Saturday, September 11, 2010

Dressing up

I enjoy being at home with Luca. I haven't let him watch much tv lately and I think he is getting used to play by himself and entertain himself more often. Today, he took over one of his favorite corners of the house, the basket full of costumes. He loves dressing up like a super hero but he is up to whatever new he sees or he is introduced to. He has been learning about Samurais lately, he has also been learning about indians as he received his dad's indian's costume. He looks as good on it as his daddy did when he was a little guy. Today, we played knights and pirates. It looks like we are getting ready for Halloween.

Disfruto quedandome en casa con Luca. No le dejo ver casi la tele ultimamente y creo que se esta acostumbrando a jugar mas solito y a entretenerse mas a menudo. Hoy, se lanzo a uno de sus rincones favoritos de la casa, la cesta llena de disfraces. Le encanta disfrazarse como un super heroe pero se apunta a lo que vea o lo que se le ensenhe. Ha estado aprendiendo sobre los Samurais ultimamente, tambien sobre los indios ya que recibio el disfraz de indio que pertenecio a su papa. Esta tan guapo con el como lo estaba su papa de pequenho. Hoy, jugamos a caballeros y a piratas. Parece que nos estamos preparando para Halloween.

Japanese
My little Japanese
My pequenho japonesito

indian
Good looking blonde Indian
Indio guapo y rubio

clark kent
Clark Kent before he becomes...
Clark Kent antes de convertirse en...

now superman
Flying superman!
Superman volador!

DSCN6961
The kringt
El caballero

pirate
The pirate with his treasure chest just found!
El pirata con su cofre del tesoro recien encontrado!




Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Japanese Festival

These past weekend we had our family visiting. Luca was sooo excited to see them that he started laughing and ended up on the floor of the school when he saw his grandparents. It was really funny. We had a great time together and the weather was great too. We were lucky that there are a HUGE Japanese festival in town, at the botanical gardens while we were all together. We have all but Luca been to Japan and we have a special appreciation of this country and its culture. We really enjoyed our visit and so did Luca.

Este fin de semana pasado tuvimos a nuestra familia de visita. Luca estaba tan emocionado de verlos que empezo a reirse y acabo en el suelo de la risa en el cole cuando vio a sus abuelos. Fue muy divertido. Nos lo pasamos super juntos y el tiempo nos acompanho. Tuvimos suerte de que justo habia un festival ENORME Japones en la ciudad, en el jardin botanico mientras estabamos todos juntos. Todos excepto Luca hemos estado en Japon y tenemos un aprecio especial de ese pais y de su cultura. Disfrutamos mucho de nuestra visita y Luca tambien.

DSCN6829

DSCN6828

DSCN6826

DSCN6808

DSCN6802

DSCN6789

DSCN6786

DSCN6781

DSCN6774

DSCN6777


Saturday, August 28, 2010

28

Yes, today again, is 28. I have to say 27 was worse, but still 28 is the one we all remember. Four years ago life as we all knew it, stop being. When we thought we had it all under control, when we could see our lives till the very end, we realize, that is not how it works. Life comes and goes, someone willingly or unwillingly can steal it from you, and from those who loved you. And still, our brain has trouble understanding it. Or maybe it's our heart, it has trouble letting go. When my love had to go I felt like someone had come with a punching hole machine and got a chunk off my chest, and I still have it, and will always have it, the hole. In days like this, the air flows through reminding me of that emptiness and all the nervous system that surrounds the hole feels more sensitive, more in pain more alive and more dead. I have another hole, for my little boy, so that he doesn't have to have it, and who cannot quite understand yet what it means far far far away. In days like today it is good to feel my dear ones, my family, my dear friends, from all continents on Earth. We all have our holes and we share the same pain.

Sí, hoy de nuevo, es el 28. Tengo que decir que 27 fue peor, pero aún así 28 es la que todos recordamos. Hace cuatro años, la vida como todos la conocíamos, dejo de serlo. Cuando creíamos que lo teníamos todo bajo control, cuando podíamos ver nuestras vidas hasta el final, nos damos cuenta, que no es así como funciona. La vida viene y va, alguien queriendo o sin querer te la puede robar, y a aquellos que te querían. Y, aun así, nuestro cerebro tiene problemas para aceptarlo. O quizá sea nuestro corazón, que no puede dejarlo ir. Cuando mi amor se tuvo que ir, sentí como si alguien hubiera venido con una máquina perforadora y me hubiera sacado un pedazo de mis entrañas, y todavía sigue así, y siempre lo seguirá, el agujero. En días como este, el aire fluye a través de el para recordarme ese vacío, y todo el sistema nervioso que rodea el agujero se siente más sensible, siente más el dolor, está más vivo y más muerto. Tengo otro agujero, por mi hijo, para que el no lo tenga, y porque no puede entender todavía lo que significa muy muy lejos. En días como hoy es bueno sentir cerca a mis seres queridos, mi familia, mis queridos amigos, de todos los continentes en la Tierra. Todos tenemos nuestros agujeros y compartimos el mismo dolor.

eating squid IKA

MAKUNEAWITHSWEETPOTATO

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Fall is almost here

leaves and sky

The weather is getting so much nicer now. I have to say that I missed all the horrible days of heat, but now that the sun is lower and the temperatures are not too high and not too low is a good time to go out for a walk in the afternoons. Luca told me yesterday that he really liked those leaves, I thought it was pretty nice that he pointed it out, they did have a nice shape and looked so pretty against the sky.

El tiempo esta mejorando mucho ahora. Admito que me perdi los dias terribles de calor, pero ahora que el sol esta mas bajito y la temperatura no es tan alta ni tan baja es un buen momento para salir a pasear por las tardes. Ayer Luca me dijo que le gustaban estas hojas, pense que era curioso que me las ensenho, la verdad es que tenian una forma muy bonita y se veian preciosas contra el cielo.

superman and batman

I guess it's because he has been resting really well with his new Ikea curtains that I got him that darken the room really well, because for the past 3 days, he has been the ideal child. He has been playing so well, talking so nice, being so sweet all the time...it is so enjoyable when he is like this. He has been enjoying dressing up with his many superhero outfits. This time his was fighting with batman, although he is smiling for the picture.

Supongo que sera porque ha esta doscansando mucho y muy bien porque las nuevas cortinas que le compre en Ikea oscurecen mucho la habitacion, porque durante los 3 ultimos dias, se ha portado como el ninhi ideal. Ha estado jugando tan bien, hablando tan bien, siendo tan mono todo el rato..es un gustazo cuando esta asi. Se ha divertido mucho disfrazandose con sus trajes de superheroe. Esta vez estaba luchando con batman, aunque para la foto sonrio.

And since I have recharged my batteries with new positive energy, I have been doing handy work around my home, and some sewing including a new cushion for Luca's chair, so that he can actually reach to his plate more comfortably. It is actually a cover for two cushions that I had around the house. I loved using this fabric that I got once in Tennessee.

Y como me he recargado las pilas con energia positiva, he estado haciendo bricolage por mi casa, y manualidades, incluyendo un almohadon para la silla de Luca, para que alcance a su plato mas comodamente. La verdad es que es la funda de dos almohadones que habia por mi casa. Me encanto usar esta tela que una vez compre en Tennessee.

new cushion for Luca

Thursday, August 19, 2010

New shirt

I have been quite absent this past month. It was a break I needed while enjoying being with family, friends, and enjoying things in a slow pace. As I mentioned earlier, I did get to some crafts and even cook, and following an idea I saw over the internet, I decided to decorate a top with stripes I cut off another top...here is the result, I think I may try some other similar combinations...we will see...

He estado bastante ausente durante este ultimo mes. Me tome un respiro para disfrutar de mi familia, amigos, y para disfrutar de las cosas de una modo mas relajado. Como dije antes, hice algunas manualidades e incluso cocine, y siguiendo una idea que vi por internet, decidi decorar una camiseta con las tiras que corte de otra...asi salio, creo que voy a intentar otras combinaciones similares...ya veremos...

tshirt

Monday, August 09, 2010

New cakes

I have been too busy to post anything lately, but I have been busy with family and friends and at the same time I did have the oportunity to make a few things. I had promised to make a fondant cake so that my family could see what it looked like. It was not easy and was not perfect but everyone enjoyed them, especially he kids. Take a look,

He estado muy ocupada como para poner nada, pero he estado con familiares y amigos y a la vez me ha dado tiempo a hacer algunas cosillas. Habia prometido hacer una tarta de fondant para que mi familia vea que aspecto tiene. No fue facil hacer el fondant ni salio perfecto pero todos lo disfrutaron, sobretodo los niños. Mirad que aspecto,

superman cake

ladybug

Friday, July 16, 2010

Lightning cake recipe

Since there are several people interested in the lemon lightning cake that I made the other day I decided to post recipe obtained from the Joy of cooking cookbook. I love this book, it was my husbands and leaned to make many things from it. I hope to keep on finding new recipes in the long future...

Ya que hay varias personas que me han preguntado por el bizcocho de limon "rayo" que prepare el otro dia, queria anhadir la receta sacada del libro de cocina "the Joy of cooking". Me encanta este libro, era de mi marido y he aprendido a hacer muchas cosas a partir de el. Espero poder seguir encontrando recetas en el futuro...

Here it goes: Lightning cake
Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 heaping spoon of sugar

Aqui va: El bizcocho rayo
Ingredientes:
1 taza de harina
1 cucharadita de levadura royal
1 pizca de sal
125 g matequilla
1 taza de azucar
3 huevos grandes
rayadura de un limon
jugo de un limon
nueces para decorar la parte de arriba
una cucharada de azucar


Mix flour baking powder and salt.
In another bowl mix butter with 1 cup of sugar then beat in one at a time the 3 eggs.
Beat in the lemon zest and juice. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth. Spread evenly in a pan and add the walnuts mixed with the spoon of sugar on top.
Bake at 350F for 30-35 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in rack and Enjoy!!!

Mezcla la harina con la levadura y la sal.
en otro recipiente mezcla la mantequilla con la taza de azucar y luego mete uno a uno los 3 huevos. Anhade la rayadura de limon y el jugo de limon. A todo ese anhadele la mezcla de harina hasta uqe quede suave. Ponlo en un molde para hornear y hornea a 180C durante 30-35 min o hasta que al meter un palillo salga limpio. Dejar enfriar y a disfrutar!!!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Sign, talk, Spanish, English...

Today I went to have lunch with some friends. One of them has a relative who is a teenager who is deafblind. It is so frustrating to try to seek help for him and not really know where to look. I realize how lucky we are, how easy we have it considering that Luca doesn't have anything but a hearing loss. On the other hand, there was a woman at the restaurant with a hearing aid. She could speak although it was hard to understand her. She was glad to see Luca and Luca was glad to see someone with an implant like him (he thinks everything is an implant). She came to me and asked me if it was OK to give me a suggestion about his education. She first asked me if he knew sign, I told her he knew a little. Baby signs anyways. She asked me if I though he was going to want to learn sign. I said why not, I hope so. As much as I would like for him to learn Spanish anyways. She said, it is so much easier to learn sign along with speech at once, much easier than by themselves. She said, from personal experience, although she also said her parents were deaf. She said that if he doesn't learn sign, as an adult he will grow apart from his parents.
I think that each person has such a particular situation and story that you just can't generalize. I think that might be true, if you are not a very successful oral speaker, but I am hoping that he will be a very good one. I hope we both can learn to sign so he can be closer to the world of the Deaf, and of course me too, but my priority now is English, and some Spanish.

Hoy fui a comer con unas amigas. Una de ellas tiene un familiar que es un adolescente que es sordociego. Es tan frustrante tratar de buscar ayuda para él y en realidad no sabe dónde buscar. Me doy cuenta de lo afortunados que somos, lo fácil lo tenemos ya que Luca no tiene otra cosa mas que una pérdida de audición. Por otro lado, había una mujer en el restaurante con un audífono. Podía hablar aunque era difícil entenderla. Se alegró de ver a Luca y el se alegró de ver a alguien con un implante como él (él piensa que todo es un implante). Ella se acercó y me preguntó si estaba bien que me diera una sugerencia acerca de su educación. Primero me preguntó si sabía hablar con señas, le dije que conocía un poco. Señas para bebés solo. Ella me preguntó si pensaba que el iba a querer aprender señas. Le dije por qué no, eso espero. Tanto como me que me gustaría que él aprendiera español. Ella dijo, es mucho más fácil aprender a hablar a la vez que hacer señas, mucho más fácil que solo hablar. Dijo que lo decia por experiencia personal, aunque también dijo que sus padres eran sordos. Me dijo que si él no aprende señas, cuando se convierta en adulto se va a alejar de sus padres.
Creo que cada persona tiene una situación particular y una historia que simplemente no se puede generalizar. Creo que podría ser cierto, si un niño acaba no siendo muy bueno en la comunicacion oral, pero yo espero que el sea una muy bueno. Espero que pueda aprender a hablar con señas para que pueda estar más cerca del mundo de los sordos, y por supuesto yo también, pero mi prioridad ahora es el inglés, y algo de español.


The thing, is that just like this young woman today, I have meet young adults who are good CI users and good oral communicators and that they are extremely happy with their oral choice and their parent's choices. It just makes more sense for me and my family, but I would love to learn to sign, as I love to learn other languages and to communicate with different people.

La cosa es que justo como esta chica, he conocido a otros adultos que son buenos usuarios de implantes cochleares y que son buenos comunicadores orales y estan felices por sus decisiones y las de sus padres. Para mi tiene sentido y para mi familia, pero me encantaria aprender a hablar con señas, tanto como me encanta aprender otras lenguas y comunicarme con diferentes personas.

feria

Saturday, July 10, 2010

birthday party

Luca had a birthday party today of a friend from school. I offered her mom to make a cake but she had already decided to choose one from the store. Anyways, since I had offered, I decided to go ahead and make it anyways because otherwise I never get to make cakes and I need to make more if I want to get any better at this. I made a madeira sponge cake with a bit of chocolate flavor and covered with chocolate ganache. I think it was to hard, dry, maybe it didn't raise as much as it should have? It was ok, good for fondant, but I wish it had been a bit softer...the decoration was complicated. I started with the idea of making a castle, but for a girl, it needs to be girly, pink? I hate pink, I think it destroys everything but still I went with it, mixed with other colors, taking into consideration that this was the girl's favorite color. After many hours of hard work, at least 6 or 7, this is what I came up with. I did learn a few things that could be done differently, and learned about painting over fondant and making figurines. It is always a good experience although I always end up pretty tired. The birthday girl loved it and so did her family and the other guests. They all want me to start a business making birthday cakes, I think it is too much work. And needless to say, I had a hard time driving around town with this castle without smashing it!


Luca tuvo una fiesta de cumpleanhos de una amiguita del cole. Le ofreci a su madre hacerle la tarta de cumpleanhos pero habia decidido comprar uno de la tienda. Pero como ya le habia ofrecido, decidi hacerselo porque sino nunca practico y necesito hacer mas si quiero que me salgan mejor. Le hice un bizcocho de madeira con un poco de chocolate y cubierto de ganache de chocolate. Creo que el bizcocho estaba un poco duro, seco, quizas no subio lo que debia? Estaba bien, bien para el pastillaje (fondant), pero me hubiese gustado que estuviera un poco mas suave...la decoracion no fue facil. Empece con la idea de hacer un castillo, pero para una ninha, necesita ser mas femenino, rosa? odio el color rosa, creo que destroza todo pero aun asi lo hice, junto con otros colores teniendo en cuenta que es el color favorito de la cumpleanhera. Despues de muchas horas de trabajo duro, por lo menos 6 o 7, esto es lo que me salio. Aprendi unas cuantas cosas que podian haberse hecho de otro modo, y aprendi a pintar sobre fondant y a hacer munhequitos. Siembre esta bien como experiencia aunque siempre acabo agotada. La cumpleanera quedo encantada y tambien su familia y el resto de invitados. Quieren que abra un negocio de hacer tartas de cumpleanhos, creo que es demasiado trabajo. Y ni falta decirlo, conducir con la tarta sin que se estrellase ha sido toda una hazanha!

castle cake 2

castle cake

princess Jia

And this is how luca helped:

Y asi es como Luca me ayudo:

helper...

And this is the present for the birthday girl:

y este es el regalo para la cumpleanhera:

girl bag

Monday, July 05, 2010

Happy Independence day!

I hope you (americans or living here) had a good 4th of July celebration. We went to see the fireworks at the park, and other than when we went to see the fireworks competitions from the beach of my town in Spain, I had never been so close to them. It was great, I am glad Luca gets to experience these kinds of things. And he also had a parade at school with his friends, here it is:

Espero que hayais pasado (los americanos o aquellos viviendo por aqui) un buen dia del 4 de Julio. Nosotros fuimos a ver fuegos artificiales al parque y, a parte de cuando soliamos ir a ver los concursos de fuegos artificiales a la playa en mi tierra, nunca habia estado tan cerca dellos. Fue muy chulo, me encanta que Luca pueda tener este tipo de experiencia. Y tambien tuvo un desfile en el cole, aqui esta:

Thursday, July 01, 2010

pan de queijo

Yesterday I decided to bake some little cheese breads. They are so delicious and so far I hadn't been very lucky making them. I tried a new recipe, that I changed a bit according to my own measuring cups and ingredients. They came out soooo good! mmmm I love them!! too bad Luca doesn't eat them and I have to eat all of them!

Ayer decidi hacer unos panecillos de queso. Estan tan ricos y hasta ahora no me habian salido de lo mejor. Decidi probar una receta nueva, y la cambie un poco para acomodar mis tazas de medir y mis ingredientes. Salieron taaaan ricos! mmmm me encantaron!! que mal que a Luca no le gusten porque me toca comermelos todos!

pan de queico

pan de queso

Here is my recipe:

Mix:
3 eggs
pinch of salt
2 cups of cassava starch
1/2 cup of milk
1/3 cup of oil

When everything is well mixed add:
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 & 1/2 cups of Parmesan cheese (I also added some grated manchego cheese that had dried out and has strong flavor)

Put in greased muffin cups (12) and bake at 425F for 20 or until brown.
Enjoy!

Aqui va mi receta:

Mezclar:
3 huevos
una pizca de sal
2 tazas de almidon de tapioca (o 250 g)
media taza de leche (o 125 ml)
1/3 taza de aceite ( o 100 ml)

Cuando todo este bien mezclado anhadir:
1 cucharada sopera de levadura royal
1 taza y media (o 200 g) de queso rayado (Parmesano y yo tambien le anhadi un pedazo de manchego que se me habia secado y le da muy buen sabor)

Poner la masa en un molde de magdalenas (12) y cocer a fuego alto durante 2o min o hasta que se doren.

A disfrutar!

Monday, June 28, 2010

431

That number is how many posts I have written so far...time flies doesn't it??
Today I just wanted to share about some of the books I got from the library today. I love libraries here, it is amazing how many of there you can find and also how many books, movies, and audio books or music cds you can find!!!! I have been watching interesting movies that I didn't know about and that I randomly pick when I visit the library (several times a week). I also got some books about painting and quilting, a combination of arts to try to inspire me to do something, not sure if a painting or a quilt, I think I will start with the painting and maybe later a wall hanging that might go with the painting, that would be interesting...

Ese es el numero de veces que he escrito en este blog...el tiempo vuela no??
Hoy queria compratir sobre algunos libros que saque hoy de la biblioteca. Me encantan las bibliotecas aqui, son increibles con la cantidad de cosas que se pueden encontrar y scar, como libros, peliculas, libros en cd y musica!!! He estado viendo pelis interesantes que he ido escogiendo al azar cuando voy a la biblio (varias veces a la semana). Tambien saque algunos libros sobre pintura y acolchado, una combinacion de artes que quiero que me sirvan de inspiracion para hacer algo, no se si un cuadro o una colcha, creo que empezare con el cuadro y luego quizas un tapiz que lo acompanhe, estaria bien...

DSCN0150

So I got three books, one about appliqué, trying to get out of the point where I got stuck in the rose quilt...the other is a pictorial quilt book, I love this because I like to so realistic things like that, but especially because they also have human figures, and the last book, is about skateboarding art...with some really inspiring and cool portraits that I want to use as inspiration for my new projects...what do you think?

Asi que saque 3 libros, uno de aplique, a ver si me ayuda a salir del punto donde me que quedado parada con la quilt de la rosa...el otro es uno de quilts de dibujos, me encanta porque me gustan las cosas relaistas asi de ese tipo, y el ultimo, es sobre art de monopatines...con unas imagenes de retratos que me gustan mucho y que espero que me sirvan de inspiracion para mis proximos proyectos...que opinais?

DSCN0092

And this photo might be an inspiration too.

Y esta foto puede que tambien me sirva de inspiracion.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Lightning cake

I made one of my favorite cakes, the lightning cake. I like it because it is so fast to make, and it is sooo good! not too sweet but light and with a lemony flavor mmmm, it was about time to use my kitchenaid, I has been just decorating my kitchen lately...

He hecho uno de mis bizcochos favoritos, el bizcocho rayo. Me gusta porque se hace tan rapido, y esta tan rico! no demasiado dulce pero ligero y con sabor a limon mmmm, hacia tiempo que no usaba mi kitchenaid, estaba de decoracion de mi cocina...

lemon cake

I also wanted to show the appliqué that I was working on that will eventually go on top of a quilt that I sew some time ago...I still can't quite figure out what to make to it so it looks the way I want...I have been dealing with this question for months now...oh well one day I will get inspired about it...

Tambien queria ensenharos el aplique en el que estuve trabajando y que algun dia ira encima de la colcha que hice hace un tiempo...aun no me decido como hacer uqe quede como me gusta...llevo pensando en ello desde hace meses....bueno, algun dia me entrara la inspiracion...


rose applique

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Coasters

I got invited to friends' birthday party so I decided to make something, something I can whip in one afternoon but that at least is cute. I wish I would spend more time sewing...but at least I have started, and I have also continued with a quilt I started last year. I will post a photo of the appliqué soon.

Me invitaron a una fiesta de cumpleanhos de unos amigos y edcidi haer algo, algo que pudiera acabar rapidito en una tarde pero que estuviera mono. Me gustaria pasar mas tiempo cosiendo...pero por lo menos he empezado, y estoy continuando con una colcah queempece el anho pasado. Pondre una foto del aplique pronto.

DSCN0110

DSCN0111


And this one is not superman, is clark kent! do you see his jacket and pants?? he will open them and take off...or so he says...

Y este no es superman, es Clark Kent! veis la chaqueta y los pantalones?? se los abrira y saldra volando...o eso dice el...

superman


Friday, June 18, 2010

Indulgence

For my birthday...or maybe mother's day I received a gift certificate from my sister in law from one of the most inspirational shops around, Anthropologie. I love going there just to get ideas, to get inspiration and to have a good time. I never buy anything because it's way too expensive and nothing in that store is really necessary. So, I indulge my eyes every time I go because they also have everything amazingly displayed. But this time, I had a gift certificate, and I just didn't know where to start. And after observing every single object of the store, or at least those within my price range, I ended up buying this that I really don't need, that I already have at home, but not nearly as pretty as these...and that is what presents should be right? Thanks Juju :)

Para mi cumpleaños ... o tal vez para el dia de la madre, recibí una tarjeta de regalo de mi cuñada de una de las tiendas que más me inspiran de alrededor, Anthropologie. Me encanta ir allí sólo para sacar ideas, para inspirarme y pasar un buen rato. Nunca compro nada porque es demasiado caro y no hay nada en esa tienda que sea realmente necesario. Por lo tanto, me doy el capricho de cotillearlo todo cada vez que voy porque ademas lo tienen todo expuesto sorprendentemente bonito. Pero esta vez, tenía una tarjeta de regalo, y no sabía por dónde empezar. Y después de mirarlo todo en la tienda, o al menos todo lo que estaba dentro de mi presupuesto, terminé comprando esto que realmente no necesitaba, que ya tengo en casa, pero que no son tan bonitas como estas ... y asi debe ser un regalo, no? Gracias Juju

salt and pepper shaker

Salt and pepper shakers
Salero y pimentero

measuring cups

Ceramic measuring cups
Tazas de medir de ceramica

measuring cups

Friday, June 11, 2010

Flowers, photography and science

DSCN0019

We have been enjoying two weeks of leisure, doing just fun things with family and Luca could not have been happier. It is great to do things out of the routine once in a while, as I think he grows and matures so much in these periods. We are alone again, but busy. I have been preparing for a scientific meeting where I was presenting. It had been years since the last time I did it, so I was a bit nervous, but with nothing lose, I think I did well and my talk came at a good point of the symposium. I hope it is meaningful for someone and also for me in the future. It is good to get my brain back to science, not hard, like riding a bike, it all comes back.

Today it was a cloudy day, and we spent the day in the science museum and the botanical gardens. I have only been there a couple of times but haven't really had a chance to see most of the gardens. I love botanical gardens, and these in particular are just amazing. So I took some closeup pictures of some flowers as the day light was good for it and we both enjoyed the stroll around there. I wish I could devote more time to photography, that is another thing that is becoming interesting to me...maybe one day. For now, I have been painting, starting a second painting and hopefully I will also continue with sewing. I want to finish a bed quilt that I started last year. And maybe some more furniture painting in the near future??? overambitious??? maybe...we will see. Once thing that I have realized lately is that there are a million gardens or parks in this town, all of them beautiful, and as much as I enjoy plants and horticulture, I love art, creating and all that world just moves me. I so wish I had time to study more about art...

Hemos podido disfrutar de dos semanas de ocio, haciendo cosas entretenidas con familiares y Luca estuvo feliz. Esta muy bien hacer cosas fuera de la rutina e vez en cuando, ya que creo que crece y madura mucho en estos períodos. Estamos solos otra vez, pero ocupados. He estado preparandome para un congreso científica donde presentaba. Habían pasado años desde la última vez que lo hice, así que estaba un poco nerviosa, pero sin nada que perder, creo que lo hice bien y mi charla se dio en un buen momento del simposio. Espero que sirrva de algo para alguien y también para mí en un futuro. Me viene bien volver a meter mi cerebrito en la ciencia, no es difícil, es como andar en bicicleta, me vuelvo a acordar.

Hoy ha estado nublado, y pasamos el día en el museo de ciencia y el jardin botánico. Sólo he estado allí un par de veces, pero realmente no habia tenido la oportunidad de ver la mayoría de los jardines. Me encantan los jardines botánicos, y este, en particular, es simplemente impresionante. Así que tomé algunas fotos de primer plano de algunas flores ya que la luz del día era buena para hacerlo y los dos disfrutamos del paseo por allí. Me gustaría poder dedicar más tiempo a la fotografía, eso es otra cosa que se está volviendo interesante para mí ... tal vez algun día. Por ahora, he estado pintando, he comenzado un segundo cuadro y espero también seguir con la costura. Quiero terminar una colcha de cama que empecé el año pasado. Y tal vez pintar algún mueble más en un futuro próximo??? demasiado ambicioso??? tal vez ... ya veremos. Lo que si que me he dado cuenta últimamente es que hay un millón de jardines o parques en esta ciudad, todas ellos hermosos, y tanto como me gustan las plantas y la horticultura, me encanta el arte, la creación y todos lo relacionado con ese mundo, me conmueve. Ojala que tuviera tiempo para estudiar más de arte ...


DSCN9990

DSCN9995

DSCN0047

DSCN0042

DSCN0041

DSCN0040

DSCN0039

DSCN0038

DSCN0037

DSCN0032

DSCN9989

DSCN0005