COVID-19 changed our lives, and yet, those changes were already happening. My husband and I adopted an austerity program when we returned from Lisbon in June 2019. Several reasons led us to this program – a desire to retire permanently with more travel involved was a main reason. Home improvements (including upgrading kitchen appliances & a major bathroom renovation) was another. Continue reading “Our COVID-19 lockdown: gardening-cooking-exercise, Part 1”
Category: Food & Drinks
Sabot Lucky Burgers – an afternoon in Sintra
When we went to Sintra, not long after our arrival in Portugal, we wandered the village, looking at the houses, homes, Airbnb and shops near the train station. I was not as on top of my game as I would have liked in order to be able to enjoy the town. But I was hungry and thirsty. We had a late start on the day as well. Continue reading “Sabot Lucky Burgers – an afternoon in Sintra”
A weekend in Lisboa
We decided to stay in town and eat at our favorite Tapas restaurant. The festival would go on until the wee hours of Sunday morning though it would not bother us. We could hear it and feel the thump of the music in our apartment, but when we close our windows they are very tight against sound.
Bits and Bites
It is Thursday, June 6.
While it would seem that everyday we are out tasting the bits of Lisboa and Portugal in restaurants and bars, but frankly, just like at home, it gets a little old for us to constantly be out eating and drinking.
Zenith – Brunch and Cocktails
Directly downstairs of our accommodations is a lovely little restaurant called Zenith. We went there out of convenience the first night we were in town.
The next morning we were going back but we got there right at 1100 and the place was mobbed, with a line out the door.
Jet lag and living in Lisboa
We took a leisurely afternoon and explored the immediate area around our apartment. The cobblestones are something else. I saw people slipping and catching themselves everywhere, so it isn’t just me and my propensity to fall on my face! Continue reading “Jet lag and living in Lisboa”
Food: Part sustenance, part social, part historical
As I have mentioned in previous entries, I have been listening to a great courses daily podcast on “Food: A Cultural Culinary History”. I own a domain name and website called “Our Healthy Eating“. I have been investigating recipes and am working on adding cooking techniques, recipes, and more to the site. It is slower in advancement than this site is. Continue reading “Food: Part sustenance, part social, part historical”
Sip and Mingle Drink Recipe
I was thinking of putting a drink recipe on Our Heathy Eating with a link back to the Sip and Mingle event that hubby and I attended a couple of weeks ago. However, I came to the conclusion it fits best here. The folks at Total Wine and More passed along an interesting recipe that might be good for the summer so I am going to share it here but with attribution to Total Wine, Tukwila store: Continue reading “Sip and Mingle Drink Recipe”
Sip and mingle

Last Thursday evening, April 5th, my husband and I attended a “Spring Fling” (AKA) “Sip and Mingle” at our local Total Wine & More store. It was also known as “A total Discovery Event” for Grand Reserve and Reserve Members. Interestingly, we learned that can be made using almost any red grape. Since a wine’s color, tannins and much of its flavor come from the skin of the grapes used, the style of any Rosé usually depends on the amount of time skins and juice are left to soak together after the grapes are crushed. Winemakers crafting Rosé only keep the skins in contact with the juice for a short time – 12 to 36 hours, instead of the days or weeks for most red wines.
Monday morning coffee shop observations
A morning of people watching in a coffee shop …..
A cool fall morning in Seattle is like no other place. Go into a coffee shop, have a cappuccino and watch as the city awakens. People watching can be a most interesting hobby.
There is the homeless person who buys a mocha latte in the coffee shop so (s)he can sit quietly in the corner and sleep in relative safety. Across the room the unemployed, well-suited, well-soled job seeker, with his nervous cup of java, reviews yet one more time his resume and the job description. Will this be his lucky cup of joe and his lucky day?