SharivilleLife stories from Shari

I don’t know about you, but when I get behind it preys on my mind, I have only a few more days now before knee surgery, and not knowing when I will feel like blogging, its safe to assume I should try to do some catching up.

A couple of Sundays ago I spent one of THE most enjoyable days ever.  Jerry and I attended the Chico Portuguese Holy Ghost and Fatima Club festival.  About 3 yrs ago I became reacquainted with my niece Tracy and her husband and in laws.  They have become like family to both Jerry and I.  We call them our West Side Family. Mary Hubbard is my niece’s mother-in-law, and has become one of my dearest friends ever.  Mary and her two daughters, Denise and Rene and son Shawn are very dear to  my heart, as are their families.   This had been for me,  exposure to the Portuguese culture.  I was raised as a little girl in the Italian culture, they are similar in many ways.  The Portuguese people are very outgoing and loving people, the food is of course wonderful and this was a food event.  The meal was Soapas, which is french bread and cabbage soup with roast beef and potato salad on the side and orange drink or beer or wine if wanted.  It’s served family style with unending refills of platters of Soapas and roast beef.  The meat is cooked in an oven at the Portuguese Hall.  First they heat the oven to about  700 degrees, then rake the coals out.  The temperature drops to about 50o degrees then they  put the meat in, in huge amounts, and close the door to the oven and the meat roasts about 4 to 5 hours. and comes out fork tender and delicious. Really delicious. French bread is put into a bowl, covered with boiled cabbage and beef broth and served. Like I said potato salad served as a side dish.  Very different food but very good,  Jerry had 3 servings, and he’s not a “Foodie.” There were tons of people in attendance, eating both inside and outside the hall. It’s a big deal for the Portuguese people,  and I can see why.

Mary’s family is from the Azures, specifically from the island of Ler  Ceira.  At the Hall, after dinner there was a Portuguese lady entertaining. Her name is Emily Silva. She is renowned here and in Portugal. Mary has a lot of her tapes.  She was singing Portuguese songs and playing the keyboard.  The festival draws people of all ages.  This especially appealed to the older folks who still speak the Portuguese language on a fairly regular basis.  There was lots of dancing, both young and old.  There was a very old gentleman in a wheel chair who was able to dance briefly,  it was an emotional event.  They danced The Chicken Dance, that was hilarious, so much fun.  There was a Folk Dance,called Chamarita.  The dancing was so enjoyable to watch and the music was so special. Mary and Rene danced together as did Mary with one of her cousins.  Mary also danced with an old friend, one she used to dance with over 60 yrs ago, when she was 7 yrs old and attending festival.   It was obvious he still had eyes for Mary. Next year Jerry and I will dance, I will have a new knee. The Portuguese in our area are a close knit people. They enjoy life and family and are close to God. Both Jerry and I are really getting into this culture and enjoying it so much.  This was the second year we attended the Festa, already looking forward to next year.

In the Hall there are statues of Fatima and also of Queen Isabella, yes, the same one who sent Christopher Columbus over to discover  us.