Helena Loermans’ textiles

Helena Loermans is a dutch artist who has been living in Portugal for a long time. She has her weaving studio in the historic town of Odemira in Alentejo, Portugal, where she produces her own collection of hand woven textiles with traditional looms.

Last month I visited her studio for the first time and couldn´t resist the temptation of getting an original scarf.

Now , as the weather is getting warmer it is time to admire her exclusive parasols. Helena upcycles materials in a very imaginative  way.

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Helena-Loermans-Handwoven-Textiles-/147566561928680?fref=ts

O estilo inglês

A propriedade de Osborne, na ilha de Wight, foi comprada pela
Rainha Victoria em 1845

 

cadeira de estilo Vitoriano

A evolução do mobiliário reflete sempre a história social. O crescimento da classe média, no século XVIII, como resultado da prosperidade económica conduziu a uma procura de mobiliário. 

cadeiras Tudor

                                           mesa isabelina (século XVI)


Cadeira rainha Ana

                                                                         sideboard Georgiano
           

Thomas Chippendale, (1718-1779) filho de um marceneiro do norte de Inglaterra, foi o primeiro plebeu a ter um estilo de mobiliário com o seu nome. Antes dele os diferentes estilos recordavam as monarquias: Tudor, Isabelina,  Rainha Ana , Georgiano (e depois o Vitoriano que marcou a segunda metade do século XIX). 

George Hepplewhite (1727? – 1786) e Thomas Sheraton (1751 –1806) foram outros dois importantes nomes na história do mobiliário do século XVIII.

Cadeiras Hepplewhite na sala de jantar do iate Real Britannia.

   

Em 1754,  Chippendale publicou “The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker´s Director”, impondo a sua versão pessoal do gosto de inspiração oriental. Além de ser um grande ebanista, também decorava interiores dando sugestões quanto aos tecidos e cor das paredes.

                          cadeiras estilo Chippendale

Os modelos ingleses tornaram-se populares em muitos países europeus, tendo-se transformado em formas de arte decorativa. A influência inglesa também se espalhou nas colónias americanas.

A adoção do nome Chippendale a peças construídas posteriormente tem, por vezes, pouco a ver com os originais. Ele tinha uma vantagem especial: usou a melhor madeira para mobiliário que alguma vez existiu- uma espécie de mogno proveniente das Caraíbas.

Estátua de Thomas Chippendale

O seu filho, Thomas Chippendale, the Younger (1749-1822) seguiu a carreira do pai. É de sua autoria a famosa cadeira Wellington que se encontra no palácio de Windsor.

Cadeira Wellington

Cavalos de Hollywood

Sabes o que têm em comum filmes como O Senhor dos Anéis, Príncipe da Pérsia, as Crónicas de Nárnia(2), Robin Hood, Cavalo de Guerra? Para além de serem grandes sucessos de Hollywood, todos contam com o trabalho insubstituível da empresa portuguesa Equicouro - Correeiros, Lda., com sede na freguesia de Milagres, em Leiria, que fornece as selas, cabeçadas, mantas, louros, estribos, cilhas e peitorais para aparelhar os cavalos que participam nos filmes. 

http://www.dn.pt/bolsa/interior.aspx?content_id=1592508

Chelsea Flower Show

The Chelsea Flower Show has become a regular event in the Royal calendar since it was first held in 1913 following the success of an international horticultural exhibition organised by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, the previous year. Since then it has been an annual event (with the exception of some years during the First and Second World Wars) and takes place in late May. 

This year it celebrates 100 years and will be held from 21st till 25th May 2013. 

The Queen, as Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, regularly attends the opening of the show. The aim of the exhibitions is to encourage amateur gardeners to try to achieve similar displays in their own gardens. 

One of the most outstanding displays in the shows history was the Coronation Empire Exhibition in 1937. Created to celebrate the Coronation of King George VI, exhibits included plants representing different parts of the Commonwealth.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/ChelseaFlowerShow/ChelseaFlowerShow.aspx

http://www.allaboutyou.com/country/day-out/Chelsea-Flower-Show-2013-100-years-of-Chelsea-Flower-Show

A tourist in Belem

The parish council of Santa Maria de Belem, created in 1833, is unique in the world- it has two monuments considered by UNESCO as World Heritage: Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. 

Jerónimos was an idea of king Manuel I of Portugal (1469-1521). He wanted to build a monument to take advantage of the vast amounts of money that came from Africa and India.


 He wanted people to be impressed when they looked at it.

Works started in 1501, directed by Boitaca, the king´s favourite architect and finished 100 years later. The monument is in front of the Tagus River, just in the place where a small chapel was located. The cloister can´t be missed. It looks like stone embroidery.

The originality of Jerónimos lies in its style, called “ Manueline style” in honour of the king and it is unique in the world. The ornaments were inspired from the Discoveries and we can find exotic plants, animals from faraway places, anchors and ropes used in ships, instruments for navigation and above all the armillary sphere, a symbol of the King´s power over the world. 

Belém Tower  was built between 1514 and 1520, near the end of King Manuel´s reign, in order to protect the entrance of Lisbon from pirates' attacks. It is also in “Manueline style” but reflects Eastern influence with its Moorish looking cupolas. 

These monuments together with the Monument to the Discoveries, Belém Palace, the official residence of the presidents of the Republic of Portugal, the amazing Coach museum, the botanical garden, not to forget the famous Belem custard tarts, one of the greatest delicacies from Portugal, are described in the book “Belém” written by Fatima Pinto de Meneses, a former History teacher in my school.

Corn or maize?

Corn is the most important crop in the USA, which produces half of the world´s total.

Indians taught colonists to grow the indigenous plants, which included some varieties of yellow corn that are still popular as food. Since its introduction into Europe by Columbus, it has spread to all areas of the world because of its ability to grow in diverse climates. Corn can be used boiled or roasted on the cob or converted into flour. Corn oil is used in some diets because it contains little cholesterol.

Roasted corn on the cob

Although it is an important food, it is inferior to other cereals in nutritional value. 

In the United states the pink, red, and blue varieties of corn are used in autumn decorations. 

In British English the word corn refers to any crops such as wheat and barley. If we mean the seeds of a corn plant we say maize. 

Curiously, in British English, corn can also mean a small piece of hard skin on your foot or toe. 

The idea for this post came from:

Bryson, Bill. Em casa. Breve História da Vida Privada. Bertrand editora 2011.

Madame Tussaud´s

http://www.madametussauds.com/

International Museum Day is celebrated worldwide on May 18. This year the theme is Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change. 

On this day I have chosen Madame Tussaud´s, a museum my children loved to visit when they were kids. It is a wax museum and one of the most important tourist attractions in London. 

Marie Tussaud was born in Strasburg in 1761. Her mother worked as housekeeper for Dr Philippe Curtius - a physician who used to model anatomic subjects in wax. Soon Marie and her mother moved to Paris with him. Dr. Curtius became Marie´s tutor in the techniques of wax portraiture and she was allowed to model great figures of the time like François Voltaire or Benjamin Franklin. In 1794, Dr. Curtis died and Marie inherited the business which had grown under her influence. As the situation in France was becoming chaotic, Marie decided to tour the exhibition round the British Isles. In 1835 Madame Tussaud´s museum opened in London . 

In January I enjoyed Madame Tussaud´s museum in Berlin.

I'm sure you didn't deserve that red card...

Mr. Clooney knew I don´t drink coffee...

Older post

International Museum Day

Nutri Ventures nos EUA.

Nutri Ventures, série infantil dedicada à alimentação saudável, é a primeira produção portuguesa a entrar em canais Disney. 

As crianças norte-americanas vão conhecer novos heróis a partir de segunda-feira, quando a série de animação portuguesa se estrear nos Estados Unidos. 

A série estreou-se em Portugal em outubro, na RTP2 e no canal Panda, mas já passa em 19 países. 

Graduation Day

Norman Rockwell, The Prom Dress

Graduation Day is a memorable day for all students and their families. There are two separate ceremonies that nobody wants to miss: 

The conferring of diplomas
and Prom Night

On graduation day from high school or college the principal, a special guest and one of the students who is leaving make a speech. The student who speaks is usually one who achieved the highest grades. Indeed, it is an honour to be chosen and that person is called the valedictorian. As the ceremony proceeds, the students are called one by one to receive their diplomas with the sound of clapping hands and the flashes of photographers. 

Afterwards everybody goes outside to see the students throw their caps into the air. 

For Prom Night, the girl will find a stunning prom dress (usually in a pale colour), sparkly jewelry, the perfect shoes and, of course a date to escort her in the promenade, who offers her a small and elegant bouquet of flowers or a wrist corsage to match the dress. 

If you are a boy I’m sure you will find a classic tuxedo that will make you look like James Bond, but don’t forget you must use a boutonnier pinned to the lapel ( to match the girl´s flowers). 

The Prom or Promenade is rehearsed several times to make sure no mistakes are made on the day. Parents are invited to this ceremony (They normally take lots of photographs, a subject that needs to be discussed previously at home for it seems that some children at that age might not enjoy being photographed).

 

Limousine (Limo)

Afterwards the students join their friends, who together with their partners rent a limo, and go to the ball. Let the fun begin…

I must say that looking back it may seem a bit kitch, all the preparation, but I would have loved to have a graduation in such great style when I was a student…Nevertheless, my son, first, and then my daughter graduated from high school in the United States and so I was able to glimpse that wonderful celebration.

Showcase in EB 2,3 Paula Vicente, Lisbon

Commander Chris Hadfield

The Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who has documented his five months in charge of the International Space Station in great detail celebrated his last day aboard the craft by releasing an adaptation of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”

 Space Oddity- Lyrics by David Bowie (1969) and  2013 adaptation

Ground control to major Tom
Ground control to major Tom
Lock your Soyuz hash (Take your protein pills) and put your helmet on
Ground control to major Tom
Commencing countdown , engines on
Detach from station ( Check ignition ) and may gods  love be with you

This is ground control to major Tom, you've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to guide (leave) the capsule if you dare

This is major Tom to ground control, I´ve left forevermore (I'm stepping through the door)
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
Here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing left to ( I can) do

Though I´ve flown (I'm past) one hundred thousand miles, I'm feeling very still
And before too long I know it is time (think my spaceship knows which way) to go
Our commander comes down back to earth and (tell my wife I love her very much, she) knows
Ground control to major Tom,
The time is near, there´s not too long
(your circuits dead, there's something wrong)

Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear...

Here am I floating (sitting) in my tin can
A last glimpse of the world (far above the Moon)
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing left to (I can) do

Mr. Hadfield, returned to Earth yesterday in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. His embrace of social networks to post sounds, images and video from space has earned him a huge following (when he left Earth on Dec. 19, he had 20,000 Twitter followers, a number that has grown to more than 824,000 today). Followers come from around the world, and have been particularly intrigued by his  photos of places on the globe. 

Before the “Space Oddity” clip, the astronaut’s most popular YouTube clip was a demonstration of what happens when you wring the water out of a washcloth in space.

 

https://www.facebook.com/AstronautChrisHadfield?fref=ts

Idioms (5)

© Clever Pants 2012

www.clever-pants.com

Got a lot on your plate?

This month all of our idioms are connected to domestic life. How many do you know?

idiom (n): an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. 

A lot on my plate

If you have got a lot on your plate, you are very busy and have commitments.

“I’m a bit stressed this week. I have a lot on my plate.”

A watched pot never boils

Some things work out in their own time, so being impatient and constantly checking will just make things seem longer.

“I’ve been looking at my phone all day waiting for him to call.” “Well, a watched pot neverboils!”

Brush something under the carpet

If you brush something under the carpet, you are making an attempt to ignore it, or hide it from others.

“The government are trying to brush the corruption scandal under the carpet.”

Come out of the woodwork

When things come out of the woodwork, they appear unexpectedly. ('Crawl out of thewoodwork' is also used.)

“When she became famous all of her exboyfriends started coming out of the woodwork.”

Everything but the kitchen sink

If people include everything but the kitchen sink, they include every possibility, regardless of whether they are useful.

“It took ages to pack for the camping trip because Jim wanted to take everything but the kitchen sink!”

You've made your bed - you'll have to lie in it

This means that someone will have to live with the consequences of their own actions.

“You knew it was wrong to do it. Now you’ve made your bed so you’ll have to lie in it.”

Get out of bed on the wrong side

If you get out of bed on the wrong side, you wake up and start the day in a bad mood for no real reason.

“Don’t try and talk to her today. She obviously got out of bed on the wrong side and she’s in a horrible mood!”

© Clever Pants 2012

www.clever-pants.com

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

"Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey" is a look into the fascinating woman that became the 5th Countess of Carnavon and her life at the beautiful Highclere Castle, that helped to inspire "Downton Abbey". It is written by Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the current countess of Carnarvon. 

We learn that the castle was built for the 3rd Earl by Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament. The first stone was laid in 1842.

Almina, (1876-1969) whose unusual name was formed of a combination of her parents’ names (Alfred and Mina) was a very wealthy heiress- the daughter of the banker Alfred Rothschild.We enjoy stories about her life; her marriage to the 5th Earl of Carnavon; how she entertained and was a social success in Highclere Castle, focusing on the visit of the Prince of Wales shortly after her marriage. The book also describes how her home was taken care of and maintained by the downstairs staff. It follows the outcome of World War I and how Lady Almina played a tremendous role in tending to the wounded of the war and later how she carried on the work in Tutankhamun’s tomb in her husband´s memory. 

Mother's Day in USA

 Mother´s Day Flower Basket 

Mother’s Day in the United States is celebrated each year on the second Sunday in May. In millions of households, mothers will be honoured with flowers, greeting cards, candy, a special cake and, perhaps, breakfast in bed or a special lunch or dinner at a restaurant. 

This holiday owes its start to Anna Jarvis, who held a memorial to her mother in 1899. Jarvis’s mother had founded work clubs for women in her home state of West Virginia to improve sanitary and health conditions. Jarvis campaigned to have “Mother’s Day” recognized as a national celebration. 

President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day official in 1914. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 85 million mothers in the United States and the average number of children they have is 2.5. Most American mothers — 55 percent — are employed outside the home, according to the Census Bureau. 

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/inbrief/2012/05/201205115528.html#ixzz2T4sbryc5

Happy Mother's Day to all my American Friends!

Older Posts:
Dia da Mãe-Para Sempre
Dia da Mãe em Portugal
Mother's Day Traditions

Molten Chocolate Cake 

INGREDIENTS

· 1/2 cup unsalted butter, plus more for buttering the molds

· 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces

· 4 large eggs

· 1/4 cup sugar

· 2 teaspoons flour, plus more for dusting the molds

PREPARATION

1. Put the butter in a medium bowl and melt it in the microwave. Add the chocolate to the hot butter and stir until melted.

2. Crack 2 eggs into a bowl, and add 2 more yolks (discard the extra whites). Add the sugar, and beat or whisk until light and thick, about 1 minute. Add egg mixture and 2 teaspoons flour to the melted chocolate; beat until combined.

3.Butter and lightly flour four 4-ounce molds or ramekins (make sure not to miss any spots, or the cakes will stick). Tap out the excess flour. Divide the batter among the molds. (At this point you can refrigerate them for up to 3 hours; just bring them back to room temperature before baking.)

4.When you’re ready to bake, heat the oven to 450. Put the molds on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the cakes have puffed up a bit, the tops are barely set and the cakes still jiggle slightly when shaken, 7 to 9 minutes (better underbaked than overbaked). Let sit for 1 minute.

5. Put a plate on top of the ramekin and (with a potholder to protect your hand) carefully invert the cake onto the plate. Let it sit for 10 seconds, then lift up the ramekin. Serve immediately, with ice cream, sorbet or whipped cream.



The New York Times Recipes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLnJGA_XtXQ

Dia da Europa

No dia 9 de maio  comemora-se o Dia da Europa.  Esta data assinala o aniversário da histórica Declaração Schumann. Num discurso proferido em Paris, em 1950, Robert Schuman, ministro dos negócios estrangeiros francês, expôs a sua visão de uma nova forma de cooperação política para a Europa. Considera-se que a União Europeia atual teve início com a proposta de Schuman.

State Opening of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament marks the formal start of the parliamentary year. It took place on May 8 in the House of Lords where the Sovereign read the Speech from the throne. This traddition began in 1536. 

Although the Queen reads the speech, it is written by the government. It contains an outline of its policies and proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session. 

Queen Elizabeth began attending the State Opening with her father in 1943, before she became Queen. During this time there has been two occasions where the Queen did not attend, the first when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew, and the second when pregnant with Prince Edward. 

Seated on a throne, and alongside her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth was also accompanied by her son, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall who attended the State Opening of Parliament this year for the first time. 

Some curiosities 

On the eve of State Opening, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster to avoid a repetition of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 (read Guy Fawkes'Day) .

When George I opened Parliament he did not read the Speech because he barely spoke English. 

Queen Victoria rarely attended the State Opening after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1851. 

Sean O'Malley nos Açores

Sean O'Malley presidiu às festas do Santo Cristo que decorreram ontem na ilha de São Miguel nos Açores. 

Sean O`Malley é doutorado em Literatura Portuguesa e Espanhola e escreve regularmente no seu blog http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/ . Declarou na homilia, em português impecável, que “é necessário superar o egoísmo para evitar a violência e servir os outros”. O cardeal foi considerado um dos favoritos para substituir Bento XVI, que se demitiu em 28 de fevereiro de 2013. Após a eleição do Papa Francisco foi um dos oito nomeados para o aconselharem no governo da Igreja. Falando aos jornalistas sobre o novo pontificado destacou a atenção que o Papa pretende colocar na  sua mensagem  de serviço aos pobres e justiça social para ajudar as pessoas a compreender melhor o que é a verdadeira missão da Igreja.

O arcebispo de Boston (capital do estado de Massachusetts, nos Estados Unidos da América), região onde reside uma grande comunidade lusófona, lembrou a sua ligação aos emigrantes portugueses e disse ter tido já a oportunidade de sentir a “emoção destas festas”.

A primeira procissão em honra do Santo Cristo aconteceu em 1700, realizando-se todos os anos no quinto domingo depois da Páscoa. A imagem do Senhor Santo Cristo foi oferecida por Paulo III (1534 – 1549), ao primeiro grupo de religiosas que quis fundar um convento em São Miguel, tendo-se deslocado a Roma para pedir a respetiva autorização. 

Postagem  anterior:

Cardinal O´Malley in Rome for conclave

Referência e foto:

http://www.agencia.ecclesia.pt/cgi-bin/noticia.pl?tpl&id=95406