Fresh

I am in Portugal. I am happy. I'm a bit lonely. Those two can go together--though many will tell you a different story.

I do not have internet access for another week—only briefly and dearly. I’ve been taking long walks on my new beach, swimming in my first ever swimming pool, and trying to get a tan.

I have two swallows outside my kitchen window that I have named Katie and Hubble (a la Barbara and Robert in "The Way We Were")–they are expecting two babies any day now. In fact, I think thy might have hatched last night—as I saw Hubble with a cigar in his mouth—or a worm—hard to tell. I’m glad I live in a country where it is illegal to destroy a swallow’s nest.

I went to a small restaurant right on the beach yesterday for some grilled fish and clams. It was the best fish I have ever tasted. The clams were dug that morning on the very beach I sat on. There were divers, children, swimmers, women in all forms of dress and non-dressed, and a comfortableness with being in a bathing suit no matter what your stomach looked like that I relished.

The beaches are soft and breezy with perfectly white sand and stray dogs that follow me when I walk. I’ve named my three regulars after actors who have played James Bond. Thus, Sean, Roger, and Daniel Craig have barked at the clams and played in the water with me. I’ve walked along that beach and, as cliché as it sounds, I’ve thought a lot about my love life—or rather—the possibilities of my love life in this new country. Good things are afoot.

I’ve learned the Portuguese words for sun, flipflops, beach, clams, fish, yes, no, thank you, and gratitude. I’m hoping to learn a lot more.

My New

Bem Vindo to my new home!

My yard. It also has a large area where I am standing and goes around the other side by my bedroom with mountains and mountains of flowers and smells (but no actual mountains, lest you get confused).

It's finally warm enough to take a dip in the pool each afternoon. I haven't opted to heat it as summer is here. I even have a Portuguese pool boy...um, man. He belongs on a telenovela, and most days, so do I.

I've never done a room in blue. I've always wanted to. I have decided that living the ocean--hearing, seeing, smelling it all--gives me the perfect opportunity to do some fun things with blue.

I am starting slowly and softly with this new quilt and delicate pillow shams. I'll build on it though and add some bold new things.

(It took me about an hour to upload these, so I'll have to do more later when I get a better connection.)