uma americana alentejana
alentejo is the south central region of portugal where i grew up until i was almost fourteen years old
there is the alto alentejo (north. where my brother and his family live) and baixo alentejo (south. where i grew up)
alentejana is what we portuguese call a woman from the alentejo
the portugal i know is very different from the portugal it is today
the portugal of today is mostly up with the times and modernized and sure, the women are still called “alentejanas” but that no longer means that they wear head scarves, skirts and work in the fields
yesterday i was missing my old alentejo
i was missing its traditions, its folkloric chants, its blue skies, its ever flowing glowing fields of wheat
i was missing my great grandmother, my grandfather, my uncles and family i have not seen and will not ever see again
times change
and Lily will never know the alentejo i know
i thank my daughter Lily for letting me have my artistic outlet in which ever way possible and to let me get a piece of the old alentejo right here in miami florida
Lily wears: head scraf- h&m (a long lifetime ago). fur vest- traditional alentejano vest gifted by my brother and his gf when Lily turned one. blouse- the childrens place. skirt&leggings- old navy. booties- minnetonka, gifted by avo Hayes and avo Joao

Susan
December 20, 2012 @ 1:55 pm
Claudia, you need to get this beautiful child into acting classes pronto. She loves the camera and I totally see she has an artistic je ne sais quoi.
Love this. My family is from Croatia so I relate to this traditional look. My own grandmother wore something very similar.
Happy Holidays! This one is sure to be exciting with our little ones around!! xoxo
Claudia
December 20, 2012 @ 10:14 pm
@Susan,
thank you Susan. we are planning on ballet classes starting in january since she wants to be a ballerina and then we will see where that goes or where her artistic self will guide us. i think the camera tends to love her more than she loves the camera. lucky her!
i hear Croatia is just beautiful and hope to visit one day. must have been wonderful growing up with such traditions.
Lily is so excited for Christmas i don’t know what she will do once it is over… 🙁
happy holidays to you and yours!! xo
yoly
December 21, 2012 @ 7:09 pm
Amazing photos! Lily looks just lovely all dressed up…we are so lucky to have girls and play dress up 🙂
Claudia
December 24, 2012 @ 2:43 am
@Yoly,
i’m lucky i got one who likes to dress up 🙂