it's auntie time

Brigadeiros by my aunt

My aunts were in town and it was brilliant. We chatted and we did all the usual touristy things one

does in Oxford. We had long dinners at cool places and we explored the pubs the best we could. We

had lots of fun and we giggled and reminisced over things past. Most of all, we became even closer

as family and as friends. It was truly amazing to be able to share so much with them and open up and  really enjoy their company. There is such a warm feeling about close extended feeling, and a certainty

that you can never be alone. Ever.

I showed them my Project Life album and as photo lovers they really liked it. I’m proud of it and

I’m so happy I’m doing it, but so far I hadn’t realised what a great sharing tool it can be. I told

them the stories around the photos and how they came to be the chosen ones and they’ve gained a

different insight into my life here, which we so rarely cover when I’m there.

I made bread for them. Aww… you shouldn’t have, they tell me as they take a full grocery shop for

me from their suitcases!

I prepared a little snack pack for them to take on their trip to London. Aww… you’re so sweet, you

shouldn’t have, they tell me as they slice the Folar de Valpaços for my lunch that day.

I guess I know just after who I take after ;)

I miss them already!

going home

Little Brother sent me a beautiful photo from Porto by the river... all the email said was "quem vem e atravessa o rio...". I dare say that every Porto person feels a little tingle when they hear that... especially when one's Little Brother is calling us home. Almost there!

::inspiring Mondays::

Yay for Monday! Or any day not covered in mini polystyrene balls, like… this Monday. I’m having mixed feelings about my Sunday, but the flipside is that Monday feels even better. Yesterday was quite productive, when I think about it, and that’s nice, but then… there was this bit of seeing one’s floor covered in mini polystyrene balls and having them everywhere, shoes, bags, yourself, everywhere, that somehow casts a small shadow on the day’s quality…

The good things? I have sewn yet another puff, and an inner bag for it; there was strawberry cheesecake Haagen Dazs patting me on the back and in the tummy for such achievement; homemade soup is ready for the week; banana + ice cream + chocolate pancakes for Sunday brunch rock; I now have a mental plan for the handling of polystyrene balls in the future; and I have ridiculously funny story of how it all went wrong! I guess the good things top it all. I’m going with that anyway!

:: Little Brother and I swapping breakfast photos and thoughts. It warms my heart every.single.time.

:: testing new puff pattern = new puff to the collection.

:: the hoover. what an amazing mini polystyrene balls nemesis.

:: LMrJ and his patience when LMJ goes into a little fit at the sight of mini balls everywhere. and then makes her laugh at her own silliness!

:: Sunday brunch. genius concept.

:: the smell of freshly made soup.

:: yummy homemade pumpkin jam for Cocina Global and Joey’s belly!

:: pumpkin jam on warm homemade bread. delicious!

:: big sachet windows in my bedroom.

:: my hot water bottle. bedtime is so much cosier!
:: the little guy from the photo above. squeeze!

It’s been drizzly in Oxford and mostly grey. It’s not cold though, and the wonderful deep yellow and orange leaves brighten up an otherwise dull skyline. How’s your Autumn coming along? And your beginning of the week? I’m feeling like having a few of these later… or right now as they're coming out of the oven!

::inspiring Mondays::

This is the last Monday the Joey has to wait for Little Mister Joey. In less that 5 days, all this wait and knitting will be fulfilled and life will be even better. The scarf and hat are done (photographs when he's here, trying to keep it a surprise of sorts!) and all there is left to do is... wait!, that thing we're all incredibly good at. 

As exciting as these news are, the week, and this Monday, have more pressing issues to be dealt with. Dad is recovering slowly but Mum is now ill too. I've cried tears of frustration and distance. I've calmed down and spoke to them on the phone several times a day (thank you Mr Alexander Graham Bell et al) always sounding very grown up and on the case. Which I am. A grown up, I mean. I'm 31 years old, I have a job and pay my own bills, I can be responsible for other living things (especially cats, not so much plants) and have a few wrinkles to vouch for some gained wisdom, but... I still feel little when speaking to them. Ok, a little bit little, like "Filhota*, I'm making your favourite dish for when you arrive" little. Instead, I'm asking them if they've eaten the soup and to follow all procedures by the book, please, pretty please, and call me before they go to bed. And they answer me with an enormous dose of patience!

This weekend I watched About a Boy, maybe for the 324th time."Suddenly I realised - two people isn't enough. You need backup. If you're only two people, and someone drops off the edge, then you're on your own. Two isn't a large enough number. You need three at least. You need backup". So very true!And this is when the importance of our extended family hits me; my aunts are looking after them, they are not alone nor helpless and none of us would be in the family. And I feel a little better again. 

:: my family. all of them. the aunts and uncles and cousins. we're never alone. we'll always have someone. 

:: Little Mister Joey is almost here and I can't begin to explain how happy that makes me.

:: imagining Mister Joey in LMJ's knitwear. cute!

:: Paris on the horizon.

:: Nicky's post on our blog anniversary :) (head over there if you want to see an adorable out-of-focus version of us!)

:: central heating. pure bliss.

:: sleeping. a good restful sleep.

:: egyptian cotton bedlinen.

:: my friends. it's never enough to say it, they are the best.

:: last, but not least this Monday, LMJ's readers. Thank you so much for coming over and taking the time to say hello and other sweet things!

Enjoy your Monday everyone... Spring awaits just on the other side of winter...!

*Filhota = affectionate form of daughter, close to little daughter. I love it when Mum and Dad call me this :D

notes on a Thursday

Thank you everyone for your lovely lovely messages about Dad. He's at home now, bored and not happy, but getting better, we hope. Reading the post below, I realise how much I've said that goes beyond LMJ the cute character straight into moi même, her taxi. Then reading your messages, I see how wonderful that was and how good it felt to let it all out. Thank you!

***

River Thames at Port Meadow by The Erratic Photographer

If it's snowing where you are and you're strolling the internet for some eye candy, LMJ can help you. Go over to Nicky's blog and be amazed by his images (like the one above) and witty (yet informative!) writing. If you're more of a  Flickr person, he's there too.

Yes, it is snowing here. No, I'm not bothered... yet! 

::inspiring Mondays::

Dad is the best Bisca player ever :D

This is a Monday of emotions and searching deep for the good things, only to find they are right on the surface of my life.

Dad is in hospital. He has been in hospital since Saturday night. Today we learned it is pneumonia and is not so widespread. Today we learned his heart is ok, which is always our main concern as he has had a heart attack before and a few minor procedures to ensure the overall good function of his heart. Today he stopped pretending he was fine and let me hear his croaky voice while making jokes about hospital food. Dad likes to talk about food. That and the weather in the UK.

Whilst I sit here writing a post meant to be inspiring, I think about Dad. I could tell you we have this perfect relationship and how all is wonderful and how my heart sinks when I hear he's remotely unwell; yet only that last bit is true. We argue a lot and have what most people would consider a difficult relationship, but it's ours. All ours. I am a Daddy's girl through and through and I don't even blush nor look apologetic while saying it. If I have half a problem, Dad is who comes to mind as the solver of all things. Mostly because he is the solver of all things. Partly because he is our rock. Partly because it comforts me to know he's there for me.

Dad has a big heart. An enormous heart. A heart a bit bigger than his temper, but we've learned to live with it. And this man with an enormous heart and a small pneumonia, did not want me to know he was ill, let alone in hospital. When I called, he mastered all his strength to produce a steady voice and told me he was buying the paper. From an intensive care unit filled with people. Because that's Dad all over, it doesn't matter what others think, only you matter. Like when I let the car die on my first day of driving and the car behind beeped at us and he calmly said to me "it doesn't matter, take your time, he won't go anywhere until you do" and smiled at me and the world was right again. He didn't want me to know because I am a Daddy's girl and my heart sinks when I hear he's remotely unwell and I'm far away and he didn't want me stressed. But of course I was told... and after crying and feeling that feeling of I could be so lost (do you know the one?), I called him up and asked how he was and he told me about hospital food and how well he'd be doing in no time. And that is what love is.

:: my parents. because my Mother is taking it all in the chin and they come as a package, my parents.

:: hospital food. this one is for you, Dad!

I know this is a short list. But for once, it isn't about the little things, it's about the big ones, as Mum and Dad and that served-far-too-early-and-lacking-in-any-flavour hospital food.

Have a happy Monday everyone!

Photographing my little world is great. It is. I take great joy from it and I'm beginning to actually like some of the shots. I'd call that progress! A big part of the progress has to be LMJ the blog and a lot could be said about this, but this particular post is not to be a reflection on the journey thus far. This post is a belly-full type rant i.e. not a rant at all but more of a LMJ-is-actually-happy-with-so-many-photographic-opportunities type post. Let us procceed.

Little Miss Joey enjoys all this photography taking. Little Miss Joey photographs RAW. Little Miss Joey has to go through all the photographs (note to self: must learn batch minimal edit in Photoshop!). Little Miss Joey has a huge backlog of images waiting to be looked at. So ideally, I would need about... let me calculate this properly... [insert tongue out moment here]... yes, I would need around 31 hour days to have time for it all (24 hour normal day + 7 hours, my favourite number; yes, very diligent calculations on the tongue out moment).

So it's all down to time. The thing is, the above paragraph does not make full sense unless LMJ discloses her other interests (or time milking activities, whichever you wanna call it, really!). She has a fabulously brilliant new app to promote everywhere, Mcol*! She has a brilliant bunch of people around her that make socialising and chatting away and having dinner and cocktails and etc etc etc so much fun and not-to-be-missed opportunities. She has a green cardi on the needles (and a pair of socks which has been facing the second sock syndrome for the last year). She has books to read, namely Brazil: Five Centuries of Change. She has meals to prepare and savour. Oh, and the iron and laundry refuse to sort themselves out!

Indeed, it is a belly-full non-rant. Gosh, I'm lucky. My cunning plan of moaning to see how lucky I am worked! Brilliant! I'm patting myself on the back and smirking at how incredibly clever I was. No more moaning about lack of time, you move at your own pace anyway, LMJ. Just enjoy whatever is happening... every day... one day at a time.

*done by Little Brother.

of other breakfasts

A week ago I had breakfast in Portugal before kissing little brother and Mum a very early goodbye and being driven to the airport by Dad. As predicted, I miss all of them. I miss them annoying me and/or teasing me. I miss their quiet daily activities and their loud outbursts of silliness just the same. I miss their puzzled looks as I set up the breakfast table to photograph it and wonder why I'm letting my toast go cold. I miss our 324 attempts at having a family photo and managing to have one of us looking weird in every single one. I miss Dad talking non-stop whenever I try to take his photograph. I miss Mum moaning she never looks good in photographs but letting me try anyway (she is only the most beautiful woman I know!). I miss little brother photographing me so I'd have something too and how photogenic he is. I miss how we all work together in spite of being so utterly dysfunctional too. And I wouldn't have believed any of this if you had told it to me when I was younger. Gotta love being older :)

little brother

Little Miss Joey's little brother is visiting. My brother is only the most important person to me and the one that makes the world seem a bit less scary at times for I know come what may neither of us will ever be alone. Little brothers are indeed one of the best things ever. I'm excited about this weekend and so, but so happy he's here! I'm not even moaning about the idiotic rain. Yet, anyway. He's asleep now. Next door. And knowing that makes the world today seem brighter :)

Photo: we went to Lisbon together in December 2009; he didn't believe me when I said Lisbon was one of the most beautiful cities ever with a magical light. Said he had never seen it. And now he does. Guess big sisters have their uses too :)