Lost in Asturias

Looking at this photo reminds me of two things.... How happy I was the day this photo was taken and how much I love my family in Spain. I don't even remember where this was taken besides the obvious. The mountains of Asturias. My cousin Lobo ( on the right) has got to be one of the coolest persons I have ever known. To get in a car with him is an adventure waiting to happen! Guaranteed, you know you will eat damn well, you will see places that very few others have dared to go before you, and you will be in the company of one of the kindest men in all of Spain! yo quiero mucho Viceen y Lobo

Spanish White Wine

My 2 favorite white wines are Albarino and Chardonnay. The Albarino grape is grown in a very small area of Northwest Spain and border of Portugal. Its not a cheap wine, because the grape is not abundant. The taste is slightly dry, floral and citrus. An average bottle in my part of the world is about 18.00 dollars. I have found this particular brand Salneval 2006 for 9.00 dollars a bottle. I guess I would give it a 85 or 86 rating. Its a decent wine.

I will show some of my favorite Chardonnays as well as my favorite Reds in a post soon. I warn you I have LOTS OF FAVORITES! I am sorry for the poor photo quality. My husband gave me this crappy digital camera, said something about it was the first digital camera ever made....

I like this man!

Kansas is a back ass ward Republican state. I know one of our state senators , he is a nice enough guy , he tried to run for President.... but he is still a Republican. I laugh at all the farmers here that proudly claim to be Republican but yet are some of the largest welfare recipients in the state. Anyhooo I have been giving the candidates a lot of thought. I even wanted to like 2 guys in the republican party. I have always admired John McCain. A lot. But his support of Bush goes against everything I believe in. I like Rudy Giuliani, but not so much to give him my one and only vote. I travel to Europe every year and its not my imagination that every year the USA is disliked more and more.World relations are an important issue for me. I think a totally fresh start is in order. I think this man can do a lot to mend how the world feels about me.(and You). I say whatever to the naysayers that scoff he has no experience, Bush has no intelligence, clue, idea , brains...... Sadly I always seem to back the guy that never wins.

Its snowing. Again.

Another day another snowstorm. Raphael is having a hard time these days. He hasn't slept in two nights and he paces the house growling and barking. I can only attribute his behavior to him missing his "dad". It curious that he is upset because everybody knows that Raphael loves me the most!

Ps Miguel, enjoy the beautiful weather butthead.

WE MISS YOU MIGUEL!

Bloody Mary's , aged and grilled rib-eye steaks , baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, green salad and turtle cheesecake. My O My, am I ever content! All the cousins had a blast throwing snowballs, making snow angels and throwing each other into snow drifts. This is the gang sans Miguel . It wasn't the same without you mi amor. Everyone misses you but most of all I do. BESOS BESOS BESOS BESOS

First day of Winter

Yesterday was the official first day of winter and it came in with a vengeance, and 9 inches of snow. Tomorrow Miguel leaves for Asturias, so we have time to dig out today! Interstate 70 was closed yesterday as a result of blizzard conditions and a 32 car pile-up. Can you imagine living through something like that? My thoughts are with all the travelers that suffered that experience. This evening we are going to a very good friends home for dessert and drinks. Tomorrow my hubby takes to the sky and the boys and I will spend Christmas eve at Grandpas eating rib eye steaks and baked potatoes and turtle cheesecake. Working in education doesn't pay very well but the days off are most agreeable! 17 days off baby! LIFE IS GOOD! LA BUENA VIDA!

ICE ICE BABY

Hola and Hello to everybody......WOW what a week we have had here! It started with one winter storm after another after another. The weirdness escalated Tuesday morning when all the meteorologists started warning everyone to stock up on food, batteries, gas, prescription medicines etc... so after I got off work I stood in line at the supermarket with the rest of the state of Kansas and bought the last gallon of milk , last loaf of bread... etc etc. The storm came and the temperatures dropped and it was a long 48 hours of snapping tree branches, no electricity, no phones, and ice ice and more ice! My father is on day 3 without electricity and water.....no heat, no toilet nothing. It will probably be another 7 days at least before power is restored in his area. My sister is a nurse in one of the local hospitals and she went home to her kids tonight for the first time since Monday morning. ELECTRICITY IS A WONDERFUL THING! PS... I am really sick of winter already.

Christmas in Kansas

We are still stranded in our homes today. In fact today is worse than yesterday and we have another storm heading in from the Rocky Mountains. My husband is the perfect person to be stuck with.... Miguel searched through our "Spanish stash", and pulled out a bottle of Asturian Anis. Its a very versatile liquor. Besides adding it to cafe con leche its wonderful in pound cakes, pancakes, crepes and straight up! I love days like today, We have food, we have drink, Miguel is playing Leonard Cohen andNino Bravo on the stereo the kids are upstairs content with their x-box 360, my home is cozy warm and pretty with the Christmas lights and candles. I am still homesick for the holidays in Asturias but its nice here too! Besos......

Mi perro, mi gato

Greetings from Topeka Kansas! I know it's been a while since I last posted, and I apologize to the three people that read this blog. My laziness started with a four day migraine and left me without a creative thought what-so-ever. I am stranded in my home today watching the freezing rain, snow and sleet from the comfort of my 68 degree living room. Mi amor Raphael is growing as you can see. Miguel has taught him to shake hands and his bathroom habits are improving. I did however catch him molesting my son's teddy bear. That was a bit horrifying! Besos to all......

The Winter War

Yesterday it was 9 degrees ( -13 Celsius) today we get the first snow of the season. More importantly, there is a war brewing within the walls of our home. Lets call it "The Battle of the Thermostat". Who will win this battle? First meet the waring parties... Mr. Tightwad & Ms. Blue Fingers.

Mr. Tightwad walks around the house constantly complaining of the future electric bill. He has an eagle eye and guards the little thermostat on the wall like its a safe holding his gold. By the way Mr. T is a grump and nobody likes him.

Ms. Blue-Fingers is getting a little bit old. She has paid her dues to mother nature just by living so many years in Kansas (aka Hell) She is sweet and kind but it is hard for her to be that way when she is blue and miserable. Ms. Blue will eventually prevail (around January) but until then it will remain cold within the walls of this home. In more ways than one.

Dinner with the King

Like everyone else in the United States I am getting ready for Thanksgiving. This is probably my favorite holiday as its not as commercialized as the others. No gifts required for this event! So what do you think of my formal dinning room? You like? Actually this is one of many formal dinning rooms of King Juan Carlos of Spain. This is the State Banquet Hall in the Palacio Real in Madrid. Every year the King holds Christmas dinner here and its said that the table can hold 150 people. I wouldnt know this for sure as my invitation has been lost in the mail the past several years....

I'll have one of everything!

I am basically a very honest person. I do seem to have a small problem with menus from foreign countries ending up in my purse. I love to collect them . My husband and I had a good laugh over this excellent example of why you shouldn't use mechanical translations from the Internet. " Waiter, can you tell me if the Hake Crock to the Roman is a fresh crock of Roman?"

Hmmmm the Rape to the Plate looks delish', is it a recently raped plate? Ok my husband will have a big plate of Foie to the Salt Fat and as its been ages since Ive enjoyed a good Hake of Hook to the Plate , I'll give it a try! Yum Yum!

(you may need to zoom in on this menu to see the selections clearly)

This is Asturias

Isn't this postcard fantastic! When I was a little girl growing up on the great plains of Kansas, I would hear the word Spain and automatically think of flamenco, bull fights , mantillas (the high headpiece) and the word OLE! I never dreamed that a place like Asturias existed. When I am in Asturias I have at times to remind myself that I am in Spain. Asturias probably shares more traditions with Ireland and Scotland than with the rest of Spain. For instance the bagpipe is the national instrument, cider is the "official " drink, red heads and blonds with green eyes are as common as they are here in the U.S. If you like Celtic music you will feel right at home here! Puxa Asturias!

The Real Deal

I have a hard time walking by post cards and not stopping to browse. It drives my husband crazy, as he is one of those men that's always in a hurry! I liked this particular card for several reasons. 1. The men are enjoying cider, 2. the men are wearing madreñes. 3. The horreos are authentic. 4. This is real life in Asturias. Puxa Asturias!

First Communion

The first year that I spent with my husbands famila I spent hours and hours pouring over the family photo albums. I made copies of so many wonderful stories. My father in law fulfilling his military service in Casablanca. My mother in law as a young girl in fascist Spain. First Communion of my Uncle Jose on the church steps of Veguin. Sadly I cant find my uncle, but my aunt Ludi is on the left with a red arrow pointing her out! Veguin has a website, Its in Spanish and its one of those boys only clubs! I once asked why no women belonged and was met with grimace's and eye rolls. I am appealing for help on information about the people and the year of this photo. I'd guess its circa 194o. Si alguien sabe los nombres de las otras personas en esta foto y el año en que fue sacada, por favor dejen la información en un comentario. Gracias. Puxa Asturias! Puxa Veguin! http://www.amigosdeveguin.com

A Simple Pleasure

One of my favorite Asturian meals is not very glamorous that's for sure! It involves 3 items. Wine (duh) a big chunk of crusty bread and fresh caught sardines from the north Atlantic ocean. Fresh sardines are available in many sizes but I like the little ones as I can eat the spine as well . Hey I hear the spine is loaded with calcium! The "fish truck" sometimes comes through town or we can purchase the daily catch from one of a hundred markets. Competition is good, if someone sells you less than perfect product you will just never patronize that shop again. My mama in law can clean a kilo of sardines so fast you wont believe it! In one swift motion of the thumb, she pops the heads off and guts them. They are rinsed under water , dredged in flour and lightly fried in olive oil. Any leftovers are served cold with vinegar. I should add that my son and my father don't seem to share my love for this meal!

Fiestas de Veguin

Veguin has two patron saints. San Julian de Box and San Sebastian de los puentes. I know nothing about these guys! I do know however that a pretty cool party is thrown in their honor. The party starts at the top of the mountain above Veguin, where those that gather play silly games , drink wine and cider and eat wonderful breads, cheeses and hams. When the sun starts to go behind the mountain the revelers walk down arm in arm singing behind the village band. Townspeople along the parade path throw water or wine on the party goers below. My favorite part is the end of the route where everyone is sprayed down with foam! Before the nighttime fiesta begins you will see hundreds of foam covered "mummies" heading home to take a shower and a nap so they can dance until dawn! (by the way if you look close at the woman on the balcony she is throwing water on a very happy crowd below) Puxa Veguin!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Halloween!

I dont leave home without him

I had some lovely friends here in Kansas that gave up their medical practice's, sold everything they owned.... house, cars, furniture etc.and moved to New Zealand. They wanted to live in a peace loving Country where the tax dollars did not go to support a war. This is what I inherited from Carrie as she didn't think she would have a need for it anymore. It is a Bush Countdown Clock. What you can not see in this photo is the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until he leaves office. I never leave the house without it. I have it attached to my purse. I will say that 100% of everyone in Europe that saw it this year loved it and agreed that he is "our national nightmare."

Fabada Asturiana

This evening is cold , cloudy and in general dreary as hell. Fortunately I had the remedy for just such a day in my kitchen cabinet. Fabada is probably the most famous dish in all of Asturias. Its a hearty bean stew, somewhat similar to our "ham and beans". My mother in law Mari makes the BEST fabada! Every year Miguel and I bring cans of this home from Spain in our suitcases. Forget the silly souvenir's, we pack food! Fabada is costly to make though. Quality fabada beans cost about 10.00 dollars a pound. The ingredients on the can I just consumed or inhaled reads as follows....Beans, salted pork belly, black pudding, chorizo, olive oil, salt , sweet paprika and saffron. I really miss Asturias today. I miss it a lot.

Oviedo

I have not traveled to a lot of places in Europe. But I feel sure I will never find a city that I feel so strong about. This is my town baby! Welcome to Oviedo Asturias Spain.... the provincial capital of the kingdom of Asturias. AKA The Principality of Spain. The King of Spain's son is the Prince of Asturias. My husband tells me that when the King, Queen or Prince came to Oviedo, he and his mama would go stand on the streets to cheer them. Can anyone reading this blog even fathom standing on a street to catch a glimpse of George W Bush ? Let alone cheer for the fool.
ANYWAY back to my beloved Oviedo. I would wager money that you will never find a cleaner city of this size (over 200,000) anywhere in the world. If you know of one I want to know about it. I LOVE THIS CITY!

Wordless Wednesday

La Siesta Del Sabado

Nothing to report this weekend but a lovely Saturday afternoon nap with my 2 baby boys. Previl (short for pretty evil) and Rafael. At night my dog lays on my head and my cat lays on my chest. (my hubby lays on the far side of the bed)

Some Truth's About Me

My first visit to a European cemetery. Well for starters I had to walk UP a lot of stairs, so by the time I got to the top I was already sweating and breathing hard. Nobody had forewarned me about 2 things.... the stench and the flies. Damn! In the Estados Unidos it is considered bad manners to walk over a grave. We are taught very young to follow paths in front of the head stones. As my head spun and I tried to decide the bigger faux pax, passing out or throwing up....I made a split second decision, I ran for the exit. It took me 4 more years before I summoned the courage to visit again!

Karina from one of my favorite blogs Candid Karina tagged me for 5 things about me. Easy Peasy! #1 I am totally terrified of snakes. I killed a rattlesnake in my front yard once and days later my neighbor said she was watching me and thought I was having a seizure!

#2 I lived in Wichita Kansas during the reign of terror of the BTK serial killer. #3 My puppy eats his own poo AND the poo of the neighbor dog.#4 I was president of my sophomore class and went on to become a waitress.(albeit a darn good one!) When my husband asks me the correct way to pronounce an English word I get my jolly's by telling him the the other. EXAMPLE: "Jannis is a baby dog a puppy or a poopy?"........

El palacio de Olloniego.

People in Asturias think nothing of walking 10 miles for enjoyment. As I have said before I am very content as long as I am walking downhill or on flat areas! I am even more content if my walking path includes the occasional sidra bar. My in-laws have an old family home high in a very rural mountain village of about 20 people.We loaded backpacks full of food and wine one day and made an agonizing trek UP to unpack our food and eat it!You guessed it! After we walked 10 miles to eat we turned around and walked home. To eat....again. Several miles from our home in Spain is this awesome old palace . This is a XIV century palace in Olloniego, Asturias, Spain. I believe that I could view this structure every day for the rest of my life and it would never fail to take my breath away. Isn't it wonderful that these incredibly historic landmarks can exist without fences and guards and admissions to view, and please notice it is sans graffiti!!!

Mi Hijo

I really like this photo of my son! This was the first time he was exposed to mountains of this magnitude or altitude. Although we reside in Kansas where cattle, feedlots and slaughter houses are everywhere...... The cattle do not wear huge cowbells around their necks , nor do they roam free and wander up and down mountain roads without a care in the world. I wish that you could hear how beautiful and peaceful the sound of cowbells scattered across a mountainside is....

The Asturian Shoemaker.

I tried something different today. I am posting a video,(sure hope it works for everyone as I shrunk it down as far as I could for faster downloading.) ANYWAY... The madreñe is a wooden shoe worn for centuries by the Asturian. I have never tried to walk in a pair of these as I am a "flat lander" accustomed to sneakers or tennis shoes. People really do wear these, my in laws each have a pair that they wear in the garden( its a really big garden) Work madreñes are very plain and usually mud covered. Sunday or dress madreñes are polished and painted and carved quite beautifully. I purchased a pair of these shoes in a shoe store sold right alongside 200 euro Spanish leather shoes. I took this short video when Fernando and Chari took me to a mountain fiesta so high up in the mountain's that my ears popped for hours! FYI these shoes sell for about $20 Not bad for handmade eh?

La Balesquida

Here is a photo of some very happy Asturian children! Ok, they were probably happy until the strange Americana started following them. A true Asturian would probably know from the costumes of these kids what area they are from. Sadly I am just an Asturian "wannabe". Fiesta La Balesquida in Oviedo is a long tradition for my husband's family. We take a picnic lunch of "pregnant rolls" (a small loaf of bread with a chorizo sausage baked inside) queso and an empanada. After we watch the parade we follow the procession to Parque San Fransisco where the town council gives a bottle of red wine to everyone. We find an empty spot in the grass and eat and drink then we lie in the grass and let the cathedral bells play us to sleep for our afternoon siesta along with hundreds of other families.............................

La colada

Let me tell you about two fascinating ladies in Asturias. Chari on the left is the wife of Miguel's best friend Fernando. She is a French teacher and dance instructor. (Andalusian dance I think) Chari has traveled the world, she lets me play dress up in her gorgeous dance costume's, she always smells good and when she says "claro" and "si si" I want to speak just like her! Chari is so kind and responsible that she will always designate herself the driver, thus drinking chamomile tea and non alcoholic beers all night.

Carmen is a high school math teacher, she is quiet and lovely. When I speak my version of Spanglish she never corrects me and always seems to know what I am trying to say! We walk through the streets at night window shopping cosmetics, home furnishings and shoes. I smile at her and she smiles at me.

Veguin, Asturias, España

Next to my husbands house is this tiny park. My son and his friends spent a lot of time talking and spitting endless bags of sunflower seeds here. I have sat here in the evenings to watch the sun set on the mountain side. But mostly I have viewed countless dogs poop here from my bedroom window. The structure on the left is a memorial to 4 miners from Veguin that lost their lives in the coal mine during the early 80's. The structure on the right is a replica of a Asturian Horreo pronounced Oreo, like the cookie. A horreo is a barn, the top used to store grains free from rodents and the bottom used to store everything else. I will post pictures of real horreos next time.

Cudillero

I will never forget the first time I saw Cudillero! I had never seen a town like it before. I am told its nickname is The town of the hanging houses, I can't imagine being old with hip or knee problems and living here. I get very cranky when I am forced to walk up hill. I am however very lovely to get along with when I am walking downhill. Cudillero is a fishing port, and it's so amazing to watch the boats come in with their daily catch. I had a incredible seafood soup (sopa de marisco) at a restaurant by the harbor. It had chunks of crab, claw and shell included, clams, whole bodies of shrimp, chunks of white fish, mussels and no idea what else. It was FABULOUS. I am sure the rest of the meal was good as well but WOW, I really recommend the soup! By the way....this is a photo of my beautiful suegra y suegro. Te quiero y te echo mucho de menos!!! Ta luego y besos.

Las Caldes

One morning during breakfast my husband asked me if I would like to go see a castle? "Are you kidding" what American isn't enchanted by a castle!

" Its a long walk for you " he said

" Bring it on , I can handle it" I replied....To make a long story even longer, I guesstimate that we hiked 7 or 8 miles that day, (one way) If I remember correctly I started complaining at about mile marker 3. When we started to get close to the castle I started perking up!

"OMG I see it!!" I literally had goosebumps, I was so excited!

We stopped for pictures on a narrow bridge over a beautiful clear river with this gorgeous castle as a background.

"OK lets go eat lunch now" my father in law said and started to walk away.

Whaaaat? We just walked 8 miles to view a castle from afar? I stress the afar! The long and short of it was YES, that's exactly what we did.

" Oh I thought you knew that we couldn't go in" Miguel said (was it my imagination, he wasn't looking me in the eye!) To this day I will never forget how deceived I felt. I was so mad at the time but now I can smile every time I see a picture of "my almost castle" Miguel knows me well however and plied me with a 4 course meal, plenty of cider, vino and strong coffee and it wasn't a completely horrible 8 mile hike home......

Mi Padre

I love love this photo of mi padre. This is the lovely fishing village of Lastres. If you enlarge this picture you can see the old cannons in the background, once used to protect the town from pirates and other enemies! My dad was the 1st person from the U.S that I have ever taken with me and it was a wonderful bonding time for me. I hadn't ever seen him so happy and curious about things before. He did not stop saying "what incredible engineers the Romans were,"and he was amazed by the European clothing..... it was so funny to find my big , tough cowboy dad in a dress boutique inquiring about a Jean Paul Gaultier evening gown. The rest of that day he kept muttering "where the hell would a woman wear a get-up like that?" I love you dad.

I didn't do it.

Last week Rafael found some old mice poison that we didn't realize was in our basement. Tanner and I rushed him to the vet hospital where his stomach was pumped not once but twice! He was given charcoal and a vitamin k injection. It ended up costing 200 dollars, twice the amount i paid for him! The vet scolded us for letting him eat onions which apparently were found in his stomach contents as well as the poison........... I am such a bad mother. No idea where he got a hold of the onion! By the way... we will all be happy to see his head grow into his new ears!

Mis Amigos de Veguin

Spending the past 5 summers in Asturias, España has allowed me to make some very good friends. Two however standout. Here are my 2 best friends from Veguin, Asturias. Jose Calvillo Gomez is 93 years old. He was an officer in the Spanish Civil War. He was injured badly in a grenade attack and 2 soldiers put him on a stretcher to carry him to safety, one of the soldiers was shot and killed dead while saving my friend. Jose has had both heels on his feet badly damaged as a result of the grenade, but still walks all over town with the help of his cane. His favorite food is garlic soup and I love him. We try to meet as often as we can in one of the bars in town while he enjoys a glass of wine and I usually enjoy several bottles of sidra. My other friend is the beautiful Minerva named after a Greek goddess. Minerva owned Bar Corea for several years and that is the place where my Spanish excelled to new levels! I go there in the morning before lunch to read the newspapers visit with everyone ...and drink sidra. Minerva lives across the street from our house and will hang a flag out her kitchen window to say hello. I enjoy Sunday nights when we can get together in Bar Corea , her cousin Ovi now owns it. They have a huge family of women and its so much fun to get together and laugh and eat and drink sidra. If anybody in Veguin reads this post , please buy Jose a drink and give him a kiss from me. Traducción: Si alguien de Veguín lee esto, por favor que le den un beso de mi parte.

Mis tres niños

Miguel found an old computer with even older pictures in its hard drive, it was a trip down memory lane.... These are mis tres niños. I look at this photo and I remember being so tired. I didn't think they would ever grow up. Wow am I sad for thinking that, I regret not taking the time to play with them more. I am so proud of them. I was blessed wasn't I?! By the way, we were jolted out of a deep sleep at 12:30 last night by the terrifying blare of tornado sirens. Trust me, it's not a pleasant way to wake up!

Bush & Castro

No me gusta George W. Bush

Happy memories

This is one of my favorite places in Spain, its quiet, beautiful and free to visit. Many times it comes with my own private bartender! This is the backyard of mi suegros. (in laws) I have taken many afternoon siestas under the hazelnut trees here. One nice memory I have is finding my dad, my husband and my father in law all sleeping soundly after a typical feast prepared by Mari (my mother in law.) I love to pick lemon leaves and crush them under my nose..... When I tire of lemons I move on to the lavender and rosemary bushes. If I get hungry I have a choice of pears, apples, cherries, strawberries, figs, or hazelnuts. When I get thirsty my father in law will gladly pour me a vaso de sidra (glass of cider.) I am a pampered princess....

You are all invited!!

OK. Today I bought the winning ticket to the Kansas Lottery. I wont really know for sure until tomorrow night, but I feel veeery good about this ticket! I have said before that I will buy a beach home in Llanes Asturias when I do win. Maybe somewhere near this photo. Don't worry, I will have a big house warming party! Songnatrice, I will need you to drive down from Italy please... you must come! Jennie Boo can you bring a really big batch of choco-chip cookies and your beautiful personality? Passionate Palate, will you come early and help me choose the cerveza and vinos for the guests? Frances you are our leader so please come and lead us..... ( to the bars, beach, restaurant's etc...) Fernando, we will need you to bring your prescription pad and dispense hangover cures and antacids for over-indulgence!!! I will see you all at the PARTY! BESOS...Jannis

"El Che"

This is an image of "El Che Guevara". It is very common to see images like these and Communist symbols since the Communist Party is part of the political life in Spain. There are actually some Communist Bars where you can have things such as homemade Mojitos and Cuban rum (Extremely Illegal in the United States). Regarding "El Che", I highly recommend the movie "Motorcycle Diaries" that presents the life of Ernesto Che Guevara before meeting Fidel Castro and starting the Cuban Revolution. Whatever your opinion may be about Cuba and the Revolution, this movie is definitely worth seeing.

The good old days....

It is August and it is 102 degrees, that can only mean IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL! Yes , we do have air conditioning but the temperature is tightly regulated from someone somewhere whom I can guarantee is sitting at his desk drinking cold beer with his coat on(not really)Oh well, in several months it will be 10 degrees and we will ALL be in classrooms in coats. This year, every school entrance and school bus will display the NO GUNS ALLOWED HERE sign. Don't even think about packing punk! I have already experienced one all school lock down in my school and one in my youngest sons school. Both were handled very professionally by the administrations. WAY BACK WHEN I was in Jr. High and High school all the boys proudy displayed their shot guns and rifles on gun racks in the back window of their trucks. The more guns the bigger the stud you were ...During the winter months the boys would display the game that they shot on the way to school in the school parking lot.....and than a T-Rex would appear from the forest and eat one of the students....... those were the good ole days huh! Besos.

How I met my husband

No this is not my husband. This is the best friend of my husband, and the man that introduced us. Meet Fernando! In 2001 I was very blue over the fact that I still had not traveled to Ireland. It had been at the top of my to do list for many years.( I need to add that I hadn't traveled anywhere!) I found a lovely chat room Gallway Chat and visited with locals about everyday things, what they had eaten for lunch that day, the weather etc... During my visits I chatted and became friendly with a Spaniard that had better English than me! Over the months we exchanged photos via e-mail of our homelands, as Id never been to Spain nor he to the United States. He had sent me pictures of him and his friends in front of various castles and climbing Roman gold mines and drinking wine in outdoor bars... I sent him pics of main street USA etc. Anyway, one day we were chatting and he said "my best friend is online , would you like to meet him?" Miguel and I talked for maybe 8 hours that 1st time and everyday after that for several months. Eventually it was agreed upon that Miguel and I couldn't live without each other and it would be easiest for him to come to Kansas. He came with one suitcase. Within 90 days his visa was up and September 11th happened. (huge story here but no room.) Miguel and I would have gotten married anyway but the events of 9-11 and the panic it caused over people that looked different from Americans led to our marriage after only 3 months. Hey Fernando if you read this blog THANK YOU! MEETING YOU CHANGED MY LIFE. te echo de menos mi amigo.

Can I borrow a Euro?

Its been quite a few years now since I have seen a cigarette machine in the United States. My girlfriends and I would purchase them for 50 cents a pack and go smoke them in the park, thinking we were very grownup and elegant. Looking back to how dumb I was as a kid, its probably a very good thing we didn't have these self serve cerveza dispensers standing next to the cigarette machines! I have no idea if other European Countries have Beer machines, If anyone reads this let me know. I don't care for San Miguel cerveza but I bought one anyway.....How many times in your life do you come upon a beer dispenser at the top of a mountian in Spain? (by the way, it was one Euro and fifty cents.) Mi gusta la cerveza y mi gusta España!

Covadonga

My dad and I both agree that this is one of the prettiest places on earth. The Reconquest of Spain from the Moors started here in the eighth century AD and ended in the year 1492; same year of the arrival of Columbus to "The New World". Legend is that Pelayo the 1st King of Asturias and his small army defeated the advancing Moorish Army from the top of this mountain. I found it interesting that so many children born in Asturias today are named Pelayo and Covadonga. Besos para mis amigos en Veguin.

Yes. Its what it looks like!

If anyone has spent very much time in Kansas you realize that its not a liberal state. Just a year ago we were allowed to buy beer and liquor on Sunday. Most of you take for granted purchasing your wine or liquor in the same shop that you purchase your food. Here liquor is strictly regulated and can only be purchases in a LIQUOR STORE. No other items may be sold such as soda , ice , lottery tickets, tobacco etc.

We have no beaches here, but we have a few small lakes. God help the woman that would be so sinful as to take off her swim suit top. I'm sure that its illegal here, like everything else.

Imagine my surprise when my cousins Berto and Carmen Maria took me to the Jurassic museum in Lastres, and this giant display met me at the entrance! Wow.... dinosaurs. Doing it.

Spain is so liberal. The difference between where my husband comes from and where I come from is huge. I love it! Besos

Raphael (Rafael en España)

Rafael está creciendo pero no estamos progresando en enseñarlo donde hacer sus necesidades. Siempre quiere dormir con nosotros en la cama y si lo ponemos en su casa no para de llorar y ladrar así que tendremos Raphael para rato en nuestra habitación.
Does this look like the type of animal that would poo in his crate and then toss the poo out of his crate onto the floor? He was in the crate because Mom lost her temper when he peed on the floor for the 3rd time this morning. My last dog was a Great Dane, I cannot remember it being so difficult to potty-train him.....(SIGH) Speaking of dogs. We are going to my fathers home tonight for rib-eye steaks, garden tomatoes and vino tinto (red wine.) He has a beautiful deck but due to the massive amounts of mosquito's and 100 degree heat I'm sure we will eat in the kitchen and look out at the deck! My dad raises Greyhounds, he has too many to count. I love to go into the kennels and pick up the puppies and smell them! OK that sounds odd doesn't it? I plan on taking Rafael with me tonight, God help him if he pees on Grandpas carpet! Besos!

La Loca

Yesterday I broke my front tooth. I was chewing on my fingernail contemplating a nervous breakdown. I have only myself to blame. I wanted him, I thought I was ready for him. Yesterday my sister stopped by, my first words to her, "do you smell pee ?" I have to think positive so I made a list. I made a list because sleeping is no longer an option. 1.peeing and pooing constantly is a healthy thing....2. my wood floors needed redone anyway.... that's as far as I could get with the positive. My dentist cant see me until Thursday morning so I will be in seclusion today. I called in to Applebees, as the only tips I would get today would be "get your teeth fixed" I have to go now as its suddenly very quiet and that can't possibly be a good thing!

Beautiful

Today like every day is hot. I hate the heat. Collin asked me yesterday if we could move to Canada, he also hates the heat. Its a long trip to the Ocean when you live in Kansas. It takes 3 days to drive to the Pacific Ocean, at least 2 or more to drive to the Atlantic Ocean and no idea how long it takes to drive to the Gulf. Last night I dreamt I was walking on the beach looking for sea glass.... I took this photo in Llanes, Asturias. As soon as I win the lottery I plan on buying a house in Llanes!

Mi Familia

Dinner at (casa mi tia) my aunts house! My aunts speciality is cooking huge amounts of food for mass quantity's of hungry people in a tiny kitchen. AND she does it with a beaming smile on her face! A typical Sunday gathering starts with one of my uncles pouring cider for everyone that wants it. We all visit while we drink a few bottles, and some might walk up the mountain a ways to check on the progress of the kiwis, lemons, grapes, apples, pear or peach trees. The more adventurous might go to the top to bring back eucalyptus leaves. Everyone scrambles to find a chair as my aunts start bringing plates to the table. Red wine is poured and some might mix it with coca-cola. Plan on sitting for at least 3 hours, it takes a long time to eat all this food. If you don't save room for desert, coffee and liquors.... that's just to bad! What is all this food you ask? Bread, corizo cooked in cider, spanish tortilla, croquettes, jamon, empanada, shrimp, calamari, russian salad, and squid......maybe more but at this point it doesn't really matter anymore! Sometime into the night we walk down the mountain, past the bars where the cider is being poured and conversation is lively,through town to Miguel's parents home.