My mom spent the weekend with us. And that means that I've been speaking in Spanish for 48 hours. Which means that I was also thinking in Spanish. Which means it was pretty taxing on my poor bilingual brain. =( I am delusional enough to think that I express myself pretty well in both languages. ;-) But sometimes I just can't find "the ...
Archives for April 2007
A Conundrum
There's nothing I love more than looking out my kitchen window and seeing my roses in bloom. Nothing. (Okay, well, maybe the smell of garlic and onions cooking. But that's not important right now.)When we first moved into this house, I would look out at nothing-but-green and picture colorful roses along the side and back fences. I ...
Grounded?
Yes, we homeschool.And yes, of course, we leave the house. I know that sounded a little snotty. Sorry. But there are people who still think that homeschooling means we are terminally grounded and my kids never interact with other people - ever. So I guess I was a little defensive there. I'm over it now. Our days are pretty predictable for the most ...
From my point of view
The year we moved into this house, we planted roses. They each have names and a story to tell. The names and colors all have meaning for me. Much like everything else that decorates my home. That is really important to me. Sure I like stuff that is fun and colorful, but if you were to ask, I would have a story to tell about ...
Trendsetting
I found this catalog in my mailbox today. And look. They totally knocked off my brightly painted adirondack chairs! I'm not sure how I feel about this. So, at first, I thought, "How did they know?" But, then I thought, "How cool am I ?" They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. But, obviously, the good folks at ...
A cautionary tale
I have stacks and stacks of pictures. From every era in my family's history. And obviously I take a ton of photos daily, too. This is an original family photo, circa 1940.Hard to believe, isn't it?I mean, considering we had to leave all of our worldly possessions behind in Cuba, especially family photos. But this little guy made the cut. I ...
Time.
Breakfast on the patio today.I have found that my kids do better, think better and are more creative when they are allowed to wake up gradually. I like that. They have a leisurely breakfast, usually with a good book in their hands. We won't start formal schooling until around 10 am. And even then, we're pretty relaxed. But I have also found ...
Get REAL.
I posted my churro recipe here a couple of days ago. And the people who know stuff about churros also know that it is a sin (maybe not mortal, but certainly venial) to make churros without hot chocolate.Sorry, my faux pas.Of course, we make hot chocolate. Spanish (as in, from Spain) Hot Chocolate. The thick, super-sweet, rich, gooey, ...
What’s the story, Morning Glory?
This is my savage looking garden. I have not yet trimmed back the daisies. I just can't bear to. But it is the morning glories which are proving the most insidious. Right there in the center, with their trumpeting purple faces. They seem so innocent and so beautiful. But the truth is much more sinister. Here they are sneaking over the back wall. ...
Making a Memory
My kids were all born here in Southern California. My husband is also a native Californian. So the only kind of churros they've ever known have come from a cart at Disneyland. But those are Mexican-style. They are hard and crunchy with lots of brown sugar. They are tasty enough, but I am used to light and fluffy Cuban-style churros. Oh, ...
Hell is probably freezing over, too.
This is a new and thrilling sensation. These two particular surfaces have never before been seen like this simultaneously. It happens, if I'm lucky (and motivated) once a year, like the vernal equinox. Or more randomly, like a total eclipse of the sun. Which, by the way, will take place on August 1st 2008, but don't even get me started as to ...
Stop. Look. and LISTEN.
I could not let this pass without sharing. I believe it is worth your time and energy.I NEVER want to miss something like this.Get yourself a cup of coffee and take your time to read:Pearls Before Breakfast. (H/T Ali) ...
It’s not enough . . .
I can't do enough.No, seriously.It is nothing that he demands.It is self-imposed.I can't do enough to show this man how much I love him. How much I appreciate everything he does for me and for our children.He has been the greatest gift in my life. He has made all the difference.Today is his happy birthday. And I can't do enough to show him ...
The Hilarity Never Ends
When Amy and Adam were in high school and they would come home and tell me about their day, inevitably they would tell me about the FUNNIEST thing that happened. Everything was just SO FUNNY. And they LAUGHED SO HARD.So I used to say, "Well, you know. . . in high school, the hilarity NEVER ENDS." And that has become a regular saying ...
My big, fat, EXTENDED Cuban family
All cheeks and lips and missing a shoe. That's me circa early 1956.My two cranky companions are my cousins, Maria and Ileana. They are not as cranky anymore. In fact, they are downright delightful. ;-) They live in Miami.And I live in California. The reason I'm thinking about them is that I get to close the 3000 mile gap between us in about a ...
Cooking for George
I cook Cuban at least a couple of times a week. More so lately, since I keep trying recipes to share at Babalú. The problem is that I cook "by ear." I just start throwing things into the mix and it's hard to explain exactly what I did. So now, I have been careful to write down ingredients and have Lucy take pictures while I'm ...
