Have I done it? No. Not really. Not as much as I wanted.
Do I keep on trying? Yes. Often. It is frustrating, but inspiring at the same time.
I did not tease you here to look at a half accomplished item. I am not THAT self centered... Instead I have something new that I am trying, something that I am liking a lot, something that reminds me daily of the beauty of the world around us.
365 Days in Color. This is my daily dose of happiness. This is another way of sketching. I really, really, really like this project.
I am keeping a record. You can sneak a peek if you want.
Don't ever forget to keep your eyes open, and your camera ready.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
#19 Sketch daily
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Thursday, December 03, 2009
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
#7, #30 and # 41
I am finally feeling one hundred percent myself and I have some free time to post on my neglected blog!
I am happy to report that the list is a never-ending source of smiles, and that, of course, makes me really happy! November has been so far a very productive month for the list as we celebrated Fernando's birthday on the 8th, and I got inspired by a couple items on it.
We planned and schemed, we wanted to surprise our dear Fernando with something pretty special. What to do? Where to take him? What to cook? Circumstances decided for us on several fronts, as he arrived at 8:00 AM local time, after a 24 hour LONG trip from the States. We were not going anywhere, we were going to take it easy and just enjoy each other's company. I decided to cook a Spanish inspired meal: a great Paella (overflowing with seafood) and Galician Octopus (#41), with some wine and a crème caramel for dessert. Not bad, I tell you, not bad. The Octopus is easy to cook, as long as you buy it fresh and clean from the seafood vendor you don't have to worry about a thing. Just boil, boil, boil (2 hours) and then, cut, cut, cut into little pieces. Cool, season, and let sit for a while... delicious!
When it came down to what to give him for his birthday, we wanted something original and unexpected. You know, something that he doesn't need, something that he has not even imagined... Well, the idea came to me on one of those beautiful clear days of fall while watching glider planes lazily travel the wide blue sky. A ride on a glider plane! The Alps and the lakes from a birds-eye point of view! We had our gift! He was surprised, yes he was! #7 accomplished!
#30 is half done... my half, that is. I love dancing; it is in my blood. My boys? Not so much. I guess I am the true Colombian of the three. On Fernando's birthday I managed to get them to join in the fun, if only for a while. I think this one is going on the list again, I am not giving up on them and the fun that is dancing together.
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
I want my mom.
I am sick. I want to get in bed and sleep until everything is better. I will be back when everything is better.
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
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Labels: what we miss
Saturday, October 31, 2009
#12 Make gnocchi from scratch
It is almost November and the list is alive and well... I think I have crossed out half of the items on it, and another 5 are being planned and executed sometime soon!
As I said before many of these things I want to do, others are dreams I like to fulfill. Some of them were easy to do, others are not going to be done. Many exciting things that are not on the list have sneaked into my life. All in all, I am happy with the way things are.
Of course, I would like to be true to myself and find the time to make the things on the list that count the most, of course these are the most difficult to do. Step by step I am getting there. (I know I am rambling, and I know I must have lost many of you, but I also know that sometimes I need to talk to myself, even if by blogging)
So, if you found this post by googling Gnocchi recipe, and you have not left in frustration yet, your patience will pay. This is by far my favorite Italian recipe, easy, tasty and versatile.
Ennia, my sweet Italian cooking teacher taught me how to make these beauties. I hope to be able to put into words her ability and talent.
1 kilo red potatoes (these Italian potatoes remain dry and sturdy after cooking)
400 grams hard wheat flour or farina di grano duro
Salt to taste
Cover potatoes with water, add salt and boil until tender.
Peel potatoes when cool enough to handle, then extrude them with a potato ricer.
Add some flour to a working surface and knead the potato with flour and salt until you get a soft dough that is easy to shape and handle. Roll it so it is as thick as your arm.
Cut wide slices, then cut these slices in four or five pieces. Roll them into thin rolls, as thick as your index finger.
Roll the pieces with additional flour, and then cut into small pieces (as wide as they are thick).
Gnocchi could be boiled at this point, but Ennia is from the Venetto region of Italy and she works her magic with a fork to give the gnocchi their particular shape (it holds more sauce this way, you see?)
To shape the gnocchi like this, you will need to press the small piece of dough lightly into the fork, your finger leaves an indentation on one side, the fork leaves its own indentation on the other side. Beautiful, aren't they?
Add some more flour to prevent them from sticking to each other.
Bring salted water to a boil and drop the gnocchi gently into it. Raise the heat so the gnocchi raises to the top. Once the gnocchi floats, it is ready, so take it out with a slotted spoon and serve onto plates accompanied with your favorite sauce.
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Beatriz Macias
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
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Labels: food , La Cucina , Living in Italy , what we like
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
When running gets you places
I am a runner. I am a runner now. Three years ago? Not so much.
I started running because Fernando runs. I kept on running because I was turning 40 and it made me feel stronger than ever before. I keep running because it gives me more than it takes. Really.
When we moved to Italy, the thing I wanted more than anything else was to start a running group. I had a fabulous group of running friends back in California and I missed them. I missed their energy and support, as well as their incredible strength. Running on my own was fine, but running with friends? There is just no comparison.
I started a so called running club among the expat community members, but lets just say that it was more a name than anything else. My friend and neighbor Pien was my only companion during the first year. Then she got a dog, and after that, three more awesome ladies joined. Running with dogs, it was.
A couple of us decided to train for a Marathon. I got injured during training, at about kilometer 29, and I did not run a marathon, but my friend Heidi did! Her first! She is a strong lady, she just keeps on going! Other friends run shorter races, or no races. Everybody's favorite is our weekly Thursday's meet when we get to talk and run to our hearts content.
This fall our group has grown exponentially. It might be that I am not a newcomer anymore and I know more people in the area, or it might be the natural evolution of things. Whatever the reason, I am so lucky to have the opportunity to hang out with a very diverse and interesting group of women. We come from all corners of the globe to find our best friends on the sneaker wearing lady running next to us. Life is just great!
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Beatriz Macias
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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Labels: friends , running , what we like
Friday, October 16, 2009
Milano Centrale
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Beatriz Macias
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Friday, October 16, 2009
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Labels: design , Italy , photos , travel , what we like
Sunday, October 4, 2009
What it is
It is beautiful at the moment, a mild, sunny, blue skies kind of beautiful.
It is interesting, reading "The Lost Symbol" and learning about things hiding in plain sight.
It is colorful, participating in 365 Days in Color, opening my eyes and really looking.
It is intelligent, listening to The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.
It is busy, starting my new art class, complete with a companion blog.
It is fun, learning how to play tennis, and applying myself to something different.
It is creative, the series of drawings I am making inspired by my surroundings.
It is informative, travel guides I write for ItalyItalia.
It is lovely, baking with Nicolas, and watching favorite old movies.
It is wonderful, having good friends for a visit.
It is exciting, that my "sis" has asked me to be her son's Godmother!
This is what it is.
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Beatriz Macias
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Sunday, October 04, 2009
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Labels: lists , Living in Italy , me










