Porco Alentejano....

This is a dish from Portugal "pork in style from Alentejo"

A light, lovely dish of pork, clams and potatoes from the Alentejano region of Portugal. Recipe is only USD $1.59.....step by step easy to follow instructions. 49 years experience as a gourmet cook. Pay at: Paypal: farrshimla@gmail.com and please mention WHICH recipe you want.

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge and its CRAZY Asian Carp.....

Love visiting Montezuma Wildlife Refuge - it's this beautiful eco-friendly wetland in the middle of nowhere - yet you can see all the traffic on the Thruway as you drive (or walk) along the refuge's numerous trails. It is a bird-lovers paradise, but one of the other fascinating points is where the Asian Carp try to pass from the cooler waters of the canals into the warmer waters of the wetlands. They've built numerous fences to keep these carp out (yet some still manage to break thru) - and if you go to the edge of these fences you will see a phenomenal sight of thousands of carps trying to get thru the fence. They don't realize that if they DO get into the wetlands - yes, the waters are warmer, but it's so shallow that they become FOOD for predator birds and the water is so shallow that many will die due to lack of oxygen. It's quite a sight!!! As you might have already GUESSED - Asian Carp (a very invasive species who disrupt native fish environments) were INTRODUCED by some IDIOT in the U.S. Government who thought they would be a GREAT source of food supply for the poor! They just don't think things through!!! And it may come as a HUGE shock that science and food industries have teamed together to make "enzymes" and "protein" (yes, including sports drinks!!!) out of carp meat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJphTK2VOg But here are the carp we saw today:

Ode to Sweet Delly.....

Only ten months ago you came to our door Once you came, we’d be lonely no more. Your sweet ways have won over our heart And now we know we will never be apart Delly, we love how you roll on your back Kicking your paws, oh so laidback. One ear up, one ear down, You touch our hearts like a happy clown. We feel as if you’ve always been here And if you don’t yet know it, we love you, dear. When our Billy went to heaven we were filled with grief But you’ve soothed our hearts beyond belief. Thank you for coming our way. Your love we will NEVER betray.

Need HELP in Portuguese.......

We LOVE this "fado" song by Chico Avila and are dying to have the lyrics (letra) in Portuguese - can ANYONE help us??? It's such a beautiful story about a beggar and obviously Chico feels he and the beggar could change places at any time due to twist of fate - love this song - please HELP put the lyrics in Portuguese - thanks so much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WJx0vS7-ao

Of all the diseases.....Alzheimer's.....

Of all the horrible diseases there ARE out there, my own opinion is that Alzheimer's is the worst. I hate it because it ROBS the individual of their dignity. My friend was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 4 years ago. Indeed it did get worse. What was so sad was that she loved to pass the time READING books...a few months after the diagnosis she could no longer read - letters just jumbled on the page. She forgot what her only grand-daughter was named and forgot whether or not her family had visited at Christmas. Before she left the state (her son and daughter-in-law had to put her in a nursing home closer to where they live) - they held a "farewell party" for her at her church - alas, she didn't recognize anyone (in spite of having attended that church for over 25 years). She is still RELATIVELY young in age and it disgusts me that no cure has been invented for this disease. She was once a teacher - now, she cannot remember her own name at times; this is way too sad. Anyway, dear friend (and God knows whom I pray for) - I keep you in my ever nightly prayers. I miss the "real you" SO, SO much!!! We used to chat for hours on every topic under the sun. At this time, I just pray that God leaves you some dignity as your grow older and as the disease so rapidly eats you up. Bless you, dear friend!!

Do you think the fish is FRESH????

Love this photo of cats waiting for the fishing boats to unload. Taken in Sao Miguel, Azores - courtesy of SATA airlines.

The BABIES were BORN today!!!

The two baby birds hatched today. Both Mama and Papa took turns bringing them worms. Aren't they precious??? I apologize for the "cloudiness" of the photos but had to take it thru the glass storm door (which could use a good cleaning) as Mama would have flown away had I made any noise opening the storm door. So we're GRANDPARENTS now!!!