Not a good picture, small originally, out of focus. But two sisters here. Beautiful.
Conceicao passed away a few days ago.
Here is her obituary:
http://www.trippfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2382351&fh_id=13628
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Horta, Casa de Pai Martins
Photo taken from the air by Antonio Freitas!! Maybe 1980?
"The beach is not there anymore, Santa Cruz, where I used to swim!!"
"The new pier hasn't come in yet. But the beginning of the Marina!! Just starting to build it!! The Avenue is there!!"
"The beach is not there anymore, Santa Cruz, where I used to swim!!"
"The new pier hasn't come in yet. But the beginning of the Marina!! Just starting to build it!! The Avenue is there!!"
Fatinha High School
About her 3rd year in high school:
"We had 2 teachers from the continent, they treated us like we were ignorant!! The teacher was dying and the last semester, with a new teacher, she gave me a 12 in English (out of 20). I had the highest mark in the class! And the year after that, I had 13 all the way! My mother knew English, and I liked English!!"
"We had 2 teachers from the continent, they treated us like we were ignorant!! The teacher was dying and the last semester, with a new teacher, she gave me a 12 in English (out of 20). I had the highest mark in the class! And the year after that, I had 13 all the way! My mother knew English, and I liked English!!"
Bert's Birthday!!
A birthday party, with my Grandmother's (Vovo's) writing on the back.
 |
| Elizou (Chinou), Luis, Bert (Pelim) and MiTau |
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Toilet Humor and Puns
My cousin posted this on Facebook. I think it is brilliant.
Loosely translated as "When ya gotta go, ya gotta go". More literally, "For when you have to go (shit) and go"
My grandmother apparently made all sorts of puns about her own name (Agar). And about the seagull known in the Azores as the Cagarro. They make a pretty funny noise, in addition to whatever else their name may indicate.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Flores
For those of you who need the idea of flowers in the middle of this rainy, snowy, cold, crazy American winter, check out the island of Flores:
http://www.azores.com/flores#.UsoDQBGIySY.gmail
There is beauty out there in the world! (Even though they might be cold & wet at this time of year too, the pictures are wonderful!)
I've been there, lovely surprises await (as they do on each island, think: Surprise Waterfalls!).
http://www.azores.com/flores#.UsoDQBGIySY.gmail
There is beauty out there in the world! (Even though they might be cold & wet at this time of year too, the pictures are wonderful!)
I've been there, lovely surprises await (as they do on each island, think: Surprise Waterfalls!).
Sunday, December 15, 2013
SING! Joe Raposo!
I just learned, while listening to the glamorous and authoritative Jonathan Schwartz, I learned that JOE RAPOSO was an American of Portuguese descent. I've heard his name many times in association with the Great American Songbook, but I finally looked him up.
He had written extensively for Sesame Street, including songs like the Theme, "Bein' Green" and "C is for Cookie" (He is rumored to be the inspiration for the Cookie Monster!!). Also for "The Electric Company", "Shining Time Station", "Three's Company". For you Broadway lovers, he was music director/arranger for some favorite shows. House of Flowers music for "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown". More on Wikipedia and a great page of one of his biggest fans, Frank Sinatra, who recorded many of his songs. Here's Ole Blue Eyes singing "You Will Be My Music"-English & Brazilian Lyrics.
He's probably best known for a song that makes everyone happy. Recorded by the Carpenters and done repeatedly by Sesame Street, SING! It's also the name of a documentary tribute to him. He passed away a few days before his 52nd birthday. He brought so much music into this world, he should be honored!!!
Muito Obrigada por todo musica, Joe!!
He had written extensively for Sesame Street, including songs like the Theme, "Bein' Green" and "C is for Cookie" (He is rumored to be the inspiration for the Cookie Monster!!). Also for "The Electric Company", "Shining Time Station", "Three's Company". For you Broadway lovers, he was music director/arranger for some favorite shows. House of Flowers music for "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown". More on Wikipedia and a great page of one of his biggest fans, Frank Sinatra, who recorded many of his songs. Here's Ole Blue Eyes singing "You Will Be My Music"-English & Brazilian Lyrics.
He's probably best known for a song that makes everyone happy. Recorded by the Carpenters and done repeatedly by Sesame Street, SING! It's also the name of a documentary tribute to him. He passed away a few days before his 52nd birthday. He brought so much music into this world, he should be honored!!!
Muito Obrigada por todo musica, Joe!!
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Bife com Ovo A Cavalo
One of the staple meals of my Portuguese childhood was always Bife com Ovo A Cavalo. Although my mother used just called any fried beef "Bifes". I had to go to Portugal repeatedly to hear the translation of the full name, which means essentially:
Beef with Egg on Horseback
I always had it with white rice and homemade french fries, I thought the egg was on top of the steak because it was the easiest placement. And the runny yolk was VERY good with the molho, i.e. Gravy. Or as we always called it, "molinho", which means "little gravy"-I always took that to mean pan drippings vs the American Style of heavy gravy made with corn starch.
Beef with Egg on Horseback
I always had it with white rice and homemade french fries, I thought the egg was on top of the steak because it was the easiest placement. And the runny yolk was VERY good with the molho, i.e. Gravy. Or as we always called it, "molinho", which means "little gravy"-I always took that to mean pan drippings vs the American Style of heavy gravy made with corn starch.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Maracuja: Sumol vs Kima
One of the biggest treats about being Portuguese was discovering Maracuja when I was 8.
It literally means Passionfruit, and here it is essentially indicates a flavor of soda.
Yes. Passionfruit. Soda.
I might have tasted it before my trip to Portugal, but during and forever after, I knew how to ask for it. "Maracuja" gets you Passionfruit, but sometimes just the JUICE, so kids, be sure to ask for it by name; "Sumol", which is the company that bottles it. It's their most popular flavor, but if they run out, ask for "Ananas" which, no is NOT Banana flavor. It's Pineapple. And seems SUPER sweet to my tastebuds, which is why it appeals to kids.
Only lately have I noticed that there is a Coke vs Pepsi fight. But here the underdog is KIMA. It's the brand manufactured (?) preferred and lauded over instead of Sumol in the Azores. There might be a Brazilian angle here (as there are with lots of "Portuguese" Imported Food, but in MA and RI, I can still only see Sumol being offered. Those of us who know still ask for Kima with a tear of Saudade in our eyes.
It's a way to indicate loyalty and to express affiliation through your purchasing power. Choose Kima. Be an insider.
Thanksgiving Leftover Açorda Alentejana Recipe
Thanksgiving at my house was always a weird experience. A Father from Detroit and a Mom from Faial, the American half was the one to cook.
Or, we'd go to visit our closest relatives, the Portuguese side, and there'd be the traditional feast. For starters: Chicken soup with lemon. Then a huge roast Turkey, Giblet Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes (heavy on the cream & butter-like nothing I've ever tasted out of a box, or even on an American table), canned corn & peas and maybe a dish of Bacalhau casserole. And for dessert, my PORTUGUESE Grandmother's (Vovo's) Apple Pie. It was always juicier, with a flakier crust than any "American Pie" version I've tried. And she'd roll extra pie crust into the features of a face.
And somehow, there would always be football on TV. The American kind.
Here's a link to a Portuguese variation on an American Tradition. I haven't tried it yet, but maybe I will this year! Açorda Alentejana http://catavino.net/portuguese-thanksgiving-leftovers/
Or, we'd go to visit our closest relatives, the Portuguese side, and there'd be the traditional feast. For starters: Chicken soup with lemon. Then a huge roast Turkey, Giblet Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes (heavy on the cream & butter-like nothing I've ever tasted out of a box, or even on an American table), canned corn & peas and maybe a dish of Bacalhau casserole. And for dessert, my PORTUGUESE Grandmother's (Vovo's) Apple Pie. It was always juicier, with a flakier crust than any "American Pie" version I've tried. And she'd roll extra pie crust into the features of a face.
And somehow, there would always be football on TV. The American kind.
Here's a link to a Portuguese variation on an American Tradition. I haven't tried it yet, but maybe I will this year! Açorda Alentejana http://catavino.net/portuguese-thanksgiving-leftovers/
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