Looking Up

It was one of those moments. The ones you don't want to record in their memory journals. Unnerving in private and embarrassing in public. One crying inconsolably, the other having a meltdown, and me, running late.

I have come to the conclusion that losing it really doesn't help anyone in any way, so I stopped. We all did. Time for three deep breaths. As I filled my lungs, I looked up. And laughed.

There it was, just when we could all use a bit of luck, a cheerful yellow shooting star, in all its construction-paper glory, taped to the window.

Right when I needed to see it, a shooting star entered my field of vision.

Incredible. But maybe not surprising. He is known to work in incredible ways, after all.

The First Star

We started talking about the tree last week.
(Note to self, do not casually mention things to Husband when 3-year-old is within hearing distance!)

Me: We'll need to get the tree out of storage, I think I'll need some help getting it down...
Husband: O- (gets cut off by the three year old, who comes tearing into the kitchen from his room)
3YO: Are we decorating the Christmas tree TODAY?? RIGHT NOW?

We took the tree out of storage and set it up on Thursday. My son helped fluff up a branch or two, then took on the role of supervisor, watching me shrewdly from the arm chair, commenting when I seemed to be working too slowly, or missed turning a pine cone. This was important work and I needed to take it seriously, you see.

On Friday, we (ahem, I) did the lights. The dreaded lights. My Dad always took care of those, thank you! One year I helped a friend decorate her mother's gorgeous 3 meter tree, I told my son. After a couple of hours we got strings and strings of lights on, perfectly spaced, only to end up with the plug at the top of the tree. Oops. He grinned. Silly Mummy. Our tree is much smaller, and I plugged the lights on before I began, just in case. 

Saturday, December first. He woke up so excited you'd have thought it was Christmas Day. He took his time, carefully considering the placement of ornaments. I focused on reminiscing- that ornament is from Russia, this one was a gift from Nana - until he asked me to stop. "I can't concentrate with all the talking, Mummy!" 

I love decorating the tree, and have been known to rearrange ornaments for days, weeks even, until I had it just so. Today, though, I relegated myself to unpacking ornaments, hanging the especially delicate ones at the "tippity top of the tree", and entertaining the baby. It was a time to hold back, to let him take the lead. Yes, at first 3 ornaments on the same branch here and a group of same-patterned balls all together there were calling out to me to be moved. But his precious face, how carefully he handled each item, the light in his eye... And when his Papa lifted him up to put the star on the tippity top, oh, the joy! The wonder!

Charlie Brown knew it. The perfect tree is not the perfectly decorated tree. Rather the imperfect tree is made perfect through the lens of love, and isn't that what it's all about? 

Love came down at Christmas, 

Love, a lovely Love Divine. 

Love was born at Christmas

Stars and Angels gave the sign.

Star of Wonder

December First. 

24 more days.

It's coming.

This year, more than others, I am fully aware that IT IS ALMOST CHRISTMAS! I have my three and half year old to thank for that. His enthusiasm is contagious. I'm also fortunate to be out of the classroom, away from the business of the season, and I have time to really savour the days and appreciate the meaning of Advent with my family.

The teacher in me, who would have had it all laid out weeks in advance, is at odds with the mother of little ones, who sometimes doesn't even know what they'll all be eating for dinner that night. To be intentional, though, requires planning. I've made a rough list of values, experiences, stories, and activities I'd like us to do, a lose framework. And we'll be guided by - what else? - the star.

Starry Night, Edvard Munch

Join us on our advent journey as we lift our eyes and our hearts to follow the star.

Not Your Average Joe

st joseph and the christ child, el greco

March 19th. The Feast of Saint Joseph. A man mentioned only a handful of times in the Bible, and who, in many places, is forgetten about until Christmas. Somehow he has escaped falling into obscurity, and is known to be humble, obedient, and caring. He stood by Mary, his pregnant fiancee, never doubting (or at least, never voicing his doubts) that she was to become the Holy Mother of Jesus, providing for her, Jesus and the rest of their offspring, protecting them from harm, following divine instruction to keep them all safe. Joseph was not your average Joe, but a righteous man. A good father. A role model for fathers everywhere.

Fitting then, that here in Spain, Saint Joseph's Day is Father's Day (and, I learned, he also happens to be one of Catholic Canada's patron saints). We've spent the last few art sessions at school making bookmarks and learning a song for fathers or grandfathers, and today is a national holiday. Gifts are given, meals are shared, and time is spent honouring Dad. 

Although Spain is technically a secular state, I like that many holidays here are steeped in tradition rather than being set on arbitrary dates. For me, it adds solemnity, a certain weight, to the celebrations, making it more difficult to scoff at days like these as being just occasions of Hallmark Consumerism, rather than days of intentional focus and reflection, of purposefully demonstrating love and appreciation. 

Today holds special meaning for Tall Guy and me this year as we'll soon be parents. It's a time for him to consider what his new role as Father means for us as a family, and for me to express love and gratitude for how he has been caring for Baby and me during the past months. While we're not having a huge celebration (Baby isn't here quite yet!), we are going a parenting class with our midwife and tonight we're going out for dinner, a kind of Father's Day Warm-up.  

Tall Guy doesn't have much experience with children (what do you mean babies can't hold up their own heads?) but I have no doubt that he will become an excellent father. He might not have a divine line on which angels call and give him parenting advice, but he is humble and trusts my judgement and experience, knowing we both have a lot to learn on this journey and trusting that we'll work it out together. He is supportive and caring, attending all kinds of appointments and classes, listening to my concerns and telling me he knows I will be a good mother. While I read and talk to Baby, and obviously have a more physical connection, he's getting things ready and bonding in his own way, from finding the best monitor and installing safety devices to researching the best diaper brands and making sure the fridge is full. 

We're marking the start of a new tradition (Father's Day in Canada is on the third Sunday of June; this is our first child) and I look forward to celebrating Tall Guy as he grows into fatherhood during the years to come. 

Carnival Fun!

We came on the wind of the Carnival, a warm wind for February, laden with the hot greasy scents of frying pancakes and sausages and powdery-sweet waffles cooked on the hotplate right there by the roadside, with the confetti sleeting down collars and cuffs and rolling in the gutters like an idiot antidote to winter.

-Joanne Harris, Chocolat

I love that story, and it's become almost an annual read for me. It's so rich - just look how much is packed into that opening sentence - the food, the atmosphere! Yesterday I drew a bath and settled in for a soak, starting Chocolat once again to pump me up for Carnaval, as it's called in Spanish.

waiting patiently for cake

At school today we celebrated the last day of Carnaval with a costume parade in the playground, chocolate milk and special cakes, a tribute to the traditional last day of indulgence before Lent. Let me tell you, there is indeed a special wind that comes with the carnival each year, a wind that picks up everyone's spirits, especially the children's. There was no containing their excitement, and even Baby seemed extra active! Fun, yet exhausting, and I'm looking forward to forty calmer, reflective days.

iron man and two batmans

After a catnap bear-like hibernation session on the couch, I read a little more of my book and spent some time searching for a new pancake recipe. I decided on one for fluffy buckwheat pancakes by londonbakes, and they are officially my new favourites. I love the flavour of the buckwheat and they are, rather than fluffy, dense and tall. I left out the sugar and corn flour (didn't have any), used almond milk (out of cow's), and they turned out just fine. Local strawberries are starting to appear, with nary a peach to be seen, so I topped ours with yogurt, berries and maple syrup (wouldn't be a real Canadian if I didn't have maple syrup for my pancakes!). As I left out the sugar, I suspect these would also be good with creme fraiche and smoked salmon, or maybe chicken and mushrooms. 

December Roundup

January 2015! I know it’s going to be a wonderful, exciting, and likely exhausting year – we’re waiting for the arrival of Baby in the spring – but now it’s time to look back on December. Thanks to Leigh for faithfully hosting the What I'm Into linkup. It's so nice to have a space for reflection, and motivation to do so regularly, not to mention checking out what others have been into!

Going: We stayed in Madrid this month, with one long weekend on the farm. As usual, it was filled with cute animals, fresh air, deep sleep, books, and good food.

little lambs - pretty much the cutest things ever!

Doing: Resting! No voice again in the weeks leading up to Christmas holidays (I hope this is not a Christmas tradition!), which meant missing a choir Christmas party and also school. I needed the time off though. When rest really is the only curative option, and there’s a tiny person involved, you take it more seriously. I spent my days on doctor-prescribed bed-rest actually resting in bed, and rather than feeling disappointed about what I was missing, I concentrated on relaxing and feeling better, the healthier and more positive option for both Baby and me. Excitingly, all of the rest meant lots of time to feel Baby moving around!

I was well enough to attend the last day of class and also our Christmas festival, where my students either sang shouted their little hearts out or stood there, frozen, on the stage, for our two songs. Fortunately, no one peed, no one ran away, and no one cried. All in all, a successful programme. 

I love singing Christmas carols, so I'm happy my voice was back to sing in a bilingual, bicultural Christmas Eve service. It was beautiful - our voices joining together in our own languages, singing Silent Night in the dark, warm glow of candles. Christmas away from home is never the same, but it can be wonderful in its own, new ways.

Catching up with family and friends is always on the agenda, but especially in December. I was especially pleased to visit with a teacher friend who moved back to Ireland, but came to Madrid for the holidays. I also received a special gift from a little friend, the son of a friend of mine. This little boy loves Hot Wheels cars, and he gave me one "for when the baby breaks out of your stomach." While I hope the birth is more gentle than that, I was so touched that he would give one of his favourite toys to someone he hasn't even met yet.

one advantage of a mild winter - flowers on my balcony!

Reading: A lot! A friend gave me a bunch of baby books she no longer needs, and I’ve started flipping through to see what the first few years have in store. Favourites are The Wonder Weeks (how to support Baby’s first 10 documented mental growth periods, scientific but accessible), How Children Learn (a great read for people who work with children, not just parents), and a week-by-week pregnancy book published by the UK pregnancy centre (informative but not overly medical, so no freaking out!). 

On the Christmas side of things, I’ve been curling up by the tree, re-reading my favourite stories – an L.M. Montgomery Christmas anthology, and reading Tolkien's Father Christmas Letters to Baby.

On the fluffy front (think – unwinding in the tub after a day of managing 3 year olds hopped up on turron, a Spanish Christmas candy, and the countdown to Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men bring them gifts), The Un-Domestic Goddess. I’ve read it before, and I’ll read it again! 

I finished The Pilot's Wife by Antia Shrieve. Such a compelling story about loss and relationships, and moving on, touching on the history of the IRA.

the new year's eve spread

Watching: Way too many episodes of The Big Bang Theory. I watch, I laugh, I fall asleep. Perfect, really, for this time in my life.

I’m also up to speed on Mad Men and looking forward to its final run starting in January!

We went to the cinema (taking advantage of pre-child time) twice last month, taking in Angelina Jolie's Unbroken, and of course the last installment of The Hobbit. I loved Unbroken! While hard to watch due to the sheer inhumanity of some of what happened, the story of Louis Zamperini is truly remarkable. A good pair-watching for The Railway Man, as both deal with overcoming extreme situations and, what seems even more difficult than their acts of survival, forgiving enemies. 

The Battle of the Five Armies was entertaining, but really, one book into three movies? Obviously a marketing ploy to drag the franchise on as long as possible, because the battle scenes in all three films could have been shortened. Two would have been fine. Or three shorter movies. During The Unexpected Journey, I got so antsy I opted for watching the second installment at home in case I wanted to take a break! I'm a fan, but I guess I'm not die-hard enough to enjoy the excruciating fight-scene details...

thanks, husband, for the waffle iron!

Eating: While I’ve been enjoying lots of tasty food, I’m not overindulging, despite the tradition of December being a food month. It’s just not worth jeopardizing Baby. 

I enjoyed a girls' lunch out, with some memorable mushroom croquettas at La Caña in Madrid, and a lovely stuffed trout at my work Christmas meal at Baden, also in Madrid. I highly recommend both if you're in the city. Baden has a bar and cafe-style seating as well as a formal dining room, and La Caña is great for a meetup with friends.

In the holidays, I hosted all the meals (exciting to be able to host now that our place is renovated and we have a nice space for entertaining!) but we went Spanish for the Eves and Canadian for the Days, with seafood buffets prepared by my mother-in-law and a roast turkey and tortiere French-Canadian dinner prepared by me. We try to keep things naturally sweetened and gluten-free so all family members can enjoy our Christmas feasting. With the exception of some traditional Spanish sweets (polvorones, a lard and flour ball, and naranjas confitadas, chocolate covered candied orange slices, we did pretty well).

grapes ready for the spanish countdown, gingerale for toasting!

And that's my month in review! We started January with a bang, and things don't look like they'll be slowing down any time soon, so watch out, 2015, here we come!

Love Actually

"It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends... If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling that love actually is all around" 

- Love Actually

I watched one of my favourite films last night. Love Actually. Spare me your eye-rolls, I know it has some cheesy moments, but it also shows lots of kinds of love, and isn't that what Christmas is about? Love? True love, lost love, family love, love unrequited, love bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things and enduring all things?

It's easy to spend time with loved ones. We've got six family meals from Christmas to Epiphany, a slew of dates with friends, phone call visits with family afar, and time for just the two of us booked in, and we'll enjoy every moment. We give without thinking twice to a jolly Santa, a cheerful bell-ringer, or an Elfin food-bank collector. We call up old friends to renew the friendship, and invite new ones over to deepen the bond. Who doesn't love those warm, fuzzy feelings?

no beautiful scenery, but a beautiful arrangement 

But, like the movie shows, we're also called to love under more trying conditions. The estranged relative, the curmudgeonly old neighbour, the false friend, the difficult child, the homeless person on the corner. Sometimes we've got to be the love. Drop off a card with a thoughtful note, make or accept an apology, give a hug, smile and make eye contact. They are no less worthy of our loving kindness than are our dear ones. And it may not be easy at first, or even get easier with time, but the Christmas Child, the One given for everyone, from angels and saints above to shepherds and poor sinners below, reminds us that it's possible.

Prepare Him Room

My first thought reflecting upon last week was that it was long. And exhausting. And, of course, no snow, so kind of a bummer. But then I looked a little deeper, and can honestly say that, yes, I'm tired, but it's been a joy-filled week.

• My students were wild - with delight at the approach of Christmas, making a joyful noise at their concert, and excited for me to open their lovely gifts.
• School was intense - concerts, reports, interviews, but we ended the week celebrating the season together, and I'm so thankful for this job and my new colleagues.
• My schedule is full - visiting old friends and even making a new one whilst picking up some things for Baby.
• My body is tired - from Baby growing and dancing around, who I saw and felt move from the outside for the first time.
• The kitchen is messy - with Christmas projects taking over the table and ingredients ready to be baked lined up on the counter.  
• There is no snow - but I can go for long walks outside to enjoy the lights and decorations.

I wish this were longer - so pretty!

Maybe it's fine, even normal, to feel busy and tired this time of year, as long as we remember what it's all about. We're hustling and bustling to prepare for celebrating with friends and family, preparing room for the ultimate Joy. After all, it's not like the trip to Bethlehem was a five-star all-inclusive holiday. Mary and Joseph? Busy, exhausted, but joy-filled. 

Christmas - we're celebrating the birth of the Joy we've been preparing for, the Joy we're living for. 

Peace and Unquiet

I spent a lot of time in a barn this weekend, and it got me thinking about Bethlehem and the manger scene. Fitting, since yesterday's peace candle also represents this ancient place. 

Bethlehem, where expectations of a bed at the end of a long journey, a wash and a hot meal, some respite from all that walking, were met with closed doors, and finally, an invitation to a barn.

Barns aren't quiet. They're full of animal noises, and the call of a farm hand or farmer now and then.

head-butt turned cuddle

They aren't clean. Animals eat, sleep, give birth, and, well, poop, in there. 

Peaceful and quiet? Try busy and noisy.

Barns are not exactly a place one goes to get away from it all.

And yet a barn is exactly the place that was chosen for the birth of the Prince of Peace.

Why there? Why not in a tranquil meadow, perhaps beside a spring, outside of Bethlehem? Or in a quiet, dark forest, in a grove of beautiful trees?

My life is not a grove of beautiful trees. Oh, I have my zen moments, but I don't spend my days wandering around meadows a la Maria Von Trapp. My life, like everyone else's, is busy and noisy. Lots going on - eating, sleeping, living, births, deaths, highs, lows, and yes, even poop. 

not quite this noisy! (source)

I love seeing manger scenes set up through the city - from tiny ones in store windows, to antiques in church yards, and life-size models in squares. They're mixed right into the hustle and bustle of the season.

My life is much more like the barn scene. The thing is, we don't need to be perfectly balanced and still to find peace. Because of this birth in a noisy barn, we can be at peace no matter where we are. A barn isn't peaceful, but you can find peace in there.  

Oh come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Waiting Hopefully

It's an extra-special Advent season this year. Not only does the first Sunday fall right on Saint Andrew's feast day, which, if you're a calendar nerd, is pretty neat, but we are expecting a little baby of our own, coming this spring. The challenge of waiting has taken on new meaning as we count the weeks and days until the arrival of our own child.

saint andrew by julia bridget hayes

Waiting for Christmas, only a month away and difficult as it was when I was a child, is nothing compared to waiting for months to meet our baby. And waiting months to meet our baby is nothing compared to waiting for hundreds of years for the coming of the Messiah. 

The Hope candle represents the promise given to the prophets that the Messiah was indeed on His way. They waited, hopeful and filled with expectation, for his coming, an event most of them would never see. Sometimes considered crazy, sometimes social outcasts, and sometimes, wonderfully, believed. Lifetimes of waiting, and still they hoped.

As I look upon my own little candle, I'm reminded to wait hopefully, not just for the Christmas Child and His promises, but for my own child. To spend this time preparing not just our home, but our hearts, bodies and minds for this child's arrival. To push aside any anxieties about health, parenthood and a lifetime of caring, and to wait, hopeful in the promise of a new life.  

August Roundup

evening walk in denia

August. Or Frozen Yogurt Month. Same thing. We got settled into our new place, had our first guests (my cousins!), went to the beach, and saw some pretty neat places around Madrid. The heat isn't gone, and school doesn't start until next week, but when August 31^st arrives, I feel like summer is coming to a close. Once again I've linked up with Leigh for What I'm Into.

 

Going: To some new-to-me tourist attractions in Madrid. I’m very excited to add to my list of places to see in the city. The Cerralbo Museum, The Palace of Cibeles.

Denia, the beach, is always wonderful no matter what season it is, but of course summer is even better because I can swim in the sea! We took one day off from beaching it to go to Les Fons del Algar, one of the most Bear Grylls-like experiences I’ve ever had. There are these waterfalls, which are beautiful, and you can swim at the bottom in the water (pretty cold, a nice change from the sea) after you hike through the river, carrying your things over your head! Sounds like a soap commercial, but then you can hike-swim toward the source and Irish Spring turns into Tide Tough Stain Remover. It was awesome. Actually, my cousin Tweedle N said it was one of the most awesome things she has ever done. Tweedle E was just glad to make it out of there. Highly recommended if you’re around the Costa Blanca.

together again in cuenca

An afternoon in Cuenca, a cliff-top town with impressive views of karst landscape. Also impressively, with houses build onto the cliff sides. As in, they're just handing there.

Merida, where we saw some very impressive Roman ruins. Nerd alert - I love ruins, and so should you! Isn't it amazing to think how far people managed to travel sans airplane, and how good they were at building? 

We also went to Caceres, a newer, but still old city (especially for North Americans - we really don't have any old-old buildings, do we?) which is a UNESCO heritage site. It has a very impressive old town centre with buildings mainly from the 14th to 16th centuries, although some date back to the 1200s and part of a wall from 29BC. Wow.

old post office ceiling (!!!), madrid

The village festival. It was like going to a fall fair, only with more fireworks, more music, more food, more days and wearing a prom dress. Intense.

Reading: Impressively (to me), I'm nearly through a 1000 page Spanish novel, Dispara, yo ya estoy muerto (Shoot, I'm already dead). It's taken me a while; I started at Easter but didn’t really dive in until we were at the beach. This is not a commuting book. It’s huge and thanks to reading it I have biceps that would make Tony Danza cry.

I loved this story – it followed two families, one Jewish, one Muslim, from the Jewish family’s escape from revolutionary Russia to Palestine via France. Settling near Jerusalem, they purchase some land and became the Muslim family’s landlords. The two families work the land and become closely intertwined against a backdrop of growing unrest, first in the Ottoman Empire and Russia, and the wider spread conflict of the Great War. The story (stories, actually) are told by an NGO reporter, trying to help restore land to Muslim families, and the son of the original Jewish immigrant, now an old man. Two different viewpoints, two different religions, two different countries, but one end – understanding. A timely book.

pigeons helping themselves to some chips

Watching: Thank you, Tweedle E, for introducing me to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. If you’re looking for a laugh, check it out. Lots of SNL people in this, a police version of 30 Rock.

“Psychologists are just people who weren’t smart enough to become psychics”

“I was born for politics – I have great hair, and I love lying”

"Any food-related crime is a tragedy!"

Eating: Frozen yogurt, as I mentioned. Specifically, Greek frozen yogurt with fruit, with toasted coconut sauce, with dark chocolate, or plain. SO GOOD. And very easy to make.

Pisto, a good food to transition from summer to fall. It's Spanish ratatouille - onions, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and of course, olive oil, and you can eat it hot or cold.

Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup, is also frequently on the menu. Packs in veggies and refreshing coolness in one.

The Staycation: Three Cheers for Madrid

We stayed in Spain this summer - beach, picturesque countryside, cute small towns, palaces and Roman ruins. We also spent some time in Madrid. It's empty. August is the traditional holiday month, and many businesses close up and people flock to the coast or the mountains. There are parking spaces! There are no line ups! There is sitting room at bars and restaurants!

wow, there's really no one here!

If you can take the heat, I'd say August is the best time to visit this city. The weather isn't as dreadful this year as it was last (no days over 40 C yet!), so our guests (my cousins) didn't melt, and we spent some pleasant days and nights wandering around. The main sights in Madrid are attractive, but there are only so many visits to the royal palace one can take. In my case, the number is seven. I'm always glad to discover something new, and this summer I found three!

Museo Cerralbo

I've had this place on my "to see" list for 12 years. It's highlighted in the guidebook I had when I was here on exchange as an 18 year-old. Back then, it was closed for renovations, and then I kind of forgot about it. It came back into my mind when Tweedle N asked, "Hey, are there any other palaces around here?" (I guess her number for visiting the royal palace is one). Anyway, a quick search online turned up Museo Cerralbo, which is not a palace but a lovely 18th century mansion-museum, which also happens to be in my neighbourhood.

The house was designed to showcase the owner's (Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marques de Cerralbo) private collection. He donated the house and its furnishings, ranging from wonderful to weird, to the state in 1924. Pretty generous, if you ask me. 3 euro entry and you can borrow a guide book for free, it's a steal (the palace charges 9, audio guide not included, and the pricey books are larger than Bibles - not really great for touring). It's closed all day Mondays, and during the rest of the week from 1500 to 1700 for lunch and siesta time.

Centro Centro 

view of gran via from the lookout

I can't say I love the new name, but I do love what the Palacio de Cibeles, originally a post office (!!!), currently houses: cafe, restaurant, lookout, reading rooms, exhibition space, gift shop. And in a stunning building, to boot. 2 euro and no line (thank you, second homes and rental properties), we went straight to level 8 for a bird's eye view of the city. I plan to go back at night, truly worth the money. It is also closed on Monday and from 1330 to 1600 for lunch and siesta.

Caudel by Daniel Canogar, source

Once we were I spied out, we rode the elevator down, stopping on each floor to check it out. We were in luck - there were some great installations to see, part of the 5th ONCE Biennial for Contemporary Art (the ONCE is the Spanish organization for the Blind). While I loved the draining men, my favourite wasn't part of the Biennial. It was this:

It's called Touching the Sky, by Kaarina Kaikkonen, and is on loan from the Finnish Embassy. Kind of reminds me of Tall Guy's closet.

Museo Arqueologico de Madrid

visigoth broach, source

Sometimes I really miss England and Canada and Germany - like when I visit a museum and want to know what something is, or check the website for opening hours. Enter, MAN. I did make it to this Archaeological Museum 12 years ago, but then it closed for major renovations. It now has well written labels and a visitor-friendly layout. The website is also strong and lists, prepare to be amazed, correct visitor information that is available in five languages. And... they've got an app. 

Good job, Madrid, you are now entering the Age of Internet. 

I'm also very excited about their public programming, something strong in private museums but not public ones until now. Lectures, concerts, tours, a piece of the month, school and family visits, I am pumped! 

It's free on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings (otherwise, 3 euro, very reasonable), closed on Mondays, and does not close other days for lunch and siesta.

April Roundup

Linking up with Leigh, this time with a top-ten roundup of the month:

Top Book: Benediction by Kent Haruf

It's my first Kent Haruf read, and I hope to get my hands on some more of his books soon. Benediction is stark and delicate. Centred around one man's dying days, Haruf brings in neighbours, family, and even apparitions to explore loss and relationships in small-town Colorado. A beautiful, gentle read.

Top Outbound Visit: London, Baby!


coleslaw and chickpea burgers

It had been a year and four months since I'd seen my gal-pals, bar Kanga, who came to see me in November. Too long, and like I'd never left. Kanga organized two long, lovely brunches to ensure lots of gab time - it was so great to see everyone and catch each other up on our news. Kanga and I had heaps of time for chatting in the evenings - thank you to the Chef from Down Under who did all the cooking.

crustless quiche!

Top Inbound Visit: Madrid, Mom

My mom sometimes has to travel for work. As I type, she's at a conference on a canal cruiser going through Holland, Belgium and Germany. Anyway, when she has to come to Europe, she tries to book a layover in Madrid. It was only for a few days, but it was so nice to see her! She brought a suitcase full of things from home - steel cut oats, a vat of coconut oil, birthday presents, and the bird wall clock I loved from home, which Tall Guy agrees will go perfectly in our new kitchen.

I arrived home from work on Monday as she arrived from the airport, and we had a quiet evening. On Tuesday she did her favourite Madrid things and we met at the Prado Museum after work. We made sure to check out Las Meninas (her favourite), and what our family calls Cheesburger from Paradise, my Bro's favourite (when he first saw it, he said, "hey, the dove is bringing down a cheeseburger to Saint Peter!").

On Wednesday, my mom came with me to the doctor - not that exciting, but a long wait made for good talking time, and in the evening we had the "merienda" (Spanish tea/snack time) with my exchange partner and her mother. "We hope it's ok", they said, "we're not that experienced with tea..." It is amazing to think we've been friends for over twelve years now.

Top Day: My birthday!

taking a break at the summit with the dog

I turned 30 this year, and it was a really great day. Tall Guy and I were at the beach for Easter Vacation (11 days off from school, how great is that?), and we woke up early to go on a mountain hike with the dog. It was a beautiful morning and the views were stunning. We worked up a huge appetite and came down to a family lunch of paella, followed by a very tasty Spanish orange cake, presents and a nap, after which the two of us went out for dinner during which I tried octopus once again, and once again did not enjoy it. Despite the octopus, an amazing day.

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Top Meal: Naked Burrito at Tierra

Tierra is a burrito buffet located dangerously close to our house. The burritos are the size of my face. For real. They call out to me. Fortunately, they have a naked option - burrito on a platter with no tortilla. Still huge, but less messy and also gluten-free. (I went with my mom.)




Top Laugh: The Hot Dog

After Easter, I asked 4B what they'd done over the holidays, if they'd been anywhere or tried any new food. One girl said she'd been to an American-style diner and had a really big hot dog, and she loved it. Another student put up her hand:

"Yes?"
"I do not eat hot dogs", she said.
"Oh... ok... don't you like them?" I asked.
"No, I like them, but... I HAVE A DOG!" she answered. Some students were nodding in agreement.
"Ok..." I wasn't sure I was getting it...
"You know, hot DOG? When I eat them, my dog looks at me with a bad face and I feel bad", she explained.

they have a euro site!

Top Purchase: The Anthro Dress

I can't not buy things from Anthropologie. It just doesn't happen. I am resigned to walking out with a creamy carrier bag filled with something lovely. Fortunately, everything I've ever purchased from there has been on mega-sale. This trip was no different.

We have four weddings this year, two day time and two evening, two work and two friends, so basically I needed two dresses. This is the day-wedding dress, 65% off, plus another 30% on top of that. Hooray! Also fun to wear a faux-mini. The lace makes this a much better length for me.





Top Blog Read: Taboo Topics

This post by Emily really spoke to me, since I truly believe it all comes down to love. No, we can't just hold hands and sing songs, and we shouldn't ignore injustice, but if we framed our discussions and decisions in the context of true agape love, perhaps our problems would have more satisfactory outcomes.

Top Youtube video: Baby Talk

A friend shared this series on Facebook, and I watched all of them one day when I was sick. When it comes from a kid, it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. Pop an adult in there, and ridiculous hilarity ensues... Here's episode one, but my favourite is the one about the cookie.



Top Feeling: Excitement!

So far, our renovation has been all about destruction. The other day when I went upstairs, we had some walls! They aren't bathrooms yet, but they will be!

Spanish Class: Carnaval

It's March First, 2014, and you know what that means... Lent is only five days away, so you'd better get your party on NOW, while there's still party to be had! We'll be using up all the lard and sugar on Tuesday, and once we're anointed with ash on Wednesday, it is over until Easter Sunday.

"How now", you say?

I'm not crazy, I'm in Catholic Spain, and that's how we roll.

Well, that's how we rolled in the past, and for anyone who has experienced Spain, can you really believe it? 40 days with no parties, how DID they survive? These people have party streamers in their DNA. So, to prepare La Cuaresama, Lent, a time of reflection and austerity, they threw a party. Any excuse to dress up and have a good time.

Lots of Catholic countries celebrate the Carnival season. It's at time of costumes, humour, and communal festivities, where anyone can be anything. Traditionally a time to "get it out of your system" before fasting and at least daily mass, now a time of fun and revelry.

Spain's most famous Carnaval celebrations take place in Cadiz and the Canary Islands. I've never been to either one, or any one, but Carnival celebrations have appealed to me ever since I first read Chocolat, by Joanne Harris. While the elaborate costumes of the Islands appeal to me, and I would like to go someday, I'm pretty sure I'll skip Cadiz. Despite being known for their skills in writing chirigotas - little songs that make fun of people, and costumes inspired by current events, Tall Guy thinks I'd cry - Interesting events by day, but pushy drunken crowds, lame costumes and people peeing in the street by night, he says. He's right - I want to cry just thinking about it!


Burial of the Sardine

Until this year, I didn't even know Madrid really did anything to celebrate, other than bury a stinky fish on Ash Wednesday (more about that later - I have to see it to believe it!). I've never seen superheroes and pirates roaming around, confetti on the streets, vendors with piles of masques, or anything else one would expect to see during a carnival. But Madrid's Carnaval is experiencing something of a renaissance lately - this year we've got a parade and fireworks, a sold-out masquerade ball (oh well, maybe next time!)concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and, to finish things off, the burial of the sardine.

El Greco is the mascot of Carnaval in Madrid this year - it's the 400th anniversary of his death, and as he captured the Burial of the Sardine in a painting, he seems like an appropriate figurehead to me. As long as the weather holds, we're off to a parade tonight, a kind of tableaux-vivant inspired by his paintings and other famous Spanish artists, including Velázquez and Picasso. The parade ends in the marvellous Cibeles Plaza, with a show of fireworks, and a performance by Sinfonity, the word's first electric guitar orchestra. 
I'm intrigued - let the festivities begin!