November
- December- News - Needlepoint Newsletter by Samantha Taylor
NEWS
FROM SPAIN
Sorry we are late
- - again > another huge overdose of - - *the to do*s -
and - some too much* - Hope Thanksgiving was wonderful in the USA.
Thanks
for the photo - ( from - - Our Neighbor )
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Places
The Pyrenees - Ski season !! Cataluña
A favorite spot is the Catalonian
Pyrenees - lush peaks and valleys where skiing - climbing - hunting
- fishing and all other ... are surrounded by thousands of years of
civilization.
Roman bridges span trout streams
- gourmet restaurants at the foot of the ski slopes - the Val
d*Aran hosts - Baquiera Beret - where Spain´s Royal Family spends
Easter Week and is considered one of the country´s finest ski
resorts.
Mountain trails with superb views to be found on foot or horseback in the summer - on skis in the winter.
The mountain architecture - similar
to Alpine high country design - with steep - slate roofs reflect
the stone cordillera surrounding these Pyrenaic dwellings.
If the snow is faulty - you are
next to France and Andorra - for day trips - and many other ski
options.
More about the Val
d*Aran - in Catalan and Castllano - although they speak *L*Aranes* in the valley - another linguistic branch of the Langue D*Oc - Provincial root of Catalan
No place is able to compete with
the dry snow of the Rocky Mountains - New Mexico - being our usual
choice - recommended - - at least once a year.
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Luna
y Bombé
The
Turkey Created Havoc
We celebrated Thanksgiving in Madrid - Luna and Bombe could not figure this out.
Very busy - coordinating the turkey
- cranberries and whatnots ...
... we heard a baby kitty screaming
somewhere - and thought - - *no more orphans*.
Bombe was running around wildly
- hitting us in the heads - in a total tizzy - - - yet - it took a
good hour - (and the Concierge - ringing) - before we realized
- that Luna had decided - - in all the excitement - to take a trip
out into the hall and down a half flight of stairs.
Her very first time out in the - - wild
- real - world - (since moving in ) -- - we found her trembling and
*screaming* very loudly -- each and
every hair stood straight up - - and - we ... calmed her and took her
home - - then - apologized to all the neighbors (in the North of Madrid).
We are looking for a summer (or
permanent) exchange program for them - preferably with parakeets
- if any of you are interested please write to:
exchange
program - (they are bilingual - and have their backpacks ready)
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Recipes from the Pyrenees
Cuisine in the Val d*Aran draws
heavily on the wild products from the surrounding mountain habitat - hare - wild boar - partridge - trout - wild mushrooms and berries
are important ingredients in the local gastronomy.
Wild Mushrooms
The blend of French and Spanish
cooking together with the mountain basics of the Valle de Arán
has resulted in a unique cuisine (Aránes) praised across Europe.
This cuisine has been complimented
by other regional restaurants such as Basque. The valley also has
a collection of gourmet restaurants that rival anything found at even
top French resorts.
Catalan
Recipes - written in Catalan ?¿ Good Luck
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Catalan Recipes
Raw Prawns with Dried Strawberries,
Large Olives and Basil - from Carmen
More about modern Catalan
cuisine
Olive Oil and Fresh Bread - Umm.
Towards Barcelona ...
Catalonia - from Collioure to Barcelona - has been successful in
preserving its culture - its traditions and its own particular
language. There - they use the Catalan - and not the Castilian language
- and they are always ready to assert and claim their difference -
their particularism.
Its cuisine offers rustic dishes
that are nevertheless tasty and full of flavors. The sun seems
to have dropped a little of its saffron yellow - and its spicy red
... The cuisine is also a language whose *garlicky* accents have enhanced
the fluid sweetness of the olive oil.
Here - We suggest a typical Catalan
meal for 2 persons.
Garlic Soup (starter) - a nice winter warmer
- 2 garlic heads - peeled
- 1 egg yolk
- Olive oil
- Thyme
- 2 slices of stale bread - mixed
- Some slices of chorizo
Bring to boil half a litre of water
together with the thyme and the garlic for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile - whisk the egg yolk and the olive oil till they thicken.
Out of the heat - mix some garlic soup (remove the heads) till you
obtain a more or less thick consistency - depending on your preference.
Add the mixed bread - add salt to taste - sprinkle the slices of chorizo
and serve immediately.
Snails with sauce (main course)
- 2 dozens snails (already cooked)
- A cup of diced bacon fat
- 1 cup of small pieces of chorizo
- 1 small onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon skimmed over with flour
- 1 glass of white wine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 big tomato
- 1 glass of water
In a large stew pan - brown the thinly
minced onion and garlic in some oil.
Add the diced bacon fat - the small pieces of chorizo - and the diced
tomato. Add salt to taste.
Cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with flour and make sure that the tomato is thoroughly crushed.
Pour in the white wine and water.
Add the snails and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.
Serve with saffron-flavoured rice.
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No nation on earth is quite as
good at enjoying itself as Spain. There are so many fiestas that even if you could attend more than one a day you would not be able
to see them all in a single lifetime.
New Year
New Year - begins in Spain like a Carnival
party with people in masks in the streets - who - - try to eat
12 grapes during the last 12 seconds of the finishing year. A
tradition that is said to bring good luck - if you get it.
Puerta de Sol - Madrid
Hours before midnight on New Years
Eve - tens of thousands of people gather in Madrid*s Puerta del
Sol to await the chimes of the clock on the tower - which dominates
the Spanish capital*s central square. The excitement builds up as
the magic hour approaches. Finally - at the stroke of midnight and
the dawn of the new year - everyone will eat twelve grapes - one for
each chime. We watch this on the television.
Grapes
We would like to tell you that the
grape eating ceremony is a ritual whose origins are lost in the mists
of time - but in fact it is of quite recent vintage. Early in
the twentieth century - according to most versions of the story -
freak weather conditions resulted in an unseasonable bumper harvest
of grapes.
At a loss over what to do about
so many grapes at Christmas time - the canny growers came up with
the idea of the New Year ritual. The success of the idea is a tribute
to Spaniards* talent not only at celebrating fiestas - but at coming
up with new variations on the theme.
New Years in August - When a power
cut prevented villagers in Berchules (Granada) from celebrating
New Years Eve - to the chimes of the town clock in 1994 - they decided
to welcome the new year at the beginning of August - and have done
so ever since.
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Kings Day
Three Kings
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Feast of the Three Kings. In Spain
- children receive their Christmas gifts not from Santa Claus but
from the Three Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6).
On the previous day there are parades in most towns depicting the
arrival of the three gift bearers.
Wee Señoritas
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On January 5th - every child
in the country will place a pair of shoes outside the bedroom door
and then they will head for the streets to watch the Cabalgata - the parade depicting the arrival of the Reyes Magos - each
of the magi ensconced on a brightly decorated float - from which they
toss candies to the throngs of eager children. When the children return
home - their gifts will be waiting for them.
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What
to do When You are Down
This
time of the year - a great idea is to - indulge in a -- very wild and
intense *pity party* - YES - DO IT.
Spend
- - at least - - one hour (or two) - feeling absolutely terrible
and disgraced ... really feel super sorry for yourself.
Then
... forget about *all that stuff* > move on ...
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-
and think about the idea that the Spring is closer now - - yes - longer days of light (starts
soon) - the lovely colors - fabulous fragrances - - warmth and the birth of all
... it is so close now.
Now
- turn on some excellent music and ENJOY !!
For example - visit Gladys
Palmera - (yes in Barcelona) - for great
boleros - vallenato - cubanísimo - jazz latino - tropical sound
- - also mariachi -
norteño - mix - dance mix and much more - - a
careful selection within their library of 140,000 records - (many are
not available any more) - -
Radio
Gladys Palmera FM - be sure to hit the RGP
Online button - to connect to this radio station !! Do not
miss the Photo Gallery > (galería fotográfica)
> super fotos by Aurora
F.
SUPERB GLADYS !! - EXQUISITE - as always ... and a highly addictive -
- "Cocktail Caribeño"
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We
Love to Hear from Our Friends.
Please write to us.
If you like we will publish your correspondence in our next newsletter
and web site. Tell us about yourself - your needlepoint *addiction* -
what you would like us to add or remove from our newsletters ... or any
of your favorite anecdotes! If you prefer to remain anonymous be sure
to include this at the end of your note. Just select below and write -
it is that simple. Make some time.
samantha_taylor@jvoichdesigns.com
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Nice Thoughts from Our Friends.
Dear Jan,
I just opened a needlepoint store outside of Phila with my daughter
and was browsing web sites for newsletters ........ and came upon yours
!!!!
IT is wonderful ........ no way could I
compete !!!!!!
Hopefully you will be in Long Beach
in January ....... I look forward to meeting you !
Trish Reilly
Trish's Place
Strafford, Pa. 19087
PS - Would love to have your
Internet newsletter ........... I was just talking to one of my daughters
about it ........ and how wonderful it was ..... very different from
the other needlepoint letters and fun ............
Have you ever skated at the Philadelphia Skating Club ...........
I think it is a pretty big association in Ardmore, Pa ......
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Oooo!
Very cool - Jan. I like the - new
canvases - If I did needlepoint I would definitely want
these as much as I like your older line.
xoxoxo
-
from San Francisco
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Like
nearly all languages - Castellano (pronounced Castiyano) Spanish arrived
at its current state over hundreds of years. It had its origins in
Indo-European and then in Latin before it became a distinct language
of its own. Here you will learn more about the history of a language that is spoken by more than 300 million people.
Help me Out
of Here !!
The Spanish language is rich with refranes > sayings or proverbs
that often become a shorthand way of conveying a thought or expressing
a judgment - a unique form - yet a loving vehicle of communication.
Here
you will find a collection of a sayings - one for each day of the month.
Of
the literally hundreds of sayings that are a part of the language
- this section includes some of the most common as well as a few others
that were chosen simply because they are so charming.
Es
de bien nacido - ser agradecido
It is
of the well - bred to show gratefulness
(for a favor- for example)
Spain is a country with a very keen sense
of community - one does a favor for an other - if the other does not reciprocate
- the giving ends and the relationship cools.
Another
...
Saliste
de Guatemala y te metiste en Guatapeor.
You
left Guate-bad and went to Guate-worse (You
went from bad to even worse)
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November - December News - Needlepoint
Newsletters - by Samantha Taylor - news from Spain about ...... The Pyrenees
and Catalan - Barcelona - animal chats - our favorite recipes - restaurants
and chefs - holidays in Spain - Christmas - New Years - Kings Day - cultural
reviews - as well as communicating with friends and our favorite sayings
in Castellano.
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View all of Our Needlepoint News
- I August I September I Oct. - Nov. I December I Jan. - March I April
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