Sobremesa - Sunday Lunch

I love the term 'sobremesa'.  The direct translation is 'over the table' but in Latin America it refers to a long, slow meal with plenty of conversation. No one watches a clock. The idea of slow food is nothing new to this part of the world. Welcome to Sunday lunch.

Michael who has been traveling a ton recently was home and in the mood to cook. I didn't argue and neither did anyone else.  With eight adults and five kids in attendance, he put on Chinese feast.

We stood in the kitchen chatting and watching Michael cook as well as greedily munching on an appetizer of char siu pork (Chinese BBQ pork) and freshly pickled chilies. I can't express how delicious this is!  I could have eaten the entire platter!

This was followed by a lunch of hunan beef, chicken with cashews and chilies, green onion pancakes, Taiwanese peanut noodles and of course rice.  Can you say heaven?

At some point the kids fled in order to go and play.  Meryn, who was the oldest kid of the day took over the care of the brood.  She spent hours organizing games and treasure hunts. One treasure hunt clue that I was asked to hold read, "Go to the 2nd floor in the room where I go poop." Oh my! I laughed so hard. I laughed even harder when Colin read the word as 'pop' and looked puzzled.

Late in the afternoon I pulled out homemade sugar cookies, icing and sprinkles and let the kids go to town. It was a definite hit and gave them a second wind. But eventually we knew things were beginning to disintegrate when our kids pulled out the whoopee cushion.  They tried to encourage the adults to casually 'sit down on the sofa'. Liana happily agreed and when she sat down it sounded like the sofa exploded.  The force of this whoopee cushion was uNbElIeVaBlE! When she stood up it had literally exploded in two pieces.  The kids when nuts!

After everyone had gone home, we were cleaning up the kitchen and Michael piped up, " I've never seen such a tiny person eat so much . . . " He sat at the opposite end of the table, next to Liana.  She came hungry and boy did she eat.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that she went home and ate dinner!

Happy Sunday!  ✿ Micheline

Grandma (Abuela) Is Back!

My Mami, like so many of your moms, I am sure, is Unique... She has the spirit of a teenager, full of energy, love, laughter, questions, ideas and craziness.. I always thought that there was something not quite right in her head... and that's what makes her so special.. She is a dreamer... I can be out walking with her and if she sees a beautiful tree she will hug and stroke it and then carry on walking like nothing has happened... I look all around to see if anyone has seen her do this whilst she looks at me and says " What? You don't love trees?" "Yes Mami I do but...." She loves the sun, the singing of the birds... She walks in our garden every morning without shoes to pick a plant that she found and uses it to make a special water for us  because " "it is very good for the body". I might also find her in the middle of the afternoon with a very shiny face.. "Mami...  what have you GOT on your face??? "Ah, just honey, it is so good for the skin" ... Secretly I love all of this and many other things about her, she is what she is....she is my Mom!

 

Sofia & Emma adore her... "She is the best.. So crazy" Together they explore and find places that I would never even imagine were there, they dance, do Yoga, walk, adopt cats, save insects, put eucalyptus leaves in their hats when it is a hot day (apparently this is very refreshing...) and she also taught Sofia how to read when she was 4! She has so many abilities and such a fun way of sharing them – it really is quite impressive!

 

So Jules and I planned a trip To Mendoza - The glorious Argentine land for Malbec and others beauties that we LOVE... Wine!!!

 

In our roles as family, parents, husband and wife & professionals we arrived to the conclusion that some of these cannot and are not meant to be mixed ... So when we have a trip like the one we have just had, we knew that this was the type of trip that our gorgeous girls didn’t fit in.. We were going to Mendoza for wine tasting, travelling to different vineyards in the same day, looooong lunches  and dinners without having to rush..  but instead to enjoy and squeeze this great opportunity...  Our girls are fantastic when we travel but they are kids and how much can you ask of a kid...?  There are moments for everything and this was a moment for Jules and I !!!

 

But I would have to leave my girls in Buenos Aires with the maid for four days? I love my maid but... No way!  So I arrived to the agreement with Jules that we would only travel if my mother could come from Bogota and stay with Sofia & Emma.

 

So this was my challenge... Convince my mom to come for a few weeks... I had everything in my favour to win: Granddaughters, us, holidays, good weather (in my home country, where my mother lives, it is raining like never before)... and all she had to do was to stop working for a few weeks... ?   

Too easy... she said YES!!!

 

So grandma Pato arrived in Buenos Aires on a beautiful sunny day, and after we had left the airport she said "Buenos Aires knew I was coming look at the sun, it is shining!" What can I say...

 

Even if Buenos Aires knew she was coming Sofia and Emma did not have clue; they had just started their Easter holidays and we thought what could be a better surprise for their holiday than Abuela Pato!

 

Jules called them into the kitchen, sat them down and closed the door... and minutes later Abuela Pato walked in... SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There were tears of happiness and to see that was priceless... And she is right here in front of me whilst I am writing this, drinking one of her (aguas aromaticas from the garden) ... Sweetie..

 

She was supposed to leave last Monday but we managed to persuade her to stay an extra week...  We went to a local restaurant where there is a small pond and you can feed the ducks with the bread that they put on the table .. Joy for Emma..  Sofia gave Abuela Pato an envelope with a piece of paper inside that asked the question: Abuela, do you want to stay for another week? Si o no... So she had to mark the answer yes or no with an X... We all closed our eyes and when we opened them the answer was there.... YES... again!

Thanks Mami for being the Grandma that you are, your ongoing presence in our daughter's lives leaves them forever with the best of memories! We love YOU! ❀ Liana

Domestic Goddess

Who doesn't love to have the odd domestic goddess moment? It's so good for the soul.

On Friday Meryn's class was having a party in the morning and I offered to bring in freshly baked cinnamon buns, a family favourite.  I grew up on my grandmother's and knew that it was something that I had to master in my repertoire when we got married.  They are good.

The first thing that hits anyone in the vicinity is the smell.  Is there anything better than warm butter, sugar and cinnamon? I think not.  It wafts with unbelievable deliciousness.

As I walked by the school guards, I saw their noses twitch.  And as I walked down the hallway an elementary school teacher called with a grin, "You'll want to be careful bringing those in here . . . "  Going into the classroom people turned around when I walked in. They make an entrance. Meryn looked at me and smiled from ear to ear.  It makes my heart melt.

As the party progressed the platter dwindled quickly.  One mother stood eating and between mouthfuls said, "Do you sell these? Seriously . . . I want to buy them. You need to sell these."

Half an hour later I found myself walking out of the school swinging my empty plate.  As I walked by the guard he gave me a look that said 'aww shucks' and I shrugged. No cigar.

Every time I make cinnamon buns for an event people think I'm a baking genius and that we live in the land of the sugar plum fairies.  They don't realize just how easy they are (provided you have a bread maker).  Here is the recipe I've been making for years.  Happy baking! ✿ Micheline

Cinnamon Buns

1 egg, plus water to equal ¾ cup

½ cup milk

1/3 cup butter

1 t salt

3 2/3 cup bread flour

½ cup sugar

1 package active dry yeast

Melted butter

Brown Sugar

Cinnamon

Place the dough ingredients in the bread pan of a bread maker, in the order listed.  Set on the DOUGH setting and press start.  When the cycle is finished, remove the dough.  Punch down the dough.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle.  Brush with melted butter.  Liberally sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the top.  Roll up the dough tightly – jelly roll style.  Pinch the sides to seal.  Cut into 12 equal pieces.  Place into a baking pan.  Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Enjoy with coffee or hot chocolate!

Movie Date

I believe that nature is the most amazing and beautiful thing I have ever seen… Animals, trees, mountains, rivers, sea, lakes, everything that is alive and was here before us… My respect for nature goes beyond what I could ever have imagined … For the tiniest insect (even though I run a mile when one gets near me!) to biggest and most majestic of animals that are still lucky enough to exist, I cry with my soul and broken heart when I see what’s going on in the world, all the species that are disappearing, all the animals that now only know life in special reserves because that’s the only way they will survive… all the forests that are now gone and will take hundreds of years to recover, if we ever give them the chance… I do not want my kids to see a picture of a Panda and have to explain to them why they are not here anymore… Is there anything more innocent and pure than nature? I don’t think so…

So in saying this, I try to teach my kids the same respect for the world that belongs to us.. the love for those little ants that work hard everyday in front to our garden, the love for the rain and the sun because we all need them, the love for the sunrise and sunsets because they are perfect… I want them to look and appreciate how amazing all of this is… and I believe that if there is going to be any positive change in this world the only ones that are going to do it are our kids… with our help, teaching and guidance…  Everytime I see a film like the one Sofia, Emma & I went to see today it goes straight to my heart and I want to hug and kiss the people that create these fantastic movies, it makes me realize that there are many others like me that believe in the same things that I DO..

How fantastic it is to sit with your children and enjoy a film together, tucked under blankets, (today was a very hot day but for some reason here in Buenos Aires they like to have the cinemas like igloos - they are freezing, so I took a blanket, it is cosy that way) with delicious popcorn, chocolates of every kind and absorb a film.. and even better a film with a gorgeous message… I normally get very emotional by the end of these types of films (thank god they like to clap at the end of every movie here, so I can express myself that way, but really I want to jump up and down). This particular film was an animation and many people will probably never understand how I can get so emotional… but I do, the message is incredibly valuable…

Here is the title……EL LORAX En busca de la Trufula Perdida…(Dr. Seuss The Lorax)

Maybe you have seen this film a long time ago and it is already a "classic" but the movies arrive a little bit late here! … If you have already seen it, well done, and if not, just give it a go with the little ones!

The other movie I loved was Happy Feet 2… you know ........ for the message! ❀ Liana

 

The Big Heads - Easter Island

One Of Our First Moai

Recently our family got to live out one of our dreams.  We went to Easter Island!  Michael and I have been trying to go ever since we lived in Ecuador over twelve years ago.  Then I got pregnant and we were transferred to Malaysia.  Years later we returned to Argentina but with two tiny kids . . . Easter Island was temporarily put on hold.  Michael started to 'bank' airline miles in hopes that one day he would have enough to take all of us to Easter Island. And so twelve years after initial planning began . . . we were booked in.

The day finally arrived with great anticipation! After a flight to Lima, a twelve-hour layover and another flight over the Pacific we touched down.  Easter Island is considered to be the most remotely inhabited place on earth.  It's closest neighbour at 2000 kilometres away is Pitcairn Island. And it only has a handful of people.  Santiago is over 3500 kilometres away. It's really out there.

We stayed in the only town on the island called Hanga Roa, in a hotel of the same name. We have always prided ourselves on being 'do-it-yourself' travellers and opted for a rental car and a map over a tour company.  The island is small and the driving is easy. It's the perfect place to self-navigate.

Cool Hotel Lobby

Moai are scattered all over the place but concentrated on the coastline.  All moai on the island were knocked over (face first no less) during tribal fighting.  Those still lying face down look resigned to their fate of staring into the earth.  Many have been erected.  They range in size and complexity.  The carvings became bigger and bolder as time went on.  The smaller they are, the earlier they were made.

I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up

All the moai were carved in a central quarry.  This place was astounding.  As we drove up the coast Michael noticed what looked like boulders on a hill and said, " . . . that can't be . . .?! " but it was.  There are literally hundreds of heads scattered throughout the quarry.  The biggest moai ever carved was still laying in the mountainside, waiting to be raised.  It would have been twenty-one metres long! The whole thing was just staggering to look at. How? Why? What were they thinking? It boggled the mind. So many questions came to us as we stood in the land of these gentle giants.

Wow!

At The Quarry

We spent a lot of time roaming around.  Driving, parking and then walking for ages.  In addition to the maoi being spectacular the island was exceptionally beautiful.  That was a bonus. Everything we'd ever read about Easter Island mentioned how desolate it was.  But this was a paradise.  The waves crashed at every corner and thousands of wild horses ran at will all over the island.  It definitely added to the ambience.

Wild Horses!

At one end of the island sits Anakena beach.  Stunning!  A grassy slope with palm trees and dozens of wild horses gave way to white sand, a group of towering moai and finally a true blue ocean.  Need shade . . . not a problem.  We set up camp under a palm tree.  Hungry?  No problem.  How about fresh tuna or shrimp empanadas made on the spot from a hut.  Delicious! We definitely went up a notch on the cool factor with our kids as they bounced in the waves.

The World's Coolest Beach (in our opinion . . . )

Our shade for the day!

Throughout the trip the food was tasty and from the sea.  I tucked into tuna, white fish, shrimp and crab while we were there.  We let the kids order lobster one night which utterly fascinated Colin. Michael was in heaven.

The sunrises and sunsets over the various moai were spectacular . . .  and undeniably spiritual. People just sat in awe trying to take it all in.

Sunset In Hanga Roa

Sunrise!

Before Sunrise.  It's really early . . . 

This is one of the world's truly special places.  In a place known for using all its resources back in the 1700s, it has come back from the brink and created a healthier modern day balance than I've ever seen anywhere else.  People and animals, land and sea, history and geography are working in sync. It was a wonderful surprise.

Liana and I have had a lot of discussions about energy.  This is a place with energy.  Whether the people of Rapa Nui brought it with them or whether they were drawn to the island because of it we'll never know.  All I know is that our family was very lucky to be a part of it.  Michael and I both commented that we were glad we couldn't go until now.  To bring the kids with us made it even more special. They loved everything about it!  We'll always have Easter Island. ✿ Micheline

Horses grazing around a platform just after sunrise

Gentle Giants