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ART !! I have always considered myself an artist/crafter. I've tried most types of art; the list is much more lengthy than the time spent on some of my "'artistic pursuits." Quite often, some, such as jewelry making, lasted about 4 hours. But oh, the hours spent looking for the perfect fabric for sewing, the perfect supplies for making wreaths or wooden necklaces (hey - it was the 80's), the perfect beads for a bracelet, or the exact shade of paint (especially for walls).
My lengthy list of pursuits includes: drawing, painting, painting walls, jewelry-making, batik, photography, sewing, ballet, piano, guitar, tap-dancing (ha, ha), baton twirling, candle-making, macrame, knitting (1-hour and I was done), and interior design (the wallpaper borders are burned in our memory).
So here I am in a foreign country - time to take up an artistic endeavor once again. Really, sewing, piano and photography are the only two I stuck with over the years. I shuffled through my art memories and decided drawing and painting should be resurrected after soooo many years. Conveniently, my piano teacher in Uruguay also teaches ART.
Kris is the most patient person on Earth, legitimized by the fact that she can soldier through teaching me piano and still have all her wits about her! We started with drawing and ended up with acrylics for painting.
Since my primary love is photography, it seems I do best when photographing my subject, then using the image as a my inspiration for a painting. Oddly enough, my favorite is one of the first paintings I did was CATFISH - my portrait of Sophie and a fish (see above photos.)
I studied painting and drawing in college, but that's been a long time. I'm classifying myself as a beginner. So much to learn - stay tuned...
My lengthy list of pursuits includes: drawing, painting, painting walls, jewelry-making, batik, photography, sewing, ballet, piano, guitar, tap-dancing (ha, ha), baton twirling, candle-making, macrame, knitting (1-hour and I was done), and interior design (the wallpaper borders are burned in our memory).
So here I am in a foreign country - time to take up an artistic endeavor once again. Really, sewing, piano and photography are the only two I stuck with over the years. I shuffled through my art memories and decided drawing and painting should be resurrected after soooo many years. Conveniently, my piano teacher in Uruguay also teaches ART.
Kris is the most patient person on Earth, legitimized by the fact that she can soldier through teaching me piano and still have all her wits about her! We started with drawing and ended up with acrylics for painting.
Since my primary love is photography, it seems I do best when photographing my subject, then using the image as a my inspiration for a painting. Oddly enough, my favorite is one of the first paintings I did was CATFISH - my portrait of Sophie and a fish (see above photos.)
I studied painting and drawing in college, but that's been a long time. I'm classifying myself as a beginner. So much to learn - stay tuned...
Little optical illusion - my glasses on top of the drawing of my glasses!
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Once again, we were honored to be invited to a Doma Racional (Horse Whisperer) training session at our friends' ranch. Doma Racional is a way of taming horses with patience, respect, and acknowledgment of the horse's mental state and body language.
The trainer, Marcelo Gonzalez, has an amazing gift and talent working with horses. To watch Marcelo take a horse from wild to saddled and ridden in just over an hour is something to experience. And all with a gentle touch and understanding of the magnificent animal standing before him. I can never see this enough and I always shed a tear because the connection between man and horse is so beautiful.
In the photos above, there is a sequence. The photos show the untamed horse coming into the corral, then the gentle procession of taming, until the horse accepts a saddle and rider.
The trainer, Marcelo Gonzalez, has an amazing gift and talent working with horses. To watch Marcelo take a horse from wild to saddled and ridden in just over an hour is something to experience. And all with a gentle touch and understanding of the magnificent animal standing before him. I can never see this enough and I always shed a tear because the connection between man and horse is so beautiful.
In the photos above, there is a sequence. The photos show the untamed horse coming into the corral, then the gentle procession of taming, until the horse accepts a saddle and rider.
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Pueblo Edén is a little village nestled in the hillsides. Every year, they celebrate the anniversary of its founding. 2017 is the 100th Anniversary! It's a BIG DEAL. Heck, the Maldonado Intendencia (state government) even sent the army in to build a bridge at the entryway where it traditionally floods.
This year, in addition to the tables of food and sales of used goods by the church, there was a circus performing for two night, a Queen of Pueblo Eden elected, and many, many food, arts & crafts, and other vendors. The Maldonado Symphonic Orchestra always plays, but this year other performances joined them.
In 1917, when Pueblo Edén was founded - it was a hopping place. La Casona, our friends' home, was a large grocery and general store. There were a couple of mills and of course, lots of agricultural activity in the area. Today, it boasts a couple of small restaurants, a chapel, a community gathering center, and a bar. Despite the remote feeling, Pueblo Edén is home to many expats, who appreciate all its beauty and quaint feel.
This year, we decided to have an Open House at our home for friends to stop by, have snacks and soup, and then carpool on to the festivities in the village. It was a big hit!! People brought bread, snacks, and desserts and I made four different soups.
Here are recipe links from my cooking website (MissCookbook.com) to the soups that I made:
This year, in addition to the tables of food and sales of used goods by the church, there was a circus performing for two night, a Queen of Pueblo Eden elected, and many, many food, arts & crafts, and other vendors. The Maldonado Symphonic Orchestra always plays, but this year other performances joined them.
In 1917, when Pueblo Edén was founded - it was a hopping place. La Casona, our friends' home, was a large grocery and general store. There were a couple of mills and of course, lots of agricultural activity in the area. Today, it boasts a couple of small restaurants, a chapel, a community gathering center, and a bar. Despite the remote feeling, Pueblo Edén is home to many expats, who appreciate all its beauty and quaint feel.
This year, we decided to have an Open House at our home for friends to stop by, have snacks and soup, and then carpool on to the festivities in the village. It was a big hit!! People brought bread, snacks, and desserts and I made four different soups.
Here are recipe links from my cooking website (MissCookbook.com) to the soups that I made:
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There are two things we have no shortage of at our house - sunrises and sunsets! From the front porch we can see the sun rise beautifully over the hills. From the back porch, we have a wider view of sunsets. Nearly every sunset in clear weather is awe-inspiring stuff!
I love to sit on the porch and watch the sky look like it's on fire, then turn pink, purple, and finally deep blue. Nature has a way of reminding me of her presence each and every morning and evening.
There's a hotel/museum not far from us on the Atlantic Coast, Casa Pueblo. Every night it's a tradition for everyone to come out on their balconies and say goodnight to the sun as it sets over the Atlantic. One day, I must do this...
I love to sit on the porch and watch the sky look like it's on fire, then turn pink, purple, and finally deep blue. Nature has a way of reminding me of her presence each and every morning and evening.
There's a hotel/museum not far from us on the Atlantic Coast, Casa Pueblo. Every night it's a tradition for everyone to come out on their balconies and say goodnight to the sun as it sets over the Atlantic. One day, I must do this...
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I THOUGHT I hated sushi for so many years. Oh, how I missed out! My husband, a long-time sushi lover, would drag me to various sushi restaurants in Houston. I worked very hard to find something on the menu that was NOT sushi. I don't even remember why I didn't like it. How ridiculous is that?
One Saturday morning in Houston, with its many sushi offerings, I woke up and decided to give sushi a chance. It was a slow-blooming romance between us. We began as friends, with the occasional bite here and there of a rather bland California Roll. Then friends with benefits, as I munched my way through an entire Spicy Tuna Roll. Lastly, a full blown knock-your-socks-off love affair as I devoured Dragon Rolls and Spider Rolls!
When we moved to Austin, we devoted many a Saturday lunch-time to exploring new restaurants with sushi. Our agreement on loving this dish led to many miles traveled and tanks of gasoline burned. It was worth it all!
Now Uruguay... hmmm. We're still searching for the perfect sushi, but we've found some decent offerings here and there. The very best, however, has begun to originate from our own kitchen with my husband as Sushi Chef Master. All those trips to restaurants seem to have made him a sushi expert.
We've hosted a few Sushi Saturday dinner parties for friends lonely for some rolled up deliciousness. By the way - I feel like I'm cheating on my first love, SUSHI, but I now I even like sashimi!
One Saturday morning in Houston, with its many sushi offerings, I woke up and decided to give sushi a chance. It was a slow-blooming romance between us. We began as friends, with the occasional bite here and there of a rather bland California Roll. Then friends with benefits, as I munched my way through an entire Spicy Tuna Roll. Lastly, a full blown knock-your-socks-off love affair as I devoured Dragon Rolls and Spider Rolls!
When we moved to Austin, we devoted many a Saturday lunch-time to exploring new restaurants with sushi. Our agreement on loving this dish led to many miles traveled and tanks of gasoline burned. It was worth it all!
Now Uruguay... hmmm. We're still searching for the perfect sushi, but we've found some decent offerings here and there. The very best, however, has begun to originate from our own kitchen with my husband as Sushi Chef Master. All those trips to restaurants seem to have made him a sushi expert.
We've hosted a few Sushi Saturday dinner parties for friends lonely for some rolled up deliciousness. By the way - I feel like I'm cheating on my first love, SUSHI, but I now I even like sashimi!
Here's the recipe link for Hubby's incredible PERFECT SUSHI RICE from my cooking website: MissCookbook.com.
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Birthday time again! My family has always been big on birthdays - cakes, special dinners at home or restaurants, big parties for big birthday years, etc. Some may think it's silly, but there's always been a ton of love involved.
Once again, we went to my favorite ocean-side restaurant, La Huella, in José Ignacio. Business there was booming, as during this time of year reservations are a must - even for lunch.
Brotula is a type of white fish popular in Uruguay. It tastes a bit like red snapper. I like mine grilled on the parilla with French fries on the side and a big glass of cold, crisp white wine.
My husband and friends truly spoil me every year for my birthday and so much more. I do feel loved!
Once again, we went to my favorite ocean-side restaurant, La Huella, in José Ignacio. Business there was booming, as during this time of year reservations are a must - even for lunch.
Brotula is a type of white fish popular in Uruguay. It tastes a bit like red snapper. I like mine grilled on the parilla with French fries on the side and a big glass of cold, crisp white wine.
My husband and friends truly spoil me every year for my birthday and so much more. I do feel loved!
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Squash
Okra
Basil
Tomatoes
During our second year gardening in Uruguay, we had tomatoes, okra, basil, carrots, yellow summer squash, and cucumbers. It was not my lush garden in Texas - now that had character, quirky style, and art. These were early times, though, and gardens take awhile to develop their own personality, I believe.
We also had some straw bales with potatoes planted in them; they did not even sprout! I had plans for the rest - pesto from all this luscious basil; fresh tomato sandwiches, salads, sauce, and salsa from the tomatoes; coleslaw with those carrots; gumbo with okra, summer squash casserole; and dill pickles from those cucumbers.
We had these miserable "potato bugs" that eat up the tomato plants if we were not careful. We didn't have those in Texas! It was all hard work, but good physical and mental therapy.
My BIG plans for cooking from the garden came true! We had a bumper crop of basil, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Here are links to favorite recipes from my cooking site, Miss Cookbook. Enjoy them using a haul from your own garden or from the local Farmer's Market!
We also had some straw bales with potatoes planted in them; they did not even sprout! I had plans for the rest - pesto from all this luscious basil; fresh tomato sandwiches, salads, sauce, and salsa from the tomatoes; coleslaw with those carrots; gumbo with okra, summer squash casserole; and dill pickles from those cucumbers.
We had these miserable "potato bugs" that eat up the tomato plants if we were not careful. We didn't have those in Texas! It was all hard work, but good physical and mental therapy.
My BIG plans for cooking from the garden came true! We had a bumper crop of basil, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Here are links to favorite recipes from my cooking site, Miss Cookbook. Enjoy them using a haul from your own garden or from the local Farmer's Market!
Take a look at my homemade pest remedies and fertilizer at my cooking website: MissCookbook.com.
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Here's my recipe for PAELLA from MissCookbook.com.
I love, love, love paella. It's a traditional seafood, chicken, and sausage dish from the Valencia part of Spain. I first ate it in Spain - way baaack in the early 1970's and my tastebuds fell in love at first bite.
It took another 10 years to taste it again. My tastebuds were longing for it badly when my second mom, Lynne Young, made a rip-roaring version of it in Houston, Texas one night.
Never had it again until we moved to Uruguay. It's a traditional New Year's dish here. One of the large supermarkets has a giant paella pan (which looks somewhat like a wok). We're talking more than a meter in diameter. You can buy paella by the kilo!
This year we decided to make our own. We drove to Piriapolis, a smaller coastal town in Uruguay, about 45 minutes from us. No hardship, as it's a beautiful spot with great seafood vendors. We bought shrimp and mussels for our paella at the beach and made a quick stop at the grocery for some chicken and chorizo (sausage).
Here's the thing - my husband had never eaten paella. He thought it was a soup (which he loves) and more like gumbo. Nope, it's thicker, more like an etouffee or jambalaya. I only have Cajun food references, as that's how I grew up! He was in for a surprise, but he did like it,
Try it sometime for yourself - it's easy to make! Here's the link to my PAELLA RECIPE on my cooking website: MissCookbook.com.
It took another 10 years to taste it again. My tastebuds were longing for it badly when my second mom, Lynne Young, made a rip-roaring version of it in Houston, Texas one night.
Never had it again until we moved to Uruguay. It's a traditional New Year's dish here. One of the large supermarkets has a giant paella pan (which looks somewhat like a wok). We're talking more than a meter in diameter. You can buy paella by the kilo!
This year we decided to make our own. We drove to Piriapolis, a smaller coastal town in Uruguay, about 45 minutes from us. No hardship, as it's a beautiful spot with great seafood vendors. We bought shrimp and mussels for our paella at the beach and made a quick stop at the grocery for some chicken and chorizo (sausage).
Here's the thing - my husband had never eaten paella. He thought it was a soup (which he loves) and more like gumbo. Nope, it's thicker, more like an etouffee or jambalaya. I only have Cajun food references, as that's how I grew up! He was in for a surprise, but he did like it,
Try it sometime for yourself - it's easy to make! Here's the link to my PAELLA RECIPE on my cooking website: MissCookbook.com.
Piriapolis, Uruguay
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Get our family recipe for German Dumplings (SEMMELKNÖDEL),
Traditions, traditions, traditions!!! We all have made fun of our own or those of others, but I'm convinced that traditions are the stuffing that shape a culture.
I'm a Southern woman who married a German Guy, lived in Texas, then came to Uruguay. Boy howdy, do we ever have some mish-mash of traditions at our house! I'm not complaining, as I get the best Christmas traditions from all three cultures: pecan pies and divinity (Southern); lebkuchen cookies and semmelknödel dumplings (Germany); summer watermelons at the beach (Uruguay).
These semmelknödel, are fun to make! I looked at Hubby like he was nuts when he asked for a piece of cloth or dishtowel for making these. I had no idea. The cloth or dishtowel is wrapped around the dumpling tube to hold it together while cooking. It all made sense once I watched it cook.
No matter where we are, we love to eat these on Christmas Day with a pork loin or a roast chicken and some great red cabbage. Here's our grandmother's recipe; it's yummy: Maria Schlehuber's Red Cabbage. And here's my mother-in-law's recipe for Lebkuchen Spice Bars.
Whatever your holiday traditions may be, always cherish them and don't be afraid to change things up and add new ones.
I'm a Southern woman who married a German Guy, lived in Texas, then came to Uruguay. Boy howdy, do we ever have some mish-mash of traditions at our house! I'm not complaining, as I get the best Christmas traditions from all three cultures: pecan pies and divinity (Southern); lebkuchen cookies and semmelknödel dumplings (Germany); summer watermelons at the beach (Uruguay).
These semmelknödel, are fun to make! I looked at Hubby like he was nuts when he asked for a piece of cloth or dishtowel for making these. I had no idea. The cloth or dishtowel is wrapped around the dumpling tube to hold it together while cooking. It all made sense once I watched it cook.
No matter where we are, we love to eat these on Christmas Day with a pork loin or a roast chicken and some great red cabbage. Here's our grandmother's recipe; it's yummy: Maria Schlehuber's Red Cabbage. And here's my mother-in-law's recipe for Lebkuchen Spice Bars.
Whatever your holiday traditions may be, always cherish them and don't be afraid to change things up and add new ones.
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Well, I fell in the kitchen. Apparently Sophie Kat decided to cross my path at exactly the wrong moment. (I will forever be superstitious about gray and white long-haired cats!) I tried to stop myself and ended up doing a bit of a dance going forward, causing a much harder fall from the momentum. Geez!
First thing I did was try to move my hip - scared I broke it. The hip was sore, but I could lift it up and move my leg. Then I realized my arm was pointing crookedly out to my side and would not move. I had dislocated my shoulder and literally could not get up.
What happens next is a three and one-half hour nightmare!
We don't have ambulance service out here in the campo; our neighbor called the police. The police came, but the only option was to get me on a stretcher and put me in the truck bed of their pickup. It didn't seem an ideal option, as the roads are very bumpy and I was in extreme pain. There was lots of conversation and it was decided to call the Camionera (like state troopers in the U.S.). They came, but would have to put me in the back of their pickup, as well.
Next, my Canadian friend in the nearby village was called. She and her husband came over and made some phone calls, somehow getting a rogue ambulance to come out and get me.
All in all, I was on the floor for 3 & 1/2 hours in pain. One of the policeman sat on the floor by my side, holding my hand the entire time, trying to keep me calm. I later learned it was his FIRST day as a policeman and that his name was Ángel (of course it was)!
The ambulance came with just a driver, no attendants. My friend rode with me holding my arm stable, as best she could as we sped over bumpy roads for a 35 minute ride to the hospital ER. My husband followed us; I can't imagine what he was feeling.
I ended up having surgery the following morning and received excellent care during my 3 day stay at the hospital. It was a learning curve, as hospital stays in Uruguay are a bit different. First of all, you need to bring your own soap, washcloth, towel, Kleenex, and nightclothes.
Second, the cultural belief (It makes sense!) in Uruguay seems to be that if given the opportunity, you would rather a family member or friend take care of you. It's customary for a family member or friend to stay overnight with you and during the day to take care of your needs, if possible.
Here’s my story with that. A close friend was visiting me at the hospital after my surgery. Nature called and I was not allowed to get out of bed yet, so I rang for the nurse to assist me with a bedpan. One arm was immobilized and the other hand was hooked to an IV. When the time came to dry off, the nurse handed the toilet paper to my friend. Both of our eyes grew as big as saucers, but my friend just carried on and wiped. Now that’s a friend! Yes, it does make sense you would rather a friend than a stranger take care of your needs; it’s just a different take on things! The moral of this story, if you visit a friend in hospital, be prepared to be a very “close” friend! Thank you, my CLOSE friend!
Also, no mere words can express my thanks to my Canadian friend, who stayed by my side for hours, arranged for an ambulance (and rode with me), and translated even while I screamed as they tried to put my shoulder back in place.
First thing I did was try to move my hip - scared I broke it. The hip was sore, but I could lift it up and move my leg. Then I realized my arm was pointing crookedly out to my side and would not move. I had dislocated my shoulder and literally could not get up.
What happens next is a three and one-half hour nightmare!
We don't have ambulance service out here in the campo; our neighbor called the police. The police came, but the only option was to get me on a stretcher and put me in the truck bed of their pickup. It didn't seem an ideal option, as the roads are very bumpy and I was in extreme pain. There was lots of conversation and it was decided to call the Camionera (like state troopers in the U.S.). They came, but would have to put me in the back of their pickup, as well.
Next, my Canadian friend in the nearby village was called. She and her husband came over and made some phone calls, somehow getting a rogue ambulance to come out and get me.
All in all, I was on the floor for 3 & 1/2 hours in pain. One of the policeman sat on the floor by my side, holding my hand the entire time, trying to keep me calm. I later learned it was his FIRST day as a policeman and that his name was Ángel (of course it was)!
The ambulance came with just a driver, no attendants. My friend rode with me holding my arm stable, as best she could as we sped over bumpy roads for a 35 minute ride to the hospital ER. My husband followed us; I can't imagine what he was feeling.
I ended up having surgery the following morning and received excellent care during my 3 day stay at the hospital. It was a learning curve, as hospital stays in Uruguay are a bit different. First of all, you need to bring your own soap, washcloth, towel, Kleenex, and nightclothes.
Second, the cultural belief (It makes sense!) in Uruguay seems to be that if given the opportunity, you would rather a family member or friend take care of you. It's customary for a family member or friend to stay overnight with you and during the day to take care of your needs, if possible.
Here’s my story with that. A close friend was visiting me at the hospital after my surgery. Nature called and I was not allowed to get out of bed yet, so I rang for the nurse to assist me with a bedpan. One arm was immobilized and the other hand was hooked to an IV. When the time came to dry off, the nurse handed the toilet paper to my friend. Both of our eyes grew as big as saucers, but my friend just carried on and wiped. Now that’s a friend! Yes, it does make sense you would rather a friend than a stranger take care of your needs; it’s just a different take on things! The moral of this story, if you visit a friend in hospital, be prepared to be a very “close” friend! Thank you, my CLOSE friend!
Also, no mere words can express my thanks to my Canadian friend, who stayed by my side for hours, arranged for an ambulance (and rode with me), and translated even while I screamed as they tried to put my shoulder back in place.