Shimmery Pink

Today Lara did something for the first time yet. Dani and Paul had gone to get a couple groceries, I was getting supper ready, and I noticed her going in and out of the balcony, carrying some objects with her. Curiosity got the better of me and one of the times she was indoors I quickly peeked outside and saw a neat arrangement consisting of two bottles of nail polish, a small bowl of water, some spiffy hairclips, a brush, and two flasks of  princess cologne which had never seen the light of day.

I quickly went back in again and resumed my supper preparations as if I had seen nothing. Out she went again after a while. This time she stayed out, and I could hear her humming to herself happily.

After some minutes, she came into the kitchen with a beautiful headband on her dampened and somewhat frazzled hair, poking her fingers out stiffly in front of her, beaming proudly, eyes shining.

I caught my breath a bit, because suddenly I realised this was quite a milestone for my little girl - my girl continually immersed in a book, jumping on the trampoline, drawing and painting feverishly, and making up stories - there she was, toenails and fingernails painted a shimmery pink, and to top it off, swathed in a heady combination of two perfumes.


I exclaimed over her pretty appearance and rolled my eyes at how good she smelled, while she squirmed with pleasure and did her little "happy dance" that has become such a part of her. She begged me to let her do my toe and fingernails as well, so on this balmy evening afternoon I forgot all about supper preparations and sat down with her on the warm balcony floor. She warbled a happy tune as she painted my fingernails, brushed my hair, attached a bright turquoise flower on it, and doused me thoroughly in Cinderella cologne.

It was a priceless, precious mother and daughter moment in my day. I will always treasure it. And somehow I know she will as well, because while we were having supper later on we shared a Secret Smile and I felt my arm tightly squeezed...

Snapshots of a Week

These are the moments I want to keep alive in my mind - let me share some of them with you.

Oblivious to everything but the shimmering glow on the water and the warmth at my back

On a quest

One thousand sensations

Discovering joy together

New friends

This is how you make dreadlocks

Journey

Far away in time and space

First art attempt

HOUSEWIFE SURVIVAL TIPS

My ample experience in homemaking has allowed me to develop some state-of-the art tips for those other housewives foundering in never-ending tasks and becoming desperate for some free time and rest. Here go the first two.


How to keep ironing to a minimum.

1.Hang the clothes out to dry.


2. Let them remain on the line until it rains.


3. Allow the clothes to become soaking wet.


4. Leave clothes on the line until they are dry again.


5. Repeat step 2 as many times as necessary.


6. Remove clothes from line, which by now will be as smooth as lake on a summer day, fold, and put away.


7. Enjoy a cup of tea and a magazine.





Management of leftovers and tupperwares.


1.Place leftovers in a tupperware. Do not worry if the amount is smaller than one serving - keep it anyway, just in case.


2. Insert tupperware in fridge, preferably towards the top and back.


3. Peer into tupperware occasionally, sniffing contents suspiciously if necessary.


4. When the amount of mold growing over the contents is satisfactory, dispose of contents and wash container - or,


4b. Place container back into fridge for several more weeks. When contents are too gross to manipulate, toss the tupperware and its contents into the garbage.


5. When this process has been repeated several times, enjoy the thrill of buying a new tupperware set. You can also go to the cosmetics department and buy some lipstick, handcream, and that expensive gold powder shampoo you've secretly coveted for a long time.

I don't want to forget... from the month of April.

Sam is pointing at everything now. He strains against me, his whole body reaching out to what he's seen, little index finger stoutly pointing, every fiber of his being riveted on the object of his attention. The bear! Those three portraits. They had been Lara's when she was a baby. Now as I'm getting him dressed he repeats his solemn "ohs" over and over as he gets a glimpse of them over my shoulder. The bear finding the three eggs and showing them to the hedgehog. "Oh". The bear jumping into the water, splash!! and sending the poor fish into a backward summersault. "Oh, oh." Point, point. The bear swimming in the water - look! There are the three ducks. One, two, three. "Oh." Point. Smiling. He loves that bear. And the three owls too. The green one, the purple one and the blue one. "Oooh." He pats the box the owls are painted on, and they stare back at him in a rather friendly way with yellow unblinking eyes.


This week has brought new second hand bikes for the older children. Paul's red bike was getting hopelessly small for him and Lara, although her biking stlye is, shall we say, a little more serene than Paul's, also needed an upgrade. She is growing fast and her long legs were almost reaching her chin!


Paul has entered into a new biking dimension now - with his double suspension and 7 speeds, he controls the bike remarkably well for his age, and will grow into it soon. He hops around on one foot while he tries to sit on the seat now, and then he's off - who knows when his feet will touch the ground again.

Today was Father's Day - it has been beautiful. We had pancakes for breakfast with letter pancakes spelling out Papa for Dani, complete with Nocilla, sprinkles and whipped cream. We had a special lunch of hamburgers with all the toppings and French fries. The children presented Dani the cards they had made - Lara's a funny story about her as a baby and choosing her father, and Paul's with big letters complete with glitter. Lara read out the poem I wrote for Dani, and it was a general success - we all felt the love going around.

Early evening

Mmmmm... It's half past eight and the babies are sleeping... What am I going to do with so much time in my hands before dropping into bed?

Dani is making supper. Hamburgers and chips. Something fast and easy. And then a niiiice warm shower. I'm already blogging, so that's taken care of. :-)

Anecdote of the day: Paul sucked his fist the whole time he was in the bathtub, oblivious to his hair being shampooed and Lara throwing cupfuls of water on his tummy.

As you can see, I'm not too inspired today. But I thought I'd leave today's footprint for posterity... a normal, nothing-real-interesting-has-happened day.

Oh, yes. We went to Parc Catalunya and took Lara for a ride on the bike. We took turns, being with Paul in the pram (not in with him, pushing him around, of course) and riding the bike. Lara enjoyed it immensely!

WHAM

That's what my head is going to do - wham - when it hits the pillow. Mmmmm, can't wait. So, this is going to be a short one!

Anecdote of the day: Dani prayed as usual before starting breakfast, and when he was done, Lara wouldn't let go our hands and said, quite rebuckingly, "Food!!". Dani had prayed and given thanks for pretty much everything except... the food. We were quite tickled that our little tot had to remind us.

A few recent pictures:

Lara playing with Tiet Roger's blocks

Happy Paul

Morning scene

Family dinner

Whew!! All went well. We were over 30 people (we ate at a restaurant in Barcelona), all descendants of my father-in-law, Martín Valcárcel, and his siblings, plus extended family. It was funny because most of us didn't know each other... especially in-laws with other in-laws!

Paul slept most of the time (he actually pulled a 6-hour on me) and Lara amused herself with her books while adult conversation droned on. I had "Boeuf Bourguignon", not sure about the spelling - a delicious French stew with bull's meat (proper name for that?). I saw it on the menu and thought I would try it because they made a great deal about it in the movie "Julie and Julia", which I watched a couple of days ago... By the way, it's a great movie. I killed myself laughing. Meryl does a wonderful job, as usual.

Anecdote of the day: Lara woke up at 10:30 am today... she slept 14 hours straight!! What a luxury. She woke up all bright eyed and bushy tailed with her usual "Firerruck!! Indian ride!!" expletives.

I shall go now and read a book. Something I haven't done for ages.

Bathtime

And here is a photo from yesterday's bathtime... Lara was showing Paul the owange and gween balls :-)

It is 10 am and Lara is still sleeping... what a luxury! Paul is crooning in his baby chair... And today we have the Valcárcel clan's dinner at Barcelona! Will tell you about it...tricky business with a toddler and a baby! Hope they behave :-)

This time it's for real... honest.

Okay, I know you think this will be short-lived and that I won't post anything else in the next year or two; but I have firmly resolved, and call it a New Year's Resolution if you want, to write something every week at least.

Not only to keep up a blog, but perhaps also for the mere sake of writing... something which I enjoy thoroughly but have so little time to do. Well, I shall make the time then.

For instance, this evening we put Lara and Paul to bed at the same time... 8:30 pm. I had supper already made (zuchinni, potato, leek, and carrot cream soup, and some ham and cheese sandwiches that Dani volunteered). By the time we finished, it wasn't even 9 pm. So... a whole evening ahead of me! And the clothes are folded!! The dishes are in the dishwasher!!

I managed to get up to date on Facebook - an arduous task when you haven't been on it since yesterday. But those of you that have the immense honour of being part of my 100,000 friends will see that I more than made up for my inexcusable 24-hour long absence.

Funny anecdote of the day: Lara was reading her abc book, and the letter K had a picture of a kettle. So after hesitating for a minute, she read... "K is for... Kea-pot!" She doesn't know what a kettle is... but it looked a lot like a tea-pot!!

We bathed them together today... Lara enjoyed it. He did too... crooning and smiling the whole time!

Recipe of the day: I made the spaghetti sauce with onion fried in butter, bacon, a tiny bit of tomato sauce to give it colour, and cream. Yummy!

Until the next, readers.

Wet Behind the Ears

He may seem to be apprehensive about his first exposure to my blog, but he's actually just not too sure about his first bath experience. He is a little wet behind the ears in both regards... But welcome, Paul, to Mama's blog, and to your bathtub.

AUTUMN FUN

I've decided that this year I'm going to make a real Pumkin Pie... And this is the beautiful specimen I purchased in order to attain such a goal.

Of course, we also bought a lot of other things. Lara helped us push the cart a little, and after shopping we had a bite to eat at a hotdog thingamajig. Lara is wearing her bib here, it's not an odd piece of clothing...

And here is my wonderful husband... with Lara trudging along as best as she can... What a long supermarket! Well, she did get a ride in the cart, don't think she walked all the time.

Back at home, Lara entertained herself with her little colour books... This is orange!!

She also likes practicing her letters... SSSSS, sssssssssss... for sun!!

And of course, her numbers too... with the new book she got a few days ago from Abu and Grandma!! Thank-you so much!!

Then, I put everything in its place, and it looked so pretty I couldn't resist taking a picture of it!

That same evening, since Lara had such a long nap in the afternoon, we went to some friends' home for supper, and she had a great time playing with Aarón's toys... he was sleeping!

And this is one of the latest pictures of Lara... a little spiffed up... doesn't she look dreamy? :-)

MORE TO COME (I might do a mini-story on how I got my pumpkin pie done...)

HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,
As in thy presence humbly I bow.

Have thine own way, Lord, Have thine own way;
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray.
Power, all power, surely is thine,
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

Adelaide Pollard, 1907

SILENT IN LOVE

"He will rest in His love."

Love culminates in bliss when in doth reach
A white, unflickering, fear-consuming glow:
And, knowing it is known as it doth know
Needs no assuring word or soothing speach.
It craves but silent nearness, so to rest,
No sound, no movement, love not heard but felt,
Longer and longer still, till time should melt
A snowflake on the eternal ocean's breast.
Have moments of this silence starred thy past,
Made memory a glory-haunted place,
Taught all the joy that mortal ken can trace?
By greater light 'tis but a shadow cast;-
So shall the Lord thy God rejoice o'er thee,
And in His love shall rest, and silent be.




Frances R. Havergal
Ministry of Song, 1881

Cròniques de Casa

Avui ha estat un dia moooolt llarg. De bon matí, com cada dia, la Lara ha esmorzat, i després d'unes cançons, a canviar-se s'ha dit! Abans, però, li agrada jugar una miqueta al llit del pares.

Ara sap agafar-se els peuets, i com podeu veure, li encanta estar en "paños menores"! Pessigolles, petarretes a la panxolina i ratet més tard, ja la està vestida i preparada per al nou dia.

Mira quines taronges més boniques! Són ideals perquè les puc fer moure però pesen massa per agafarles i tirar-les pel cantó de la trona... No sap res la Mama!

A mig matí hem anat a comprar, i feia bastant fred. Sort de la caputxa! Hem anat per primer cop al Mercadona, i la Lara s'ha mig adormit... Si està tant calentó, al sac del cotxet!

Mentre la Mama preparava la papilla del migdia... la Lara s'ha entretingut menjant el tap del biberó, amb una cara de desesper perquè arribés el moment!!

Ahhhhh... això està millor! Encara estic aprenent, per això tinc la cara tant bruta! Avui la Lara estava practicant la fffffffff i la ththththththt, així que la papilla volava per tot arreu...

Mira... ara si que està contenta! Ooooi, ja té aires de conqueridora! Aquests dies no hi ha qui li faci entrar la llengua a la boca! Li agrada que li toqui l'aire... Vinga, a fer la migdiada.

Per la tarda han vingut els alumnes d'anglès de la Mama. Hem fet pastís de chocolate chips... Ha sortit molt bo! Llavors han fet deures, i jo, una altra papilleta per berenar mentrestant.

Al final del dia, el Papa ha sortit del seu despatx, on ha estat treballant tot el dia, i ha anat al gimnàs... Ha intentat posar-se la jaqueta, però misteriosament li anava molt petita... Els nens han rigut molt!

I abans d'anar a dormir, el Papa li fa petonets a la Lara i li canta cançons que es treu de la màniga... Veieu com canta la Lara? No, si serà una soprano com una casa!! "Aaaaaah ric de veure'm tant bella en aquest miraaaaaaaall!!!"

BONA NIT!

And Yet Another Piece of Exquisite Thought

This is one of my favorite pieces of literature by Frances Havergal.

One of the desires of my heart is to "bear a chalice" as is described in the following poem. It's not easy, I'm sure, or something to attain in a short time. It requires immersing oneself in the Word of God, day by day, in sweet meditation and communion with the Master, our Lord Jesus, and then only can we let the fountain of His love and blessings overflow from our soul to refresh that of others in need. I only have to remember the times that someone touched my heart to soothe and comfort it, to wish I could be of blessing in this manner to someone who comes across my way. Enjoy this poem, then, and let it be inspiring to you as it is to me.

The Song Chalice

"You bear the chalice". Is it so, my friend?
Have I indeed a chalice of sweet song,
With underflow of harmony made strong,
New calm of strength through throbbing veins to send?
I did not form nor fill, - I do but spend
That which the Master poured into my soul,
His dewdrops caught in a poor earthen bowl,
That service so with praise might meekly blend.
May He who taught the morning stars to sing,
Aye keep my chalice cool, and pure, and sweet,
And grant me so with loving hand to bring
Refreshment to His weary ones, - to meet
Their thirst with water from God's music-spring;
And, bearing thus, to pour it at His feet.

Frances Ridley Havergal

TO THESE GARDENS GAVE

'Tis she that to these gardens gave
The wondrous beauty which they have;
She straightness on the woods bestows;
To her the meadow sweetness ows;
Nothing could make the river be
So crystal pure but only she;
She yet more pure, sweet, straight, and fair,
That gardens, woods, meads, rivers, are.

Therefore what first she on them spent,
They gratefully again present:
The meadow, carpets where to tread;
The garden, flowers to crown her head;
And for a glass the limpid brook,
Where she may all her beauties look;
But, since she would not have them seen,
The wood about her draws a screen.

-Andrew Marvell

This is by far my favorite Victorian portrait... It's much more beautiful when you look at the reproduction on print, rather than on the computer screen... The light looks more golden.

TRANSLATION OF AN ITALIAN SONG

This song was in my brother's blog, andersviking.blogspot, and I thought it was well worth a translation (of sorts). If anybody can improve it, please do!!

AMORE PERDUTE

Il fiume dei ricordi,
Il greto del passato;
Sta ritornando da me
Sta rivivendo per te
Ma dove ti troverò
Se tu non vuoi?

Risento i baci su di me...
I baci tuoi
I abbraci tuoi
Gli mi bruciano ancor
Che mi fanno languir
Che mi fanno morir

Il fiume dei ricordi
Il greto del passato
Sta ritornando da me
Sta rivivendo per te
Ma dove ti troverò
Se tu non vuoi?

E il mare che ti vide lì...
Il suo calor, il suo tepor,
Tramutare vorrei
In un gelido mar
In un buio mortal.

------

The rivers of memory,
The gravel of past things;
They are coming back to me,
They are returning for you
But where do I find you,
If you won't let me?

I feel your kisses once more...
Your kisses,
Your embraces
That still burn in me,
That make me languish
That make me die.

The rivers of memory,
The gravel of past things;
They are coming back to me,
They are returning for you
But where do I find you,
If you won't let me?

And the sea, who sees you there...
Would want to change
Its heat, its warmth
Into a freezing sea,
Into a mortal sadness.

Music: Tomaso Albinoni (Adagio in G minor)
Lyrics: Carolina Martinelli
Sung by José Carreras

Musings from Monday, 16th January 2006

With my back to a dark cloudy sky, I am sitting in the Indian fashion, waiting to meet you. Each time someone comes in the door, I feel the chilly air curling around my neck, defying my warm turquoise cashmere scarf.

Today is one of those days. I feel like I need to see the sun again, not just a cold wintry sun but the splendour of the summer sun, radiant, scorching. I need to soak in its rays, I need to stretch out on the warm sand by the beach, hearing the thunder of the waves on the shore, and to close my eyes against the unbearable brilliance. I want to feel the need once more of a cool breeze refreshing my body now and then when the heat becomes overwhelming.

What is it inside of us that makes us long for light, for beauty, for balmy evenings and quiet summer mornings? What is there inside of us that trembles at a once-forgotten strain of melody? What makes tears start in our eyes when music becomes so beautiful our heart aches? When beauty touches the very heartstrings of our being, something strange and misterious, yet sublime, happens. Without knowing, our soul catches a glimpse, a taste, of what Eden must have been at its original glory, of the delicious, pure and raw beauty and pleasure we were destined for. Of the beauty we lost at the Fall, but which we still, at times, can manage to grasp for an instant... only an instant. That is the sensation that we have then of a hazy memory of some far away something we can’t begin to put into words. We cling to it, savouring it while it lasts, and then it inevitably fades and slips beyond our grasp like the edge of the sun when it slips beyond the horizon.

And yet our heart is content... it waits, until another moment like this visits it again. Because, you know, you can’t look for it. It just comes, sometimes when you least expect it.

WINTER VIOLENCE

There are things going on out there of which we are totally unaware

Honeymoon pictures...

Here are a few photos of our honeymoon, mainly ones of our day trip to the Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Enjoy!

This is me snorkeling in Punta Cana... it does favour me, doesn't it? A little?

Ready for adventure

Ahem... we forgot the zoom was still on from the last picture

Ah, much better.

Not the best view... Woo-hoo, this horse is a little tipsy!

Trekking the jungle with my gentlemany husband lending a hand

Fording the river. Ahhhhhhh... cool water flooding my boots... feels good to tired feet

Our destination: Catarata del Limón. See how small the people are?

Heh, heh. Can't believe we paid 5 euros for this palm leaf hat... heh, heh.

Dani doing a beautiful job with the Catamarán

Eli trying to do the same and having to concentrate real hard

Getting in touch a again with civilization... a newspaper!!

THE END