SORROW'S BEAUTY

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

What a great weekend we had. Lots of time in nature and celebrating the coming of Spring. A cooking date with our friends Miro and Hanne (in exchange for some babysitting time. Yes!) A beautiful bike ride without the bambino. Life is sweet.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

In Praise of Good Neighbors

A month or so ago when I asked my neighbor in Berkeley, Dave Warren, about bread baking advice, he not only organized a hands-on lesson in his kitchen, but sent me back with a precious jar of sourdough starter to smuggle onto my flight back to Spain. The jar, I must say, got not just a little bit of neglect upon our arrival to Barcelona and then to Fernando's village, before we made it home to Pamplona a week after leaving California. After all, we had a jet-lagged baby to deal with, and visits to friends and family, and lots and lots of unpacking to do.
Once I finally got to that little jar I hoped and prayed and begged the universe with each feeding to revive it, and that I hadn't completely killed Dave's wonderful gift and good intentions. And so last night, after watching it grow little by little, I decided to take the plunge and bake a loaf. I followed Dave's careful instructions as best as I could. I didn't have the right pan or half the things that are helpful for a baker to have on hand, but the loaf came out. Not perfect, but quite tasty. I think it's been a good beginning.

Friday, September 9, 2011

River

Fernando and I are making a list of the things we love and don't love about living in Spain and another for the U.S., with the hope that someday it will be clear where we want to settle. There are so many amazing things about both places, but I would have to say that NATURE is way at the top for me, and how accessible it is to us where we live in Spain. This river spot near Fernando's village, bordering Catalonia, is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. Hands down.