It is the day after Thanksgiving. I know there is a frenzy of activity in many homes already decorating for Christmas. Ours is not one of those. Growing up Cuban means we celebrate Christmas Eve - Noche Buena. In our home, we always waited to put up our tree until December 24th. That was always part of the celebration. We ...
Celebrate
I'm Cuban. I throw lots of parties. You shouldn't be surprised.
A good time was had by all.
This was our Thanksgiving day celebration: SOO much food! But we enjoyed it. The cousins had some attitude going for them. But we enjoyed them. There was lots of jumping. But they enjoyed it.The cousins played music. We all enjoyed it.The card game that wouldn't end. They are still enjoying it!They are still here. They won't leave. And ...
Japi Sanguibin (Happy Thanksgiving)
Happy Thanksgiving. My tables are set and awaiting the family tomorrow. We only have 26 because not everyone can come. I realize a beat too late when I tell people this that they think I am joking. Only 26 - ha! Being Cuban Americans, we appreciate that Thanksgiving is a holiday unique to this country. When we first started joining in ...
Bet you didn’t know…
I've got my mom with me this weekend. That means, of course, that I'm cooking Cuban. Preparing for Thanksgiving next week and looking forward to Noche Buena next month got me thinking of pork. (That last statement totally makes sense to Cuban Americans.) So I've got pork chops in the crock-pot slow cooking in mojo. As they cook, ...
Sit Long. Talk Much.
When you come to my home this is almost the first thing you'll see. Anyone who knows us, knows we really mean it. The Bible talks about hospitality being a gift and that we should be eager to practice hospitality because as it says in Hebrews 13:2 - "Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have ...
My Creative Process….
"Ladies and Gentlemen, make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened and place your tray tables in the locked upright position." "We're ready for take off!" Someone was asking about my creative process. As if it might be something easy to describe. I have to look at something for a long time before ideas begin to pop into ...
In omnia…
As we head downstairs each day, we are greeted by this: In omnia paratus. It is Latin. It means "prepared for all things." In other words... "Ready for anything." It is a daily reminder of an attitude I want for myself and my family. It resonates in me. I want to be prepared for whatever life throws our way. And it's kind ...
Japi Jalo Uin (Happy Halloween)
In October of 1961, having been in the states for about 8 months, we found out about the delicious custom of Halloween. At first there was the confusion of why we would be dressing up: "Is it like carnaval? Is there a parade we get to ride in?" ("Pardon me..... but your Caribbean roots are showing.") It was exactly like a Jerry Seinfeld ...
This is Halloween.
We are preparing for Halloween around here. It has been unseasonably hot, but we are undeterred. We live in a wonderful peanut-butter-and-jelly neighborhood. There are tons of kids and everyone decorates their homes with jack-o-lanterns. And as a friend pointed out yesterday, Halloween is one of the few times we experience actual community in ...
Easily entertained…
I know this is going to sound shallow, but I went to Disneyland last night to have dinner and see the decorations.... WITHOUT MY KIDS. I know. I know. I was raised Catholic and I don't know who did it, but I know someone declared this to be a Mortal Sin. (I can see myself writing: "I will not feel guilty" - 100 times on the ...
