quilted bag

I just realized that I forgot to post the pictures of this bag that I made to my neighbor and friend that takes with her husband such good care of both of us. It is made with jean fabric and quilted by hand with turquoise thread, lately, my favorite color.

Me acabo de dar cuenta de que se me olvido poner fotos de este bolsito que le hice a mi vecina y amiga que junto con su marido nos cuidan tanto a los dos. Esta hecha de tela vaquera y acolchada a mano con hilo de color turquesa, ultimamente, mi color favorito.




My friend's mom is from China and she reads my blog too. She came to visit her and brought me these beautiful fabrics that she knew for sure I would love them :)

La madre de mi amiga es de China y lee mi blog. Vino a visitarla y me trajo estas telas tan bonitas que sabia seguro que me iban a encantar :)

Blood donor

My friend told me that he donates blood every month. My husband needed 50 units of blood to try to save his life. If it weren't for many generous people that do this frequently, that would have complicated things even more. Blood is also incredibly expensive here in the US. But we all have it and it is easy to donate. My blood type is also in big demand, I am universal donor. I think that I am so lucky to be healthy that I should share my blood with someone who is not. Like many people did with my husband. I just wanted to share this because sometimes the obvious doesn't ring a bell in our heads until someone tells us, like my friend did. I am passing the message.

Mi amigo me dijo que da sangre todos los meses. Mi marido necesito 50 unidades de sangre para intentar salvar su vida. Si no fuera por mucha gente generosa que hace esto frecuentemente, se hubiera complicado aun mas la situacion de mi marido. La sangre es muy cara aqui en EEUU. Pero todos tenemos y es facil donarla. Mi tipo de sangre tiene mucha demanda, soy donante universal. Creo que soy tan afortunada de tener buena salud que deberia compartir mi sangre con alguien que no este sano. Como mucha gente hizo con mi marido. Solo queria compartir esto porque a veces lo obvio no lo vemos hasta que alguien nos lo dice, como me dijo mi amigo. Estoy pasando el mensaje.

Birthday Card

Minerva's circle girls are experts making these birthday cards. I just wanted to share the one I got for my birthday, so cool, perfect colors for me too! Thank you girls!

Las chicas de Minerva's circle son expertas haciendo tarjetas de cumpleanhos. Solo queria compartir la que me hicieron por mi cumple, mas chula, los colores perfectos para mi! Gracias chicas!

Finding time to do things

How come sometimes it is so difficult to find the time to breathe and still you get this feeling that you didn't accomplish much?...I guess taking care of a 17 month old boy takes every bit of you sometimes and that's why I've been feeling so unproductive lately. I have been starting to paint, and my little sister, only witness of my wanna-be-a-painting liked it. So I guess I feel more encouraged to continue now.

Como puede ser que sea tan dificil encontrar un segundo para poder respirar y aun te quedas con esa impresion de que no has hecho mucho en todo el dia?...Creo que cuidar de un ninho de 17 meses te chupa toda la energia y por eso me he sentido un tanto inproductiva estos ultimos dias. He empezado a pintar, y a mi hermana pequenha, la unica testigo de mi quiero-ser-cuadro le gusto. Asi que me siento mas animada para seguir ahora.

I have to admit that I was productive on our Sunday quilting meeting, for once, I didn't go with my son and I focused on finishing the last side of the border of my mom's quilt. I was silent and concentrated and I liked that, I miss that. I have also had great intentions to craft, sew, knit, crochet, paint, reflected in the number of books that I got from the library. Every time I go there I decide I need to go there every week, I really love that place. Specially with a sleeping baby so I can actually look at books. Boy I've changed.

Tengo que reconocer que fui muy productiva en nuestra reunion del domingo, por una vez, no me traje a mi hijo y me concentre en acabar el ultimo lado del borde de la quilt de mi madre. Estuve en silencio y concentrada y me encanto, lo echo de menos. Tambien he tenido muchas intenciones de hacer manualidades, coser, tejer, hacer ganchillo, pintar, todo ello reflejado en el gran numero de libros que me he sacado de la biblioteca. Cada vez que voy decido que necesito volver cada semana, la verdad es que me encanta ese lugar. Sobretodo cuando voy con un bebe dormido y me da tiempo de mirar los libros. Jo como he cambiado.

And continuing with wildlife in Florida, this is what I found when I looked outside of my bedroom window the other day...a hawk with a squirrel....

Y continuando con la vida salvaje de Florida, esto es con lo que me encontre cuando mire a traves de mi ventana de mi dormitorio el otro dia...un halcon con una ardilla...

My second book

The first one was my dissertation. The second one is my blog. Polvoron de limon has become a book thanks to Gisele who made a publication out of my blog as my birthday present. What a wonderful idea and what a beautiful book! She made the editing, rearranging of pictures and pages and choose the colors. It is wonderful. I love it. I like being able to browse so easily though all my creations. Thank you so much Gisele, you are great!

El primero fue mi tesis doctoral. El segundo es mi blog. Polvoron de limon se ha convertido en un libro gracias a Gisele la que convertio mi blog en una publicacion de regalo de cumpleanhos. Que idea mas chula y que libro mas bonito! Ella lo edito, organizo las imagenes y las paginas y eligio los colores. Es maravilloso. Me encanta. Me gusta que puedo buscar todas mis creaciones tan facilmente. Muchas gracias Gisele, eres fantastica!




Something else I got for my birthday from Pilar, a recipe book. It is so cool, it has patchwork in the cover and of course the colors I just love.

Algo mas que me regalo Pilar por mi cumpleanhos, un libro de recetas. Es chulisimo, tiene patchwork en la tapa y por supuesto me encantan los colores.

And a bag, the first creation by Hawa, from Mali, the first thing she has ever sewn, incredible! Needles to say, I also love the colors.

Y un bolso, la primera creacion de Hawa, de Mali, la primera cosa que jamas ha cosido, increible! Y no tengo ni que decirlo, tambien me encantan los colores.

After almost 2 wonderful weeks with my sister and nieces, without much time for crafting or anything else, I am back. Now I started with my new hobby, painting. So far it is getting hard, at least the drawing part. As long as they are half as good as my younger sister's amazing paintings, I will be happy.

Despuesde casi 2 semanas maravillosas con mi hermana y sobrinas, sin mucho tiempo para hacer manualidades he vuelto. Ahora he empezado mi nuevo habby, pintura. De momento esta complicado, por lo menos la parte del dibujo. Mientras uqeme salgan la mitad de bien que las pinturas increibles de mi hermana pequenha me conformo.

Well now that I think about it, I haven't been crafting but I have been creating. We are building a garden in memory of my husband right in front of my apartment. It is a Japanese themed garden, and just with 2 days of work it is already looking amazing. The best part, sharing these moments with friends and family and thinking about McNair. I have also been gardening in my own little front yard, inspired by the initiative of my sister. Thanks sister, you always give me a boost of energy :)

Bueno, ahora que lo pienso, no he estado haciendo manualidades pero si he estado creando. Estamos construyendo un jardin en memoria de mi marido en frente de mi apartamento. Es un jardin de estilo Japones, y en solo 2 dias de trabajo ya tiene una pinta estupenda. Lo mejor, compartir estos momentos con amigos y familia pensando en McNair. Tambien he estado haciendo jardineria en mi terrenito de alante, inspirada por la iniciativa de mi hermana. Gracias hermana, siempre me das un subidon de energia:)

Birthdays month

This is a month full of birthdays. Starting with mine, it was a wonderful and busy day. Unlike other years, this time I didn't feel like having a big bbq with friends. My husband used to cook for all of us and we used to celebrate it outdoors. This time I was lucky to have my sister and nieces visiting and millions of angels flying around me to wish me a happy day.

Este mes esta lleno de cumpleanhos. Empezando por el mio, fue un dia en el que estuve muy ocupada y fue maravilloso. Al contrario que en anhos anteriores, esta vez no me apetecia hacer una barbacoa con amigos. Mi marido solia cocinar para todos y soliamos celebrarlo fuera en algun parque. Esta vez tuve la suerte de tener a mi herman y sobrinas visitandonos y millones de angeles volando alrededor para desearme un feliz dia.

Among the many amazing presents I got that day, I received this creative pouch from Gisele to put seed envelopes in it. I haven't used the seeds yet, but as soon as the cold weather leaves they are coming outside.

De entre los muchos regalos chulos que me hicieron ese dia, recibi este bolsito tan creativo de Gisele para poner sobres con semillas. No las he usado aun, pero en cuanto el frio se vaya, van a salir fuera.

She also made another one for my mother in law.

Tambien le hizo otro a mi suegra.

A few weeks ago I also got the opportunity to go to the Botanical Gardens to see the stone that had my husband's name engraved. It was beautiful, sad, happy and special. It was in the bamboo walkway. I also saw beautiful flowers and trees...Today is my niece's 5th birthday. Happy birthday Isabelita! These pictures are for you...

Hace unas semanas tambien pude ir al Jardin Botanico a ver el ladrillo que tiene el nombre de mi marido grabado. Que bonito, feliz, triste y especial. Estaba en el paso del bamboo. Tambien vi flores preciosas y arboles...Hoy es el quinto cumpleanhos de mi sobrina. Feliz cumpleanhos Isabelita! Estas fotos son para ti...


And to spice up this post, this is what we run into when we were walking by the University lake with our 3 precious babies...pretty scary. I didn't think he was going to come out like did.

Y para poner mas emocion a este post, esto es con lo que nos encontramos el otro dia mientras caminabamos por el lago de la Universidad con nuestros tres preciosos bebes....que susto. No pense que fuera a salir del agua como lo hizo.