtGfqr4glj4s5rhlSTR50w7e95NmPEgc-zn_m2F45BxkQ0X8Mch_Zn6YyioCotrdHV3EEgFMvXMd/s1600/_RMH9776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L5phHUBffDPmhY6clOvK3-aIUNvvjdGZFCc56Dwxyl8a1jG9ifuTTqZ_jkkLor40xtGfqr4glj4s5rhlSTR50w7e95NmPEgc-zn_m2F45BxkQ0X8Mch_Zn6YyioCotrdHV3EEgFMvXMd/s400/_RMH9776.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't my dad so handsome?</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2K-PAqT0xZJeIHwiu01nsJYuSQRypn3Mg5KmwBzjpm7PjllU82UnGkdej0ZePdjpKFFT2VDI1MXzb7b1chyphenhyphen6pvWkP46tjaXeqbJEWUVCPaIe2IUCZyIN0tO-hnnQeqNw632gbM3_Tu2rM/s1600/0592_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2K-PAqT0xZJeIHwiu01nsJYuSQRypn3Mg5KmwBzjpm7PjllU82UnGkdej0ZePdjpKFFT2VDI1MXzb7b1chyphenhyphen6pvWkP46tjaXeqbJEWUVCPaIe2IUCZyIN0tO-hnnQeqNw632gbM3_Tu2rM/s400/0592_.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">The joining of two cultures: as sand from the ocean's shore in Portugal and red clay from the soil in Georgia are impossible to separate once poured together, so is the bond of two people united in marriage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicomBH1Yh7uZC3d52ZrkDgD14XmFgNjYpRmsU_Hgkw5MpP8sGRm2gmoKD9_yRG-5F1I29YnwPnz7UPI_0KXmoOzIF9hMuS0KtjTYbAupYsRCsH-Hqnc5IvrxJFoAvfixQMgonezY8fHOEc/s1600/0711_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicomBH1Yh7uZC3d52ZrkDgD14XmFgNjYpRmsU_Hgkw5MpP8sGRm2gmoKD9_yRG-5F1I29YnwPnz7UPI_0KXmoOzIF9hMuS0KtjTYbAupYsRCsH-Hqnc5IvrxJFoAvfixQMgonezY8fHOEc/s400/0711_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did anyone end up with all these flags after the wedding? I still have no idea where they went!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyCXKG0X49LH5ivArxXOTD2CffgogM31qdCu0LRlLePgFO4xLCVWw0fQlU0-O74Rp5e8DWI6aPMTiUeFGUwFqeb4fcYXbO05l5uZh8_p3GIy3f_96oUVB30O49-Z0nPCdevT8w0YfCCch/s1600/0225_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyCXKG0X49LH5ivArxXOTD2CffgogM31qdCu0LRlLePgFO4xLCVWw0fQlU0-O74Rp5e8DWI6aPMTiUeFGUwFqeb4fcYXbO05l5uZh8_p3GIy3f_96oUVB30O49-Z0nPCdevT8w0YfCCch/s400/0225_.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He makes me laugh every day... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo6B26p7bVBJ7TvrTCXjT2ULRnt8jOkg8LYvUyTrP8TeTuApJ7kq1Eyhi_jjDIHQhY2kSkzvQFFZo3Zru67HvY_q7bnYad2vthYKsOKPbwGnvLhi5khrKNilzc_CpnbTYvCgDOFyS_8-W/s1600/0325_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo6B26p7bVBJ7TvrTCXjT2ULRnt8jOkg8LYvUyTrP8TeTuApJ7kq1Eyhi_jjDIHQhY2kSkzvQFFZo3Zru67HvY_q7bnYad2vthYKsOKPbwGnvLhi5khrKNilzc_CpnbTYvCgDOFyS_8-W/s400/0325_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous friends... two of which flew across an ocean to stand next to us on this day!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO7EkpTfyz92jUNWQNn1Ixm_dqJbmDTr11hf4VxVhxU-DGFVDbSgxaVT22M75zYCO25w_d21yAU0XWBigS74nvqB57fLmeu82qM7fKrQwvTdpL8BNSLGcJq30cwbpc3Y21VAHF1fc-p5a/s1600/0830_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO7EkpTfyz92jUNWQNn1Ixm_dqJbmDTr11hf4VxVhxU-DGFVDbSgxaVT22M75zYCO25w_d21yAU0XWBigS74nvqB57fLmeu82qM7fKrQwvTdpL8BNSLGcJq30cwbpc3Y21VAHF1fc-p5a/s400/0830_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzZZuac225lr35b_t6t2ZdLCgmDmSU-8jbCRGAwvP-ftIBRAQjAScevO82-AU7fUN6PaGqkVbDO70VLiO5nWNjjgl2EDWVm0tMbjtHZMkAlmFWc4u42YqTNK-JD8P9nvz_u_Nm-Z9MToV/s1600/_RMH0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzZZuac225lr35b_t6t2ZdLCgmDmSU-8jbCRGAwvP-ftIBRAQjAScevO82-AU7fUN6PaGqkVbDO70VLiO5nWNjjgl2EDWVm0tMbjtHZMkAlmFWc4u42YqTNK-JD8P9nvz_u_Nm-Z9MToV/s400/_RMH0558.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rivQtLWHaFAU-TpboD3Uha6U71NXsPYlmni7WJtBYZ5E9z5KTHYLGF_9kp9J2S2lA5UwCFjQ-0R_j0RsXMTSYxahHAWiV_Br9J_SGZd7Oao5eD52mW9sH-1DjVR5W5Ci7mzwAnrE9Mfb/s1600/0739_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rivQtLWHaFAU-TpboD3Uha6U71NXsPYlmni7WJtBYZ5E9z5KTHYLGF_9kp9J2S2lA5UwCFjQ-0R_j0RsXMTSYxahHAWiV_Br9J_SGZd7Oao5eD52mW9sH-1DjVR5W5Ci7mzwAnrE9Mfb/s400/0739_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We chose this historic plantation house as our wedding venue because we were able to <br />
personalize every empty space as if it was our own!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-QXZlloGk2YbqfSyKZg22L7F9XhyphenhyphenvKrh4vlL8_kMD2AX3pVCIh9-1fO_VDmcPODyzdN20ZRVIRWWPAdRYiS_tnq2lhpk9IysQ5GzWy4a6vlNylJKd6qw7W-q1nhhd9nTtMA_UjEVp6RS/s1600/0920_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-QXZlloGk2YbqfSyKZg22L7F9XhyphenhyphenvKrh4vlL8_kMD2AX3pVCIh9-1fO_VDmcPODyzdN20ZRVIRWWPAdRYiS_tnq2lhpk9IysQ5GzWy4a6vlNylJKd6qw7W-q1nhhd9nTtMA_UjEVp6RS/s400/0920_.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luis dancing to Portuguese music with this mom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBd0SASWrz00GAoF1PvDg03pPL3ODAOniO22rg9wsKbH-sP-dVsnSCvyp5NwNEU0uucRpRtzGyuXf3HKD-1gVQ1kcYkWImAv27WMaA4WKb9zohe7ahIdvop6CrSmeBdPMwV_K962dJtuq/s1600/0941_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBd0SASWrz00GAoF1PvDg03pPL3ODAOniO22rg9wsKbH-sP-dVsnSCvyp5NwNEU0uucRpRtzGyuXf3HKD-1gVQ1kcYkWImAv27WMaA4WKb9zohe7ahIdvop6CrSmeBdPMwV_K962dJtuq/s400/0941_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The disco line dance, made famous by my college roommates, has now officially <br />
been danced at each of our 5 weddings. So thankful to have these girls at my side!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLsUs6grUDqRhqSAn-96bFkI7HK9LerkyC01CXQSrvoIhjWItCdftYoE_Yqnzpr9gq8S10LIldfxwv346ee68_D-ylU_0ZGKEqrVs1z4qAbio0LGGL9ADxtHi_uX53xcvBhxboWHV0hjL/s1600/0981_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLsUs6grUDqRhqSAn-96bFkI7HK9LerkyC01CXQSrvoIhjWItCdftYoE_Yqnzpr9gq8S10LIldfxwv346ee68_D-ylU_0ZGKEqrVs1z4qAbio0LGGL9ADxtHi_uX53xcvBhxboWHV0hjL/s400/0981_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think everyone would agree that the highlight of the night was both of our dad's dancing together. As you can see, they were the center of attention!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wujm_vPQ5wuncg9X-rGZ9dd6C8DhjGknmCw76417cxrrA9LUOKhXYKGvyC3ml368qWFirGIU02FNvk2wbtPtBC36zcITaAFm6Jkf2SqYyIUvHif1Tk8pavFMEQIiWIeCwYgO5GWt6-Dp/s1600/1069_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wujm_vPQ5wuncg9X-rGZ9dd6C8DhjGknmCw76417cxrrA9LUOKhXYKGvyC3ml368qWFirGIU02FNvk2wbtPtBC36zcITaAFm6Jkf2SqYyIUvHif1Tk8pavFMEQIiWIeCwYgO5GWt6-Dp/s400/1069_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My extended family, all the way from up der in da nort'!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEAPF7SpviwLmODmiC_KncY67P8Jc4KiLrW8XkLxTjrhc51x1o3Ea7QQ82noVpyLR2jeHwt4Sj2f0xEaLr_YrDvAtYBbkMIJdcBMHIITUFP4IiQr1KFjwK1eZR1T8ikICh02eQOZn812v/s1600/_RMH1334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEAPF7SpviwLmODmiC_KncY67P8Jc4KiLrW8XkLxTjrhc51x1o3Ea7QQ82noVpyLR2jeHwt4Sj2f0xEaLr_YrDvAtYBbkMIJdcBMHIITUFP4IiQr1KFjwK1eZR1T8ikICh02eQOZn812v/s400/_RMH1334.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful historic plantation house </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">For more photos, visit Rosanna Marie's blog, where our wedding was documented: </span><a href="http://www.rosannamarie.com/blog/?p=590" style="font-size: small;">Part 1</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> & </span><a href="http://www.rosannamarie.com/blog/?p=605" style="font-size: small;">Part 2</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></div>
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Upon our arrival to Portugal just 9 days after the wedding, I met a lot of Luis Miguel's extended family and friends who weren't able to come to the States for our wedding. We were blessed that even after helping us with the cost of the wedding, Luis's family threw us a fabulous reception for next to nothing! Everyone contributed by bringing food, wine, and desserts. Luis's godparents supply a large metropolitan hospital with all the pastries in their cafe, and they operate their business out of an in-home warehouse, which they so kindly donated for our reception. We draped sheets over the ginormous shelves of flour and sugar and they set up quite a lovely dinner considering it's... well... a warehouse! It was quite overwhelming, as everyone felt the need to meet me (and touch me a lot while doing so... they're freindly people, those Portuguese), but it was so fun to have a peek at how a Portuguese wedding reception could be! And let's just be honest... not every girl gets to wear her wedding dress a second time! Unfortunately, the day we planned the dinner for ended up being the same day as the wedding of the son of the most well-known wine producer in Pinhel, and it just so happened that ALL FIVE photographers were booked months in advance for his wedding that night! Bummer. Thankfully I had brought my own camera and snapped a few photos, then a kind cousin carried it around all night so that we could be included in the photos! We even managed to sneak outside before the party started ans snap a few that "looked European"! :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wedding cake! And yes, those are huge chunks of shaved white chocolate!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJrO1hxj7ANjPHwz-rvl1ERwoiFDywQBS01s7YDfl0tiXYug-kv59zq3fcD1_09Injcm9IdtzVtVj6s1zW7Zv4cGQNDXMv3ZGlkfGK66ygxXHLto5rFVSGZHvd0QCTuTe0xBJCDg5BRv9/s1600/_MG_5160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJrO1hxj7ANjPHwz-rvl1ERwoiFDywQBS01s7YDfl0tiXYug-kv59zq3fcD1_09Injcm9IdtzVtVj6s1zW7Zv4cGQNDXMv3ZGlkfGK66ygxXHLto5rFVSGZHvd0QCTuTe0xBJCDg5BRv9/s400/_MG_5160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Portuguese frequently have 3 or 4 desserts at a normal dinner party, so obviously we had like 20!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9PbD9Aa60sxDQ4fl0RFfb02NQyn4-WBNtO1i91CBAHpO2yJXEUwUjNPLMWkwT8byGM18yVyWGDEBNGFjTiLL421cNff8coK8IvdW-rv-DSeebKAbK5iUqx6dD16iSHJl1D_xLJvPZbT3/s1600/_MG_5097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9PbD9Aa60sxDQ4fl0RFfb02NQyn4-WBNtO1i91CBAHpO2yJXEUwUjNPLMWkwT8byGM18yVyWGDEBNGFjTiLL421cNff8coK8IvdW-rv-DSeebKAbK5iUqx6dD16iSHJl1D_xLJvPZbT3/s400/_MG_5097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's 3 tables of desserts, people.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of Portuguese food!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1eVv9ijFk9L7XlKgUmkkTSxlhz4FxPjcTikz1VOf8SWz337-4AQkNDXod0_WnO_1GhYKEmuuHZ0hkm5kNgDh7WdGlPt-dCagMKYYZNy9xGU4gGkTECl3oKw90Plib-GZGYgrbSXsLXn3/s1600/_MG_5129+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1eVv9ijFk9L7XlKgUmkkTSxlhz4FxPjcTikz1VOf8SWz337-4AQkNDXod0_WnO_1GhYKEmuuHZ0hkm5kNgDh7WdGlPt-dCagMKYYZNy9xGU4gGkTECl3oKw90Plib-GZGYgrbSXsLXn3/s400/_MG_5129+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing with Luis Miguel's parents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Dlc0B5bmk3qEMi2V-KgSkAmnB1uxE5wOAgpOI4HjP4u85uD9Ns907rKekDXYLrUuwl4TJAjz_HkEH2pw2rleTirP0ADjShlFI02U3ddHuJgcmWDE3wg3LDwx8fTbqjgfgtTtgXFMEG_R/s1600/_MG_5193+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Dlc0B5bmk3qEMi2V-KgSkAmnB1uxE5wOAgpOI4HjP4u85uD9Ns907rKekDXYLrUuwl4TJAjz_HkEH2pw2rleTirP0ADjShlFI02U3ddHuJgcmWDE3wg3LDwx8fTbqjgfgtTtgXFMEG_R/s400/_MG_5193+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy played for us and is extremely talented!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJELxNIkQ8V3Zw5SFhDvEdAoKtwByVfrEPF_fMQu7rVmbndVD5X6H7GkFc5X0mqY2UhLzPeubee59bxHcamBpnopuYzviMU1KKuVLgTauPbpeZIiKnwVA3WZOSLqXAvjLZtXFNuklb_AaJ/s1600/_MG_5203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJELxNIkQ8V3Zw5SFhDvEdAoKtwByVfrEPF_fMQu7rVmbndVD5X6H7GkFc5X0mqY2UhLzPeubee59bxHcamBpnopuYzviMU1KKuVLgTauPbpeZIiKnwVA3WZOSLqXAvjLZtXFNuklb_AaJ/s400/_MG_5203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One traditional Portuguese dance puts the couple in the middle of the circle while <br />all the others walk and dance in a circle around them, clapping and singing...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hc5vs9bIrvRBlKTydLX8eKxLXJxY1tx4a4k0vEKv_3iQpDxPVst4E6BI4Gg5zfUzvxGByxTb8NyY6a01sIDuirWmW6LYkAekUz8aXKFSraqq8xohG-4Nil2iQVTJ9S_a-ZJuVAJ4jRd-/s1600/_MG_5199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hc5vs9bIrvRBlKTydLX8eKxLXJxY1tx4a4k0vEKv_3iQpDxPVst4E6BI4Gg5zfUzvxGByxTb8NyY6a01sIDuirWmW6LYkAekUz8aXKFSraqq8xohG-4Nil2iQVTJ9S_a-ZJuVAJ4jRd-/s400/_MG_5199.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and then they all come toward the middle in one big squeeze!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4AsiFFT5QARu3A-HEXsu9lIzYSJCmIER9l7ZsFMUisyBMVVtSqKD8ibaasR_4pCJiy2_Y6O957kuPTIfUy3qrR5LKcckxZ1HKxj4I9Nkx4YeHjogQh8jzczPAc0eGia3y2uUkCVwvEYL/s1600/_MG_5172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4AsiFFT5QARu3A-HEXsu9lIzYSJCmIER9l7ZsFMUisyBMVVtSqKD8ibaasR_4pCJiy2_Y6O957kuPTIfUy3qrR5LKcckxZ1HKxj4I9Nkx4YeHjogQh8jzczPAc0eGia3y2uUkCVwvEYL/s400/_MG_5172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cousins and friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq_eKyqR1krgee2N70K85Q_m5V3_4jzInGcp4h7UezP3o3TJQrowrWp4VtkB3Lhv54KSaMmjVEq5o8414zp7m24bU8F2JO9YIszQIe5TWjuhZLkxXgf5pGOoKwglCZAh-5KiCagMjQH53/s1600/IMG_1650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq_eKyqR1krgee2N70K85Q_m5V3_4jzInGcp4h7UezP3o3TJQrowrWp4VtkB3Lhv54KSaMmjVEq5o8414zp7m24bU8F2JO9YIszQIe5TWjuhZLkxXgf5pGOoKwglCZAh-5KiCagMjQH53/s400/IMG_1650.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really love the doors in Pinhel...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N3PQpYxCSx-stVwXqeDJorWDV70u4ExfmJpRx3Iou8WBuGXT0059H18x6mygBjwSh4WeJtqkmx9UVWO97W6KkSEEzLIDZzQn1GRzkSDUNhzch2MIFuQFHJqlD2xdYmerD0A_2nh5BuI3/s1600/IMG_1657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N3PQpYxCSx-stVwXqeDJorWDV70u4ExfmJpRx3Iou8WBuGXT0059H18x6mygBjwSh4WeJtqkmx9UVWO97W6KkSEEzLIDZzQn1GRzkSDUNhzch2MIFuQFHJqlD2xdYmerD0A_2nh5BuI3/s400/IMG_1657.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't resist... it was like a human picture frame! Wish we would have stood up as well!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXKbtcBTpEqOdKhWatWJMPuM6xObx1tzih5n7gmCDoSUezaQhIC3b5FZ4jocGKPoCPEGo-WjMf7uoqBvwcwDegoTMGAJtUOUDsRbJlo2WgbmTbWlcdi-hskxknw-V2tcJBu2Jw-qFdysP/s1600/IMG_1658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXKbtcBTpEqOdKhWatWJMPuM6xObx1tzih5n7gmCDoSUezaQhIC3b5FZ4jocGKPoCPEGo-WjMf7uoqBvwcwDegoTMGAJtUOUDsRbJlo2WgbmTbWlcdi-hskxknw-V2tcJBu2Jw-qFdysP/s400/IMG_1658.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm all "Does it look European? I need it to look European..."<br /></td></tr>
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And then... a little over a year after, we were crazy blessed when we actually got our real European pictures! Our American friends hosted some American photographers here in Coimbra to do free photo sessions, and they invited us to be a part of it! Since we had planned our wedding, I had always wanted to get photos in Coimbra with me in my dress and Luis in his suit, so this was an opportunity that I would not let slip away!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was parked all by itself outside of the train station, and asked Luis if he thought I would get shot if I just jumped on. He was skeptical, and I glanced at an old man sitting on the stairs, he nodded, seeming to give me his approval. After asking if it was his and receiving an affirmative response, of course I asked if I could get on. Aren't you glad I did?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little corner of the world...</td></tr>
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And then a bird pooped on my dress and in my hair, signaling the end of the photo shoot. Good thing I was in Portugal, because the Portuguese say it's a sign of good luck!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrCTvujcEEJEFlPDQ2L0cA7aT5KVcTve8aHgiY_ZM3h9ie-mUzrKf4Cq9LCPxCkU-EqKcIz4gfnTQ7hqbWiurVVCwcLW8cwLM9lbjYzjtsI36vM6mJFLrLjxHCKAFm5u_zzzdklIMs7dd/s1600/DSC_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrCTvujcEEJEFlPDQ2L0cA7aT5KVcTve8aHgiY_ZM3h9ie-mUzrKf4Cq9LCPxCkU-EqKcIz4gfnTQ7hqbWiurVVCwcLW8cwLM9lbjYzjtsI36vM6mJFLrLjxHCKAFm5u_zzzdklIMs7dd/s400/DSC_0928.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos by <a href="http://allaboutpictures.net/">Kim Lewandowski</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This year, we spent the weekend before our anniversary in London visiting my dear friend Ang from high school. What a blessing to still be in touch, not only for friendship's sake, but also to share experiences: 5 years before I did, Ang married her very own European and moved herself 'cross the sea as well. And how lovely it was to reminisce, share stories of being foreigners abroad, and just simply be ourselves together. There is nothing like living in another culture to make you realize how valuable the friendships are with people who knew you when you were young and remained friends with until now. So thankful for this family for hosting us for the weekend and for making our trip so enjoyable!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfsegE06aLwN1QHA1t8nvPe0WtM8bCeALy6Hswem6FSBg1J28l92lIxnJSFJ6e2W7NpRQIK9zmjrfLZ3Hce-tRS_JxUCoJqal7iacBuxbtCKJPiQxwJXqOOKbIu46hHqd9WTgXgDhHQgQ/s1600/DSC00391-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfsegE06aLwN1QHA1t8nvPe0WtM8bCeALy6Hswem6FSBg1J28l92lIxnJSFJ6e2W7NpRQIK9zmjrfLZ3Hce-tRS_JxUCoJqal7iacBuxbtCKJPiQxwJXqOOKbIu46hHqd9WTgXgDhHQgQ/s400/DSC00391-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete, Ang, Madeline, and Nate, rocking a PB&J like it's his job...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY6yBsHIccHy4i5I-0koMWYSM4AzgZf3q2HX1K9RzUdGqoWYLyDu8ZO4g-nFnqh2HLR_6R-xx81Kkwhf6cdIf5GsC_OKkVkO_rbC0Ykzgu0doC_cIWD2TmORe7iIc3HtxQDfHaRXJs3Bb/s1600/DSC00080-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY6yBsHIccHy4i5I-0koMWYSM4AzgZf3q2HX1K9RzUdGqoWYLyDu8ZO4g-nFnqh2HLR_6R-xx81Kkwhf6cdIf5GsC_OKkVkO_rbC0Ykzgu0doC_cIWD2TmORe7iIc3HtxQDfHaRXJs3Bb/s400/DSC00080-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their personalities in a nutshell...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gKbjH8oaXzgIjlAesra1PQVhtWu2KDLWf4jsNsXeoDepXNpNDoj3u1AY1-RoJGpaCbZSKtG_pXOg6CiNLrlDeZrgDdnIR73ihbedRe9UO3RBpnjl-Yej6vGn_EZtr1p0g2P3naGvtpSh/s1600/DSC00453-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gKbjH8oaXzgIjlAesra1PQVhtWu2KDLWf4jsNsXeoDepXNpNDoj3u1AY1-RoJGpaCbZSKtG_pXOg6CiNLrlDeZrgDdnIR73ihbedRe9UO3RBpnjl-Yej6vGn_EZtr1p0g2P3naGvtpSh/s400/DSC00453-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends for the last 15 years... and as Ang said, we haven't aged a bit!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we love the ocean and, well, it's free to enjoy, we decided to spend the afternoon of our anniversary there. It was the most brilliantly sunny day near our house, but unfortunately the beautiful, white puffy clouds turned low and grey at the shore. </span>We still enjoyed ourselves as we relaxed and read on the sand, though! <div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm so thankful for you, Luis Miguel Almeida! And just as I mentioned on our anniversary </span><a href="http://www.pagesfromportugal.blogspot.pt/2011/08/anniversary.html" style="font-family: inherit;">last year</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> <span style="line-height: 20px;">being in love with you did not arise from a single moment, but in many moments strung together, constantly arriving one after the other, like ocean waves on this very shore. And the best part about those moments that arrive like constantly rolling waves? From where we stand now, it's impossible to see the opposite shore; these moments will continue to roll in, day after day, year after year. The opportunities to fall in love again and again will never end. And for that I am forever grateful. Thank you for showing me what unconditional love looks like every day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><span style="line-height: 20px;">Happy anniversary, my sweet Love!</span></span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
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The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-85187869299750014192012-08-10T13:56:00.001+01:002012-08-10T13:56:55.586+01:00week 31<b><u>Sunday, July 29th</u></b><br />
Who loves the end of the school year??? We do! Quite a few of Luis's clients gave him gifts at the end of the school year (because most don't come during the summer because summer holidays mean lots of things shut down and people hang out with their families or take vacation), and this was by far our favorite... a gigantic bottle of delicious wine! (Fleur de Lis trademark, in case any of you Portuguese are interested!)<br />
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<b><u>Monday, July 30th</u></b><br />
I remember when I first visited Portugal, I named Luis Miguel's garage the "Love Shack", because the protection on the outside of the windows has iron in the shape of a heart! Now that I walk by them every day, I don't notice them as much anymore, so I thought I would document them today.<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, July 31st</u></b><br />
As we are starting our second round of vacation in the next week, we will be home a few days doing house projects, one of which includes defrosting the fridge and freezer. Since we would like to try to eat more of the things that seem to have been frozen for forever (and save some money!), we pulled out a big container of leitão pieces, which is a delicious pork, or Portuguese piglet, to be exact. It's pretty expensive here, and almost everyone loves it, so we were saving it for a time when we could have people over, etc. We decided it wasn't worth it to wait until our next dinner party, since it was taking up a huge amount of space in our freezer, and after realizing that it was impossible to break apart pieces that were solidly frozen together, we had to defrost all of it at once, forcing us to find some creative recipes to use it, including this delicious one. It was mashed potatoes with various layers of leitão with a great sauce mixed between it. Mashed potato leitão casserole? Yes, please! Better yet, Luis volunteered to make the meat even more delicious if I made the potatoes, and his version of the recipe turned out to be fabulous, contrary to what the sign on the top of the counter says! (Apparently my mother, who gifted me the sign, doesn't think that I inherited her culinary skills!) :)<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, August 1st</u></b><br />
With special permission from his grandparents (the Portuguese are extremely cautious/nervous about anything personal being posted on the internet), I would like to introduce you to Manuel, one of Luis's clientes, and, I admit, one of my favorites. No matter how early we arrive on Wednesday mornings, he is always there with his grandpa waiting for us, wanting to hold our hands as we walk up to the room where he works with Luis, and though a boy of little words, always seems to make me laugh. Though he was pretty exited to stand on the desk, he was a little squirmy for the photo, which made it a bit out of focus, but that's Manuel in a nutshell, and we love him!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, August 2nd</u></b><br />
I love big trees that have leaves hanging down low enough to touch!<br />
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<b><u>Friday, August 3rd</u></b><br />
Two sweet colleagues of mine had birthdays this week, so in the spirit of celebrating, I made some cupcakes. And let's just be honest, I love any occasion that allows me to make a new dessert recipe or decorate something fun. Happy birthday Mariana and Carina!<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, August 4th</u></b><br />
Today we got to celebrate this great girl and her upcoming marriage! Some close friends of my colleague Rita got together for her bachelorette party, and one of the activities was a photo shoot at a local studio. We brought some accessories to dress her up and had a ball! She'll be a stunning bride, don't you think?<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-12273507855242416872012-08-10T13:48:00.005+01:002012-08-10T13:48:56.348+01:00week 30.<b><u>Sunday, July 22nd</u></b><br />
When thinking about visiting Italy, I had long been dreaming of visiting Cinque Terre ("Five Lands"), an area on the northwestern coast of Italy made up of 5 colorful villages set upon the cliffs of the Mediterranean Sea. After deciding to spend a week of our summer in Italy, this was the part of the trip I was most looking forward to, as it is less known, more calm, less commercial with regard to tourism, and as I anticipated, the most beautiful place I have ever been. This is Riomaggiore, the village where we stayed, and in my opinion, the most charming of the five! The first night surely lived up to my dreams...
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<b><u>Monday, July 23rd</u></b><br />
Today marks the day when I thought I quite possibly might die... various times. I would never ever call myself an athlete, and wouldn't even consider using the word "hiker", no matter what the terrain. I would, though, consider myself very good at "Doing something artistic while sitting" or "Reading while lounging/riding/cooking". That being said, you can imagine that 5.1 miles through rigorous mountain terrain was not easy on this girl. Especially with an eager, athletic, and strong husband. Thankfully he was very encouraging, even after I growled "I hate this" in response each time he kindly asked me how I was doing. He also graciously reminded me that we could always take the train to the next city instead of hiking the trail (I recommend that!), but by the time we were halfway through, I had Jillian Michaels screaming at me in my head ("<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpksp4B88xk">Unless you faint, puke, or die, KEEP WALKING!</a>") and was determined to finish! And finish we did. They say the hike should take about 4 hours, 5 if you stop to eat lunch, rest, etc. It took us 6, and it was probably because I took about 150 photos like this...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>Tuesday, July 24th</u></b></span><br />
This is the how the ocean looks mere meters from the train station. And yes, the water really is that clear. And turquoise! This shot is straight out of the camera, as you can see by my continual problem of shooting a photo with a straight horizon... So sad to say goodbye to this paradise today!<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, July 25th</u></b><br />
Though we knew before we left that our work cafeteria (which the staff eats in for FREE every day... so grateful!) was closed the week that we got back, but it slipped our minds around midnight Tuesday when we got back to Coimbra, and this morning, when we were a bit out of sorts from vacation. Though we were pretty savvy in our saving for the trip, and definitely conscious not to overspend while vacationing, it still cost quite a bit, so we decided to go cheap for lunch today! Also, in Portugal, it is not uncool to eat at McDonald's as an adult! After all, you can get a beer with your Big Mac for lunch! (Please forgive the low-quality cell phone photo!)<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, July 26th</u></b><br />
After what we thought was a strange bug bite that showed up the day before we left for our trip swelled up into a huge knob between my eyebrow and my eyeball, we decided upon arriving home that it was time to visit the dermatologist. Thankfully it was just an epidermic cyst (read: little ball of fat that became infected by something on/under the skin and swelled up) and antibiotics cleared it up in a few days. On a side note, the dermatologist's office was in a remodeled old house, which had these amazing wide stairways and stained glass windows. It's not every day that you go to a doctor's office in a charming old house. Could be a great idea to swap the bright white sterile doctor's office feel for a charming old house, right? Just sayin'...<br />
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<b><u>Friday, July 27th</u></b><br />
Are we home... or are we home?<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, July 28th</u></b><br />
Sometimes you just need a vacation to recuperate from your vacation, right? That's pretty much what we did all day (rest), along with lots of laundry and lots of staring at this screen. I have been hoping that I can use a few of my vacation days to stay at home and organize the thousands of photos I shot this year (and hopefully get a few of them on this blog!), but after lots of confusing hours in this photo editing program, I'm not sure how much I will be able to accomplish! Maybe I should just hire someone for this...<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-54696832218381740612012-07-29T21:53:00.002+01:002012-07-29T21:53:56.293+01:00week 29.<b><u>Sunday, July 15th</u></b><br />
Pasta and wine for lunch... just preparing for comida italiana!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Monday, July 16th</u></b><br />
Our packing method for this trip... tops with underwear and socks for each day rolled inside, organized in order of wear in giant 5L ziplock baggies that I accidentally bought <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">instead of the normal 1 gallon ones </span><span style="background-color: white;">on our last trip to Ikea. Note: they didn't change the colors of the bags just for fun. Colors represent sizes. Whoops! All bags are not pictured, but there aren't many more than this! We're bringing extra bags for dirty clothes, as well, and hope that in our 4 different cities, having clothes arranged in large zipper bags will eliminate hassle and avoid annoying me the 4 different times we have to unload the bag in the 4 different cities we will be visiting!</span><br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, July 17th</u></b><br />
We made it to Rome!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Wednesday, July 18th</u></b><br />
How did I spend 2 and a half days in Rome on a college study abroad trip and not make it to the Roman Forum, one of the most famous ancient sites in all of Italy? I still can't believe it, especially since it is about a 10 minute walk from the Coliseum! Here you can see remains of Ceasar's palace, the first Senate house, the temple of the Vestal Virgins, and the Arch of Septimius Severus. It's amazing to think that we can walk through ruins that are almost 1,800 years old!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, July 19th</u></b><br />
After journeying to Florence, we ventured to the top of a hill that gave us a beautiful view of the city! The large red domed cathedral is the Duomo, and the large bridge closest to us famous Ponte Veccio. It was surely a stunning way to be introduced to Florence for the first time!<br />
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<b><u>Friday, July 20th</u></b><br />
Since it was 2€ cheaper to climb the Campanile tower than it was to climb the dome of the Duomo Cathedral, we chose that option. And a brilliant option it was, since only by climbing the Campanile can you get this great shot of the Duomo's dome. (Espertos!) This also marked the day when we paid 6€ to climb 413 stairs. Yeah. Espertos.<br />
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<u style="background-color: white;"><b>Saturday, July 21st</b></u><br />
After doing quite a bit of research on places to visit in Italy and creating a concourse that would make sense (with all train transportation, cost of traveling during the week vs the weekend, etc), we had heard that Pisa wasn't a place worth spending time in, but since it was on our way from Florence to Cinque Terre, we decided to spend 3 hours there. We hopped off the train in Pisa and on to a bus across the street from the train station, which conveniently dropped us off at the plaza right in front of the Tower. And oh, what a Tower it is! To avoid being asked the question "Didn't you take a photo trying to hold up the Tower?", and also to avoid putting my pasty white legs on the blog any more than necessary (it was about 95ºF the first 5 days of our trip!), I am posting a photo of Luis Miguel holding up the tower with his brute strength, all concentrated into the tips of his moussed hair. Be jealous, ladies. Be very jealous.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">[PS- Happy wedding day to my dear, dear friend Anna (Meyer) Foley!]</span><br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-15035084731139939452012-07-29T21:53:00.001+01:002012-07-29T21:53:49.833+01:00week 28.<b><u>Sunday, July 8th</u></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Choosing clothes for vacation! This habitual over-packer is trying to have a minimalist approach like her simplistic husband.... and that's not an easy feat!</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Monday, July 9th</u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Kim: Hey Love, do you want to try out my new <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/06/homemade-jello-fruit-snacks-recipe.html">gummy fruit snack recipe</a> that I found on Pinterest?</span><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Luis: (silence)</span><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Kim: (gets fruit snacks, takes them out of molds, tastes one) Mmm... try them! Want to try them? They're good!</span><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Luis: (takes a bite; silence)</span><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Kim: They are awesome! Tell me they're awesome! </span><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Luis: They are strange.<br /><br />[The end].</span></span>
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Update: They are, in fact, strange. They taste like really really tough Jello jigglers. That didn't stop me from eating them, but when after eating 5 or 6, you realize you have eaten more than half of an entire pack of Jello gelatin, you rethink your decision...<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Tuesday, July 10th</u></b><br />
Break time with our volunteer event planning team... The cafe across the street had what looked like real American doughnuts, so my colleague Carina and I decided to split one. Verdict: tasted pretty authentically American, but the consistency was pretty dry. I'd be willing to try again though! Reminded me of Saturday morning doughnuts with my dad in Milwaukee! :)<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, July 11th</u></b><br />
My super-thoughtful grandma, knowing how much I love Norman Rockwell, saw this cute reusable shopping bag and mailed it to me! One side has one of Rockwell's famous baseball prints, and this side is a simple still life, which my grandma said "reminded her of Italy", so I should "take it on my trip in case we go shopping." Love her!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, July 12th</u></b><br />
As I have mentioned in other posts, a bit part of my job is working with European volunteers in a 6 month project through the program "<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/european-voluntary-service_en.htm">European Voluntary Service</a>" (EVS). One of the parts of the project this year was to create an event that showcased the project and APCC at the same time. We brought in <a href="http://www.apc-coimbra.org.pt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:5o-punkada-&catid=277:outras-actividades&Itemid=217">5ª Punkada</a>, a band comprised of our disabled clients, a group of singers performing traditional Portuguese music, and a theater group. Our volunteers hosted the show, created a video, and displayed a photo exhibition. It was fabulous, as you can see in the "after" photo with some of our team that made the show possible! <br />
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<b><u>Friday, July 15th</u></b><br />
I think I will have to mark today on my calendar as the day when I made the most embarrassing cultural faux pas to date! I will try to summarize concisely. I have been having a recurring eye infection and decided to go to a well recommended doctor at a surgical center just outside of Coimbra. Since apparently the 12.30 appt time they told me on the phone was really 12.20 (no way I messed that one up because of the Portuguese... "vinte" [20] and "e meia" [30] don't sound anything alike!), they let another client go ahead of me, so I knew I would have to wait. I decided that using the restroom was a good idea since you never really know how long you have to wait at the doctor's office. Upon entering the restroom, I found myself in a small area with a sink and two more doors. It is pretty common in Portugal that small restrooms like this have their own "rooms" (normal size stalls, just completely closed in) instead of stalls connected to the others with open tops and bottoms. These rooms have doors that close completely, and since no light comes from the open top, they often have their own light switch. Light switches in Portugal are often outside the door, but since I didn't see anything outside this door, I went in and looked on the wall inside. Nada. Glancing around, I noticed a cord hanging from the ceiling. Now, I'm not sure if it's my American culture or if it's a universal rule, but in the dark, if you see a cord with a little ball on the end hanging from the ceiling, it is probably for a light bulb, right? Right. Or so I thought. After pulling it and not seeing anything happen, I exited the stall, just to see in front of me (which was to my back, next to the entrance, when I came in), another cord identical to this one, but it was only then that I noticed a small red sign next to the cord that said "Pull only in case of emergency". Though I didn't hear an alarm, I panicked and ran from the stall to the front desk around the corner, and very quickly explained to the nurse (who was already exiting her desk and telling someone else that there is an alarm going off) that there was not, in fact, an emergency, and that I had pulled the cord thinking it was a light. She smiled and understood, but insisted on going back into the bathroom "just to make sure everything was ok", and then showed me that the light switch was actually directly beneath the paper towel holder (clearly designed by an engineer who loves his symmetry), and after turning it on, I could obviously see the emergency sign next to the cord in the stall. I didn't notice the sign inside the bathroom earlier because... (wait for it...) there was no light on inside of there!!! This post deserved two photos, because there was no way to show both the switch and the cord in the same photo. You can't see the switch behind all those paper towels though, can you? Yeah... I couldn't either.<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, July 14th</u></b><br />
Another note about EVS: Back in April, at a dinner hosted at our volunteers' apartment, Christian, from Germany, let us taste some of his dad's homemade raspberry jam that he brought from home before the project started. Luis happened to love the jam as well... so much, in fact, that it prompted Christian to ask his dad to send a small jar when his brother came to visit this week. Happy belated birthday to Luis, and happy dinner to me... peanut butter toast with German raspberry jelly on top! <br />
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<b><u>Saturday, July 14th</u></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Trying it out... though my Better Half will be the one carrying it! We are using this instead of a suitcase because we have various train transfers that will make wheel-able luggage difficult to manage, not to mention a mere 3 hour stop in Pisa (including a train station stop, bus transfer, short walk to the Tower, short walk back, bus trip, then train trip!) which has unknown-to-us terrain. We are hoping it's the right choice!</span><br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-75830852629619203802012-07-29T20:41:00.002+01:002012-07-29T21:53:43.947+01:00week 27.<b><u>Sunday, July 1st</u></b><br />
After two failed attempts at making banana bread, I think I may give up and let the oven win. Not sure why I can make pumpkin bars, cakes, cobblers, etc, and bread just won't finish in the middle. Maybe because the pan is too deep? This was in the oven 40 minutes longer than recommended, and even after covering the top, both that and the bottom were black, but it wasn't done in the middle, as perhaps you can see in this photo. I tried a new recipe and was so excited to taste it... bummer.<br />
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<u><b>Monday, July 2nd</b></u><br />
Ran an errand downtown during the day today and loved these charming old flags that were hanging out of a second story window, above a little mom-and-pop shop. Their obvious age makes me wonder who they belonged to, where they have flown, and how old they really are...<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, July 3rd</u></b><br />
As mentioned in one of my recent posts, we have been confused and bewildered by the amount of taxes we occasionally have to pay to receive a package sent from America, never knowing if it was randomly searched, searched for a reason, randomly taxed, taxed for a reason, etc. Sometimes we get letters saying we need to respond and prove something-or-other like the reason we are receiving it, a declaration of honor saying we won't sell it, and the like. We never know why sometimes we have to pay, and have heard we can avoid this by asking senders to take off tags, put things in plastic bags instead of original packaging, and send flat rate boxes that have the USPS logo on them. After a long-awaited Christmas box finally arrived from my brother (he's busy... it's not that the mail had to travel for 6 months), via my mother, we were very disappointed that we were taxed a LOT and had to pay more than we had ever paid to receive it or else they would send it back. After being informed that we would really enjoy the presents, and after really wanting some other things inside that I had shipped to my brother from Amazon, we bit the bullet and just paid it. I must confess that it was surely worth it! You can see the abundance of goodies here, a few American items sent from our wish lists sent by Kyle and his girlfriend Kelly, a few fun things my mom threw in, and two small electronic items which made the super high taxes all worth it. Can you find the two iPhones in the photo??<br />
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Yes, we now have iPhones, and we need someone to come over on a vacation and teach us how to use them! Free Portugal tours in exchange for iPhone tutorials! We are so thankful for our family and their generosity to us! (PS - if any of you Americans in Portugal want the details of why you get taxed, when boxes will get searched, etc, I can give you all the info because I got the low down from Alfândega!)<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Wednesday, July 4th</u></b><br />
Happy birthday, America! My mom sent me these Christmas ornaments a few years ago and I decided they were better used to decorate our front door for the 4th! We slept in today, as we are off for Coimbra's city day, and it felt great! Obviously the Lord knew what He was doing when He moved me to a place that has a city-wide holiday on my country's birthday, and as long as I live in this city, I will be able to celebrate America with a day off! :)<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, July 5th</u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">For being the patience that balances my impatience, for being the calm to my crazy, for putting the sun in my clouds, for bringing simplicity to my complexity... for all these things and easily 1 million more, I am thankful for you, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000206296007" href="https://www.facebook.com/luismiguel.almeida.923" style="cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Luis Miguel Almeida</span></a><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">! Happy birthday to my one true love, who is making all my dreams come true... Here's to your best year yet! I adore you!</span>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><u>Friday, July 6th</u></b><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">The birthday celebration continues at lunch with our wheelchair soccer team... I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard with a group of friends! What a privilege it is that even thousands of miles away from my home community, I can still work with such an amazing group of people who are changing lives through this fabulous sport! So blessed!</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><u>Saturday, July 7th</u></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Rather than lots of presents or a trip away for the weekend, Luis Miguel preferred a dinner with his nearest and dearest friends, the 4 that he grew up with and who remain his best friends to this day. Luis's parents graciously offered to host it at their house and prepare a lot of the Portuguese food (not exactly my forte quite yet!), including his favorite dessert, "Sweet Rice", pictured below, which was a huge help! I thought I would add a little American flair to the party with some discussion questions to provoke fun story-telling about the birthday boy himself. I was a bit nervous about this part, because not every Portuguese person is a fan of all the board games and themed parties that Americans love so much, so I took a risk. It could either result in total silence or lots of laughs, and thankfully, it was the latter! I put folded little pieces of paper in a bowl in the middle of the table and without saying anything, they immediately sparked interest! The result was 3 fabulous hours of more laughs than I have ever heard come from this group! It was a sweet time with old friends and I heard of a lot of old funny stories about Luis that I had never known before, including one where he and his friends put a small lizard into the binding of the teacher's attendance book on the podium in the front of the room in elementary school! Priceless!</span></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b>The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-35406302711327623762012-07-04T12:23:00.001+01:002012-07-04T12:23:59.533+01:00week 26.Can you believe it? Week 26... we are halfway through the year! As of Sunday, we are closer to Christmas 2012 than we were to Christmas 2011! :)<br />
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<b>Sunday, June 24th</b><br />
After having one of these frames blank with the cardboard backing showing through for 6 months, I decided to finish my project of filling it! I gave up on my idea to cut hearts out of maps, highlighting a city that we love in each, (inspired by <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/decorating-with-maps-i-heart-f-154565">this idea</a> via Apartment Therapy), I dug out an old magazine clipping that I had saved forever ago and framed it! Funny story: I saved the entire magazine so I wouldn't accidentally wrinkle the page after ripping it out and most likely putting it on 10 different surfaces before actually filing or framing it. After leaving that magazine in the trunk of our car, it got soaked after a rainstorm leaked water into the exact spot where it was. Thankfully, somehow that page didn't get wet and I salvaged it! If you look closely, you can see that Luis and I are clinking our champagne glasses while sitting on top of our suitcases, obviously celebrating the fact that we are world travelers. Cheers!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Monday, June 25th</b><br />
Girl on a moto! I love it!<br />
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<b>Tuesday, June 26th</b><br />
This is our freezer, just in case you were curious what it looks like. At first I was annoyed that the drawers made it hard to find things and kind of frustrating to use, but I have since fallen in love with them and think it is a fabulous system. It fits SO many things! (In case you're wondering how big it is, it is just a bit narrower than a standard freezer, but the same height as my washing machine, which you can see just next to it).<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Wednesday, June 27th</b><br />
Seriously, this is like the 3rd deodorant that I'm trying here in Portugal and I sincerely hope that it works. "Designed for athletes", so that should say something about its reliability, right? Hope so! Fun fact: It is rare to find stick deodorant in Portugal. Most everthing is rollerball. Am I the only one who feels like it's just sticky for an unreasonably long time after you put it on?? On a sweeter note, anyone care to guess who that adorable little boy is framed in the background? :)<br />
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<i><b>Update:</b> After doing my best to adapt to the norm and use roll-on deodorant, I have decided that the varied selection and/or low price is just not worth it. I just detest it! Found a regular stick that suits me well enough for now, but I think I know what I will be bringing back from the States the next time we visit!</i>
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<b>Thursday, June 28th</b><br />
If you don't come to Portugal to visit us, you could probably just come for the fresh bread and still leave happy...<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Friday, June 29th</b><br />
I am almost getting choked up writing this, but I descovered something sad recently: a second-hand clothing store existed while I was living in Portugal and I didn't know about it. Worse, two weeks after I found out that it existed and tried to visit (only to find it dark and closed on a Saturday), I found out that it was closing for good! Like... for forever. Today or tomorrow. So we rush over there at 6.45 pm (I remembered that they closed at 7.00 most days) and arrived to find an empty store. Completely empty. Not even one piece of clothing, nor a shelf of a rack. Heartbreaking. (Apparently I was so out of sorts that I couldn't even manage to take the photo straight!)<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Saturday, June 30th</b><br />
I love fresh pineapple, especially in summer! Do you know how to buy a great pineapple that's sweet and ready to eat now? The sweet ladies in the Continente produce section taught us the other day. (In Portugal, there is staff in the produce section because you have to weigh and price your fruits and veggies before you go to the register). The pineapple that's ready to eat will have yellow skin on the bottom, and it will be gradually yellow-ish up until about the middle. Yellow all the way to the top will be overly acidic, or too ripe.l Green more than 50% means it's not quite ripe to be eaten that day. We have since consumed this entire container, and now I want more! Yum!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-33641550150951727132012-06-24T23:44:00.002+01:002012-06-24T23:44:07.885+01:00week 25.<b><u>Sunday, June 17th</u></b><br />
So sad to send off our dear friends Cristi and MG at a "See you in 6 months" party, but so excited for their summer adventures in the US, and so thankful they will be back with us in January! We love you!<br />
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<b><u>Monday, June 18th</u></b><br />
We had an event at the farm that our Association owns tonight, (a Sardinhada, where the highlight of the evening is grilling sardines -- heads, tales, and all!) and though I have always admired it from afar, I had never stepped foot in this second-floor garden overlooking the property. It isn't being used at the moment, but even despite that, it is so charming and beautiful!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, June 19th</u></b><br />
I remember that while researching wedding bouquets, I found out that black cala lilies are something like $10 a stem, and you need at least 8-12 to make a bouquet. If only I had known that some of our [future] friends had them growing outside of their front door...<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, June 20th</u></b><br />
My addiction to Pinterest has really paid off in the dinner department, as we have had a plethora of new recipe ideas flowing from our kitchen as of late. I need to write a specific post about each of them, but I thought it might be worthwhile to warn anyone planning on making <a href="http://www.delightedmomma.com/2012/01/baked-cauliflower-poppers.html">baked cauliflower poppers</a>: you should probably not let 15 minutes pass without checking on them, because in some ovens, they blacken quite a bit faster than anticipated!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, June 21st</u></b><br />
I love walking into the house to see fresh flowers!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Friday, June 22nd</u></b><br />
Doesn't Luis Miguel Coelho Santos Almeida look so fabulous with glasses??? (Thank God he doesn't need them... we are already praying that all of our future children have his great eyesight!)<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, June 23rd</u></b><br />
We took some of our disabled clients for an outing at the beach today and they loved it. At this time of year in Portugal, there are a lot of religious events honoring the saints (St. John, St. Anthony, etc), and each city has their own little festival to celebrate. They have what are called "marchas" (marches), which are parade-like events where groups from the same city dress up and perform a typical dance, each with their own musicians and theme. There were people lined up for quite a while, so by the time we made it over there, the crowd was about 8 people deep and the best photos I could get were by holding my camera over my head and randomly snapping! Here's a halfway decent shot that I got of some of the dancers... Though I don't know the meaning of it, I really liked the creative seamstress theme... check out the pin cushions on their wrists and the spools of thread in their hair!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-74985684416228637712012-06-24T23:43:00.001+01:002012-06-24T23:43:10.629+01:00week 24.<b><u>Sunday, June 10th</u></b><br />
If for even one second you've had your ear turned to European news lately, you have probably heard that "The Cup" has officially started! The UEFA Euro Cup soccer tournament, that is, passing through the continent once every 4 years and turning everyone's eyes and ears toward the nightly games! We got together with a bunch of couples from Luis Miguel's soccer team, one of which happens to be our friends Carina and Marco. Carina is a speech therapist working at the Center with us, and Marco joined the soccer team last year, so we get to see them a bit more than normal lately, and we like that. :)<br />
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<b><u>Monday, June 11th</u></b><br />
As I have mentioned before, I haven't quite caught baby fever yet, but I have to admit, these books make me want to have babies so that I can read to them! (Pardon the low-quality phone photo). Too bad they were 14€ each! (And yes, of course I already found them on Amazon... but I want them in Portuguese!)<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, June 12th</u></b><br />
We love walking through the small wanna-be park that is across the street from where we work, but sometimes while strolling, I feel like I'm being watched. Can you figure out why?<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Wednesday, June 13th</u></b><br />
As I mentioned, the Cup is on everyone's minds, and I appreciate how it brings out patriotism wherever you go! Back in the day, apparently just about everyone had their Portuguese flag hanging off their balcony to support the team, and though it's not as common these days, you can't help but notice a lot more flags around the city... including hanging from the clothesline on our balcony!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Thursday, June 14th</u></b><br />
I am pleased to announce that after leaving San Francisco on April 2nd and arriving in Portugal on April 24th, a birthday package from my dear friend Lana is finally in my hands! We have had countless meaningless troubles with the postal border control here in Portugal, and after returning various forms they requested and finally speaking with them once, we determined that it was probably opened and held because the items had tags on them (though the prices were removed). We have heard that they get suspicious that foreigners in Portugal will bring new, foreign items into the country and try to sell them, thus hurting the already weak Portuguese economy. At least that's what we think. So we have learned our lesson: all tags off, everything out of the package and sealed in zipper bags! Love you, Lana, and thanks for thoughtfully sending me mail and unknowingly extending my birthday celebration two months!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Friday, June 15th</u></b><br />
After a really tough, discouraging day being a foreigner in a European workplace, my sweet Luis Miguel rented a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1-UMzt9e34">chick flick</a> for me AND watched it with me, then spoke one of my little-known love languages: lists! I have had a recurring eye infection (which has turned out to be a type of conjunctivitis) which is forcing me to stop using contacts for a while, thus needing to buy new glasses, so we planned to spend our Saturday negotiating with all the little mom and pop places downtown to see who would give us the best price for lenses. How else would we organize our morning without making a list??? Love this guy, and love the way that he takes care of me!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u>Saturday, June 16th</u></b><br />
I love seeing people walking down the street with fresh flowers, which I must admit, is a fairly common occurance here, and I always want to carry some myself! Near the end of our glasses hunt, we stopped at the local farmers market and picked up three bunches of flowers for 1€50! I love farmers markets! I love fresh flowers! (I even love them so much that I tolerated the old lady selling them being super pushy with me! Beauty wins over pressure!)<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-40374842979965403052012-06-10T17:19:00.002+01:002012-06-10T17:19:33.978+01:00week 23.<b><u>Sunday, June 3rd</u></b><br />
We headed to the mountains for Luis's dad's birthday today. His parents were camping in their souped-up, decked-out van with Luis's aunt and uncle, so we went to crash their lunch, sing happy birthday, and give presents. The drive through the mountains was breathtaking, as all the yellow blossoms are freshly blooming!<br />
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<u><b>Monday, June 4th</b></u><br />
I don't believe that this is the first time I've mentioned that I love how the Portuguese are constantly growing things in their own yards and on their own trees (not that the Americans aren't, I just didn't interact with farmers daily). My colleague Rita visited her extended family a ways north of us this weekend and brought back cherries, which were a very nice addition to my day full of spreadsheets and Portuguese-English translation! I love them, so I especially love this time of year, and there weren't many that made it home to my house!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, June 5th</u></b><br />
It still amazes me that people would use another country's flag to make a fashion statement...<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, June 6th</u></b><br />
I love old school library card catalogs! Our library does have an electronic system, but I appreciate how they still have the old card catalog on display.<br />
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<b><u>Thursday, June 7th</u></b><br />
What's a Portuguese national holiday without a multi-cultural pancake breakfast?? Our sweet and hospitable Gereckes invited us over to have pancakes with two other Brazilian couples (quickly becoming dear friends of ours as well!) on our day off today, and we celebrated the body of God (that's literally what the holiday is called) with lots of laughs and refreshing community, and I may or may not have brushed up my ping-pong skills by creaming an American and then getting creamed by a Portuguese. (Winners and losers will remain nameless!)<br />
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<b><u>Friday, June 8th</u></b><br />
Yet another weekend where we will be able to make fresh-squeezed orange juice because one of our kind friends passed along some 15 oranges to us! Luis put the entire plastic bag of them in the refridgerator, and as we took some out to make orange juice, Luis discovered this little guy nestled among the oranges! Poor thing was in the refrigerator for quite a few hours, but he survived! Luis adores snails, and was determined to make sure he was ok and take him outside to a new home in our yard!<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, June 9th</u></b><br />
Even after only being here for a year and a half, I am still surprised by the people connections that happen fairly regularly! Late last year, we found out that one of the couples that sing in my choir have a daughter, Rita, who is in the same class as our sweet little Lily, (daughter of Cristi and Michael), and Rita also has regular consultations at our Center where we work, so we all see each other regularly and have become friends! Ana Teresa and Carlos Pedro invited us over to their gorgeous house this weekend for a "lanche" (snack time at 5.00) on Saturday, and I think it's safe to say there was enough food for a dinner! They are a fabulous family who appreciates art and culture and in general has a great sense of humor, so we laughed a lot! Thankfully they love how I analyze everything about our life in Portugal, so they didn't mind when I called everyone together (including another friend and her kids they invited over, and their dog, Mari!) to take a photo of the day!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-62106534654272542412012-06-06T00:12:00.004+01:002012-06-06T00:12:57.876+01:00week 22.<u><b>Sunday, May 27th</b></u><br />
I could sing songs and write books about my love for blueberries, but have had to put these dreams aside as they are not very easy to find for an affordable price here. I ate them just about every day with yogurt while I lived in Atlanta, and always had a package frozen for a spontaneous blueberry cobbler, should the need for one arise. It may be easy for you to believe, then, that when I saw three teeny tiny packs of these for 1€ each at my favorite little supermarket <a href="http://pagesfromportugal.blogspot.pt/2011/08/lidl.html">Lidl</a> the other day, I snatched them up immediately! <br />
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<u><b>Monday, May 28th</b></u><br />
If you have read these daily posts from a few weeks back, you may remember me mentioning a monthly event we host for volunteers at our Rehabilitation Center called "Chá das Seis", or "Tea at 6". The Portuguese eat dinner late, so they usually have some sort of small sandwich or snack around 5 or 6, so we created an event at this time so we could eat and drink as well! We usually have lots of natural teas, along with cookies and juice, and after seeing <a href="http://frostmeblog.blogspot.pt/2010/03/teabags.html">this cookie recipe</a> on Pinterest, I couldn't help but make my own cookies that look like tea bags!<br />
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<u><b>Tuesday, May 29th</b></u><br />
Did someone just say "festa tematica"??? As most who know me personally know I love me a themed party, you can imagine how excited I was to hear that one of our volunteers suggested a themed party, "Pink & Blue", where all of our clients and volunteers that are at our disabled residence here Coimbra have to dress in one of the colors! We also had pink and blue desserts, food coloring in our Sprite, and blue raspberry Kool Aid that my sweet American friend Cristi donated to our cause. :) I wish I was in America, because you know I would have rocked some giant, hot pink fake eyelashes, but I settled for painting my nails pink and blue and wearing a wig for part of the time. Here's my dear friend Paulo getting away with not wearing the wig for the 1 hour I let him go without it! :)<br />
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<u><b>Wednesday, May 30th</b></u><br />
One of the things I love about working in the disabled community is that I am consistently surrounded by people with positive attitudes. You may not believe it, but I have known many more disabled people that are joyful, positive, and generally pretty content with life than their able-bodied counterparts! Dona Ermazinda is one of those people. She is in a wheelchair and has lost a bit of extension in the reach of her arms and the flex of her hands, but she wheels her manual wheelchair on her own most of the time, and she is one of the most cheerful and inquisitive 78-year-olds that I know! She is a resident of the elderly care center that is on the upper level of the part-time clinic where Luis works, so sometimes I go with him and sit and chat with her while he sees other clients. And I love her. :) As I was making the aforementioned tea bag-shaped cookies, I had a bit of dough left over, so I broke out the heart cookie cutters and made some pink sugar frosting to surprise her with cookies for her birthday! I was also pretty tickled that the aforementioned blueberry container was pretty cute (recycle in the name of crafting!), and with some tissue paper as a decorative cushion, they fit perfectly! And I can't lie... after we took one out and gave it to her to taste, she definitely asked for another. While on her way to dinner. Rebel. ;)<br />
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<u><b>Thursday, May 31st</b></u><br />
Who likes helping others with handmade wedding projects, thus saving money and making things beautiful at the same time...? I do, I do! One of our colleagues, Mariana, is getting married this weekend, and during our lunch hour, a few of us girls got together to help her make cones by gluing paper doilies together, which would hold petals for people to throw after the ceremony . That's my idea of a fun way to spend a lunch hour!<br />
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<u><b>Friday, June 1st</b></u><br />
Last week, while running through the mall to pick up something quickly, I saw a new frozen yogurt (i.e. FroYo) place had opened up in the mall, and since I left the US shortly after the huge froyo trend took off, I was thrilled to see one in Portugal! I was eagerly anticipating lunch with my friend Cristi today, and we had planned to pick up froyo as a dessert! We arrived and saw that it looked very American... 3 different sized bowls, various toppings, with soft-serve-looking frozen yogurt that was making my mouth water. Cristi was very disappointed that they only had vanilla as a base, and as the girl working there emphasized that is was a <b>natural</b> yogurt base, we decided it was best to ask for a sample first, which was served in the classic little white cups. Let's just say we are very thankful we didn't pay for a whole bowl! It had the sour tang of real yogurt with a bit of sugar trying to even it out a bit, but it was a major fail. I desperately wanted to warn everyone behind me in line, but Cristi convinced me they probably didn't know what real froyo should even taste like. Needless to say, I was so, so very disappointed.<br />
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<b><u>Saturday, June 2nd</u></b><br />
It's not every day you see a donkey-drawn wagon crossing the street in front of you... unless you are from Pinhel, that is! We visited Luis Miguel's hometown this weekend and I couldn't whip my camera out fast enough to see them actually cross in front of us, but if you look closely, you can see some hooves under the wagon and if you look closely between the [adorable] man and woman, I do believe you can see the donkey's ear! Three cheers for small towns? Anyone? Anyone?<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-74667055803133545582012-05-28T00:31:00.003+01:002012-05-28T00:31:38.299+01:00week 21.<b><u>Sunday, May 20th</u></b><br />
Not since the first Portugal Cup competition in 1939 has Coimbra's own Academica been champion. Not until this year, that is! The city erupted after the victory, so since I was already in the city for a choir rehearsal until 10, we headed over to the City Hall, where the team was supposed to show up at 11. Here we are smiling, because we think they will be there soon. In reality, they didn't show up until 1 am, which didn't make for a super happy Kim (lots of screaming, air horns, smoking, pushing and shoving, all while standing in a very crowded area, not knowing when we would leave... are you getting uncomfortable yet?), but I must admit that in regard to it technically being a cultural experience, I guess I could say it was fun... :)<br />
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<b><u>Monday, May 21st</u></b><br />
Stopped by the mall tonight to pick something up and this window display brought me back to my childhood. Neon is back, baby!<br />
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<u><b>Tuesday, May 22nd</b></u><br />
Today I got to be part of an international student project that our Association was hosting this week, as I translated from Portuguese to English for some Polish, Spanish, and Turkish middle-school students. One of my favorite conversations of the day was with a young Turkish boy, probably 12 or 13 years old. It went a little something like this:<br />
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Him: Are you cowboy?<br />
<i>Me: Do you mean, do I like the Cowboys, the American football team? (Imitate throwing a football)</i><br />
Him: (Through the translator) No, he wants to know if you are a cowboy, since you are an American.<br />
<i>Me: You mean like a real cowboy? Who rides a horse? (imitate riding a horse)</i><br />
Him: (nods)<br />
<i>Me: Sorry, no. (Smile)</i><br />
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<b><u>Wednesday, May 23rd</u></b><br />
I used the bathroom at Luis Miguel's part-time clinic today, and was baffled by this sign above the toilet, which says "Please do not put toilet paper in the toilet." <br />
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Seriously?!?!<br />
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Sorry, Portugal... I don't put used toilet paper anywhere except for the toilet!<br />
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<u><b>Thursday, May 24th</b></u><br />
My husband is a rock star for a million reasons, one of which being how often he washes the dishes! Seriously. He does. And I hate washing dishes with a passion. Detest it. I am so blessed to have married someone who doesn't really mind! <br />
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<b><u>Friday, May 25th</u></b><br />
After winning the Portugal cup, our Academica soccer team offered 1€ tickets for a friendly match against Angola, where they brought the cup out on to the field, paraded it around, and took photos on their own "Champions" stage under I shower of confetti (which I missed by 3 seconds as my camera battery died!)<br />
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<u><b>Saturday, May 26th</b></u><br />
Another fun night with the Gerecke's and our Brazilian friends... and some pro wrestlers??<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2625560403265442100.post-78651452602599166442012-05-25T00:13:00.001+01:002012-05-25T00:13:22.684+01:00week 20.<b><u>Sunday, May 13th</u></b><br />
Luis plays soccer on a weekly basis, just casual games with his club team in a city just outside of Coimbra, but since the games usually start at 9.30 or 10.00 pm, I don't go to watch much anymore, because really, who can concentrate at that hour of the night? And worse, who wants to get home after midnight when you have to work the next morning? Not I, said the Early Riser! Sometimes, though, when the weather warms up, there is a tournament on the weekend, and the wives and kids can go watch! The day was in the 80s, and even at 6.00 pm we had to sit on the ground since it was the only spot of shade that we could find, and the sun was still hot at that hour! I'm sad that I didn't think to bring my nice DSLR camera, but my little point-and-shoot caught this action pretty fabulously!<br />
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<b><u>Monday, May 14th</u></b><br />
Heading back from Pinhel yesterday, I decided to take a break from my book and do a craft project, since we'd be in the car for two hours. Proving difficult with all the bumps in the road, I finished it today. Cute, eh? It's a sailor's knot bracelet, all braided from one long 3.5m strand of cotton cord. It was a project I found through <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/38210296808875394/">Pinterest</a>, and you can find the directions on the <a href="http://www.moredesignplease.com/moredesignplease/2010/8/4/diy-sailors-knot-bracelet.html">More Design Please blog</a>. I am tempted to not share it on here, since I plan to use them as presents and to sell them on my forthcoming Etsy site, but it was too fun not to share today!<br />
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<b><u>Tuesday, May 15th</u></b><br />
This photo and the story behind it deserves an entire blog, but since it's obvious that it takes me quite a while to get around to those, I am including it here. Dona María José and her husband, Sr. João, have one of the most amazing love stories ever! In a nutshell, when they were young, he was a Portuguese soldier in a war in Africa back in the day, and she was a "war godmother", one of the many women who volunteered to write letters to keep the soldiers company from afar during wartime. She wrote to many different soldiers, but one took quite a liking to her and began to correspond back and forth with her. Eventually he proposed to her - yes, across the miles and yes, through a hand-written letter - and they married shortly after he returned from the war. That was 50-some years ago. About 18 months ago, Dona María José had a stroke and has been coming to Luis's part-time clinic for rehabilitative therapy. She has recovered quite well, can speak and walk on her own, and is always doted upon by her loving husband, who has the most spirited, can-do attitude that encourages all those around him to lift their spirit in the same way. Sr. João is constantly speaking well of his wife, loving on her verbally, and holding her hand, which I absolutely adore. I have started going with Luis on Tuesday afternoons so that I can chat with them, and today, I just so happened to have my camera with me, so I asked if I could shoot a few photos of them on their way out. I think this one says it all...<br />
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<u><b>Wednesday, May 16th</b></u><br />
It is often said that spring in Portugal brings "snow", as the blossoms on some of the trees blow off and fly through the air for about a week, coating sidewalks and grass with a layer of white! As we drove about this week, I kept thinking that I should stop on one of the covered sidewalks and take a photo, but never thought of it in time until today, when it has almost all blown away. This photo barely does it justice!<br />
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<u><b>Thursday, May 17th</b></u><br />
I was at a dinner tonight where the story of this "espiga de milho" (ear of corn) bouquet was explained, and when someone gave me one to take, I heard that the tradition varies depending on which small village is celebrating. In years gone by in some small Portuguese villages, there was a certain day in May that was considered the day to celebrate the start of the crop-growing season. People would go out into their fields, pick the leaves, grasses, and tall grains around the ears of corn, then hang them in their houses as a reminder of plenitude, peace, and abundance. The next morning, one of our soccer athletes brought me a bunch, and I was told to dry it upside down, so that's what I'm doing! (Please ignore the fact that Blogger is turning all my whites into beigey pinks...)<br />
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<b><u>Friday, May 18th</u></b><br />
I didn't realize how much I had missed the smell of a gynasium, the sound of screeching tires inside of it, or the tweet of a referee's whistle until today! It has been extremely difficult to build a Powerchair Futebol (Soccer) program here in Portugal - at least outisde of our center - due to lack of financing, difficulty finding accessible transportation, and a host of other reasons, so the small demonstration and training clinic that we did in Braga today was a breath of fresh air! They had a team a few years ago that fizzled out due to aforementioned reasons, so now that they are getting a second wind, we are hoping to start another team there!<br />
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<u><b>Saturday, May 19th</b></u><br />
So... May 19th... I think it's about time to take the sweaters out of the closet, don't you? We have had crazy variation in our weather lately... in the last week I have worn both a tank top and a long-sleeve sweater! I am hoping the packing up of the sweaters will subliminally encourage the sun to keep shining!<br />
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<br />The Almeidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06476356018223147397noreply@blogger.com0