Donna:

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2

   September is the time of the grape harvest. We had an abundant harvest this year, Praise the Lord!  Due to the extreme heat during September (we often woke up in the morning to 12 ° C  and it reached 40°C by 4 pm) many of the grapes dried on the vines, resulting in sun-dried raisins. We picked and dried the others on racks, ate the table grapes, drank grape juice and made grape desserts. There are still more on the vines that we have yet to enjoy and share with others. 

   The annual event in Alpedrinha, “Chocalhos- Festival dos Caminhos da Transumância,” was held this month. This festival celebrates the ancestral tradition of transhumance (seasonal livestock migration between the Serra da Estrela and Idanha-a-Nova. The “chocalheiros” were men adorned with large cowbells on leather sashes who accompanied and led flocks along the ancient droveways. The art of making chocalhos (the large cowbells they wear) dates back to the Roman period and combines the crafts of the coppersmith (sheet metal), the blacksmith (metal alloy) and the musician (tuning). The bells are inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This year’s activities included a pedestrian journey with flocks and shepherds from Fundão to Alpedrinha, accompanied by Chocalheiros. We forfeited the walk but had a great time strolling through the village’s cobblestone streets, accompanied by traditional folk music, zabumbas (large drums) local gastronomy and a display of local artisanal wool products. It was a lovely celebration and we learned something along the way!

   The original wood floor in the cabin was affected by the heavy rainfall last winter. We rolled up our sleeves and although it was a tedious task, we redid the flooring with tiles and we are sure it will withstand this year’s rainy season. 

From Philip and Julie, we received the nice photo below.

    This month’s birthday celebrants were Nuno and Selen!  They both welcomed their new year of life with great joy and loved ones by their side! What a wonderful life! Let us be truly thankful for every day we have to celebrate with loved ones by our side.

You are always in our prayers.

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