spain daily

sticking with the film theme...

2012-01-30T20:36:00.000+01:00

Hope you are having a lovely week!
XXX

be film

2012-01-23T14:14:00.000+01:00

be film... be here.... be there.... be curious.... be quiet..... bethink... behold... be....

XXX

something from my day

2012-01-18T10:33:00.000+01:00

This is what happens when you are running late and decide to take a short cut.... :):):)

XXX

bread and wine

2012-01-15T10:53:00.000+01:00

Berta and I headed to the Rioja (wine country) in search of sun. Here are some of the things we found on the way. :) The last shot is of the Marqués de Riscal winery which was designed by Frank Gehry. It´s pretty amazing to see. Just another reason to come visit me. ;)

P.S. Did I say Friday? I meant Sunday.... And the winners are JJ, Kamana, and lamediterrània. (You can thank Daniel- he picked your numbers:)) Thanks everyone for playing along!

Have a great week!

hi!

2012-01-11T22:27:00.001+01:00

Just popping in to tell you that there is a little interview with me over at susie´s.
You can read it here.

Jorge leaves for the States tomorrow. I´m helping him pack. Actually, he´s packing and I´m unpacking. I´m in the middle of convincing him that he´ll need at least half a suitcase for the things I "need" him to bring back for me. Ok, back to the battle. :)

XXX

sunday morning

2012-01-08T15:37:00.000+01:00

While the tomato sauce simmered, Jorge read the Sunday papers, Sara downloaded new music, Daniel studied physics, and Coco took her daily 4 hour morning nap.... :)

We had rice with tomato sauce and fried eggs for lunch. Not the first thing you´d think of when thinking Spanish cuisine, but very typical... and easy ;)

Sara leaves to go back to school today. ..
Sara: "Mommy are you going to cry?"
Jorge: "She was already crying in the bathroom this morning." :):):)
Sara: "Really?"
Me: "Yes, I was crying because I realized my work is still not done.... I need at least two more years..."
Sara: ....
Jorge Daniel, me: Hahahahahah!!!

Have a great week! :)
P.S. The giveaway is on till Friday. :)

giveaway

2012-01-06T11:34:00.001+01:00

I´m giving away these three 5x5 matte prints. This is a low maintenance giveaway. All you have to do is leave your favorite LETTER in the comments. No words, no explanations ... just a letter. :)

And thank you! You guys are the best!
X

trying to find my mojo

2012-01-02T18:20:00.000+01:00

Jorge took my hand and led me through the old part of town. Between beers and yogurt ice cream he made me laugh, relentlessly tried to convince me that I´m good enough, and made plans for the future. We are like a butterfly and a flower. I´m the butterfly fluttering around and he´s the steadfast flower. OK, I know a flower isn´t the best metaphor for Jorge, but just can´t think of anything masculine in relation to butterflies.... Chalk it up to no mojo...;)

Sending you big hugs! And thanks for your generous sense of humor. You make a girl, somewhere in the north of Spain, laugh out load. :)

a toast

2011-12-31T14:48:00.000+01:00

Wishing you a fantastic New Year!
P.S. In Spain, wearing red underwear on New Year´s Eve brings luck. Hey... it could´t hurt. ;)
Big hugs dear friends!

middelburg, netherlands

2011-12-23T15:36:00.000+01:00

... homemade bread with gobs of butter, early morning walks with cameras and a thermos of coffee, visiting small dutch towns dressed for christmas, garden parties, sigur rós, cookbooks, apple pie, spare ribs, beer, petunias, laughing till my cheeks hurt, and feeling totally at home...

Wishing you a very merry weekend filled with love, joy, and pie!
XXX

cooking with elis

2011-12-19T18:18:00.001+01:00

Actually, she cooked... and I watched.... :)
Have a great week!
Xelisvermeulen.wordpress.com

nature walks

2011-12-15T16:27:00.001+01:00

(Doesn´t she look like Coco?)

More on my trip here. :)
Happy weekend friends!
X

zen and the art of pie making

2011-12-13T11:33:00.000+01:00

XXX

bayonne

2011-12-06T19:49:00.000+01:00

Jorge and I spent a rainy day in Bayonne. We ate sushi and drank coffee in between running for cover. December 6th and 8th are national holidays. And this being Spain, we´re on vacation for most of the week.
I´m off to Madrid tomorrow, then to the Netherlands to visit Elis for a long weekend. I guess you know what that means... ;)
See you soon!
x

coffee with borja and gabriela

2011-11-28T17:16:00.000+01:00

Some outtakes from a project I´m working on. Have a great week!
x

i paaaaaassed!

2011-11-25T20:12:00.000+01:00

My favorite practice test question;

A vehicle must yield to a herd of animals...
a) always.
b) in designated areas.
c) when they approach from the right at an intersection.

Have a great weekend!
P.S. The shot of the little tadpole from the last post was taken looking up at a glass bottom swimming pool.

water

2011-11-21T00:07:00.000+01:00

Some Sunday afternoon beautifulness to say thank you for your sweet comments on my last post. You know how to make a couple of girls smile! Sending you all big hugs my friends!

it´s far from perfect

2011-11-15T21:56:00.000+01:00

But I love this shot. I had a great time with my baby girl in Philadelphia. We spent every moment together and I learned a lot. My two favorites are that firstly, my baby girl is no longer my baby girl, and secondly... I´m OK with that. :)
Have a great week friends!
XXX

philly on film

2011-11-05T19:42:00.000+01:00

Some random film shots from Philadelphia. I couldn´t decide.... Was trying to convey the spirit of the city... But don´t think I do it justice....
Thank you for all your well wishes. I´m taking it this week. That is, if I can´t convince Berta to put on a wig and take it for me.... or maybe Jorge... :)
P.S. I saw the documentary on Bill Cunningham. What a beautiful film! I advise watching it on the sofa, with a cup of tea, cozy blanket, and a warm body snuggled against you (preferably a dog... who will let you watch it in peace.;)). If you don´t have a dog, Coco is willing to travel. I´ll have to come too... to translate... her English is a little rusty... OK, I´ll stop rambling now. :)
¡Hasta pronto!

and now for something completely different

2011-10-29T21:36:00.000+02:00

The other day I had the idea to shoot fog... up a mountain... at 6:30 in the morning.... so I called Berta... who agreed to come with me. .. I know.... with friends like me... ;)

It turned out to be one of those surreal experiences where we just blended in with the nature that surrounded us. Wild horses came to give us kisses, herds of sheep walked between us, and the sun dance on the mountains in a beautiful light show. Coffee and home by 10... surreal...

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For all your lovely comments! I haven´t been around because I´ve been studying for my Spanish driver´s license. I´ve been putting it off for about ten years now and Jorge has finally given me a deadline. It´s really hard (she writes whining...) I´m up to the part about trucks carrying livestock... Only in Spain...

XXX

it´s all in the details

2011-10-25T22:15:00.000+02:00

I´ve been in Madrid hanging out with my baby girl. I didn´t take many pictures because I was too busy being dragged from shop to shop. I did fit in a retrospective on Eugene Delacroix. I have a thing for handsome painters who have been dead for over a 100 years... and who were probably gay.... ;)

Hope you are having a great week! Big hugs!

la rioja

2011-10-16T23:32:00.000+02:00

I made Jorge pull over to take pictures of the grape harvest in La Rioja. I´m not usually so in your face when taking pictures. And I was actually thinking, while shooting these, to get in and out really fast because I´m sure someone will not like what I´m doing. Turns out, they didn´t mind at all. We were even invited back to the family´s bodega to see how they unloaded the grapes AND we were sent home with 3 bottles of free wine. So here´s to getting out of your comfort zone... and free wine! :)

I´m still waiting on my film shots from Philadelphia. I know, just when you thought it was safe... there are even MORE pictures.... I´m worse than the neighbor that makes you sit through 2 hours of vacation slides... ;)

Have a great week!

a few more... (philadelphia)

2011-10-07T20:16:00.000+02:00

Happy weekend!
xxx
P.S. Corner to corner is on its way to Kay´s! Can I say again how much I love this idea!?! :)

the italian market (philadelphia)

2011-10-04T14:06:00.001+02:00

xxx

atlantic city

2011-10-01T13:27:00.001+02:00

Beach, boardwalk, casinos, delicatessens, and fried oreos. That about sums it up. ;)
Have a great weekend!
xxx

philadelphia

2011-09-27T16:16:00.000+02:00

Where to start?... Family, friends, coffee, bookstores, long walks, pad thai, cheesesteaks, shopping ... and that was just the first day....

I´ve started uptown and will work my way down. I won´t post all million of them. Just ... ahem.. a few... Thanks for stopping by! You are the best!

last days of summer

2011-09-09T10:47:00.000+02:00

These are the last of them...
I´m off to my "pueblo" with Sara. I´m stealing two weeks with her before she starts school. Just looking forward to walking around and drinking coffee. Jorge, however, seems to think we are going to give the US economy a little push... :)
See you when I get back!
Big hugs my friends!

cadiz

2011-09-05T14:54:00.000+02:00

These are the last of them. Thanks for all your lovely comments!
P.S. I´ve been getting Sara ready for university. I´ll be around to visit soon. Sending you big hugs!

the blue hour in chiclana

2011-09-01T12:13:00.001+02:00

Happy weekend!

add some sun

2011-08-28T23:22:00.000+02:00

Do you see me waving? ;)
Big hugs and sun kisses!

let´s start with vejer de la frontera and tarifa

2011-08-25T15:06:00.000+02:00

Have a great weekend!

hi!

2011-08-22T11:07:00.000+02:00

We are back! Tan, rested, and still a little high from our trip. Made myself promise not to look at any vacay photos until I got my house in order. You know the nodistractionsandyouwillgetdonealotfaster plan. By my calculations I should be done by September... ;)
These are some shots from a summer party from early August, so they don´t count. :)
Hope all is well with you!
Big sunny hugs!

a little break

2011-08-07T18:15:00.000+02:00

We are off with friends to the south of Spain. I thought I´d leave you with Daniel practicing the piano. Enjoy and I´ll see you soon!
Sending you all hugs!
xxx

it doesn´t get more spanish than this...

2011-07-28T13:39:00.000+02:00

It´s nonstop here. Friends visiting, birthday parties, communions, trips, and a few bulls thrown in. Hope all is well with you! Thanks for keeping me company through all the craziness.

¡Un beso muy grande!

summer time in salamanca

2011-07-18T18:22:00.000+02:00

A big hello! Just got back from Salamanca, and wanted to publicly thank Jorge for pulling the car over (WITHOUT SIGHING) every 100 meters so I could take a picture... ;)

Hope you´re enjoying your summer (or winter). I´ve been away and I´m off again, so I won´t be around for a coffee just yet. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your sweet comments! I´m still smiling!

Big hugs my friends!

french art

2011-07-08T21:29:00.000+02:00

Happy weekend friends!

schmoozing in madrid

2011-07-04T23:20:00.000+02:00

I was visiting Madrid to work on "the project" and hang out with friends. Well, me, and 2.5 million other people... It was Gay Pride weekend. Music, food, laughs, and some great fashion tips. ;)
The first two pictures were taken on top of the Círculo de Bellas Artes building. Two euros gets you spectacular views of the city. Not to be missed!
Have a great week!

from my last roll

2011-06-26T23:46:00.000+02:00

Have a great week!
P.S. I am officially a Canon girl. Just a little yahoo!

2 hours in bayonne

2011-06-15T16:04:00.000+02:00

Hope you are having a great one!

i´ve been to see a man about a bull

2011-06-10T13:24:00.000+02:00

I´m off for a final hurrah in Madrid.
P.S. I´m taking part in Elis´ Global Burrows Project. To read more, and to see what we got up to in Madrid, you can visit her here.
Have a great weekend!

madrid in film

2011-06-06T16:04:00.000+02:00

So after going back and fourth to Madrid all year... Visiting schools, neighborhoods, bothering Madrileños with thousands of questions.... A new job has found Jorge. Where? You might be wondering... in Vitoria..... I´m off to eat a gallon of ice cream and then to crawl under the covers until October....
Send me hugs... please...

2nd attempt

2011-06-01T08:48:00.004+02:00

Jacques Henri Lartigue (my guru)

"i was born happy. That helps, doesn´t it?"

JHL

Jacques Henri Lartigue was born near Paris in 1894. At an early age he recognized that life was made up of beautiful moments, but at the same time he was aware that these moments were fleeting. As a way to try to capture them, he turned to photography. Lartigue was eight. At around the same time he started to keep journals, which he wrote in throughout his life. One such journal was titled "the book of my dreams" and another "reasons why I´m so happy". Here is an excerpt of an interview with an 88 year old Lartigue on photography, life, and passion. Enjoy!

JHL ....As a little boy I had the passion for preserving the fleeting images of life so I took photographs... I want to catch time as it passes.

Do you find your subjects or do they find you?

JHL The subject always finds me. I am only a spectator. I don´t run after it.

Are there subjects that cry out to be photographed?

JHL They all cry out... and often very fast... I have a quick eye. I react quickly.

Is everything worth photographing?

JHL Everything that pleases me, fills me with enthusiasm, delight, and wonder. The rest I let pass by.

Is it an act of love?

JHL Absolutely!... Of passion! Everything is passion- writing, painting, photography. All you have to do is choose.

An invitation to dream?

JHL To dream to see reality when it´s beautiful.... An invitation to rejoice... to love. Everything is fascinating... nature... the talent of others... Music above all!

Your enthusiasm has become legendary. Did you acquire it or were you born with it?

JHLThere was a fairy at my cradle. I have looked after her gifts. I have tended them well. Life is a garden.

They also grow through suffering?

JHL Through suffering and through all other means. All you need is passion.

Is there a decisive moment for a photograph?

JHL Definitely. But it´s a reaction to a second.

How does one recognize it?

JHL It´s like a tennis match. You anticipate the moment. You do it before you´ve had time to think.

Do you look at your photographs?

JHL I never do. There are cooks who pick cherries to preserve them and make jam. I am a cook who makes jam, but I prefer to eat fresh fruit.

Finding the courage to be truly happy can be daunting. A little Lartigue seems to help. ;)

P.S. Thank you for your get well wishes! Turns out I wasn´t dying after all. And Jorge was right again... ;)

córdoba with the fam

2011-05-26T22:54:00.000+02:00

And now I´m going back to bed. I have a killer cold. Seriously, I think I´m dying. (But no one around here seems to believe me...;))
Big hugs! On second thought, don´t get too close...

random film shots

2011-05-19T08:41:00.000+02:00

Just got back a roll of film and wanted to show you some of my favorites. (Any excuse to get the Cocster some face time.) Why is it that it can take me a month to shoot a roll of 36, but then I can shoot 200 shots of the same flower in under an hour?... You don´t have to answer that. :)
OK, now I´m really off. I have to sweep, wipe, and scrub because my fam arrives in a few hours... yet I still sit here... What´s that about? Again, you don´t have to answer that. :)
I´ll be around soon. I miss you guys!
Big hugs!

live is life

2011-05-15T09:49:00.000+02:00

Sunshine, coffees, ice cream for dinner, talking photography with strangers, museums, shopping with the teenager, flamenco, bulls, sushi, napping in the Retiro, old projects, new projects, seeing Madrid like it was the first time again... Thank you Elis!

I´m taking a little break. We have graduations, family visiting, and a few small trips coming up. Sending you a big hug from Sara and me!

P.S. Ever since I met Elis I´ve had that song in my head... :)

survival guide

2011-05-07T09:21:00.000+02:00

Sara is heading off to university in September. I´ve been trying to prepare her for life on her own in the big world. So far, I´ve been able to convince her that, no, there isn´t a magic elf that picks up her clothes off the floor, that milk doesn´t grow in the fridge, and that there is no golden goose laying euros at night.... Next on the list is the egg. It would be great if you could leave your favorite way to prepare eggs in the comments. You can assume that she can boil water... ;)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
P.S. Both Sara and Coco got my nose....
P.S.S. I´m off to Madrid to meet Elis. She is going to be staying with me for a few days... lalalala... Happy days!
¡Dos besos muy grandes!

spanish lunch

2011-05-02T13:58:00.000+02:00

Mixed salad, ham croquets, roasted chicken, squid in black ink, walnuts and cheese with quince jam.
Have a great week!

winners, goats, and a little france

2011-04-28T17:06:00.000+02:00

Went to France with Berta a few weeks ago. We ended up in one of those places where you are surrounded by beauty at every turn. We ignored time, ate when we were hungry (pastries and coffee... for every meal...), walked aimlessly, and laughed with the locals. It was one of those days when you couldn´t help but live in the moment.

There is nothing worse than a French goat with an attitude... ;)

And the winners are juliette, mrs. butters, lily, and ingrid. Pick a print girls and email me your address.
Thanks everyone for stopping by! Big hugs my friends!

madrid randomness

2011-04-23T21:35:00.000+02:00

Some random shots of Madrid. Today is San Jorge. In Cataluña they celebrate by giving the women a rose and the men a book. I love that tradition.
Thank you for your birthday wishes. I´ll announce the winner when I get back. Hope you´re enjoying your weekend.
XXX

birthdays, giveaway, and film

2011-04-17T11:39:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow is my birthday. And to celebrate I´m having a giveaway of one of my prints. Just tell me what´s your favorite word in the comments. My favorite word at the moment is "yes" ... ahem... just in case you were wondering Jorge... ;)
P.S. Happy birthday to Ibb and Elis! We are practically triplets!
P.S.S. Does anyone know why there is an overexposed mark on all my pictures? (Film shots.) Please don´t tell me it was because my lens was dirty.... ;)
P.S.S.S. I can´t decide between pink or black... So Jorge you can just... ahem... surprise me.... :)

remember me?

2011-04-11T19:08:00.000+02:00

Some stolen moments I´ve saved in my back pocket for you.
Thank you for your kind comments on my last post.... You know how to tug at a girl´s heart.
Hope all is well! Big hugs my friends!
P.S. And no... Jorge is not a bullfighter... But you wouldn´t know it by looking at his "cape"... ;)

and now for something completely different...

2011-03-29T16:26:00.002+02:00

Shooting coffee cups and flowers are fine.... but this is my real passion. In the moment a bull makes his first charge I feel like I´m witnessing two paths that were always destined to cross. It´s the subtle things that I notice.... The way the bullfighter bows his head out of respect while crossing himself. How his left hand rests gently on his hip while he patiently cajoles his nemesis. The way he bites his cape, like a small boy, while waiting patiently to be noticed. And how his feet stay planted when 500k of beast rushes past within inches of his heart. It´s like watching a graceful dance unfold where each pass, step, stance is drenched in history. And where, done well, a bullfighter will survive.

Bulls live really long and happy lives. Much longer than any cow, pig, or chicken. ...
I wrote this in response to a blogger cheering because a bullfighter was gored. Just wanted to write something in response... to be out there floating around the cyber world.
This is just my little opinion. Not worth a second thought... Really.
I´m a vegetarian.

2011-03-23T20:14:00.000+01:00

Just got back the first roll of film from my trip to Madrid last week. We had beautiful weather which made it hard to get any work done. Here are a few shots of the Parque Retiro. I just sat on a bench and watched the world go by. One of those moments when you realize you don´t need much... ;)
(I´m starting to fall back in love with color film. There was a time when I would only shoot in black and white because I was just too cool. But I really love the feel of these.... Or maybe I´m just not cool any more.... ;) (My kids are NOT available for comment;))

oña y frias

2011-03-19T22:42:00.000+01:00

I thought I´d show you some pictures of a small trip Berta and I took last month. We wanted to get out of Vitoria so we headed for Burgos. We stopped in Oña and Frias. Both date back to the 9th or 10th century. (I kept expecting to see Merlin.) We always ask each other the same question, "Could you live here?" And, usually, the answer is, "Hell no." ;)
So how about you? Could you live here?

1 Monastery in Oña

2, 3 Oña

4 Pretty bunch of trees on the way to Frias.

5-9 Frias

Turns out looking for a new home is reeeeally time consuming. My kids haven´t had a decent meal in weeks, I can´t remember where I left my camera, and a load of dirty clothes actually walked to the washing machine itself.... ;)

Big hugs my friends!

weekend beautifulness

2011-03-08T15:20:00.001+01:00

The weekend was filled with warm sunny days, blue skies and lots of outdoor adventures. I didn´t make it to Tolosa´s carnavales, but instead walked up a mountain... I felt very small... which always puts my life in perspective and gives me the best high.

Wishing you a great week!

Now go stand next to something very big. ;)

¡Dos besos!

quiet before the storm...

2011-03-03T15:05:00.000+01:00

I took these with a borrowed Canon. Still can´t decide between the Canon and the Nikon....

Carnivals are this weekend. Hopefully I´ll be able to capture some of the craziness for you.

Have a great weekend!

xxx

coming to my senses

2011-02-23T12:55:00.000+01:00

see: mountains, lakes, pines, raindrop stars

hear: horse bells, sheep gossiping, storks clacking

smell: cows, horses, sheep... (oh my...)

taste: homemade chicken broth and potato chips

feel: happy

Hope to be back in the swing of things soon. Thanks for spreading the kindness. You have no idea how far it really goes. ¡Dos besos muy gordos!

february blues

2011-02-15T17:44:00.000+01:00

I love small films. My favorites are the ones where the writer is also the director and who probably does the coffee run. Here are a few I´ve seen recently;

Who Loves the Sun

The Vicious Kind

Incendiary

The Private Lives of Pipa Lee

Annie Lebovitz: Life Through a Lens

It´s kind of a Funny Story

Actually, these are all a bit dark. If you are going through the February blues like me, maybe you should wait until March to see them...

Big hugs my friends!

back from madrid

2011-02-09T15:47:00.001+01:00

days in Madrid: 4

weather: 18 degrees Celsius and sunny

metro tickets: 17

people asking me for directions: 3

Starbucks: 4

Japanese: 1

Mexican: 2

Indian: 1

kilos: 1

schools visited: 10

schools that I like: 1

nights that I can finally sleep: 2

Thanks for hanging out with me in the comments! I´ll be around soon. I first have to get through all the laundry. Can someone please explain to me why my kids have so much of it... ;)

¡Dos besos!

i´ll meet you in the comments

2011-02-01T10:34:00.001+01:00

These are some of the "snow" shots I was telling you about. (I wasn´t kidding.)
I´ll be hanging out in the comments section. So if you want to talk about photography, music, books, Spain, face cream. (You know, "important" stuff.) Come say, "hi!"

Hope you are having a great week!

photo contest

2011-01-26T14:58:00.000+01:00

A quick hello to show you my two submissions for a photo contest here in Vitoria. This is the famous Jone wearing the traditional dress worn by Basque folk dancers. Each region of Spain has their own traditional outfits, music, and dance. My favorite comes from Asturias where dancers dance to bagpipes. Something you wouldn´t normally associate with Spanish culture. OK, you´ve just learned your one new thing for the day...

You´re welcome. ;)

¡Dos besos!

san sebastian, coffee, and film

2011-01-23T00:03:00.000+01:00

I took these a couple of weeks ago in my favorite coffee shop in San Sebastian with my Pentax MZ-50. (That´s how long it takes to develop black and white film in my town.) A nice little lesson in the virtue of patience. Then again, living in Spain one has got this pretty much mastered. ;)

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

P.D. Si alguien es de Madrid, estoy buscando colegios para mi hijo que va a empezar con bachiller. Si me podríais aconsejar alguno os lo agradecería :) ¡Un abrazo muy fuerte!

P.S. Conny I can´t get to your blog. Help!

tolosa

2011-01-18T16:43:00.000+01:00

I lived in Tolosa for my first eight years in Spain. This is where my kids were born (well technically they were born in San Sebastian- the anesthesiologist in Tolosa only worked six hours a day and I couldn´t risk it.), I learned Spanish, had a language academy, and walked up a mountain every day (you should have seen my tush). This is also where I learned to be diplomatic, the merits of humility, and what a tomato really tastes like. I guess you could say this is where I finally grew up.

I´ve been really busy this past week and it doesn´t seem like it´s going to slow down for a couple more. I´ll be around soon. Don´t eat all the cookies!

Big hugs!

deux cafés au lait s'il vous plaît.

2011-01-11T17:53:00.000+01:00

Over Christmas we went skiing. My family skied (I have an aversion to heights... and speed)... and I took pictures of snow. I was able to convince Jorge not to ski for a couple of days so we could visit some of the small French towns close by. We got in two days of coffees, chocolate eclairs, cafes, and outdoor markets. When I suggested a third day including lunch in Pau, Jorge just started laughing at me... Then went skiing with the kids.... and I took more pictures of snow... Hey! A girl can try. ;)

Thank you for your comments on my last post! I love you guys!

i´ve gone big

2011-01-08T21:22:00.001+01:00

It only took me a year to get up the courage to start changing html codes. I really thought I was going to get lost in the abyss with no way back. I need wine. I think I left it on my bedside table.... What?

Doesn´t everybody keep one there? ;)

Sending you big hugs!

the best seat in the house

2011-01-04T11:22:00.000+01:00

It´s not fair that her tush is smaller than mine.... Just, ahem, a little smaller ;)

american macarons and happy holidays!

2010-12-19T14:51:00.000+01:00

Otherwise known as Whoopie Pies. So called because when men would find them in their lunch boxes they would yell, Whoopie!" And yet just another example of how man´s immaturity has shaped history... (juuuuust kidding... ;))

Recipe:
Cake
2 cups (220g) flour
1/2 cup (60g) cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (250g) plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 stick (115g) butter
1 cup (200g) brown sugar
1 egg
Filling
Mix 1 container of Philly cream cheese with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar.
(All ingredients should be at room temp.)

Combine flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. (Don´t you just love the smell of butter and sugar?) Add egg to butter mixture and mix well. Now add the flour and the yogurt in intervals. Mix well. Drop spoonfuls on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350F (175C). Let cool before adding the filling.

Wishing you all wonderful holidays and much love, happiness, and peace of mind in the New Year!

I´ll be back after the kings´visit (January 6th). ¡Dos besos muy gordos!

belen

2010-12-16T18:40:00.000+01:00

Every year Vitoria puts a giant Nativity scene in a park near my home. This year I took Coco with me to check it out. Lets just say The Cocster left it a little more authentic... She almost got my arrested. (Stop laughing Joyce!)

Sending you warm hugs!

it´s starting to feel like christmas

2010-12-11T18:57:00.000+01:00

I had a little Christmas party with my students. Still a little high from all the sugar...

And thanks for your suggestions. I´m going to try to figure it out tomorrow. I´ll keep you posted:):):) A little blog humor.

Big besos!

still dreaming about france...

2010-12-09T21:24:00.000+01:00

It´s been a long rainy week that seems to be dragging on. Hope there is sunshine where you are. And if not, we always have France. ;)
P.S. Does anyone know how to post bigger pictures on Blogger? I can´t figure it out.... Can´t find the directions for the 5 and under crowd. :)
Besos!

biarritz

2010-12-06T23:45:00.000+01:00

We are in the middle of a 5 day weekend. ((Hey... it´s been a month...) Talked Jorge into going to France for the day. I have... ahem... a few more....

P.S. Had a meeting for another project proposal. Please send all positive thoughts by way of Madrid, up the Nacional 1 till Vitoria, off at the first exit and follow signs to the city center. Thanks!!!

giveaway!

2010-11-30T18:06:00.000+01:00

What a fantastic surprise! Just stopped by to tell you that The Soho is having a giveaway with my photos and I found all your lovely comments! (I thought I had turned them off.) Man! I miss you! I was having one of those days and your unexpected kindness lightened my heart. (I´m sitting here with a stupid grin on my face.) And I thank you for that... really!...
Sending you all big hugs! And see you all soon!
And Ian, very impressive! I can´t even remember what I had for lunch today... ;)

a few more from Madrid

2010-11-29T18:43:00.000+01:00

It was too cold to do much venturing this weekend. Thought I´d post a few more from Madrid before the onslaught of my winter indoor coffee shots... ;)

If you have a second, check out what Elis has been up to.... "It´s amazing what we can do..."

saturday outtakes

2010-11-22T09:18:00.000+01:00

My alarm went off as the last bit of Sunday evaporated. I put on my fluffy slippers and shuffled to the kitchen. I had a cup of tea with honey and whole wheat toast with olive oil. I put on a pair of jeans and a wool sweater over my pajamas and took Coco for a walk in the rain. On the way back I stopped for a cup of coffee with milk and read the newspaper while Coco greeted the early morning customers. I arrived home just as Daniel´s alarm was ringing. I met him on the way to the kitchen. He stopped and gave me a hug good morning.

Happy Monday friends!

i´m not perfect...

2010-11-16T09:36:00.000+01:00

Ever since I saw the "I´m not perfect" list on Aimee´s blog, I´ve had a running list in my head. Thanks Aimee! You´ve given me something to think about at three in the morning. ;)

1. I judge books by their covers.
2. I don´t forgive, I forget.
3. I eat chocolate before dinner.
4. I eat chocolate before breakfast.
5. I´m eating chocolate now.
6. I take criticism to heart and compliments with a grain of salt.
7. I always give my children the benefit of the doubt.
8. I wuv Coco, but sometimes get the feeling that the licks that I consider to be kisses, might just be her way of checking to see if there is finally enough salt.
9. I have a dark streak.
10. Most of the time I feel like I´m still 18, and I´m just faking my way through being an adult...

OK, now maybe I can get some sleep. ;)

!Dos besos muy gordos!

dancing in the dark

2010-11-13T11:41:00.000+01:00

Happy weekend friends!

fiesta in madrid

2010-11-10T16:47:00.000+01:00

The procession in honor of the Virgen Almudena that winds around Madrid ending in the Almudena Cathedral. Pretty amazing to witness.

Just got back from spending a few days in Madrid. So you know what´s coming. ;)

a few more...

2010-11-06T08:54:00.000+01:00

And thank you, thank you, thank you for stopping by! Your unexpected kindness always makes me smile!

No comments here for a while. It´s a crazy time. Sending you big hugs and kisses!

sunday outtakes

2010-10-31T20:43:00.000+01:00

Hope you are enjoying yours!

i´m thinking about a career change...

2010-10-23T20:58:00.000+02:00

I think I´d like to be a shepherd. I´d sit in a lawn chair with a beach umbrella, have my cooler filled with snacks, and hang out and watch the sheep eat grass all day....

P.S. That is Jorge with his pockets filled with walnuts... and, yes, this time the farmer got mad...

P.S.S. My kids tell me I look like Coco...

P.S.S.S. Happy weekend!

autumn colors

2010-10-21T23:20:00.000+02:00

Berta and I got lost in the mountain. We finally came across a bicycle route sign and thought we had finally reached civilization... and hour later we found a farm house with three angry dogs. Perfect to laugh about over a beer with lemon. :)
Big hugs!

pueblo hopping

2010-10-16T22:36:00.001+02:00

It´s been cold and rainy- but Jorge´s iphone "said" it was going to be sunny today... So we headed to Fuenterrabia... It rained...

Hope yours is sunnier!

sunday highlights

2010-10-10T23:45:00.000+02:00

xxx!

back to school

2010-10-09T14:14:00.000+02:00

I´ve gone back to school. I´m taking a design class at the local art school.... and, yes, I´m loving it. We have a 4 day weekend. (This being Spain... and we haven´t had one for at least a month;)) Hope you have a good one!

P.S. If anyone knows of a good site to make (not cheesy) calendars could you email me. Thanks!!

books and music

2010-10-05T16:59:00.000+02:00

I´ve been working on a little book to say thank you to Fran (ie. the bullfighter with the nice cape). I had to choose 40 photos out of a thousand. I started seeing double... which made it 2,000.... I´m almost finished. The kids just might eat today. ;)

I have no words left. So I leave you with Coco and my latest 7am playlist.

Ballerina, Leona Naess

Hope There´s Someone, Antony & The Johnsons

The Quest, Bryn Christopher

All I Need, Mat Kearney

Alors on Danse, Stromae

Sexy Moviemento, Wisen and Randel

¡Dos besos!

in madrid looking for an apartment for jorge....

2010-10-01T10:48:00.000+02:00

We´ve decided to stay one more year in Vitoria so Sara can finish her last year of school. Jorge will commute back and forth at the weekend. This city girl will have to wait just a bit longer....

P.S. I still have that song in my head! :):):)

a little gaga for the ladies

2010-09-28T09:15:00.000+02:00

Are you smiling?

la rioja

2010-09-26T10:07:00.001+02:00

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

how do you deal with...

2010-09-23T22:02:00.000+02:00

people who leave you in the wake of their anger? I´m sure you´ve been there. A confrontation strikes out of nowhere and you are left standing bewildered, hurt... and frankly a little pissed yourself. What is your secret for not DWELLING? Can you recommend a book, a mantra, a web page that sells hip holsters for wine bottles?...(Then again, I might use that to get through all the ironing I have ;)) All suggestions are welcomed....

¡Dos besos my friends!

rainy day in bilbao

2010-09-18T08:33:00.004+02:00

Hope yours is sunnier!

market day

2010-09-16T20:47:00.002+02:00

¡Dos besos!

weekend outtakes

2010-09-12T21:12:00.003+02:00

dances with bulls...

2010-09-09T20:04:00.002+02:00

And yes, I saw some very nice capes... ;)

¡Dos besos!

corner view "school"

2010-09-07T18:47:00.011+02:00

Children in Spain start school at the age of two. Daniel cried so much the first week that I gave in and kept him home until the following year. Sara, on the other hand, raced into her class on the first day with hardly a goodbye.... Then I cried for the first week... ;)

My kids have school from 9:00 until 1:00, come home for lunch, then go back again at 3:30 until 5:30. Then they have an after school activity which usually gets them home around 7:00. Then it´s homework, dinner, and bed. It´s a long day... Luckily, this is Spain, and we have lots of fiestas to break up the year. :) Thanks Juliette for this fun idea!

Next week´s theme is "seven". (I know colors are popular, but I thought a number could be interesting too:))

I won´t be in blog land for a while. I thought I´d turn Corner View over to all of you to host. Theresa will start by hosting the first two weeks. Then Cate will host the next 2 weeks and post who will go next. Eventually, you´ll all get a turn. If you have any questions, please email Theresa. Thanks!!

I´m hoping to still post - but I´ll have my comments turned off. Your sweet comments are too much of a distraction because I always want to run right over to see what you are up to and to give you a big hug! You are all too brilliant! This isn´t goodbye- I´ll see you all soon! :)

Sending you dos besos muy gordos!

P.S. I´m shooting another bullfight today. (Still sounds strange to say that:)) So you know what´s coming... :)

corner view

2010-09-04T09:40:00.003+02:00

Corner View will start up this Wednesday and the theme is "school." Thanks for all your GREAT ideas and for taking the time to leave a comment!

¡Dos besos muy gordos!

looking for carlos marcote

2010-09-04T09:11:00.002+02:00

The other day Berta and I set out to "meet" Carlos Marcote, an artist from Vitoria. Rumor has it that he lives (1)south of Vitoria (2)in a renovated church (3)in a small town (4)where a road ends... OK, not much to go on, but a great excuse to take pictures. We did eventually find his church (we are good), but he didn´t "seem" to be home. We also found some lovely other small towns, talkative locals, plum trees ripe for the picking, and that Coco can escape through a 5 inch window opening when left in the car for three seconds because someone sees a pretty door to shoot... :)

Happy weekend!

xxx

corner view...

2010-08-30T15:26:00.005+02:00

Is taking all theme suggestions :):):)... please... and thank you! (The two magic words.)

This reminds of when I asked Daniel (awhile back) what the two magic words were.... And he answered, "Right now!".... (I laughed... I know I probably shouldn´t have...;))

P.S. Hi to all new visitors. Thanks for stopping by!

looking back...

2010-08-26T23:05:00.006+02:00

Hope you had a wonderful month. Ours was filled with family, ice cream (cherry yogurt with dark chocolate chunks... OMG!...), midnight fishing on the beach, 10 km a day (and sometimes 20 - depending on how much ice cream we had eaten.) walks with my dear sister-in-law, rain, sweaters, and breakfast with a view.... (and, yes, I´m still the reigning parcheesi champion of THE WORLD.)

It´s hard not to feel just a little depressed now that it´s over...

I´m meeting this lovely lady tomorrow so that should brighten my spirits.

Sending you a big hug hello!

hi!

2010-08-23T18:07:00.004+02:00

Just a few images from a bullfight in Tafalla. Hope you are enjoying your summers (and winters). I´ll be back soon to catch up.

¡Dos besos muy gordos!

... I miss you!

P.S. Still have the comments turned off because I only have two seconds to be here. See you soon!

summer rerun

2010-08-22T23:08:00.000+02:00

This, my friends, is the man who said, "If we get a dog, it will sleep out on the terraza"... Between you and me, he never stood a chance...