Proud of my CIs

I have received comments in the past about how unlucky I am for all the things that have happened to me in the past recent years. I cannot deny that losing my husbands is something that I just don't wish to anyone, and I wish it hadn't happened to me or Luca, but most of all I wish it hadn't happened to him, my husband who is the one who lost his life. Now, Luca's hearing problem, I just don't see it like that. When I found out Luca was profoundly deaf I was upset, in shock and wondering why again, in this same hospital I had to receive shocking news like this, but at the same time I knew, this was a challenge but not a misfortune. He was alive! He was a happy boy, he had so much potential to enjoy life, the ability and the support to do so! No, this is not something to feel sad about, he is deaf, and has cochlear implants that help him hear and have a very smooth life. He is a happy boy overall, he knows how to communicate, love, laugh and is responsible with his implants knowing he is just 3 years old. He is having the opportunity to be challenged and to learn and be exposed to so many things at such a short age, that I think he is a fortunate little boy. Needless to say, I am the most fortunate mama, he is teaching me so much and we are learning together. I can only say and we both have grown tremendously and have met amazing people in the process, how lucky are we? Now, how can some people be ashamed or self conscious of having a hearing device because they are not "normal" is beyond me. I will always teach Luca to talk openly about his implants to those who look or ask about it, it's not healthy to hide things, especially when they are so important in your life.

He recibido comentarios ultimamente sobre lo poco afortunada que soy por todas las cosas que me han ocurrido en los ultimos años. No puedo negar que perder a mi marido sea algo que no se lo deseo a nadie, ojala que no me hubiera ocurrido a mi, ni a Luca, pero mas que nada desearia que no le hubiera ocurrido a el, a mi marido que es el que perdio la vida. Ahora, el problema de audicion de Luca, no lo veo asi. Cuando me entere que Luca era sordo profundo estaba disgustada, en shock y preguntandome porque de nuevo, en ese mismo hospital tenia que recibir noticias tan chocantes como esta, pero a la vez sabia, que esto era un desafio y no una desgracia. ¡Estaba vivo! ¡Era un niño feliz, tenia tanas posibilidades de disfrutar de la vida, la capacidad y el apoyo para hacerlo! No, esto no es algo como para entristecerse, es sordo y tiene implantes cocleares que le ayudan a oir y tiene una vida sin contratiempos. Sobretodo es un niño feliz, sabe comunicarse, querer, reir y es responsible con sus implantes considerando que solo tiene 3 años. Tiene la oportunidad de tener retos y de aprender y de ser expuesto a tantas cosas con tan poca edad, que creo que es un niño muy afortunado. Ni falta hace decirlo, yo soy la mama mas afortunada del mundo, me enseña tantas cosas y aprendemos juntos. Solo se que hemos crecido un monton juntos y que hemos conocido a mucha gente increible en el proceso, que afortunados ¿no? Ahora, como hay gente que puede estar avergonzado o con complejos de sus audifonos o implantes porque no son “normales” no me cabe en la cabeza. Siempre le enseñare a Luca a hablar abiertamente sobre sus implantes a aquellos que miran o que preguntan, no es sano esconder las cosas, sobretodo cuando son tan importantes en tu vida.

And changing topics, I did bake this Sunday but not from my book. I made some chocolate chip muffins from a box, wonderful boxes that they sell here that you just add oil, water and eggs and you are good to go. But I did make from scratch, a wonderful vegetarian lasagna that my friends taught me how to make and it was good. We had a celebration for a friend who got her doctorate and this is all we ate...you see she deserved a big celebration!

Y cambiando de tema, si que hice algo al horno el domingo, pero no de mi libro. Hice unas magdalenas de chocolate de caja, maravillosas cajas que venden aqui y que solo le añades aceite, agua y huevos y ya esta. Pero si que hice desde cero, una lasaña vegetariana maravillosa que me enseñaron mis amigos y estaba buena. Tuvimos una celebracion para una amiga que se ha sacado el doctorado y esto es lo que comimos...como veis se merecia un buen festin!

I am not trying to make anyone hungry here but my friend Pilar made an AMAZING lemon cake with poppy seeds that not only was incredibly delicious but also look, it was sooooo beautiful! We are thinking about having a cake decorating class in our group, anyone interested in teaching? I think she could teach us because this cake easily bein one of Martha Stewart magazines :)

Y no estoy intentando que os entre el hambre pero mi amiga Pilar hizo un pastel INCREIBLE de limon con semillas de amapola y no solo estaba riquisimo sino que mirad, era preciosisimo! Estamos pensando en hacer una clase de decoracion de pasteles en nuestro grupo, alguien interesado en enseñar? Creo que ella nos podria enseñar porque esa tarta podria estar facilmente en una de las revistas de Martha Stewart :)

We need more drama in our lives

Yes, this is my conclusion, we need more drama in our lives. I have noticed that when we talk about things that involve some sort of dramatic situation, the words related to that sink into Luca's brain like a charm. For example, now according to him, everything is at one point "empty" or "popen" (broken). The interesting thing is that I haven't worked on these words too much and he just got them right away. He got them and used them and used them again in correct circumstances. Now, work with a regular object words "boat" or "cat"...even though I have worked with him nonstop with words like that , every day, in different circumstances, he would eventually get them receptively, but not expresively. And then one day, after weeks/months out of a blue, in a situation where I am not drilling him, he just says it, even without the implants on. Today he finally said "CAT". The most interesting thing is that the "k" sound is new for him, he is just starting to say it, maybe that's why it took him so long, but there is no excuse for "boat". He says it beautifully but only recently he started labeling it correctly.

Si, esa es mi conclusion, necesitamos mas drama en nuestras vidas. Me he dado cuenta de que las cosas que tienen algo que ver con una accion dramatica, las palabras relacionadas se meten en el cerebro deLuca como si nada. Por ejemplo, ahora segun el, todo en un momento dado esta "empty" (vacio) o "popen" "broken" (roto) . Lo mas interesante es qeu no he estado trabajando mucho con estas palabras, sino que las aprendio enseguida al oirlas. Las aprendio y las uso y las uso de nuevo correctamente en diferentes circunstancias. Ahora, trabaja con una palabra de un objetocomo "barco" o "gato"...aunque he estado repitiendolas miles de veces, cada dia en diferentes circunstancias, solo las acabaria aprendiendo a reconocerlas, pero no a decirlas. Y ya un dia, despues de semanas/meses, de la nada, en una situacion en la que no le estoy haciendo trabajar, lo dice, incluso sin los implantes puestos. Por fin dijo "cat" (gato). Lo mas interesante es que el sonido "k" es nuevo para el, esta empezando a decirlo, pero quizas por eso le llevo tanto, aunque no tiene escusa con "boat" (barco). Lo dice perfecto pero solo hace poco ha empezado a llamar a los barcos por su nombre.

So, what do I need to do to make things more dramatic, to make them sink faster??? I need to be more creative, like soap operas. Wish me luck.

How can love multiply and spread towards a new little person that you had never met before but that is very close to your heart even before being born? I don't know how, but it's amazing how it happens.

Como puede ser que el amor se multiplique y se reparta hacia una personita que nunca habias conocido antes pero que esta cercana a tu corazon incluso antes de nacer? No se como, pero es increible como ocurre.

Carmen

I am so happy and excited to know that my newly born niece is healthy and happily out in the world! And her name is Carmen...I am so happy and I can't wait to see how she looks (although we all know that her daddy's genes are stronger, so we can pretty much picture her already). Soon we will be able to sing to her and give her a serenade...(and maybe she will be happy that we live so far away).

Estoy tan contenta y emocionada de saber que mi sobrinita recien nacida esta sanita y feliz fuera en el mundo! Y se llama Carmen...estoy tan feliz y me muero de ganas por verla (aunque ya sabemos que los genes de su papi son mas fuertes, asi que mas o menos nos la imaginamos). Pronto podremos cantarle y darle una serenata...(e igual se alegra de que vivamos tan lejos).

Carmencita, we love you very much and can't wait to see you and your family!

Carmencita te queremos mucho y tenemos muchas ganas de verte a ti y a tu familia!

300

This is my post 300, which means that I post 100 times a year...almost 3 times a week! that sounds like a lot. Well this week I'm increasing the numbers because I got organized and got all my pictures together and all but this is not usually the case. Anyways, I found some links to the John Tracy Clinic that I liked. This is such a wonderful place that I don't get tired to let everyone know about it.

Este es mi post numero 300, lo que significa que escribo unas 100 veces al anho...casi 3 veces a la semana! eso parece mucho. Bueno esta semana estoy aumentando los numeros porque me organize y puse todas mis fotos juntas y todo pero eso no es lo tipico. Bueno, encontre unos enlaces a la clinica de John Tracy que me gustaron. Es un lugar tan increible que no me canso de hacerlo saber a todo el mundo.





And here anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new niece with no name so far! ahh! I can't wait to meet that little one. Soon.

Y aqui estoy esperando ansiosa la llegada de mi nueva sobrinita sin nombre aun! ahh! No me aguanto ya y tengo muchas ganas de conocerla. Pronto.

Crafts at school

I try to volunteer to Luca's school weekly. I think it is important for me to see what they are doing, while helping the teacher, and also for Luca to see me involved in his life at school. He will learn that I think that what he does there is important and that I want to know more about him and his little friends at school. This past week I went and was asked to make the bulletin board into a spring theme. I am not big on themes, but since this is what they do, and also it is a good oportunity for the kids to talk about something new, I went onboard with the task and make an explosion of "Spring" on the bulletin board. The teacher told me that the kids liked it, and that now they talk about butterflies, birds, flowers, etc., when they go by it. I am glad the do.

Intento hacer de voluntaria en el cole de Luca todas las semanas. Creo que es importante ver lo que estan haciendo, mientras ayudo a la profesora, y tambien para que Luca vea que estoy inolucrada en su vida en el cole. Se dara cuenta de que creo que lo que hace es importante y que quiero saber mas sobre el y sus amiguitos en el cole. Esta semana pasada me pidieron que hiciera el tablon de anuncios de la entrada ambientado en la primavera. A mi eso de los "temas" no me va mucho, pero como eso es lo que hacen alli, y creo que tambien es una buena oportunidad para que los ninhos hablen de algo nuevo, me meti en el proyecto e hice una explosion primaveral en el tablon. La profesora me dijo que a los ninhos les gusto, y que ahora hablan de las mariposas, los pajaros y las plantas, etc., cuando pasan por su lado. Estoy contenta de que sea asi.

Three years

I have been thinking for a while now that I have been in this world of the blogosphere for 3 years now. Time really goes by quickly, and it has been such an enriching experience for me. I have learned a lot, and I have challenged myself a lot too. I have met wonderful people and it has filled up a very special part of my life. I sometimes think about how my life would be without the internet, how different! How much our lives are influenced by it! In a positive and not so positive way. In general more positive than not. I have gained so much! And hope to continue at least for a while, I guess until one day I get tired or I feel is time to move on. But for now, I will be around. I still have much to share.
Thanks for reading, for leaving your comments and for teaching me so much! thank you, thank you, thank you!!!


He estado pensando un tiempo que he estado en este mundillo de la blogosfera durante 3 anhos ya. El tiempo vuela, y ha sido una experiencia muy enriquicedora. He aprendido mucho, y me he puesto desafios tambien. He conocido a gente maravillosa y ha llenaod un lugar muy especial de mi vida. A veces pienso como seria mi vida sin internet, que diferente! Que influenciadas estan nuestras vidas por el internet! De manera positiva y no tanto. En general creo que mas positiva que negativa. He aprendido tanto! Y espero continuar por lo menos un tiempo, creo que hasta que un dia me harte o piense que es hora de seguir en otra. Pero por ahora, estaremos por aqui. Tengo mucho que compartir.
Gracias por leer, por dejar comentarios y por ensenharme tanto! gracias, gracias, gracias!!!

Baking Sundays: apetizer today

Following this recipe by Kelli I baked a delicious tomato feta phyllo tart to share with my friends at Minerva's circle. I didn't bake any sweets this week since I knew there were 2 cakes coming mmmm.

Siguiendo esta receta de Kelli hornee una tartaleta deliciosa de tomate, queso feta y milhojas para compartir con mis amigas de Minerva's circle. No hice nada dulce pues sabia que esta semana iban a traer dos tartas mmmm.

Of course, seeing such cakes, I forgot to take a picture of this tart. It's better to show the strawberry shortcake and the black forest cake that my friends maade. Amazing, both.

Claro que, al ver tales tartas, se me olvido hacer foto a mi tartaleta. Mejor ensenhar el pastel de fresas y el de la selva negra que hicieron mis amigas. Increibles, los dos.

And here is the birthday girl with her new purse. She liked it :)

Y aqui esta la cumpleanhera con su nuevo bolso. Le gusto. :)

Red bag for a stylish woman

This is the project I was telling you about, my impossible project...well guess what! I finished it! I have to say I am very proud of myself because yesterday I just didn't know how to proceed. The problem was that the material is very thick and stiff and it's some kind of plastic that when you are sewing on the shiny side, it doesn't move much under the sewing machine foot and it is a nightmare, it bends and breaks the needles and also may hurt the machine. So I had to sew the handles by hand, which took me over one hour each and almost left my fingers on it. But to my surprise, all the finishing part was done on the reverse side, and on that side, the machine runs like a charm, so I got lucky, and making some adjustments to the original design, I ended up making my own unique bag. And this is it:

Este es el proyecto del que os hable, mi proyecto imposible...bueno pues a que no sabeis que! lo acabe! Tengo que admitir que me siento muy orgullosa de mi misma porque ayer no sabia como continuar. El problema era que el material es muy grueso y tieso y es un tipo de plastico que cuando coses por el lado brillante, no se mueve bajo el pie de la maquina y es una pesadilla, dobla lass agujas y las rompe y puede hacerle danho a la maquina. Asi que tuve que coserle las asas a mano, lo cual me llevo mas de una hora casa una y casi me deje los dedos en eso. Pero para mi sopresa, toda la parte del final se hacia por el reverso, y en ese lado, la maquina corre que da gusto, asi que tuve suerte, y tras hacer algunos ajustes al disenho original, acabe haciendo mi propia bolsa. Y aqui esta:

The lining was my own addition, I love this fabric, I think it looks great with the red part.

El forro de dentro es mi propia adicion, me encanta esta tela, creo que queda bien con la parte roja.

This is how it should have been, but I just couldn't sew on top of all those layers, so that's why I added that top rectangular part.

Asi es como deberia hacer sido, pero no podia coser por encima de todas esas capas, asi que por eso le anhadi la parte rectangular de arriba.

And now I hope that my friend how is having her birthday today, will enjoy it!

Y espero que mi amiga que cumple anhos hoy, la disfrute!

Friends

Hi again!
These days I have images of posts in my mind that never get to the computer. I have random thoughts and ideas to share with you all and for one reason or the other I am too tired or have no time to post them. Also, my computer is giving me some trouble, grrrrr, makes me mad since this has been the story since I bought it. I will have to have it fixed for the second time now. Hopefully I won't get more trouble after that. I'm getting tired of it. Other than that I love being able to sit anywhere in my home with my laptop on my lap and read and write and look at pictures or even movies at my own discretion. Why didn't I do this earlier???

Anyhow, I wanted to share about my trip to visit some friends a couple of weeks ago. They are those kinds of friends that you just never got to spend enough time with, but you feel that you have a connection with them. I guess it's about values and about how to live life. We might have many differences in our day to day life but the truth is that we do have many many similarities and it feels good to share time with people who get you. They also are parents of a wonderful little girl that is the same age as Luca so that makes it even more fun and our understanding of each other is even greater. It is wonderful to see how they get along so well, I think in part is because they have parents that raise them in similar ways. It is really refreshing and relaxing for me. I even got to go out while I was visiting! I don't usually go anywhere because I usually get invited to dinner with friends who have no children and of course who gather around the time Luca should be getting ready for bed. So I end up not going, I really feel bad to do that to Luca, he gets bored there and then gets his schedule all messed up, so I rather just stay home and get him into his normal routine.

Hola de nuevo,
Estos ultimos dias tengo imagenes de posts que quiero poner pero que nuncan llegan a mi ordenador. Tengo pensamientos variados e ideas uqe compartir con vosotros pero por una razon u otra estoy demasiado cansada o no tengo tiempo de ponerlos. Tambien, mi ordenador me esta dando problemas, grrrr, me pone negra porque estoy con la misma historia desde que la compre. Tendre que mandarla a arreglar por segunda vez ahora . Esperemos que pronto no tenga mass problemas. Me estoy cansando de esto. A parte de eso me encanta poder sentarme en cualquier lado en mi casa con mi ordenador sobre mis piernas a leer o a escribir o a ver fotos o peliculas como me de la gana. Porque no lo hice antes???
Bueno, queria compartir sobre nuestra excusion del otro dia a ver a unos amigos. Son ese tipo de amigos que nunca tienes suficiente tiempo de pasar con ellos, pero sientes que conectas con ellos. Creo que es por los valores que tenemos y como vivimos nuestras vidas. Puede que tengamos diferencias en como la vivimos pero la verdad es que tenemos muchas muchas cosas similares y da gusto compartir tiempo con la gente que te entiende. Tambien son padres de una ninhita maravillosa de la misma edad que Luca y eso lo hace aun mas divertido y nosh ace entendernos aun major. Es incredible ver como se llevan de bien, yo creo que es porque tienen padres que los estan criando de manera similar. Es muy tranquilizador y me da mucho gusto que sea asi. Incluos llegamos a salir por ahi durante nuestra visita! Normalmente no voy a ningun sitio porque suelo ser invitada a cenas con amigos que no tienen ninhos y que logicamente se juntan a la hora a la que Luca se deberia estar preparando para ir a dormer. Asi que acabo no yendo, no me gusta hacerle eso a Luca, se aburre con adultos solo y luego su horario se hace un lio, asi que prefiero quedarme en casa y que continue con su rutina.

Our conclusion about going out was, we are the only women who are not looking for a catch tonight and we are the only people who are dressed appropriately for the weather. It was so funny, it was rather chilly but these Floridians didn’t have a problem showing quite a bit of skin. Not us!

Nuestra conclusion de la salida fue, que eramos las unicas mujeres que no ibamos a pillar esa noche y eramos las unicas personas que ibamos vestidas de acuerdo con el clima. Era de risa, hacia frequito pero estos floridianos no tenian ningun problema en ensenhar bastante piel. Nosotras no!

Hoping for many more weekends like that one! Thanks friends!

Esperando tener mas fines de semana como ese. Gracias amigos!

Ah! And sewingwise, I almost broke my sewing machine, at least I only broke the needle, trying the impossible…now I am in the middle of the impossible and I am not sure how I’m going to finish it, if I do, I will surely post some pictures but really, I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I want an industrial sewing machine!!!

Ah! Y sobre la costura, casi me cargo la maquina de coser ayer, por lo menos solo rompi la aguja intentando lo imposible…ahora estoy en medio de lo imposible y no estoy segura de como lo voy a acabar, si lo hago, seguro que pondre footos pero la verdad, no se como lo voy a hacer. Quiero una maquina de coser industrial!!!

He's watching Luca

Remeber this picture I posted the other day?
Os acordais de esta foto que puse el otro dia?

Well, I just found this other one, it looks like the are looking at each other and each picture is taken from each others perspective, you see the plumeria plant with the large leaves? one of my husband's favorite in our garden, it's in both picutres. Nice uh?

Bueno, pues el otro dia me encontre con esta foto, parece que se estan mirando el uno al otro y cada foto esta tomada desde la perspectiva de ambos, veis la planta de plumeria con las hojas grandes? una de las favoritas de mi marido de nuestro jardin, en las dos fotos. Que guay no?

Anyhow...And there is this nursery rhyme about the monkeys jumping on the bed and one by one they fall off and bang their heads and the mama calls the doctor and he says no more jumping on the bed...this is a repetitive rhyme, it's funny and fun for little ones and it is great to teach them vocabulary. Luca loves it and so I made this glove taken from a cochlear implant company website with activities to share with our children that are learning to listen and to speak. I am taking some time every night to make these things with Luca, read, sing, play and it is making a difference. Even though some days I just can't tell his progress. Just like playing guitar for aa short time every day, in the long run it makes a difference.

En fin...Y hay una cancion de ninhos sobre unos monos que saltan en la cama y van cayendo de uno en uno y pegandose en la cabeza y la mama llama al doctor y les dice que no se puede saltar en la cama...es una cancion repetitiva, es divertida y les encanta a los ninhos chicos asi que esta muy bien para ensenharles vocabulario. A Luca le encanta y asi que le he hecho este guante que saque de una pagina de una companhia de implantes cocleares que tiene muchas actividades para compartir con nuestro ninhos que estan aprendiendo a escuchar y a hablar. Estoy dedicando un tiempo cada noche para hacer estas cosas con Luca, leer, cantar, jugar, y se nota la diferencia. Aunque algunos dias ni me doy cuenta de su progreso. Pero como tocar las guitarra un rato todos los dias, a la larga si que se nota la diferencia.

No baking today but...

Today I didn't get to bake for my group because I spent some sweet time with friends, but I did make a nice banana bread that always comes out delicious! and here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas (really ripe!)

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1 and 1/8 cups of all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup of butter or margarine

walnuts, as much as you like

I melt the margarine, then add the sugar. I mash the bananas and beat the eggs, add all the ingredients together except for the nuts. When is all well blended add the nuts. Bake in a previously greased pan at 350F for 45-60 min, depending on how you like it.

Enjoy!

Hoy no pude hornear nada para mis amigas del quilt porqeu me fui a pasar un tiempo muy bueno con mis amigos, pero si que hice un pan de platano que siempre sale delicioso! aqui va la receta!:

Ingredientes:

3 platanos o bananas muy maduros (mucho!)
2 huevos
1/2 taza de azucar

1 y 1/8 tazas de harina
1 cucharadita de bicarbonato

1/2 cucharadita de sal
1/2 taza de mantequilla o margarina

nueces, tantas como te gusten

Derrito la mantequilla, y le anhado el azucar. Aplasto los platanos y bato los huevos, anhado todos los ingredientes menos las nueces. Cuando esta todo bien mezclado anhado las nueces. Hornear a 180C durante 45-60 min, dependiendo de como te guste. A disfrutar!

Yellow is my color

Yes, yellow is my color, it always was, it makes me happy and so did these tulips when I saw them. Aren't they pretty in this light?

Si, el amarillo es mi color, siempre lo fue, me hace feliz y tambien lo hicieron estos tulipanes cuando los vi. A que son preciosos con esta luz?

And even though I said I was going to wait until my embroidery work was finish, who knows when that is going to happen, I better show what is already done. Enjoy!

Y aunque dije que iba a esperar hasta que estuviera acabado mi bordado, quien sabe cuando lo voy a poder acabar, mejor sera que ensenhe lo que ya esta hecho. Que lo disfruteis!

Sundays baking: chocolate mini cheesecakes

This Sunday I went a bit fancy. I remember a cheesecake recipe that a friend of mine from Japan made for me once and it was so delicious and so simple, but I never got to make it. I must have that recipe somewhere. But anyways, this other recipe seems very similar with the only difference that it also has chocolate. They came out good although I am not crazy about chocolate, so I think they would have been better just plain cheese. They were hard to remove from the muffin pan, but with lots of patience I did it. They are also cooked in a bath of water, and it is very tricky to get them in and out of the oven without getting them wet, to me impossible, but it didn't seem to affect them much. I made a lot of them and was able to give to some of my neighbours as a belated valentine gesture. I have great neighbours so am very grateful for that too.

Este domingo hice algo mas elaborado. Me acuerdo de una receta de pastel de queso que una amiga mia de Japon me hizo una vez y estaba buenisima y era muy sencilla, pero nunca la hice. Debo tener esa receta por algun lado. Pero bueno, la cosa es que esta otra receta parece similar con la una diferencia que tiene ademas chocolate. Estaban ricos aunque no me mata el chocolate, asi qeu creo que hubieron estado mejor de queso a secas. Era dificil desmoldarlos, pero con paciencia lo consegui. Tambien se cocinan al banho maria, y es muy complicado sacarlo y meterlos al horno sin que se mojen, para mi que es imposible, pero parece ser que no les afecto mucho. Hice muchos y pude darle algunos a mis vecinos como de regalo de san valentin retrasado. Tengo unos vecinos increibles asi que estoy muy agradecida por ello.

And this weekend, my sister in law came to see us. Luca had a great time with his aunt and I took a break from some of my duties and I even got to sew several times this weekend. My embroidery is going well...pictures when I finish..hopefully soon. We went to a trail where my husband used to ride his bicycle. It is a beautiful place and the weather was so nice that Luca rode his bike while we walked. This is how he did the end of the return trip, on top of his handle bard and us pushing. It is not a short ride so I am very proud of htis littel guy.

Y este fin de semana, mi cunhada vino a vernos. Luca se lo paso genial con su tia y yo descanse de algunas de mis obligaciones e incluso cosi en varias ocasiones este fin de semana. Mi bordado va viento en popa..las fotos cuando lo acabe..espero que pronto. Fuimos a un sendero donde mi marido solia ir en bici. Es muy bonito y el clima era perfecto asi que Luca fue en su bici y nosotras caminando. Asi es como hizo el final del recorrido, encima de su manillar y nosotras empujandole. No es un camino corto asi que estoy muy orgullosa de mi pequenhin.

I got spoiled!

Me mimaron!


I have to say that Valentine's day resulted sweeter than expected.
I got breakfast in bed...

He de admitir que el dia de San Valentin resulto mas dulce de lo esperado.
Me llevaron el desayuno a la cama...

And we had a wonderful dinner with good friends. I made a strawberry cake that came out pretty delicious. All pink, not my favorite color but it was Valentines theme, I guess.

Y tuvimos una cena increible con buenos amigos. Hice un pastel de fresas que salio bastante rico. Todo rosa, no es mi color favorito pero tenia el temita de San Valentin, supongo.

To my valentinas and valentinos

No, I couldn't care less about this holiday or whatever you want to call it. I really despite it and I just don't know what to do with it, it's hard to ignore when it is important for so many other people around me, specially for my little boy, who at school has been learning about hearts and lovely things like that all week. But I try to focus my energy in a good direction and try to see the good things of love and life and what surrounds us in this time of our lives. In conclusion I have to say that I have many valentines around shooting arrows towards Luca and I and I feel very happy for that. My family and my friends who make our lives so much better, make us go to bed with a happy face and wake up looking forward to a brand new day.

No, no me importa nada esta fiesta, o lo que se le quiera llamar. La verdad es que no me gusta y no se que hacer con ella, es dificil ignorarla cuando es importante para tantas personas a mi alrededor, sobretodo para mi pequenhin, quien esta aprendiendo en el colegio cosas como corazones y cosas amorosas de ese tipo toda la semana. Pero intento canalizar mi energia de manera positiva e intento ver las cosas buenas del amor y de la vida que nos rodean en este momento de nuestras vidas. Asi que concluyendo, tengo que admitir que tengo muchos valentines/valentinas alreadedor lanzando flechas a Luca y a mi y me siento muy feliz por ello. Mi familia y mis amigos que nos hacen la vida mucho mejor, nos hacen irnos a dormir con una sonrisa en los labios y despertarnos deseosos de empezar un nuevo dia.

But always without forgetting who made so much of this happiness possible. I will always be grateful.

Pero siempre sin olvidarme de quien hizo tanta de esta alegria posible. Siempre le estare agradecida.

Please watch for us (cyclists)

By Ben

Por Ben

Not Mrs. Sarkozy

And talking about challenges, this is my new one, big one for me, not having a clue about music or guitars I'm learning how to play the guitar...but at least I have a good ear and a lot of excitement about the subject. My teacher thinks I have some good future ahead of me. And don't worry, I am not leaving sewing behind, I am doing some embroidery and some other little things. Finishing them will also be a challenge, but I am being good finishing things lately.

Y hablando de desafios, este el es nuevo, uno bien grande para mi, no teniendo ni idea de musica o de guitarras estoy aprendiendo a tocar la guitarra...pero por lo menos tengo un buen oido y estoy muy emocionada con el tema. Mi profe piensa que tengo un buen futuro a la vista. Y nos os preocupeis, no me estoy dejando la costura de lado, estoy bordando y haciendo otras cositas. Acabarlas sera otro desafio, pero estoy siendo buena acabando cosas ultimamente.

And my little guy doesn't have his colors straight, so we are into BLUE week, all blue, up until his tongue! We are doing therapy every night and I believe like this his vocabulary will improve much quicker.

Y mi chiquitin no pilla los colores, asi que estamos en la semana del AZUL, todo de azul, hasta la lengua! Estamos haciendo terapia todas las noches y creo que asi su vocabulario mejorara mucho mas rapido.

Baking Sundays: all about muffins

My friend got really excited when she heard about my new thing about baking every Sunday. She is really good at making desserts and I just hope to get to be half as good as she is. She beat me in my challenge too, she borrowed my book and prepared some delicious lemon puppy seed muffins for our Chilean style afternoon tea at her home yesterday.

Mi amiga se emociono al oir mis intenciones de cocinar dulces todos los domingos. A ella se le da muy bien lo de hacer postres y yo solo espero ser la mitad de buena que ella. Se me adelanto en el desafio, me pidio el libro de recetas e hizo unas magdalenas de limon y semillas de amapola riquisimas para nuestra "oncecita" chilena que nos hicimos ayer por la tarde.

I also did my part. Today, for our meeting, I prepared my first recipe, also muffins but these had oats and strawberries. They were quite good because unlike most muffins in this country, these were not too sweet, but they had that tart flavor of the strawberries. I think they were a success and they also looked pretty.

Yo tambien hice mi parte. Hoy, para nuestra reunion, prepare mi primera receta, tambien magdalenas pero estas con avena y fresas. Estaban ricas porque al contrario que muchas magdalenas de este pais, no eran demasiado dulces, pero tenian ese sabor acido de las fresas. Creo que fueron un exito y tambien salieron bonitas.

And my most important craft of the day, Luca's hair cut. He sat still for me and he looks really handsome now! He smiled at himself in the mirror. I also started a new embroidery project, pictures, when I master it! So be patient!

Y mi manualidad mas importante del dia, el corte de pelo de Luca. Se sento quietecito y esta muy guapo ahora! Sonreia al mirarse al espejo. Tambien empece un nuevo proyecto de un bordado, las fotos, cuando sea una experta! Asi que ser pacientes!

Baking Sundays?

This week has been a busy one for me. In fact I can't remember when it started and now it's Friday again! I guess that's a good sign! It is a good feeling when new things invade your life and you adapt to them and live the challenge of what's not your everyday routine. I have decided that in order to grow, I need challenges. If everything is just the same as usual, or you just try to get through the day so that you can start a new one, then you are missing important things in life. So I am all about challenges lately and I just thought up a new one. I have decided that every Sunday before our quilting meeting I will bake something sweet from this book that I bought the other day on sale. That way, I will share something hopefully nice with my friends while trying a new recipe. Last year I bought a hand mixer and I have barely used it, so I need to have some motivation to create yummy deserts. The difficult part will be deciding what to make, then it should be piece of cake :) Maybe I can add that special weekly section to my blog too! That should be fun, but we will see, because at the end of the day, Luca rules my life.

Esta semana has sido bastante liada para mi. De hecho no me acuerdo ni de cuando empezo y ya estamos a viernes otra vez! creo que es una buena senhal! Da gusto cuando cosas nuevas invaden tu vida y te adaptas a ellas y vives los desafios de lo que no son las rutinas diarias. He decidido que para poder crecer, necesito desafios. Si todo es lo mismo de siempre, o simplemente intento pasar el dia para que empiece uno nuevo, entonces te estas perdiendo cosas importantes de la vida. Asi que ahora que estoy con lo de los desafios se me acaba de ocurrir uno nuevo. He decidido que cada domingo antes de nuestra reunion de costura voy a hacer algo dulce de este libro que compre el otro dia de oferta. Asi, compartire algo, esperemos que agradable, con mis amigas a la vez que practico una receta nueva. El anho pasado me compre la batidora de barillas y a penas la he usado, asiq ue tengo que tener algo que me motive para hacer postres ricos. Lo dificil sera decidir que hacer, luego estara chupado :) Quizas tambien pueda anhadir una seccion especial semanal a mi blog! Estaria bien, pero ya veremos, al fin de cuentas Luca es el que lidera mi vida.

Still here

I seem to have little time for the blog lately. I am creating things, in fact I have some nice things to show, but I don't have the pictures up yet. Overall, we are into bigger and exciting things over here...

Parce que no tengo mucho tiempo para el blog ultimamente. Estoy creando cositas, de hecho tengo algunas cosas chulas que ensenhar pero no he subido las fotos aun. En general, estamos en otras cosas mas grandes y emocionantes...

Fun with grandparents

A nice weekend with the grandparents has gone by quickly. Luca enjoys having visitors, specially if they are so close to him. He has always someone to feed him, to play with him to read to him, to take him out for a walk or a bike ride, it is just too much fun for him. I cannot give him all that attention in a regular day, so that makes it really special. He is the king!

Un fin de semana agradable con los abuelos ha pasado rapidamente. A Luca le encantan los visitantes, sobretodo si son cercanos a el. Siempre tiene a alguien que le de de comer, que juegue con el, que le lea, que le lleven de paseo o en bici, es muy divertido para el. No le puedo prestar tanta atencion en un dia normal, asi que es algo muy especial para el. Es el rey!

And now that I finally made some space for my new laptop and that things are bit more the way I want them to be, I feel more comfortable to do more crafts and things that mean something to me. For now, cleaning up my mess here I found this thing I bought in a thrift store. I don't like the colors, although it's very traditional American, but I do like the little print.

Y ahora que por fin he creado algo mas de espacio para mi computadora y que las cosas estan mas como a mi me gustarian, me siento mas comoda como para hacer mas amnualidades y cosas que me importan. Por ahora, limpiar mi desorden por aqui encontre esto que compre en una tienda de segunda mano. No me gustan los colores, aunque es muy tradicional americano, pero me gusta la imagen impresa.

Pop it up!

I found a website where they show how to make pop up books. I love it! I always wanted to learn how to make them, maybe I will make some for Luca. I thought it was funny that they featured Obama's inauguration. And now I just found out that it will came out in the Washington Post, that's so much fun!

Encontre una pagina web donde ensenhan como hacer libros en tres dimensiones. Me encantan! Siempre he querido aprender a hacerlos, quizas haga alguno para Luca. Lo que me hizo gracia fue que hicieran uno de la Inaguracion de Obama. Y ahora acabo de descubrir que ha salido en el Washington Post, que divertido!

My news around here are that I got myself a new computer, reason why my spelling can be crazy at times until I get used to this keyboard! and with it I got some nice speakers and I am enjoying now some time with my new fast computer and nice music from the internet radio...nice! Little things like this, make all the difference.

Mis novedades por aqui son que me compre un ordenador portatil, la razon por la que de vez en cuando se me cruzan las letras hasta que me acostumbre a este teclado! y con el me compre unos altavoces muy chulos que estoy disfrutando ahora mismo pasando un rato con mi ordenador rapidisimo y musica muy buena de la radio de internet..que bien! Cosas pequenhas como estas, hacen las cosas mucho mejores.

And of course also moments of sharing, friendship and love like we had last Sunday.

Y por supuesto momentos de compartir, de amistad y de amor como los que pasamos el domingo.

here and not really

I want to come here more often, but for now, I will just write quick updates on our lives. I need to organize my life a bit more, which is what I've been doing lately and when I feel I have some control of it, then I will maybe have more time to post. For now, I will just share the pictures of all the handmade gifts that me and my friends from my quilting/sewing group have exchanged today. It was so much fun and we were so many that share this special interest of making things by hand that it was a privilege being there. We just missed three of our friends who from far away also participated.

Quier venit aqui ma a menudo, pero por ahora, solo escribire pequenhos resumenes de nuestras vidas. Necesito organizar mi vida un poco mas, que es lo que he estado haciendo ultimamente y que me haga sentir que tengo control sobre ella, entonces podre quizas tener mas tiempo para escribir. Por ahora, os ensenho unas fotos de los regalos hechos a manos que nos hemos intercambiado hoy en nuestro grupo de amigas de quilting/costura. Fue muy divertido y eramos tantas que comratimos es mismo interes de hacer cosas a mano que ha sido un privilegio estar ahi. Solo hemos echado de menos a tres pocas amigas que desde lejos tambien han participado.

I received a wonderful apron that soon will be put to good use and also very beautiful fabrics and ribbons that make me so happy just to look at them. Thank you so much my Secret Santa!!

Recibi un delantar precioso que pronto lo usare y tambien unas telas y lazos preciosos que solo mirarlos me da alegria. Muchas gracias amiga invisible!

And my son looks like a boy that lives in the streets, really cute one of course :) He comes out of these meetings with his hands all black, he is really integrated, he is one more in our group.

Y mi hijo parece un ninho de la calle, muy guapo claro :) Sale de las reuniones con las manos negras, esta muy integrado, es uno mas del grupo.

Shirt quilt

My friend came to our quilting group the other day with a nice surprise. Someone she knew had given her pieces of a very very old unfinished quilt made of clothes for her to finish it! It was the great grandmother of her friend who inherited those pieces, so basically meaning that it could have easily been made in the late 1800's. Amazing right? It was a lot of fun helping organize the pieces so that the quilt had some balance and harmony.

Mi amiga vino a nuestro grupo de quilting con una sorpresa muy agradable. Alguien que ella conocia le habia dado unas piezas de una colcha sin acabar hecha de piezas de ropa para que ella la acabase! Era su bisabuela la que heredo esas piezas, osea que podria haber sido una senhora de finales de los 1800s la que la hizo. Increible no? Lo pasamos bien ayudandole a organizar las piezas para que la quilt tuviera equilibrio y harmonia.

Maybe one day I will do the same with my husband's shirts. He had so many and usually in 4 different colors so I have a nice palette to work with.

Quizas algun dia haga lo mismo con las camisas de mi marido. Tenia tantas y generalmente de 4 colores distintos asi que tengo una paleta de color muy buena con la que trabajar.

Getting back to the routine is hard, specially when kids have 2 days off school! I want to make so many things but so far, I haven't found the energy. Hopefully soon.

Volver a la rutina es duro, sobretodo cuando los ninhos tienen dos dias sin cole! Quiero hacer tantas cosas pero por ahora, no tengo energias. Espero que pronto.

Finally done!

Since I started this quilt for my mom so much has happened in my life. I could write a novel about it and it would really sound like fiction. But it's not, it's my life and with this quilt all these memories of those wonderful and terrible moments that went by while making it will always be remembered.
I am happy that I finally got to finish it, all by hand, from the beginning, the patchwork, until the end, all the quilting and finishing it up. There is something special about making quilts by hand. Many people can't understand it, but you really need to like it and feel it to make it by hand. It's not for everyone. It teaches you patience and perseverance, and it gives you a great deal of satisfaction. I will now work on some cushions to go with it. Now it decorates my parents bed and it brightens their bedroom. I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.
I will post some better pictures in the future, for now, this is all I could get.

Desde que empece esta colcha para mi madre ha pasado tanto en mi vida. Podria escribir un libro sobre ella y pareceria de ficcion. Pero no lo es, es mi vida y con esta colcha todos estos recuerdos de esos momentos maravillosos y terribles que pasaron mientras la hacia siempre estaran en mi memoria.
Estoy contenta de que por fin la acabase, toda a mano, de principio a fin, el patchwork, hasta el final, todos los pespuntes y los toques finales. Hay algo especial sobre hacer colchas a mano. Muchas personas no lo entienden, pero necesitas que te guste y saber sentirlo para poder hacerlo a mano. No es para cualquiera. Te ensenha paciencia y perseverancia, y te da un monton de satisfaccion. Ahora hare unos almohadones que sean iguales. Ahora decora la cama de mis padres y les da luz al dormitorio. Espero que la disfruten tanto como yo disfrute haciendola. Pondre algunas fotos mejores en un futuro, por ahora, esto es todo lo que pude sacar.

And yes! We are home safe and sound, getting used to the new time and schedule!

Y si! Ya estamos en casa sanos y salvos, acostumbrandonos a la nueva hora y al nuevo horario!

Happy New Year!

Wishing eveyone a happy New Year 2009 and many days of joy to remember.

Os deseo un feliz Año Nuevo 2009 y muchos días de alegría para recordar.

And here are some more of my hand made gifts...
Y aqui van algunos de mis regalos hechos a mano.