Monday August 30

 

Today is p-day again. And instead of being just overcast it keeps trying to rain. I did fine on my walk early and for the most part we did okay when we went walking together. We got rained on as we were on the home stretch but decided to keep going rather than shelter in place. We spent a while cleaning then at 10:30 we headed out. We drove  a different route to the most visited site, seven cities. It is the place we visited in my blog titled they are trying to walk us to death. As we were driving up I had the window down and since we were driving through dairy herds I mentioned that you sure could smell the economy. What a whit. The overcast conditions made it hard to see much but we did get a fair view of the narrow part of the island which gives the city we live in its name Ponta Delgada or narrow point. We some some neat old stuff including a rather elaborate aqueduct made from lava rock.

The walls get covered with plants and soon look like they are made from them some of the flowers just seem to grow out of them. I wonder if someone laid down too long if flowers wouldn’t start growing out of them.

It was after noon so we headed back to our apartment to eat we decided to finish off the tacos we had in the freezer and as usual the elders came through. Trae and Hunter would be proud of these elders appetites. The one elder was looking for some art supplies so we drove downtown and we went to the store where the lady was so nice and talked to me. Grandma and I were outside and the elders came out and she hurried out to talk to us a minute. People are so nice to us. I wanted to go pick up the washing machine door but had forgotten my wallet so I had no money with me. We dropped the missionaries off at their place and went back after getting money. The repair guy gave me a door off a washer he was parting out. Just gave it to me. Why are people so nice to us? I don’t know what I can say. We even made it home in time for the weekly zoom meeting. We started the washing machine and the door works perfect no more screw driver to pry the door open. I love you all.

Sunday August 28

 Being Sunday it’s time for the weekly picture of grandma by the purple bush. It just keeps getting bigger and has more flowers each week.as new limbs grow straight up they only have leaves at first then they get so heavy with flowers that they sag down on top of the others there is a metal frame and the flowers form the roof over 2 carports. Okay church today many usual attendees were not there but because of new attendees we stayed fairly even. The air conditioner was on what a joy. We drove the car to church today as there was 100% chance of rain. They got it wrong it only rained half the time. We ate and soon started calling the grandkids. My favorite part of the week. Because of the rain and it being Sunday this is the only picture. I compared the little streets to skyscrapers lying on their sides, but if you stood them on the end they would be hundreds of stories high. Because of the narrow streets and the small size of the houses which are all joined together there are a lot of people in a small area. I probably don’t make sense here but the people really do live almost on top of each other. Jim mentioned some of the pictures look especially good that is partly iPhone, partly the stuff I take pictures of, and if nothing else I take so many pictures some have to be extraordinary. Favorite food not yet, but grandma loves these little pie looking custard things called pasteis de natta which means cream pastry sort of. They call cream here creamora de natta. Anyway when we buy them you usually get either a 4 or a 6 pack. I let grandma have them all. They are okay but she likes them better than I do. I love you all.

Saturday August 28

 Today the temperature was a little nicer. I went for my early walk and it was dark a little longer I guess the days get shorter here also when fall approachs. We wanted to buy some things at the farmers market today, so we headed that way. It is getting more difficult to see different things and discover different routes but this strange tree we have passed many times. The limbs grow out horizontally and the legs they have holding them up have grown into the tree just like the metal fence post has been grown into our apple tree at home. The stuff hanging down looks like spanish moss but I don’t think it is. We probably will go to the farmers market most Saturdays from now on. There are more people and more venders forget there and besides without a plan we end up buying too much produce and as I mentioned it doesn’t keep as well here. We had taken our time so it was time for an early lunch or a really late breakfast. I chose to do hash browns and eggs. Familiar food is the best at times. While cooking a tug boat and barge passed by out the kitchen window for several minutes.

We went out and visited some members and the one has twin girls 9 months old one smiled and played peek a boo I missed João and Carter. But sometimes it is fun I went to a meeting at the church it went a little long and still its hard to understand at times. I had taken this picture this morning by a statue of Mary. Sometimes the flowers placed here are artificial but these were the realdeal.

I have been reading the comments thank you for them as perhaps I can keep writing stuff you care to comment on. Ashley sure is the one who is the most faithful follower baised on the number of comments,but I like all of them. If I didn’t get comments at times I would think I was writing to myself, and we all know that I soon would be writing one or two sentences. And I hope it doesn’t appear that I am asking for more comments, just keep doing as you are it helps me be aware of the things that interest you. I have got to get some pictures in the butcher shop where I buy my meat and write a little about it. Maybe one rainy day when it is hard to get out. Then tell a bit about the narrow streets and how the people live so close together. Stuff for another day. I love you all.

Friday August 27

 

As the picture shows today was not a nice day. When I went for my walk the weather was not so nice. I  could see the rain coming looking out over the ocean and down the coastline. As the first of the rain started to fall on me I turned for home and managed to keep ahead of it. We waited until it appeared to be over and left for our walk. The rain didn’t hold off very long. Grandma was smart and had a jacket so I was able to show her what I thought was a new kind of flower. I was wrong it just hasn’t filled up with blooms yet. We went back to the apartment and ate and then language class. During the class it really started to rain. I wondered if we would be stranded at the church. But it let up and we walked down the hill to check on the washing machine door. The place was closed for lunch. We used the car and went to the shopping mall where I got a SIM card for my iPhone. This way when I go walking or to a meeting by myself I will have a phone with me as I leave the mission phone with grandma. We bought a few groceries then over to the guitar store. I bought a guitar I hope that works out.

We had an appointment with the missionaries to visit a member, but didn’t find her home. We walked back down to check on the door and found out it won’t be ready until Monday. When we got home I played my guitar a while then later the missionaries called and were unable to get  the key to turn in the ignition. Sweet. For once they were stumped and no amount of technical savvy was going to get them out of it. I talked them through turning the key over, making sure it was in park, foot on the brake, none worked. I then told them to turn the steering wheel to take the pressure off the steering wheel lock. Bingo. I always have to get help with my electronics so some payback felt good. Jordan had helped me get the history app but I was unable to watch any episodes. After messing with it I was able to get a response that it would not function outside the u s and it’s territories. So back to square one. I love you all.

Lots of practice

Thursday August 26. Before anything else this is a new picture taken today. Grandma says the blooms on this bush are different, more open. I just take pictures and write. First I went on my solo walk, lt had rained a little during the night and a few places were slick. While waiting for grandma to get ready I tried to remove the door on the washing machine. Yesterday while making visits I noticed an appliance repair store and the man was sure he could help, but when I went to remove the door I needed a torx bit. So on the walk we will need to stop at China store. So off we went down by the ocean when we. Passed the ford dealer they had a room opened on a side street. Nice ride.

Across the road at the old fort a marine on guard at the gate. Nice sword.

We went past Donotello’s this old sign looked cool, and the add for francesinha was neat.

While walking past the white phone booth we stopped so I could answer jim’s question. No phone it’s supposed to be a book trading library of some sort but it is locked up and no books. Also Jim they don’t eat rats here.

It started to rain so we had to seek shelter under a canvas awning on a store. But this storm didn’t last very long. Heading home I bought the tools I needed and got the picture of grandma. Just before home was a car with odd purple wheels and purple trim around the grill.

As I have mentioned before the food doesn’t keep well here grandma had to throw out pineapple sour cream and lettuce again. If it is not in the freezer it is on the way to rotten. So for lunch we decided to use the bag of fritos before they had problems. That’s how we discovered the sour cream was a bit off yesterday when I thought it tasted strange grandma said it was fine so I sucked it up and ate it. She smelled it today and declared it inedible. I guess it is a matter of perspective. I had a meeting at the church so I went over and got to visit for almost 2 hours with people before g to the appliance repair guy there too I got to talk for about an hour. Good language practice but not sure I learn or if I just keep getting by. Heading home I realized it was farther than I thought, but I made it. After I cooked supper we studied some more then I was tired so I headed to bed early. I need to toughen up. I love you all.

Change is good

 

Wednesday August 25. Today as usual I was up and off for my walk. I walk down to a small park where there are different things to do sort of a playground. One is a group of four logs set up like he humber 4 and you walk them to test your balance. I usually walk them a couple of times today I had to step off in the middle I guess I was going too fast. A new missionary is coming today and I saw his plane come in. Elder Rust the one going home asked us to take him to the airport so we didn’t get our morning walk together. There was some pretty grass likr plants in bloom as I think even though we never get winter here we may be entering the fall cycle as the once a year plants are blooming and shedding seeds. The sun flowers are pretty much done growing. The member who had the carport where the roof is made of grapes has harvested all her grapes. Anyway just an idea. 

When we were ready we went over and loaded up and dropped Elder Rust at the airport. We probably will see him again as he is attending BYU Idaho. We came back and on the way home checked out a new way to our apartment. Grandma kept thinking there was a alternate way to enter the complex and she was right. This afternoon I made a phone call to the brazilian family. We should see them Sunday. We went for a walk and visited a couple of older women members. Here is a picture of an almost new backhoe notice the difference at the back.

Then it was time to go home for supper. We got in some language study today, grandma is getting better. This next picture is just one for my grandkids who like to see gross stuff. This dead rat was in the road on my walk this morning.

Well not much else as it was another one of those easy days. Love you all.

Rough waters

 Tuesday August 24. Today it was windy and cloudy when I left for my walk. The park I walk to gives a view of the ocean and the wavs were higher than usual. After returning we left for our walk together and we headed down towards the coast as I wanted to get where I could watch the waves crash against the rocks. We walked until we could see the old fort on the harbor when we were caught in a rain storm. We stopped under the overhang of a building until the worst had passed. Then we continued our journey. We walked along the last street parallel the coastline but our view was blocked by buildings and rock walls. But I usually find a way and I located a alley way and ended up in a place where they stretch out the nets to dry and I think repair as there was a lot of pieces of fish line on the rocks the type they use to repair a net with tears and holes. It was still overcast and the water was rolling pretty good. It was low tide I wish I could see it at high tide but maybe from somewhere else as I would expect to get wet where we were.

Stopped to take a picture of grandma with a palm tree in bloom.

There were more anchors and a pile across the road by the coast I have no idea where they all come from, but I guess they have to go somewhere to die wish I could have one for my outhouse.

After cleaning up we went to the church to take care of some business and then it was tacos for lunch. We still had leftovers and I think they just get better until they aren’t. We had some time for study grandma is getting better. This evening we made some visits as Elder Rust leaves tomorrow to go home to Utah. It stayed wet and overcast all day but still we had a good day. Love to all.

Food from a volcano

 

Monday August 23. It’s p-day again and for Elder Rust it will be his jast one in Portugal. But first I went for my short walk alone a bit early. It was starting to be light but the fountain in the traffic circle was still lit up.

Back home we hurried and prepared for breakfast with the mission president and his family. They are really nice. Then it was off to furnas the area of geothermal activity we had visited before. The family from Provo Utah the Petros family were having us spend the day with them and we met up with them. They took us around to some nice places. This man made waterfall. Was interesting. After walking the narrow path out with grandma right behind me I realized it wasn’t the safest thing we ever did and I wouldn’t want my grandkids to walk it as it was a long fall to the bottom.

A picture of the elders.

Next we went down to a beach down a steep road a lot of stairs and over huge rocks. A nice private beach but I didn’t take pictures. But grandma took one on our way out.

Earlier in the day they had dropped off a pan of food to be cooked in pits in the ground next o mud pots and boiling water pits. After waiting a while we went and got the food. They dig holes put a concrete culvert in then a rack to keep the pan off the bottom. You bring your pot with meat and vegetables and in this case banana bread on top and they put it in place a wooden lid on and bury it for about 7 hours. 

The food was fantastic. We ate a nice meal

and drove home arriving home a little late but It was a really nice day I had time to check my blogs Ashley is my best comment giver with Kenna there too.thanks girls. I love you all.