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!