Traditional Tiles

On one of our outings, we came across this wall, which I thought would be of interest for Theresa's meme Good Fences. It also gives me the opportunity to tell you a little about the Portuguese ( azuleijos) tiles, which can be found on the interior and exterior of palaces, churches, ordinary houses, schools, restaurants, and even railway and subway stations.They constitute a major aspect of Portuguese architecture, and are applied on walls, floors, and ceilings. Here they decorate the exterior wall and entrance to a farm, which was built in 1771. It has seen better times, but the tiles remain intact.

GOOD FENCES

Sweet Sparrows

Juvanile Sparrow

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS

Farm Friends

We separate the very young calves with their mothers, from the rest of the herd until they are big enough to join the others.

  

Safe in a quite corner.

Some of our herd grazing near the water.

 

The Saint Antonio Chapel where my son was married, and where my grandchildren were baptised.

 

Side view of same chapel. The dogs belong to my daughter-in-law's sister, and this is where they stand guard every day
 

We pass the chapel on our evening walk as it is situated right next to our farm. There is a Festa in a clearing there, every St António day on the 13th of June.

This post is included in the GOOD FENCES initiative and
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Bird Spotting

The Great Spotted Woodpecker      Dendrocopos  major

A juvenile G S Woodpecker outside it's nest.

 

I think he's  watching and listening for his mother's return.

Certainly scratching

Getting a bit fed up of waiting there

He decides to climb the tree,  at which point my batteries ran out. Bother!!

This post is included in the WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY initiative.

Good Fences

This post was a challenge that I hadn't exspected to be so difficult. As I hadn't previously taken any photos for Friday's Good Fences, or anything of that nature, I set out on Monday by car to where I remembered seeing some rather attractive gates, as we  have no fences where I live, only walls and gates. It wasn' t long before I saw large numbers of people, walking towards the main road, having parked their cars on either side of what is normally a quiet country lane.When I reached the main road there was a vast number of people gathered together, and lining the road side, and cars in front of me and behind. It was clear that taking photos was now out of the question, so I continued on my planned route to try to make my way back home


   

Suddenly I realized why there were so many people, they were waiting for the cyclists of  the Tour de Portugal. Further down the road, the police had parked their vehicles and were directing the traffic to detours  so I ventured into the unknown and  eventually got lost! Sorry guys not one photo of the cyclists, and to be honest I was glad to get away, but it was a long time  before I got my bearings and found a way back home as all these mountain roads look pretty much the same and I hadn't got my GPS. There are not many houses by the roadside, so you can imagine how pleased I was to see  the stone house with the low wall in front, and a cat.
   

It wasn't long before another photo opportunity presented itself, a white dog looking over a gate was just asking for me to take his picture. I think he has a lovely gentle look about him.

He was a lovely friendly dog, looks like he lost a claw at one time, but his eyes captivated me.

Around  yet another bend and I saw this white cat  surveying the road, sitting on a high wall.

  

Well thats it for this week, my first Good Fences post, but I have to admit that it looks more like Pets Corner!:) Please forgive me for rambling on a bit about how I eventually made it. I promise to be more brief next week.:) I also lost my glasses this week, and thats why I have a mother of all headaches and haven't visited your blogs as I would have liked.
See you all soon, as soon as I get my new specs!


   

This post is included in the GOOD FENCES initiative.

Silent Swimmer

The Mute Swan   Cygnus olor.

  

As proud father looked on and kept guard on land, the female Mute Swan glided along with her young in tow. Photos taken earlier this year in the park. 

This post is included in the WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY initiative.

Lilies from my garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been ages since I posted any flowers, so before my lilies fade here are a few to share. It's been far too hot for weeding,so you will see quite a few of those as well.:)